Food & Fuel

Unless you have been living under a rock or sleeping off a serious Divas hangover you may have noticed there is a recession happening.

As always this crisis of capitalism has hit the poorest the hardest, the price of food worldwide is rising and wages are decreasing and climate change has caused mayhem, including recent flooding.

The idea that students are just riding out the recession, holed up in three or more years of blissful ignorance, is very misguided.

We, as students, are amongst the poorest in this country and therefore we are going to feel the impact of the failures of capitalism in many different ways. Including:

- As the price of oil rises, the price of fuel rises, and the price of our bills will rise. Standard things like having a shower, cooking or heating the house will cost more than before.

- Food will cost more because of the economy’s reliance on imported foods. Fewer foods will be available to those living on a student budget.

Whilst politicians fail to come to an agreement over climate change Swansea Students’ Union must make a plan of action for our members.

The Students’ Union needs to throw its full weight behind the food co-operative, run by Discovery which offers local fresh fruit and vegetables for £2.50 a week, for starters.

I know there are plenty of people and groups who work hard at this university to promote green issues and I think now is the time for food and fuel security to go right to the top of our agenda in the students’ union.

We might not be feeling the effects too much now but food and fuel shortages could hit us quickly and without warning.

I think both food and fuel prices will be a key concern of welfare officers to come for the foreseeable future.

The UK government have revealed a 20-year food plan, it's time to start thinking about our plan.

Students' Union allotments?