Is Ethanol Getting a Bum Rap?

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_19/b4083060454256.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_news+%2B+analysis

Ethanol is taking a tumble. Once hyped as a magic brew for reducing both oil addiction and global warming, alcohol made from corn kernels is now being accused both of triggering a global food crisis and doing more ecological harm than good.

Ethanol critics, ranging from environmental groups to pig farmers facing high feed prices say “What started as an energy policy is leading to spreading hunger and political instability around the world.”

The global food crisis has brought on riots in about a dozen countries and left many panicked world leaders scrambling for answers. food prices globally have climbed 83% in the past 36 months and are expected to stay high through 2015, according to the World Bank. "This is hitting everyone, but it's hitting hardest people who live on less than $1 a day,"

Is it an unthical thing to produce oil from corn while so many hungers and malnutritions in the world?

some arguments which mention that the global food shortage could lead to lower trade barriers and innovation that may raise farm productivity. Also they say that high prices will lead these countries to produce more of their own food. So the food shortage is a good thing.

Thinking of those poor Moms who have hungry babies to feed or those children who are eager to food, I really can’t agree with above arguments. I think it is the entire people’s resposiblity to get rid of food shortage.

As for the Ethanol ,if we can shift to other crops, there would be not conflict between Ethanol and food shortage.