Worldwide food crisis (and apologies for my long hiatus)

Hello readers!

Between my business and wedding planning, I have been so busy recently that I've completely neglected my blog. Today I was reminded that by doing so, I've also been neglecting my readers- and there's really no excuse for that. So, without further ado, I want to catch you up on what I've been thinking -- if not blogging -- about, regarding ethics and the food world. Today's topic: the worldwide food shortage and crisis.

You know what makes me feel ridiculously elitist and out of touch? The thought that I spend time blogging about why you should choose grass-fed beef over grain-fed beef, while in countries like Haiti and Somalia, people are dying from starvation and begging the government to help them procure any food at all. Granted, the worldwide food crisis is not a problem I can tackle single-handedly. But what can we, as rich (comparatively), well-fed Westerners do in reaction to the global food crisis- short of sending food and money to the impacted countries?

Here are my ideas:
1) Eat less. Almost all of us could stand to cut back on our food intake. Seriously. Try reducing your portions a little bit, or resisting the urge to have that afternoon snack, or refusing to go back for seconds.

2) Eat less meat. If you replace even one or two meals per week with vegetarian meals, you'll save yourself money, and you'll do your small part in easing global food chain pressures caused (in part) by our highly carnivorous diets.

3) Buy Certified Fair Trade products. These products have been verified to ensure that producers receive a fair price, that employees work in fair labor conditions, and that middlemen are eliminated where possible so that as much as the purchase price as possible goes directly to the farmers/producers. I highly recommend Trader Joe's new "Fair Trade Organic Bolivian Blend" coffee- delicious and, because it's Trader Joe's, still reasonably priced. (Learn more about Fair Trade products here.)

4) Walk or bike instead of using your car- even when you're going to the grocery store! I know it's a pain, but just take a backpack and think of those muscles you're developing. Also, if you're eating less (per item 1) then your backpack won't even be that heavy. (Okay- this may seem tangential at best to the global food crisis. But insofar as the food shortage relates to the high price of oil, any relief we can give on the demand for oil would theoretically help global prices to come down...)

5) Boycott Exxon-Mobil. You probably can't avoid using your car entirely, but when you do have to fill up, do so anywhere except at an Exxon or Mobil station. In 2007, Exxon-Mobil recorded the highest profits of any company EVER-- even while most Americans are being stretched thin by rising gas and food prices. Furthermore, Exxon-Mobil is least among the oil companies in investing in alternative energies. They don't deserve our patronage.

Now readers, what ideas do you all have?