Obscenity of hunger in a world of plenty
Yet 800 million people go to bed hungry every night, 12 million die from hunger every year and over two billion suffer vitamin and mineral deficiencies that have serious health effects.
Supplementary food distribution and aid programmes run by Concern across the developing world can help but they are not the long term answers to solve the food crisis. Giving people the means and education to help themselves to build sustainable long-term livelihoods is the most credible route.
In Africa, agriculture remains the most important sector and productivity increases must underpin economic growth. Yet investment in agriculture research, at national and international level, has declined.
This must be reversed and African farmers provided with improved technology, relevant to their farming systems and fragile nature resource base.
The obscenity of hunger has to be eradicated.
How much would it cost? US$19 billion just slightly more than the US$17bn we in the EU/US spend on our pets' food in one year.
Things must change, otherwise millions will be condemned to death or live lives of wasted opportunity.
In a world of plenty is this cause for Concern? We think so.
Paddy Maguinness,
Director, External Relations,
Concern,
Camden Street,
Dublin 2.
