Hunger, once again....

 

 

 

"I believe when we get to the end of life, a question will be addressed to all of us - 'Did you help feed my children?'"

This is a topic that will not go away. Nor should it. Our new Pope (Francis) is big on this issue, as well as other poverty topics. Once again though, we are forced to wade through facts and fiction. Oh yes, and the politics.

So let's see if we can get some immutable facts on the table:

Fact 1, World Hunger - As much as we would like to turn a blind eye to this global disgrace, we cannot. According to a 2013 Report on Hunger, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimates nearly 870 million people of the 7.1 billion people in the world, that is one in eight, are suffering from chronic undernourishment. That is a huge number - almost three times the entire population of the United States. Over 20,000 people die from hunger related causes each and every day - many of them children. The biggest increase in world hunger continues to be in the continent of Africa.

Fact 2, United States Hunger - This one is even harder to ignore since it is right at our doorstep. Lets for a minute, forget about EBT cards and the SNAP Program and talk just about hungry Americans. It is estimated there are 1 out of 6 American citizens that experience hunger or malnutrition. And that number keeps growing. Why? That of course, is up for debate. However, the unvarnished truth is this - we live in the world's bread basket,  and still 1 out of 6 of us experience some kind of hunger. Similar to world hunger, many of them are children.

Fact 3, World Food - This one is always the kicker. If we had so many hungry people because the world could not produce enough food, that would be one thing. But that is not the case. Again, according to a 2013 United Nations report on world hunger:

 

"The world produces enough food to feed everyone. World agriculture produces 17 percent more calories per person today than it did 30 years ago, despite a 70 percent population increase. This is enough to provide everyone in the world with at least 2,720 kilocalories  per person per day."  

By the way - much of the world's food is grown right here in the United States. Our Agra-business is second to none in the global economy. And every year it gets better, and more efficient.

As I have addressed before, the world does not have a resource problem with having enough to eat - the world has a distribution problem, caused in large part by poverty.

What can be done? First, if we are to continue programs like SNAP, they must be fixed. Right now SNAP is a mess and no longer has the confidence of many lawmakers nor citizens. Second, for those who contribute to well run private charities, thank you. The impact of these are huge. For those who do not, please consider doing so. Many of these charities have a tremendous track record of getting needed food and supplies to the right places quickly. This applies to both domestic and global hunger relief. Third, our local food shelves are truly a life line. We need to keep them stocked up all year long. Better strategies are needed for sustainable food replenishment. The last one is not talked about often. In this country, we need better food education. How to buy, what to buy, how to make meals more nutritious, and how to make them stretch more. Not the government doing this, but private volunteers.

I may not agree with everything Pope Francis has said, but I am lock step with him on this one - the world can do more, much, much more. Turning a blind eye or a deaf ear does not cut it anymore. These are our Brothers and Sisters. No matter the country, color of skin, religion or heritage, they are still part of us. If we truly want to live more like Jesus, this is a great place to start.