Food & agriculture – May 4

“Ripe for Change” about Calif. agriculture – on PBS May 4 / Fuel, fertilizer prices expected to keep climbing /
Michael Pollan’s new book on the U.S. food chain provides much to chew on / New “100-Mile Diet” website

The energy wars

The rise of a new global energy elite means high oil and gas prices are here to stay. … “Welcome to the age of energy insecurity,” says J. Robinson West, a former Reagan administration official… “Worldwide production will peak. The result will be skyrocketing prices, with a huge, sustained economic shock.” (excerpts from this excellent article)

Politics & economics – May 2

Anger rises in oil-rich Chad as funds don’t aid the poor /
Bolivia gas now under state control /
Venezuela buys Russian oil to avoid defaulting on deals /
Oil-rich exclave of Cabinda rich in oil – conflict /
High oil prices hit Thailand hard /
Oil-industry graft keeps Iraq unsteady, U.S. says