Elimination of Hunger
World Food Day gives us an opportunity to consider some facts related to global hunger. Presently, 500 million people experience hunger on a continuing basis; that is one out of every 10 people on this planet, approximately 30 million people in America.
The average person in the developed world consumes more than 3,000 calories a day while a person in the developing world gets about 2,000 calories. It should be remembered that a body at rest needs 1,600 calories daily.
In rural areas of poor countries, the caloric intake of people is well below the required 1,600. There were long periods during the Ethiopian famine when a person received less than 800 calories a day. Needless to say, malnutrition was rampant, starvation and death common, especially among children under 5 and expecting and lactating mothers.
For a variety of reasons, mostly man-made, the lives of 200 million people in Africa will be threatened for years to come because of severe food shortages. Weak political structures, cultural deprivation, poor agricultural policies, and economic exploitation are some of the causes that effect the lives of the poor who hunger.
However, there is enough food produced each year in the world to feed every person on earth. We, the international community, have the know-how and ability to train those in need to grow their own food, and we have the capability to deliver emergency food to those who live in remote areas.
What then is the problem? The problem is that we lack the will. For some reason, we choose to use large portions of global economic resources to develop military capability rather than humanity. Imagine, the world spends 750 billions of dollars a year for armament--1.4 million dollars a minute. Some 500,000 scientists are needed for the development, manufacture and delivery of the toys of war. Just think of what might be accomplished if one-third of the international miliary commitment to arms were diverted to the development of the poor who hunger.
But what can I do? I’m only one person. You can do a great deal. You can become a voice for the voiceless by actively participating in the formation of local, corporate and national policies that are more sensitive to the poor who hunger. Encourage your local community, your church or synagogue, your company, your nation to be actively involved in developing the lives of the hungry.
Were it not for the mystery of life, you and your children might be part of the 500 million. Every now and then “take a friend to lunch” by sending the cost of an afternoon meal to any local or overseas agency that brings hope to the hungry.
MSGR. ROBERT J. COLL
Executive Director
Interfaith Hunger Appeal
New York
