Movie that set off violence in Middle East produced by Southern California nonprofit

[caraher]

18. Scientists predict a round of rioting is likely

Some researchers have linked things like the Arab Spring to food prices.

Bar-Yam highlighted the food riots of 2007-08 and 2010-11 that were fuelled by sudden and dramatic spikes in food prices. He said his institute recently entered data from the US drought into its computer model, which predicted the outbreak of food-related unrest "in a short period of time".

"When people are unable to feed themselves and their families, widespread social disruption occurs," Bar-Yam said. "We are on the verge of another crisis, the third in five years, and likely to be the worst yet, capable of causing new food riots and turmoil on a par with the Arab Spring."

Still, these things need triggers. It's like wildfires - their frequency goes up in hot drought conditions, but you also need a match or lightning strike to set one off.

In this case, we're also making things worse by growing corn for auto fuel.