During my secondary school, I was taught about the consequence of globalisation and its effects on the developing and under-developed countries. However, with us entering the 21st century, the ‘enemy’ of us, the citizens of under-developed and developing countries, has changed. The fight for energy had become our main agenda and it is affecting us in every way in life.

First, it started with the reduction of petroleum production with the war in the Middle East. All of this led to persisting price hikes for fuel. As an alternate to fuel, the number one fuel-consuming country – the US - started to use ‘food’ eg corn to produce fuel.

This created a domino effect in price hike, from fuel to food. From 2007-2008, America faced a a 4% hike in food prices. However the consequence was less felt by the rich, but more so by us, the poorer countries.

When 20% of the world’s population are still striving to feed themselves, the other half of the world are fighting to fill their gas tanks. The using of food eg corn, palm oil, sugar cane in producing fuel is an exploitation of gift from mother nature. And this goes against humanity as people are striving to feed themselves and their families.

In order for a more sustained growth of the nation and for the welfare of ourselves, we should adapt to the changing world. One of the few changes we could make is to change the habit of wasting. Be more energy-friendly through car-pooling with colleagues; avoid peak-hour driving if possible; use a smaller car; use public transport.

Use fans instead of air-cons, switch off electrical appliances when not in use etc. The government could help us not only through cutting their budgets but also through a promotion of policies such as allowing their offices limit their air-cons to 25-28Celcius; to use energy-saving bulbs and sonic-sensory appliances; to promote factories operating at non-peak hours; to give incentives for business facilities with energy-saving plans and to develop better public transportation.

Malaysia is a country where most of her citizens rely on rice as the staple food. We could find a new source of food through creativity – see how the Chinese people fed themselves in the 10 most difficult years during the cultural revolution and you’ll be surprised.

We should stay one-hearted in fighting this war (the war between the poor countries and the rich) with dignity, even if not winning it.

If our government really loves her citizens, more effort should be taken to guide us and prepare us for this fight against poverty and starvation, not just merely through providing subsidies.

‘Reading’ the minds and understanding the anger of citizens before making major decisions are also helpful in managing national crises.