Food riots 'an apocalyptic warning'  

Food riots are the doomer meme of the week (and justifiably so) and both the ABC and the Age have picked up on the story.

Basic access to food is slipping out of reach for many people in developing countries. The cost of the rice has risen by more than three-quarters in two months and the price of wheat has more than doubled in the same time.

The desperation in dozens of countries has turned deadly of late. In the past week alone there have been violent, food-related riots in Haiti, Indonesia, the Philippines and Cameroon.

World Vision Australia head Tim Costello says the situation is desperate and chronic. "It is an apocalyptic warning," he said. "Until recently we had plenty of food. The question was distribution.

"The truth is because of rising oil prices, global warming and the loss of arable land, all countries that can produce food now desperately need to produce more."