I would like to take a moment to share with you the absurdity with which our world leaders are addressing the world food crisis. Or as they would like us to think, what food crisis?

Following the meeting of G8 (Group of Eight) nations  in July 2008, over an 18-course banquet prepared by 60 chefs the following declaration was made,

“We are deeply concerned that the steep rise in global food prices coupled with availability problems in a number of developing countries is threatening global food security. The negative impacts of this recent trend could push millions more back into poverty.”

Deeply concerned? Availability problems? Poverty?
Perhaps a bit of perspective is required here….

The “Blessings of the Earth and Sea Social Dinner”, hosted by the government of Japan for eight powerful leaders of the world (France, USA, Russia, Britain, Germany, Canada, Italy and Japan) and their partners started began modestly with;

“Cornbread stuffed with caviar, smoked salmon and sea urchin roe; hot onion tart and winter lily bulbs followed by kelp-flavoured cold Kyoto beef with asparagus dressed with sesame cream; diced fatty tuna flesh with avocado, shiso, and jellied soy sauce; boiled clam, tomato, and shiso in jellied clear soup; water shield and pink conger dressed with a vinegary soy sauce; boiled prawn with jellied tosazu vinegar; grilled eel rolled in burdock; sweet potato; and fried and seasoned goby with soy sauce and sugar.
This was followed by a bisque of hairy crab and salt-grilled bighand thornyhead with vinegar-pepper sauce. The main course was a poele of milk-fed lamb flavoured with aromatic herbs and mustard, as well as roasted lamb with black truffle and pine seed oil sauce.
This was followed by a special cheese selection with lavender honey and caramelized nuts, and then a whimsical “G8 fantasy dessert” and coffee with candied fruits and vegetables.”

To wash all of this down, Le Reve grand cru/La Seule Gloire champagne; a sake wine, Isojiman Junmai Daiginjo Nakadori; Corton-Charlemagne 2005 (France); Ridge California Monte Bello 1997; and Tokaji Esszencia 1999 (Hungary).

Where’s the insanity in that you ask?

The cost of holding the G8 summit ($500,000,000 – five hundred million dollars) could have fed the additional ONE HUNDRED MILLION PEOPLE left hungry by the emerging food crisis FOR A WEEK!!!