Budapest -- Hungary (Eastern Europe) is a member of the EU. Thus, its agriculture is tied to the subsidies handed over by the relevant institutions of the community. Each year our farmers and food processing companies believe that this has been the worst year ever. And, every year has seemed to be the worst year ever. Still, I think Hungary is quite well off when it comes to eating and drinking. In this area, the last famine was in the mid-war period.

Living in a relatively well fed part of the world, I can have an opinion about the subject of food shortages even if it is a result of looking around on this globe with relatively open eyes, ears and mind. I think the job of feeding every human being in the world these days is as serious a problem as global warming, and I cannot understand why experts and politicians talk much less about it.

The so-called civilized countries with the over packed malls, food stores and fast food restaurant chains should make up their mind and send some of their surplus to the needy before they would come over to get it.

I would not be surprised if the hungry people of Africa would show up in huge crowds in Spain or Italy or Greece. Traveling on handmade ships and rafts, it could not be an impossible endeavor to cross the Adriatic Sea. Similarly, the Chinese could start to wander northward, and I know that some mountains may be an obstacle, but still, there are good climbers and guides over there, not to mention the skilled sherpas.

This problem has a great impact on every region in the world, and in the future will have an even greater impact. I know it is ridiculous to hope that the UN or any other international organization can solve the enormous inequality in eating and drinking. But all the nations where most citizens are able to eat enough should unite on the food front to do something. Today's food riots may otherwise seem to be minor upheavals compared what we will have to cope with quite soon.

Until my words are heard by those who have the power to act, I think I'll go on a serious diet, just to feel myself a little bit better.