Famine and man: lessons from the Irish past, a guide to the future?

"The intention of the present study was to examine such information as is available on the Ethiopian famine of the 1980s, and to compare it with known sequelae of the Irish Famine [of the mid-nineteenth century]. From this comparison it may be possible to determine if features common to all disasters of this nature are identifiable, and ultimately, whether the information gained can be employed to prevent their recurrence and further large-scale loss of life."