Famines Due To Famines Due To Political PoliciesPolitical Policies

By: Duke DavisBy: Duke Davis

Dr. Clark FordDr. Clark Ford

Agron 342Agron 342

FaminesFamines

There have been thousands of There have been thousands of famines over the last several famines over the last several Centuries Centuries

Some of our most recent famines Some of our most recent famines have taken place in.have taken place in.

ChinaChina Korea Korea IrelandIreland UkraineUkraine

Two Main CausesTwo Main Causes

ImmediateImmediate• Inadequate Food Production or Market Inadequate Food Production or Market

AvailabilityAvailability• Price FluctuationsPrice Fluctuations• Limited Household AssetsLimited Household Assets

Two Main Causes Two Main Causes

UnderlyingUnderlying Misguided or Deliberate Public PolicyMisguided or Deliberate Public Policy Repressive Political SystemRepressive Political System Natural or Human Caused DisastersNatural or Human Caused Disasters

Public Policy & FaminesPublic Policy & Famines

Large famines caused millions of Large famines caused millions of deathsdeaths• In Ukraine in the early 1930sIn Ukraine in the early 1930s• In China from 1959-1961In China from 1959-1961

- Both of these famines were cause by - Both of these famines were cause by policies that resulted in reduced food policies that resulted in reduced food availability availability

Recent TragediesRecent Tragedies

Occurred in the mid-1990s in KoreaOccurred in the mid-1990s in Korea

-When Korea closed its borders to -When Korea closed its borders to trading with the former Soviet Uniontrading with the former Soviet Union

-Right at the time country was going -Right at the time country was going throughthrough

~Steady Economic Decline~Steady Economic Decline

~Floods~Floods

~Droughts~Droughts

~Failed Harvests~Failed Harvests

KoreaKorea

This type of closed government This type of closed government made limited Humanitarian Aid in made limited Humanitarian Aid in this situation.this situation.

- From this is it expected that 2-3 - From this is it expected that 2-3

million died from 1994-1998million died from 1994-1998

- Most occurred in the NE corner - Most occurred in the NE corner

of the Country.of the Country.

Effects of FaminesEffects of Famines

Famines effect everyoneFamines effect everyone• Weight LossWeight Loss• Lack of EnergyLack of Energy• Decreased Work AbilityDecreased Work Ability

-Famines effect children by:-Famines effect children by:

- Failure to grow- Failure to grow

- Cannot Learn in School- Cannot Learn in School

EffectsEffects

The malnutrition related to the The malnutrition related to the famine also leads to.famine also leads to.• MeaslesMeasles• MalariaMalaria• PheumoniaPheumonia• Blindness (due to Vit. A Deficiency)Blindness (due to Vit. A Deficiency)• Diarrhea (Most common in Children)Diarrhea (Most common in Children)

Help!Help!

World Food ProgrammeWorld Food Programme• Started by the UNStarted by the UN

- Since 1995 they have donated 1.5 - Since 1995 they have donated 1.5 million tons of food to help reduce the million tons of food to help reduce the cost of food in N. Korea by 25-35%cost of food in N. Korea by 25-35%

Works CitiedWorks Citied

http://answers.com/topic/famine1http://answers.com/topic/famine1

http://cnn.com/WORLD/asiapcf9908/10/north.korea.famine/http://cnn.com/WORLD/asiapcf9908/10/north.korea.famine/

http://en.wikipeda.org/wiki/faminehttp://en.wikipeda.org/wiki/famine

http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr990802.htmhttp://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr990802.htm