There is a killer among us. You can recognize it by its
growl.
One in every eight of us is affected, and it kills more
people than AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined. In fact, it causes nearly
half of all child deaths under five.
What is it?
Have you ever been so hungry that you said you were
starving? Dinner was a few hours late or you had to skip breakfast to make it
to school on time? I know the feeling. Trust me, I like to eat a lot. Just ask anyone that knows me.
But it wasn’t until I saw hunger first hand that I realized
the impact of our hyperboles. We’ve watered down the meaning of starvation to
the extent of a delayed meal. We’ve lost our grip of reality and we’re spiraling
off into the vacuum of elite luxury. We’re desensitizing ourselves to our very
own humanity.
Okay, I admit that it seems of a stretch. But is it really?
What will become of us if we lose the power of our words?
Starvation is a stab in the gut. It is untimely deaths. It
is unjust. It is not a word to be used lightly.
One of the fundamental basic needs is food. We need it to be
healthy, to work, and to sustain ourselves. Hunger has even been linked to
civil unrest. There can be no hope for a better world if there are hungry
people in it.
So why is this so relevant to me now? Because I have a face
and a name with the statistics. It isn’t some stranger halfway across the world
that is suffering; it is someone I know and love.
Don’t get me wrong. Those people halfway across the world
deserve care, attention, and dignity. We are all part of a global community and
we must look after each other regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender, and
sexual orientation. It just hits a lot closer to home when you know the people
involved. And that’s okay.
Let me explain her story. She is a wonderful woman with
three beautiful children. One of her children is very sick and must travel to
far-off and expensive cities to see a specialist. Just the transportion to one
city costs $350, which is an enormous sum considering a local field worker can
expect to earn around $10 a day. This woman has no idea how much the medicine
or the appointments will cost. She hopes her son will get better, but it is
possible he will live with his illness forever. The costly visits and
procedures will become a lifetime expense.
Her husband sought to find work in a city far away, but she
has yet to receive any money from him. She and her children miss him very much.
As of right now she has mounting bills, three children to take care of, and no
income other than the one day of work she can find.
I built a home for this family only two months ago. I
couldn’t understand how the situation could become so dire so quickly. But it
was when I inquired about the kids and I realized the extent of the troubles.
She told me her children are very sad when there is no food.
Horrified, I asked her how long it has been since there was no food. “Two
week,” she replied. I said that was a long time. She told me it wasn’t.
And that’s when it hit. It really isn’t. People can live an
entire lifetime without ever having feeling full. It is unacceptable that
people are forced to live their lives like this. It’s just wrong.
So what can we do about it? Lots, actually. Unlike most
threats to public health, there is a cure: proper nourishment. There is
currently enough food for everyone, it is just not equally distributed. And
there are tons of ways to get involved in the solution at a variety of levels.
Here are some that I’ve found.
Charity Miles:
Do you run, walk, or bike? You should! Every mile you tread
on foot will raise $0.25 for the charity of your choice, and $0.10 is raised
for every mile you pedal. Make sure you select the World Food Program (WFP) as
your charity of choice. Even just the walk to and from your bus stop can add up
and provide meals to those in need. It’s free for you and it takes minimal
effort. Just bring your smartphone with you on your route.
Free Rice:
Are you looking to improve yourself and end hunger? You can
choose a variety of subjects to choose from and each correct answer will donate
ten grains of rice to WFP. Get your kids or your students to work on their math,
grammar, or second language skills with this program. Every little bit
counts.
Donate Food/Time:
Hunger is just a problem abroad; it happens right here in
our own backyard. Donate to your local food bank and see the change in your own
community, or volunteer at a soup kitchen. Your time is just as valuable as
your money, if not more. Your presence acknowledges their struggles and lets
them know that they are important and of value. Never underestimate your
ability to affect someone’s life with a kind gesture or even a smile.
Sponsor
Child/Communities:
For only $39 a month (that’s less than one coffee at Tim’s
per day) you can sponsor a child and a community in need with World Vision.
Your money will be pooled into sustainable development efforts in the community
and you have the opportunity to start a one-on-one relationship with your
sponsor child through letters and/or small gifts. There are many other
organizations to sponsor children with or to donate to. You can also become a
monthly donor with UNICEF for as little as $5 a month or more. There are means
to donate at every budget level.
Eating Less Meat:
First off, I’m not saying meat is bad. Whether or not you
choose to eat it and however much you choose to consume is entirely up to you.
But hear me out: it takes many pounds of grain to produce one pound of meat.
The input-output ratio is not sustainable with food insecurity on the rise. And
according to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations we
will not be able to sustain the meat-heavy North American and European diets by
2050. This isn’t meant to kick-start a moral debate; it is just a presentation
of the facts. Consider taking up Meatless Mondays or even vegetarianism to make
your impact. The choice is up to you.
Educate and Advocate:
This is definitely the most important role you can play. We
can’t fix a problem without knowing or talking about it. Our liberties of free
speech and even our primary education put us in a position where we can speak
out about this injustice. Talk about it with your friends and family, and let
your government officials know that you want them to take a stand against
hunger and malnutrition. I truly believe that we can solve this problem if
enough people are active and vocal about it.
In sum, where or not your get involved is up to you. There
are so many different degrees to which you can devote yourself, and many of
them are free! I hope that at the bare minimum you choose to share this blog
with your friends and family to raise awareness about the issue. Imagine what
it would be like to tell our future generations that we were the ones that took
a stand against the villain we know as Hunger.
Lots of love,
Meagan <3
P.S. Thanks to the Live Different Emergency Fund and some
generous donors, the woman I mentioned can rest assured that she and her family
will be taken care of, and that her son will receive the treatment he needs. If
you are interested in helping out other families in unfortunate situations,
consider donating to Live Different or joining them on a Hero Holiday trip. It
is not about building a house or a school; it’s about building relationships
and changing yourself. I feel like I have received so much more from these
experiences than I could ever give back.
Resources:
http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/animalwelfare/the_impact_of_industrial_grain_fed_livestock_production_on_food_security_2012.pdf
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