Quote from: Die_empty on May 03, 2023, 11:30:41 PM

Quote from: Jamala on May 02, 2023, 11:23:59 AM

Quote from: Die_empty on April 28, 2023, 04:31:49 AM

Quote from: Jamala on April 20, 2023, 04:14:02 AM

Joint together by their common hatred for Russia, the center seems to have a crack. The grain crack. By the end of the first quarter of 2022, member states of eastern Europe, formalized measures of dealing with their common enemy- Russia. Trade bans, currency devaluation, travel restrictions and bans, expulsion and bans from international events etc. You name them. They watched, waited and prayed to see Russia crumble but rather, they got sucker-punched. They are having a common threat in Ukraine. Low price grains from Ukraine is ruining efforts of their farmers, and they are willing to cut ties over it. Internal strives are brewing in Central Europe. Grain is cracking them up. Have your say.

We should not pretend that we don't know the root cause of this problem. You are aware that Russia weaponized food by blocking some of the ports of Ukraine. Ships loaded with grains that were to be exported were blocked from going to the nations that needed them. The global price of grain skyrocketed. Many people couldn't afford to buy food and many companies shut down because of the high cost of raw materials. People lost their lives due to the high cost of food and unemployment.

The world had to seek alternatives to Ukrainian grains making the nation keep piling up its produce. They have no alternative but to reduce the price to attract customers from other nations. The cheap grains are now much cheaper than the grains produced by local farmers. Local farmers began to complain that Ukrainian grain will force them out of business and the government have to protect its local farmers by making policies to stop the entry of this cheap product.

In war, anything can be used as a weapon but weaponizing food can be devastating.

The grain blockage was only temporary as you can attest. Hope you know that had Russia been in same situation, NATO wouldn't give room for sale of Russian grains? The US has for decades been weaponising the dollar against Russia's Rouble. If Russia hadn't a strong spine, it's economy would have collapsed that those of Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

The temporal blockage led to the mess that is going on currently because a slight obstruction of the production and distribution circle always produces negative outcomes. I don't support food or economic embargoes on any country so I am not also a fan of the United States and its allies. My reason is that these sanctions and restrictions affects the common man on the street more than the political class. The ruling class and their cronies will alway afford their wants irrespective of these sanctions but when the economy begins to suffer it is the masses that bear the negative consequences. I am a proponent of freedom. Let us have a world where people will be free to relate and live in a way that doesn't harm the interest of others. Let nations be allowed to make choices without influence from so-called world powers.

I concur with what you've said. The rich aren't affected, some already have stored foods that can last them for 3 months. Like it's commonly said, when two elephants fight, the grass suffer. The war would have ended a more than a year ago with almost zero loss of life had NATO not stepped in. By the time that placed too many trade restrictions on Russia, Putin's choices were limited. It's peace I pray for daily.