Blog post: The battle over food is on!

Thanks to everyone who played human blackjack last week! Hundreds of people took part in our online game to learn more about food speculation and join the fight to stop bankers from betting on food. Also congratulations to Mary from Glasgow who won our prize draw of people who took part - a box of Lush ethical bath goodies is on its way to you!

Though the game was fun (I tried hard to get in the top 10 of the leader board but couldn't beat the top scorers!), the story of human blackjack is a real one. Everyday bankers are betting on food prices in financial markets, making basic foods unaffordable to millions in developing countries. The battle to stop the bankers is going on right now - on both sides of the Atlantic. President Obama signed the Dodd-Frank Reform Act earlier in the year which gave the US regulators the powers to clamp down on food speculation. The US regulators now have the job of working out the details but bankers have been lobbying hard for exemptions from the rules.

US campaigners need your help to stop these rules from being watered down. The US regulators need to hear from people around the world.

Act now and send an email to let the US regulators know that bankers can’t be allowed to continue betting on food. The deadline for sending in comments is tomorrow – Tuesday 30th November - so please do this now.

Send an email now

Messages from the UK will demonstrate widespread support for the US to take the lead in implementing strong regulation. And if the US puts in place strong rules on food speculation it will help build support for introducing similar rules in Europe.