OPEC-style rice cartel up

by jayr_patron | May 2, 2008 at 02:54 am | 281 views | 4 comments

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This exemplifies greatly how food can be used as a political tool.

The countries of Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam have agreed in principle to form a rice price-fixing cartel similar to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as costs of the staple grain rocket, Thailand’s prime minister said on Wednesday.

Thailand’s Premier Samak Sundaravej said the grouping of Mekong nations would be called the Organization of Rice Exporting Countries (OREC).

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Sanjay Jha

at 03:07 on May 2nd, 2008

good stuff:

jayr_patron, I like this story. It's good stuff. Imagine if they all form a strong lobby group like OPEC then what will happen in the world. If fuel is esstential for the human kind so is the food.

jayr_patron

at 04:53 on May 2nd, 2008

Thanks for the flag and the video attachment!

Sanjay Jha

at 07:13 on May 2nd, 2008

You are welcome, Cheers

jordan

at 10:20 on May 2nd, 2008

good stuff:

I want to hear more about this... such food-based leverage goes on in impoverished regions on a smaller scale, but, should food and shipping prices continue to rise, rice could well be the next oil, at least in some areas.