Vatican rep says rise in food prices threatens lives of 1 billion

Published: 2008-05-23

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A Vatican representative said the recent rise in global food prices threatens the lives of the 1 billion people who spend most of their daily income in search of food. The current food crisis shines "a red light of alarm" on structural injustices in the agricultural economy worldwide, Archbishop Silvano Tomasi told the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva May 22. It was the second strong statement in less than a week by Vatican officials on the food crisis, which has sparked riots in several countries in recent months. The Vatican released a copy of the text May 23. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome reported food prices have risen 45 percent over the last nine months, with the price of rice increasing 83 percent since December. Much of the increase has been blamed on higher fuel costs. Archbishop Tomasi, who addressed a special session of the council on the right to food, said the surge in food prices threatens the stability of developing countries and calls for urgent international action.

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