I read an article my freshman year of college regarding over population and food resources. The premise of the article was explaining the basic supply and demand of food and the costs to consumers when the world’s population outpaces its resources. I remember reading it and thinking that this would have a minimal impact on my everyday life. Six years later, despite rising food prices globally, I still believe this. When the cost of food increases, I will still be able to afford it. It may cut into my disposable income, but I highly doubt that I will go hungry. It will be the already impoverished citizens of the world who will yet again suffer.

Thomas Fuller of the New York Times illustrates another consequence to high food prices in third world countries: low school attendance. As someone who has seen first hand the poor school systems in countries such as Cambodia, this could be devastating to the futures of these countries. I hope for the sake of the students that the UN actually finds a solution from their ivory tower.

Check out the World Food Programme to see what you can do to help.

*One of my greatest regrets from my travels was not visiting Cambodia. I took for granted its close proximity to Thailand and before I knew it, I ran out of time.