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> every famine is political Well probably not those directly caused by natural disasters at least.

• lucideer 2y ago
  All famines are caused by natural disasters. What makes them political is that people die when their ability to overcome natural disasters is restricted or removed. E.g. for the Irish Famine, the natural disaster was the outbreak of the phytophthora infestans disease affecting potato crops - the outbreak spread from North America across Europe, affecting Belgium, Netherlands, France & the UK. The cause of death in Ireland was the English exporting all food produced in Ireland that wasn't potatoes. An interestingly relevant historical record here is the Australian Convict Collection showing the number of Irish convicts sent to Australia & Tasmania for stealing food during the famine years.
  • beezlewax 2y ago
    Many of those convicts were children.
  • fc417fc802 2y ago
    > All famines are caused by natural disasters. I don't think I'd consider war to be a form of natural disaster, or even related to one in the majority of cases.
  • ameister14 2y ago
    >All famines are caused by natural disasters. The great leap forward would like a word with you.
• unsnap_biceps 2y ago
  So far, if it's lasted long enough to be considered a famine, it's political. Yes, there's temporary and severe interruptions due to natural disasters, but if the political will is there, resources would be able to arrive anywhere in the world in the matter of days.
  • fc417fc802 2y ago
    Modern famines, sure. But I think that's a relatively recent development. It also isn't guaranteed. A sufficiently large volcanic eruption could severely impact agriculture the world over.
• deleted 2y ago
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