Saturday, June 28, 2008
Too much water - and other disasters
I was looking at pictures of flooded Iowa today and was awestruck by the destructive power of too much water. I've blogged about how important water is to life. But it's amazing how you can have too much of a good thing. So much land completely under water, killing the crops and destroying livelihoods. Between floods, tornadoes, and wildfires, it's been a rough month or two in the United States.
How many people's lives have been altered by nature in the past couple of months? And how many of them have the means to recover? Some are insured, have savings, and other support structures. Reconstructing their fractured lives will be difficult and emotional, to be sure, but largely a matter of time. But those living at or near poverty before disaster struck are facing a whole different reality. Disasters destroy homes, leaving some with nowhere to live. Disasters close businesses, sometimes permanently, causing loss of employment and income. Disasters interrupt health care treatment, making it difficult (or impossible) to tackle the work of recovering. Disaster interrupt education. For those who were struggling to stay in school in the first place, it can be difficult to go back. In the short term, disaster can destroy local food supplies and roadways, making short term hunger very real for everyone. But longer term, especially in rural areas, those who relied on gardens for even some of their food face new and unwelcome challenges.
The list of ways that natural disasters exacerbate the conditions for hunger and poverty go on; I've mentioned just a few. Knowing how many disasters the United States has had already this year, I wonder what the longer-term effect will be. How many who were living on the edge of poverty will now be solidly in it? The U.S. Census Bureau provides annual data about poverty in this country. It will be interesting to see how 2008 compares to 2007.
How many people's lives have been altered by nature in the past couple of months? And how many of them have the means to recover? Some are insured, have savings, and other support structures. Reconstructing their fractured lives will be difficult and emotional, to be sure, but largely a matter of time. But those living at or near poverty before disaster struck are facing a whole different reality. Disasters destroy homes, leaving some with nowhere to live. Disasters close businesses, sometimes permanently, causing loss of employment and income. Disasters interrupt health care treatment, making it difficult (or impossible) to tackle the work of recovering. Disaster interrupt education. For those who were struggling to stay in school in the first place, it can be difficult to go back. In the short term, disaster can destroy local food supplies and roadways, making short term hunger very real for everyone. But longer term, especially in rural areas, those who relied on gardens for even some of their food face new and unwelcome challenges.
The list of ways that natural disasters exacerbate the conditions for hunger and poverty go on; I've mentioned just a few. Knowing how many disasters the United States has had already this year, I wonder what the longer-term effect will be. How many who were living on the edge of poverty will now be solidly in it? The U.S. Census Bureau provides annual data about poverty in this country. It will be interesting to see how 2008 compares to 2007.
Labels: flood, hunger, natural disaster, poverty, water
Monday, April 21, 2008
The solution lies within the problem
I did a Web search recently, typing in phrases like “definition of hunger.” It was interesting in the vast worldwide Web the lack of coherent information I found on such a broad topic. I received the obligatory links to Merriam-Webster.com and other encyclopedic or dictionary-based sites, but only one source (at quick glance) led me past a one- or two-line description of what hunger is.
I discovered a report entitled “The Concept and Definition of Hunger and Its Relationship to Food Insecurity” by David H. Holben, PhD, RD, LD on the Web site of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). The NAS is an honor society of distinguished scholars—many of whom are Nobel Prize winners—doing scientific and engineering research to increase our general welfare. It was born during the Civil War and signed into existence by President Lincoln with the Act of Incorporation. Its research is valued so highly by the U.S. government that Congress and the White House have issued legislation and executive orders to reaffirm its unique role.
This report cites such definitions of hunger as “the uneasy or painful sensation caused by a lack of food” or “the recurrent and involuntary lack of access to food.” These definitions are not groundbreaking. But what strikes me is the lesser-discussed definition of hunger within the circles we walk: “a strong desire for something.”
Sometimes the solution lies within the problem.
Making the news again lately are the dirt cookies that people in Haiti eat because of the rising cost of food and people’s growing inability to afford it, turning to government protest and acts of desperation. So what is it in us that hungers to combat this problem? If we have a “strong desire” to end world hunger, then we cannot help but be hungry ourselves: hungry for justice, hungry for socioeconomic changes, hungry for progress in the movement to end world hunger once and for all!
Among those who work to end this pandemic, it is a fine line to walk to say we, too, should be “hungry.” But if we aren’t, then the people we advocate for will be.
I discovered a report entitled “The Concept and Definition of Hunger and Its Relationship to Food Insecurity” by David H. Holben, PhD, RD, LD on the Web site of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). The NAS is an honor society of distinguished scholars—many of whom are Nobel Prize winners—doing scientific and engineering research to increase our general welfare. It was born during the Civil War and signed into existence by President Lincoln with the Act of Incorporation. Its research is valued so highly by the U.S. government that Congress and the White House have issued legislation and executive orders to reaffirm its unique role.
This report cites such definitions of hunger as “the uneasy or painful sensation caused by a lack of food” or “the recurrent and involuntary lack of access to food.” These definitions are not groundbreaking. But what strikes me is the lesser-discussed definition of hunger within the circles we walk: “a strong desire for something.”
Sometimes the solution lies within the problem.
