Captain Compassion wrote:

North Korea slashes food rations
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4200861.stm

Private markets have sent food prices rocketing
North Korea has cut food rations to just half the amount recommended
by the World Food Programme, the UN food agency says.
WFP monitors say government handouts have been cut from 300g (10.5oz)
of cereals a day to 250g.

The UN says 16 million North Koreans rely on the rations.

A WFP spokesman told BBC News that many people would be unable to
supplement their allocation of maize, rice and potatoes with any meat
or vegetables.

"Prices of basic foods in private markets have increased

substantially

- they're beyond the means of many people. Supplementing the ration
has been increasingly difficult," said Gerald Bourke, the WFP's

public

affairs officer for Asia.

Market forces?

Most of the worst-affected people are in North Korea's cities, he

told

the BBC News website.

A UN report last year said private farmers' markets, which were meant
to alleviate chronic hunger, had instead sparked spiralling

inflation.

It said 1kg (2.2lb) of rice now costs 30% of the average monthly

wage.

HOW MUCH IS 250 GRAMS?
Two medium-sized bowls of rice; total 350 calories OR
Five small potatoes or two medium-sized potatoes; total 180 calories

The reasoning behind Pyongyang's decision to cut rations is unclear.

But North Korea watchers speculate that the government may be acting
to encourage the focus of food distribution towards the farmers'
markets - despite the fact that in the short term this may leave some
people hungry.

They say farmers have been holding back some of their harvest to sell
on the farmers' markets, where they can receive much better prices
than by selling to the government-run distribution system.

It has been suggested that the government's action may be part of
recent initiatives to allow market forces to begin asserting
themselves in the hitherto strictly state-controlled country.

The cuts come despite what was thought to be the impoverished
country's best harvest in 10 years in September and October.

Mr Bourke said the ration level is set every month, but early
indications suggested that the cuts would last until the middle of
2005.

"As of now we have sufficient cereals to feed all the six-and-a-half
million people we seek to feed in North Korea until June.

"But those rations are projected on a basis of public distribution of
300g - so we need to see how this changes now," he said.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

"Why would I listen to losers?" -- Arnold Schwarzenegger

"Long term commitment in relationships is only necessary because it

takes

so damn long to raise children. Marriage may well be some kind of

trick

to keep the males around beyond sexual satiation." -- Captain

Compassion

"Progress is the increasing control of the environment by life.
--Will Durant

Joseph R. Darancette
res0mp8t@NOSPAMverizon.net

Just how many ways can you cut a piece of rice?