1. A Year to End Hunger: Ending the Politics behind World Hunger
By: Simi Atolagbe
University of Memphis
MPA Candidate
Spring 2010
A manmade disease called hunger Why people are still hungry in the 21st
continues to kill millions of children and Century?
adults, mothers and fathers, grandmothers and
grandfathers in both developed and The dilemma behind hunger is the politics
underdeveloped nation such as the United behind creating a feasible solution in ending
States, African, Indian and China. We have the number (one) killer of the human race.
been told that there are no solutions. Currently, This deadly disease (hunger) is not caused by
we live in the year 2010, and still continue to the lack of food or the lack of mean to
walk away instead of standing up to resolve distribute food. There is enough food that can
this problem. We have forgotten all of the be grown to feed the entire mouths of every
great works and wonders that we have living being. But because of corruptions, lack
accomplished. When we needed of motivation, lack of inspiration or lack of
transportation, did we not invent? When we responsibility for the human being, the
needed communication, did we not innovate? majority has turned our hearts away. For
Now, there are more than 1.02 billion people example:
deprived of food and millions of people dying • The majority of poverty stricken nations
from hunger every year. So why are we not export food to developed countries such as
using our talents to reinvent the tools that will the United States, Japan, Germany,
put hunger in our history books? France, and the United Kingdom. The
question we should ask ourselves is, how
Global statistics is that possible? Why do we continue to
buy food from poverty stricken nations
Below are global statistics on world such as China, India and Africa when they
hunger according to World Hunger Food are not feeding their own people? And
Programme1: then, we turn around and spend trillions of
• Every six seconds a child dies because of dollars in aids. These acts of kindness
hunger and related causes; sounds like a guilty conscience, not an act
of compassion. When we buy from them,
• The number of undernourished people in we are just as corrupt as their governments
the world increased by 75 million in 2007 and power heads that can care less of the
and 40 million in 2008, largely due to health and wellbeing of their nations.
higher food prices;
• Many arguments have been made in
• 907 million people in developing response to why people in both developed
countries alone are hungry; and and underdeveloped countries continue to
go hungry. A critic will argue that there is
• 10.9 million children under five die in no way to end hunger, and it is not our
developing countries each year. place to feed everyone. Others argue, if
Malnutrition and hunger-related diseases we keep feeding the hungry, they will
cause 60 percent of the deaths become dependent.
To some extent, some people are capable
of providing for themselves and their
families. However, many (children,
elderly, poverty stricken mothers, etc.) are
part of a group that is not capable of
1
Reference:
World
Hunger
Food
Programme.
Hunger
Stats.
[Data
file].
Retrieved
from
http://www.wfp.org/hunger/stats
Simisola Atolagbe Page 1 5/6/10

2. providing for themselves because of the transparency, and a voice for our fellow
system, laws, and regulations that are set human beings? The forum to end hunger will
in place by their governments and power seek to bring and work with passionate
heads. When we turn our backs, we are individuals (students, professionals,
killing future doctors and scientists, politicians, dictators, etc) who are willing to
mothers and fathers, friends and give their time, money, and/or talents in
motivators. helping to end hunger.
The next step is to bring stakeholders—
A word to the inventors and innovators UN, general public, Feeding American,
Hunger Project, other nonprofit organizations,
Unfortunately, there is going to be etc—from every corner of the world to the
opponents even when an idea is clear or even table. During these meetings, proposals of
when someone is simply trying to impact the each party will be tabled.
world positively. However, we cannot make At these meetings, the next step will be
room for critics to continue to build road to form workable solutions. A team of
blocks. We must stand up and act for the researchers and strategists who can invent
world. The idea that it is the government’s solutions will be listening and observing the
problem and that the hungry got the wrong end discussions among the stakeholders. At this
of the stick is completely off. We have spent time of information gathering, the entire world
trillions of dollars on a problem that is still will be viewing the segment via television,
present. We must put forth solutions that will radio, and Internet, and would have the
give room for food to become a necessity opportunity to influence the discussions. The
rather than a luxury. technological world will be used to its fullest
capacity; while, accountability and
Solution: A year to end hunger transparency will dominate the face of hunger
for the sake of humanity.
Many solutions have been suggested in The fourth stage of the process will
reducing hunger. One that has often been involve fundraising for implementing the
suggested is to expand the access of food to strategies that were recommended by the
everyone. In theory, that is a wonderful idea, forum. Citizens, public and private
but without full practice, it is unattainable. In corporations, small businesses, etc will all be
order to find a feasible solution to end hunger able to contribute to the foundation that will
in our era, we have to play the game of our appropriate the funds for implementing the
era. This is where the idea of a year to end solutions that were decided upon.
hunger comes in play. The final process of ending world
For this solution to become a reality, hunger will be to implement a task force that
several steps must be taken. First, mass will head approved projects in different
communication and technology are making regions of the world. I believe that the idea—a
dramatic impact in today’s society. The idea is year to end hunger— will allow us to work
to use technology and communication in together as one being to end hunger, which
getting a practical solution once and for all. will impact every life across the world.
Visualize, the two major—Facebook and
Twitter— social media and CNN—the world A healthy world
most recognized and credible broadcasting
station— endorsing a forum for one (1) year With the implementation of a year to
that will find workable solution(s) to end end hunger, the world can begin fighting other
hunger. social dilemma that is being faced across our
communities and nations. But we must first
Currently on televisions and Internet, end the root cause of the disease. When a soul
there are shows that are impacting the world. is nourished, it can become a valuable member
Some are positive, while others are negative. to the society. Thus, we valuable members, we
The question is why can we not have a have healthy economy, and with a healthy
program that seeks accountability, justice, economy, we have a happy world.
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