Agence Congolaise de Presse

February 25, 10:13am PST

General Assembly

By Glove

ACP

            Last evening’s very enlightening session of the General Assembly unveiled the opinions of many countries towards solutions for the world food crisis. While South Africa came prepared talking about the many aspects of the UN that could be helping this tragic situation, Columbia was left overshadowed while stumbling in their attempts to get their opinion across. France made it very clear that they felt that the best solution to the world food crisis would be genetically modified plants.  Along with South Africa I found that Kenya, Russia and India all knew their countries positions and solutions to the problem very well.

            I was lucky to snatch the delegate from India for quick interview in order to uncover their position on the GMO propositions recommended by France.  India‘s delegate explained that genetic modification of plants works to a certain degree but maintains reservations.  Their country’s Green Revolution in the 1970’s did not provide a lasting solution to food security. India’s solution proposes rather that the rich countries should not subsidize their agriculture.

            In stark opposition to France is South Africa who is totally against genetically modified organisms as a solution to food security. They believe that related projects would not help resolve the crisis and would only succeed to put money into the government’s hands, pulling it away from the residents in need.

            When I asked a delegate from Russia about his country’s solution he avoided giving a tangible response. Though he talked about his personal opinion and the collective opinion of the group, he found difficulty in expressing Russia’s hopes to resolve the food crisis.

           

            During a break in committee session I found that the delegates where working together very well to come to a final conclusion. Throughout the two hour session I found that they went through idea after idea discarding one after another. I think that they are going to find it difficult to come to a final decision although I have no doubt that they will have a very easy voting process. I am looking forward to returning to this committee and discovering their final decision.