Bush remarks on food crisis spark anger in India

I. Citation:

Bush remarks on food crisis spark anger in India
May 5, 2008
Gulf News
http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/08/05/05/10210866.html

II. Summary:

Bush recently “praised” the growing prosperity of countries that are slowly rising up, including India. He says that because most of India’s population is moving up to at least middle class, the demand for better food is growing, which is responsible for the rising prices in the world. This greatly angered the government of India, who is now demanding a parliamentary debate on what Bush said.

III. Reactions:

a. This article relates to the AP theme of Impact of interaction among and within major societies because the US and India are interacting with each other, although in a negative way. The impact of their interaction is a debate that is causing more trouble than it is worth, and a different look on the rising of food prices.

b. The world is experiencing a dwindling of things such as oil, rice, wheat, and other staple items because of population increase and more usage. As a result, the prices for all these items are increasing all over the world.

c. This article is from an American news website

d. It is obvious that the writer would be more bias towards the American side. Although they state and summarize the whole situation from an outsider’s point of view, it is clear through the last few lines that the writer somewhat agrees with President Bush. The writer states that “India has imported wheat in the last two years and imports of edible oils have risen to help meet rising consumer demand and changing food habits…At the same time, dwindling global stocks of staples like wheat and rice, Asian demand and government mandates to produce crops for fuel have stretched the world's ability to feed itself.” They are suggesting that even though foods are dwindling, India is still importing mass amounts of staple goods.

e. The point of view missing from the article is President Bush’s point of view. The only thing available in the article is his remark about India. It would be helpful if it could be found out why he said something like that, and what he really thinks about the issue. India’s trade minister had countered that "Bush has never been known for his knowledge of economics", so it would be important to know if Bush really had known what he was talking about, and how he feels about the counterattacks from India.

f. I think that President Bush was wrong to say something like that, and an apology is needed. Although India has made some cruel counter-remarks, they were not the ones to start this verbal fight. Also, it is impossible for one country to be the sole responsibility in the rising of the whole world’s food prices, so what Bush said is incorrect.