Food shortages

are soon going to hit here. It won't be because of the war in Ukraine yet but because of the hits to the supply chains.

We had the "great toilet paper shortage" when people began to stockpile it last year. The boys who stack the shelves in the supermarket tell me that the sale of it still hasn't quite got back to normal. Some people obviously stockpiled so much they are still getting through it. 

Last week someone commented to me that there was "almost no rice on the shelves". We agreed that it must come from the eastern states and the problem was caused by transport issues due to the floods there. Then there has been the problem with bread. On three occasions over the past month I have been unable to get the bread I like from the supermarket. (It is a multi-grain loaf with a bit of body - unlike the loaf that tries to pass itself off as "wholemeal".) 

The flour for that is sourced here in Downunder. They do need to think about that.  We are going to need a lot more of that. Much of the bread we get actually comes as a mix from America.  I know, unbelievable. It is made for this country because the sugar content is much lower but damn it all we do grow wheat - and barley and oats.

The price of fruit and vegetables is up too. They are up because of the weather conditions and transport issues and a need to supply overseas markets in order to retain them.  

But, we aren't starving - far from it. The problem however may grow much greater if the war in Ukraine isn't ended soon. The Ukraine and Russia supply about twenty percent of the world's wheat. We may not use it here but a shortage of it elsewhere is still going to put pressure on our supplies. When the head of the UN's food program says there will be a shortage he isn't talking about a shortage in the Ukraine and Russia he is talking about a shortage everywhere, a shortage which will affect everyone. Rations for people who are receiving food handouts have already been halved in many places. There are armed guards on food supplies in more than one country. 

Apart from the employment implications for some I am not in the least worried about people not being able to buy some new luxury item. I am worried about people not being able to feed themselves or their children. Even if they survive the effects of starvation on seriously and critically malnourished children are life long. It isn't simply a matter of "giving them something to eat".  Starvation can seriously affect mental development as well as having life-long physical effects. 

Putin's war in Ukraine is contributing to misery in many places far beyond the borders. We complain about the price of fuel going up and demand increased pay to cover the increased cost of living. In reality we need to tighten our belts a notch and remember that even those of us who are less well off live in comparative luxury.

Could someone please capture Putin and put him in a cell in the Hague? I am sure they are more comfortable than a bomb shelter.