Visit Your Local PBS Station PBS Home PBS Home Programs A-Z TV Schedules Watch Video Support PBS Shop PBS Search PBS
       
the Online NewsHour The Web site of the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer
E-mail This Page   Print This Page  
the Online NewsHour EXTRANews for Students AND Teacher Resources MAIN: ONLINE NEWSHOUR
7 - 12 grade level
SEARCH
ALL OR STUDENT VOICES LESSON PLANS VIDEO GO
Main: NewsHour ExtraU.S.WorldScienceHealthArts/MediaStudent VoicesTeacher Center
NewsHour Teacher Center Blog
May 5, 2008
” CARE’s Cecily Bryant argues that it would be much more efficient if U.S. assistance came directly in the form of cash. The money could be used to train farmers and to buy grain locally, cutting delivery cost and time, while developing markets for African farmers. ” — NewsHour reporter Fred de Sam Lazaro
- - - - - - - -
” You go into some of these small economies with a check, buy a bunch of commodity for food aid, you’ve just drove prices out of sight and you hurt everybody else.” - Representative Earl Pomeroy, Democrat, North Dakota

play NewsHour video
This fascinating 9 minute video report, using the compelling example of food aid programs in Malawi, explores the intersection of the current food crisis, domestic agricultural economies, and U.S. agricultural interests.

What is the debate between providing cash or crops to recipient nations? Who takes which side and why? Would developing countries benefit more if U.S. aid focused on developing local agricultural economies? Does the adage “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime” apply here?

Why has CARE, one of the largest private food aid charities, announced plans to stop accepting U.S. food donations in 2009? What exactly are farm subsidies and why do they exist? Why is our “farm policy” so complicated and controversial? Why was Food for Peace started in 1952? Is sending food to other countries with the American flag stamped prominently on the boxes good for our image? Why or why not?

Below are some web resources related to this story

NewsHour Links
Transcript & Video: Growing Hunger in Malawi Stirs Food Aid Debate
Transcript & Video: Congress Passes New Farm Bill
NewsHour Extra Story, Activities: Farm Bill Plays Pivotal Role in U.S. Food Production

Other Links
Wall Street Journal: Farm Lobby Beats Back Assault On Subsidies
Bill Moyers Journal: The Farm Bill Debate
Bill Moyers Journal Washington Post Video: Cash Cows & Cowboy Starter Kits
USDA America’s Farm Bill
United Nations World Food Programme

Author

Comments

Post a Comment:
(If you haven't left a comment here before, you need to be approved by Brian before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)
Name: (required, pseudonym ok)
Email address: (required, will not be published)
Comment:

Recent Lesson Plans
Recent Comments
Web Resources
Recently Added:
What is this?
Teacher to Teacher
Share your teaching experiences: What works, what didn't, what's needed?
What is this?
Previous EntriesTOPICS
Video Clips
What is this?
Blog Jam
National Public Radio
From Education Stories
5/2/08 updated daily
What is this?
The Online NewsHour
TUESDAY'S PROGRAM
Fort Hood Memorial
News Wrap
Investigating Hasan
Iraqi Refugees
Newsmaker: Peter Orszag
Health Care Costs
40 Years of Sesame Street
The Online NewsHour, an hour-long daily news broadcast
Check your Local Listings