Food Riots in Haiti

Demonstrations against rising food prices in Haiti turned deadly, leaving three dead in Les Cayes.

Prices on staple foods in Haiti have risen over 50% in the last year. One of the poorest regions in the Americas, most Haitians live on less than $2.00 per day. While the Prime Minister claims to have allotted $10 million to programs designed to prevent rising food costs, including half-priced fertilizer and and food aid, thousands took to the streets to demonstrate. The rallies erupted into violence in many regions.

Roads were blocked, cars were burned, and stores were looted. UN peacekeepers on patrol in the region claim their gate was damaged when several protesters broke into the grounds. Some fired on the peacekeepers, who returned fire, killing one man with a headshot. The UN is looking into the incident.

The United States itself has seen dramatic increases in food costs this year. It is worth noting that many of the "Dark Future" games which The Weirding supports have fictitious histories which include rapidly-rising food prices that lead to mass demonstrations which erupt into violence and lead to political uprisings and war.

Have the science-fiction authors gotten it right again?

© C Harris Lynn, 2008