ROME - It was supposed to be an emergency conference on food shortages, climate change, and energy. At the opening ceremony Tuesday, the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, noted that there were nearly one billion people short of food and called upon countries gathered here to act with "a sense of purpose and mission."

"Only by acting together, in partnership, can we overcome this crisis," he said.

But when the microphone was opened to the powerful politicians who had flown in from all over the world, they spoke mostly about economics and politics. ... Read full article