Hunger

Happy Thanksgiving!

On November 25, 2009, in Hunger, by RSR
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I just made an extra Thanksgiving donation to the United Nations World Food Program. Would you please consider making one too. Donating is easy – you can even us PayPal – and if you chose, you can set up a recurring contribution. The costs of feeding the worlds hungry people are surprisingly small and we can end hunger if everyone will share just a little of what they have.

The food price crisis, dubbed a “silent tsunami” for the world’s poor, is far from over. A recent study revealed that food prices are higher than they were 12 months ago in 46 developing countries. In nine of the countries, food prices are the highest on record.

The current economic crisis, first felt in developed nations, is now impacting on developing nations too. People living in these regions have much less to cushion the blow of an economic downturn and hunger is on the increase.

The combination of high food prices and the economic downturn has the makings of a humanitarian crisis.

In the Horn of Africa, where climate change is aggravating the situation, the effects of the two crises are especially harsh. And as the global economic and financial crises compound the food crisis, hunger and malnutrition are likely to increase further.

 

A Billion for A Billion

On November 14, 2009, in Hunger, by RSR
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Pardon me if I take time out from my core mission here of needling Congressman Roskam.  This important.

This year, for the first time in human history, there are over a billion people who are chronically hungry. Available government support for U.N. food programs in no longer adequate to meet the growing demands. All of us need to step up and help.

The United Nations World food Programme’s  Billion for a Billion campaign, aimed especially at the billion internet users in the world, is based on the idea that many people doing a little can shift mountains — or, in this case, help eradicate hunger. If a billion people give one euro or US$1.50 a week, we can feed all the hungry people in the world. WFP’s Executive Director, Josette Sheeran says that the campaign is is designed to make a link between the “on-line haves” and the “have nots,” demonstrating how small actions or donations can make a huge difference to the lives of the hungry poor:

“Citizen action has abolished slavery, given women the right to vote, and helped to ban the use of landmines across much of our planet.In the month when we are marking the role of ordinary people in bringing about the fall of the Berlin wall, why shouldn’t we draw on that inspiration and try to harness the power of individual action to feed the world’s hungriest people?”

You can visit the Billion for a Billion campaign here to set up a recurring donation. (You too, Peter. I just made mine). I hope all my readers will participate.

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