UN World Food Day - October 16th.

"I have the audacity to believe that people everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education culture for the minds and dignity, equality and freedom for the spirits."

Martin Luther King Jr.

Today is World Food Day

Which is held annually on Oct. 16 to commemorate the founding of the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1945.

The program is aimed at leaders of political and non-political organizations at all levels and at increasing press attention on topical issues around food supply. Across the globe, many different events are organized to raise awareness of problems in food supply and distribution.

I have never gone to bed hungry – have you?

There have been days when I didn’t know what was going to be available to eat but there was always something on hand. Maybe a baked potato, beans on toast or fruit.

I have been in countries where I personally witnessed the hunger of the people. I lived in a village in El Salvador, where food was provided to a few by the Canadian Food Program. They made dried corn (for tortillas), and dried beans available to the families and this was their every day diet. Occasionally rice was available and was considered a luxury. Each family received the same portions, which were meticulously shared. The water was also contaminated with chemicals from local (US) factories in this particular area and many of the children were ill and dying.

In India, I lived for a while in the Dalit community (formerly known as the Untouchables). All of the people were extremely thin and the children were hollow eyed. In that community they were eating potatoes and cauliflower when that was in season. The water was also contaminated in that area.

The United States has adopted a 3.5 billion dollar plan to fight world hunger as part of 20-billion-dollar pledges made by the world's richest nations at a Group of Eight meeting in Italy in July of this year.

The United States Department of Agriculture is currently working with several organizations to improve agricultural technology use and productivity in Africa and other poor regions in order to promote hardier crops for healthier people.

Meanwhile at home, USDA's food and nutrition programs are helping to feed millions of low-income Americans. Thanks to increased funding, more children are receiving free or reduced-price breakfasts and lunches, more mothers and infants are receiving nutritional assistance and nearly six million more people are receiving food stamps than five years ago.

Now that I live in the United States I currently volunteer with three local food programs where it is evident to me that the need has increased and that even more people are in need of food. The three programs are independent of each other and at each one the number of people who line up for food has increased. Don’t let the size of some people fool you either, often the adults and children are overweight due to extremely poor nourishment and nutrition with starches being their main source of food.

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Children are the most vulnerable to nutritional deficits and the first to succumb when there is not enough food to go around. The Government of Ethiopia estimates that 75,000 children under the age of five live with severe acute malnutrition. And 25 to 50 percent of children with severe acute malnutrition are likely to die if they don't receive proper treatment.

Bringing international attention to the plight of these children and the benefits of the therapeutic feeding programs can help save lives!

How can you help?

* Write a post on your blog or profile page about the conditions in Ethiopia.

* Explain to your friends and family, book group or social club how malnourishment is affecting Ethiopian children.

* Send this pledge to at least five friends so they can keep spreading the word!

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One sixth of the world’s population goes to bed hungry.

What are you doing to help?

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"Never before has man had such capacity to control his own environment, to end thirst and hunger to conquer poverty and disease, to banish illiteracy and massive human misery."

John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Thoughts on Hunger and Poverty

When Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke of "beloved community" he was describing the ultimate goal of non-violent activism for peace and justice -- a global community of caring where poverty, hunger and injustice are no more.

Poster by Silk Oak - Syracuse Cultural Workers

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October 17, 2010 was recognized as the

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

The theme this year is "From Poverty to Decent Work: bridging the gap"

At this time we have more of our human family suffering from the unnecessary evil of hunger than ever before in the history of our planet.

There are millions of residents in the United States who go hungry every day. Children are going to school without breakfast, senior citizens have to decide whether to buy medicine or food and many parents are working two jobs in order to survive.

The most basic principle is the belief in the dignity of the human person. Each person is created in the image of God. Each person is precious. When we close our eyes to our neighbor we close our eyes to God. In this human family no one ought to go without the necessities of life.

Globally, over 1.1 billon people will not get enough food today. Please think about them today. Pray for them today. Then take the time to do something positive on their behalf.

Tell someone about the plight of the hungry.

Make a donation to an organization working to feed the hungry.

Volunteer to help feed the hungry at a local shelter or soup kitchen.

Contact your elected representatives to encourage them to support legislation favoring those who are hungry in a world of plenty.

Don’t let this day slip by without making a difference on behalf of the hungry.

If each of us simply does what we can, right where we are, using whatever resources we have, we can erase the obscenity of hunger in our lifetime.

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How marvelous is your world O Lord!

You have given us the grains of the fields, the water from the seas to sustain and feed us.

Help us to be good stewards, to care for the gift we have been given, to ensure that all have enough to eat.

As we gather today open our hearts and minds to your wisdom.

Remind us that whatever we do for those who are hungry, we do for you.

Lord, hear our prayer

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"I have the audacity to believe that people everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education culture for the minds and dignity, equality and freedom for the spirits."

Martin Luther King Jr.

The 2010 commemoration will take place today at

United Nations Headquarters in New York.

On this day I urge you to take at least one of the actions listed above

and help to eradicate hunger and poverty.

peacesojourner