The crisis is world wide, we are better off than many, but do need to look after the needy

Exmouth Community Food Larder manager Anthony Bernard. (Image: Archant)

The UK Cost of Living Crisis is not just us, the problems are worldwide.

The cost of energy was first, closely followed by the food crisis caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The world trade system in which the rich pay extra for goods in short supply enhanced the difficulties, escalating costs for poorer peoples.

Sanctions against Russia are blamed in part, but there are huge amounts paid to Russia by German industry for gas, opening a question as to whether we should sanction goods manufactured in Germany.

Global warming doesn't help; parts of the world are unable to maintain their usual supply of crops due to floods or drought.

Lake Mead, which is a major water resource for California, is only 30 per cent full, an all-time record, 70 per cent below its normal level and still falling.

The Coronavirus is slowing down China's productivity; North Korea is in terrible trouble with two million infected, no vaccinations, no medicines and an inadequate health system.

While we get back to normal socialising, this creates pools of infections from which nastier variants can emerge.

Fortunately I am not a virologist, otherwise I could be depressed.

News media concentrates on our local UK problems, but the cost of living crisis is Europe wide, including France and Spain whose cost of living may be lower than the UK, but so are their incomes.

Poorer countries in Africa depending on imported wheat are faced with a doubling of open market prices; the USA reports a cost of living crisis too.

It is all over the world, from top to bottom.

Supermarket shortages are illustrated with pictures of fruit and vegetables not available at all when I was young.

At university, I remember a rare fresh pineapple was found in the market - the top was cut off and 'planted' in a window box, and friends told it was a cactus.

Every few days close friends were asked to search for a slightly larger pineapple, so the 'cactus' could be seen to get bigger.

The joke burst when we couldn't find any pineapples.

The reality is beyond a joke or silly reminiscence.

Energy costs are soaring worldwide; the increased prices paid to Russia by Germans buying gas and oil makes up for sales lost due to sanctions, so the Russian war is well financed.

A world shortage of wheat and cooking oil, normally supplied from Ukraine, is pushing up prices, extending to animal feed, fertilizers and everything needed in our industrialised agriculture.

The UN warns that Russia's invasion of Ukraine is causing a global food crisis that could last for years.

To quote UN Secretary General Antonio Gutierrez "The war has worsened food insecurity in poorer nations due to rising prices; some countries face long term famines if Ukraine's exports are not restored to pre-war levels".

The price of grain has already increased dramatically.

This will leave people starving around the world; If US food production suffers from lack of irrigation, imagine American purchasing power pushing up world prices for everything they want!! It can get much worse before it gets better.

Our world systems favour the greedy over the needy; the Ukraine war itself is one man's greed, trying to enhance his historic legacy to avoid facing his own mortality.

In East Devon we are adapting somewhat; on a global scale we are doing quite well with people leaving for multiple foreign holidays - but we do need to look after the needy.