|
|
 |
AFGW-ACT
Inc. is a member of the Australian Federation of University Women which,
in turn is affiliated with the International Federation of University
Women (I.F.U.W.). |
|
|
|||
AFUW-ACT Inc. Meeting Report Topic: FOOD
|
|||
The disparity in food supplies has caused search for food to be a determining
factor in the world. Water management is a political issue and has affected
the location of cities. In human history the search for food is important
to cope with undernourishment, which leads to starvation, and war. The
consequences of malnutrition are short stature, lethargy and reduced
cognitive ability. Major causes of famine are drought, disease and pests
- one fifth of the world’s food production is eaten by rats/mice
and locusts OBESITY - Tobacco and amphetamines suppress hunger. Seven
deadly sins include gluttony. FOOD and HISTORY - Civilisations often
collapse due to lack of food. Overuse, erosion, and overgrazing impact
on food production. MIGRATIONS -- Great sea going nations explore to
find new foods eg spices. Some examples of the spread of food crops
and animals between continents are: from S E Asia sugar cane, rice,
banana, aubergine, citrus fruits, spinach, chicken from the Americas
- potato, maize, avocado, pineapple, pumpkin, tomato, manioc, peanut,
turkey, guinea pig. Sugar became available from the West Indies. Its
growth resulted from deterioration of the land and inability to grow
other crops so growing sugar cane took over, a crop serviced mainly
by black slaves brought to America. There have been several severe famines
over the centuries dating back to 400BC in Egypt.! More recent famines
involved deaths of 5-10 million in Bengal Indiain 1942-5, greater than
30 million deaths in 1928 in China and an unknown number in the severe
Ethiopian famine in 1983-5.