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Stuff You Should Know

Selects: How Famines Work

Apr 13, 2024
49:02
Snipd AI
This podcast covers how famines may be more of a human-made catastrophe than just triggered by weather, discussing the devastating impact on vulnerable populations. It also explores historical hunger, climate change implications on food security, and man-made famines like the one during China's Great Leap Forward. The comparison between Botswana's democracy preventing famines and Ethiopia's ongoing suppression is also highlighted.
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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Famines result from various factors beyond weather, including food shortage and crop failures.
  • Autocratic systems worsen famines by limiting food access and creating livelihood shocks.

Deep dives

Definition of Famine

Famine is caused by factors like food shortage, crop failures due to issues like blights, and lack of purchasing power, leading to hunger-related diseases and excess mortality.

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