This is the reality of hunger in our world right now. Every day, 30,000 people die from not having enough to eat or from the diseases that result from a lack of food. Just over half of them – 16,000 is the estimate – are children. Imagine that there is enough food to go around, and that we have known, and named this problem for the last 35 years. Imagine that all it would take to address this injustice is political will - people telling their governments that hunger is simply not acceptable. This is the reality. We have traveled to Rome to tell the 190 government delegations gathered here that, in no uncertain terms, they must do better. We must do better…
How is it that we allow this to go on day after day? It's a simple question and it is the right one. This morning, we gathered with close to 150 other representatives of “civil society” representing farmers’ organizations, relief and development organizations, social movements and human rights groups to plan our strategy for the week ahead. In the midst of the many statements of outrage that our governments and the UN have allowed hunger to grow, Thomas Kocherry, a Catholic priest and representative for fisherfolk in India, challenged us all to move beyond radical statements of outrage towards a radical self-criticism. What is it that we have not done. It is a stinging challenge, and one that I will take very much to heart as I prepare to engage here this week. What is my place in all of this?
As we get ready for the opening ceremonies tomorrow and the many grand statements that we are sure to hear, this challenge to radical transformation and a genuine engagement of citizens around the globe in an effort to end hunger must give us hope. As Eduardo Galleano, a wise Latin American historian once said: We must postpone our pessimism for better times. This is our call to action.
Imagine ending hunger...
Kenton Lobe
At 11:42 AM, 
At 1:22 PM,
I hope - in the not too distant future - people will think of this generation in the same negative light that we think of the generations that tolerated slavery. This may sound perverse, but if my hope is realized, that would mean people finally woke up to the injustice of hunger and decided to end it.
I've been thinking lately that maybe it's not just "political will" that is required to end global hunger. It seems that economic forces that operate outside of the direct control of political entities may actually have more impact on the underlying causes of poverty and hunger than explicit political policies and actions. Transnational corporations are even less accountable than governments. Even with political will, can politicians reign in the transnationals?
And, when we get right down to it, can we - the consumers of the products of the transnational global economy - reign in our own appetites for more products at "affordable" prices? The fact is, the environment cannot sustaing the standard of living we enjoy in North America. Until we are ready to demand less for ourselves so that others may have more, perhaps it's not totally fair to blame either government or business...
Something hopeful from a Hopi elder, that has floated onto my desk, and may be of encouragement, a twist on this self-centred reality of ours:
"There is a river flowing now very fast.It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid.They will try to hold on to the shore. They will feel they are being torn apart and will suffer greatly. Know the river has its destination.The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above water. And I say, see who is in there with you and celebrate.
At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally.Least of all, ourselves.For the moment that we do, our spiritual journey and growth come to a halt....Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary.
....We are the one we've been waiting for."
- be well out there!