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From: canopus@amdahl.UUCP (Flaming Asteroid)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: poor starving people
Message-ID: <603@amdahl.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 28-Nov-84 14:05:54 EST
Article-I.D.: amdahl.603
Posted: Wed Nov 28 14:05:54 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 30-Nov-84 05:58:41 EST
References: <642@amd.UUCP> <416@cepu.UUCP>
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Organization: Amdahl Corp, Sunnyvale CA
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  uucp: { {ihnp4, uiucdcs}!bradley, hao, trwrb}!cepu!scw comments:
> The problem is not that there are too many people in Ethiopa [...]
> The problem is that Northern sub-Sahra Africa is in the throws of what may be
> the WORST drought in recorded times (I believe that they are now starting on the
> 9th year). [...]

US News & World Report had a brief analysis of the situation in Ethiopia:
"The real causes [...] are
     weather
     population growth
     economic policy
     lack of adequate storage, transportation, and distribution facilities

 The article goes on to say that this area has the world's fastest
growing population.  In fact, sub-Sahara Africa is the only region
where population growth is outstripping food production.

 Also, even when crops are good, the storage facilities are poor:
60% of the local harvest and 30% of imported grain is lost to rats,
insects, and spoilage.

 Ultimately, the solution lies in controlling population growth, and
establishing better storage and distribution policies.

 The full article can be found in US NEWS & WORLD REPORT, December 3, 1984
 page 32.

Therefore, while the area is in the throws of a terrible drought, the
problem is also one of ``too many people''.
-- 
Frank Dibbell  (408-746-6493)          ...!{ihnp4,hplabs,amd,nsc}!amdahl!canopus

[The views expressed herein are not necessarily the views of my
employer, or myself, for that matter]