Conversion of rice fields created rice shortage (tags)
In the Central Luzon plains, Nueva Ecija is unique. In this farming province, the biggest rice producer in this region, you see rows upon rows of rice paddies. But it had more rice lands before the phenomenon of land conversion in the late 80s. The large landowners converted their lands to non-agricultural use so these would not fall under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law enacted in 1988. Land conversion was also necessitated by population rise and the urbanization of many towns of the province.
Popular Female Leader From Afghanistan to Speak in L.A. March 6 (tags)
“Today she is [27] years old. Because of her brave stand in Afghanistan, she has received the support and the love and affection of the majority of Afghan people. Meanwhile, the warlords, this small group of extremist men, have decided that she's a threat to them. So she gets daily death threats.” -- Sonali Kolhatkar, KPFK and Afghan Women’s Mission