Making the news again lately are the dirt cookies that people in Haiti eat because of the rising cost of food and people’s growing inability to afford it, turning to government protest and acts of desperation. So what is it in us that hungers to combat this problem? If we have a “strong desire” to end world hunger, then we cannot help but be hungry ourselves: hungry for justice, hungry for socioeconomic changes, hungry for progress in the movement to end world hunger once and for all!
Among those who work to end this pandemic, it is a fine line to walk to say we, too, should be “hungry.” But if we aren’t, then the people we advocate for will be.
--Aaron Cooper is Writer-Editor for ELCA World Hunger
Labels: definition of hunger, ELCA World Hunger, hunger
Friday, February 29, 2008
Scandalous!
I’m in Wausau, Wisconsin where I’ve had the great pleasure of hearing Pastor Lisandro Orlov speak today. Pastor Lisandro is from Argentina and is the Latin American regional coordinator for the Lutheran World Federation HIV/AIDS campaign. He said a lot of intriguing and challenging things about the relationship between the church and those in the world who are stigmatized and excluded. A few statements, in particular, really stood out for me. These aren’t exact quotes, but they are close:
- Be more than the boundary established in your culture.
- My job each Sunday is to scandalize my parish.
- Be a sanctuary for the dignity of all people.
Pastor Lisandro was emphasizing that living the Gospel is not easy. It can mean walking with people and in places that are unfamiliar, uncomfortable, and sometimes unacceptable to people around you. But it’s also incredibly important, enriching, and ultimately just.
I love these ideas and how they relate to our work in World Hunger. Building relationships with those who live in poverty is not particularly comfortable to many of us who live in relative wealth. But our lives are enriched through such relationships. And a mutual, real understanding of each other is critical for building the trust and structures and processes necessary for ending poverty. We also need to get more people involved. To get the attention and support we need to make real changes, we often have to push others out of their comfort zones, too. Sometimes, we must speak truth to power, which is not easy or safe. But in doing these difficult things, what if we, by our actions, become a sanctuary for the dignity of all people? Picture that: sanctuary for the dignity of all people. I can’t imagine a better legacy for a life, or a better display of the divine.
Labels: AIDS, HIV, hunger, Lisandro Orlov
Saturday, February 16, 2008
The Road Untravelable
This winter has been brutal for the roads in Chicago. Huge temperature swings and plenty of snow and ice are crumbling the concrete. My commute to work has become an obstacle course of potholes. There are two strategies for navigating the course: 1) slow down and drive through the potholes, hoping you're not causing too much damage to your suspension and tires, or 2) slow down and weave around - in your lane and out of it - to avoid hitting them. In the end, you do both, and so does everyone else. The main results are that it takes longer to get anywhere, and all the swerving makes driving scarier than usual. I'm guessing the mechanics are doing a better business than usual, too.
Winter-ravaged roads are a great illustration of their importance. If you don't have good roads, life is harder. Poor road conditions mean it's difficult to receive or send goods. Remote villages the world over experience poverty and hunger, partly due to the roads. When roads are badly rutted, frequently muddy, washed out, or in some other form of disrepair, vehicles trying to pass will have to go slowly and are likely to sustain damage. If you're a business person trying to deliver goods, you'll have to raise your prices to compensate for the time, fuel, and maintenance costs. Schedules may be irregular depending on when you can get through and how long it takes. If the goods being delivered are perishable, and if delivery schedules are dependent on road conditions and whether or not a truck breaks down, villagers may face perpetual shortages. And to top it all off, once the goods arrive, villagers may not be able to afford them. The suppliers must raise prices to cover their transportation costs, which may make the items too expensive for the small incomes of remote villagers. If suppliers are unable to sell their goods, they are likely to stop coming altogether.
This road is a two-way street (a little infrastructure humor, there). The transportation challenges are true for the villager trying to sell outside the village, too. The costs required to get goods or people to other markets may raise prices to such a degree that the villager can't compete. The remote village is cut off from larger markets that can increase incomes, create jobs, and improve standards of living. Poverty and hunger become more common.
All of this about roads, and they are only one aspect of infrastructure! It still amazes me, sometimes, how many factors contribute to poverty and hunger. But if there's a bright side, it's that all these factors mean there are lots of ways to approach solutions, too.
Winter-ravaged roads are a great illustration of their importance. If you don't have good roads, life is harder. Poor road conditions mean it's difficult to receive or send goods. Remote villages the world over experience poverty and hunger, partly due to the roads. When roads are badly rutted, frequently muddy, washed out, or in some other form of disrepair, vehicles trying to pass will have to go slowly and are likely to sustain damage. If you're a business person trying to deliver goods, you'll have to raise your prices to compensate for the time, fuel, and maintenance costs. Schedules may be irregular depending on when you can get through and how long it takes. If the goods being delivered are perishable, and if delivery schedules are dependent on road conditions and whether or not a truck breaks down, villagers may face perpetual shortages. And to top it all off, once the goods arrive, villagers may not be able to afford them. The suppliers must raise prices to cover their transportation costs, which may make the items too expensive for the small incomes of remote villagers. If suppliers are unable to sell their goods, they are likely to stop coming altogether.
This road is a two-way street (a little infrastructure humor, there). The transportation challenges are true for the villager trying to sell outside the village, too. The costs required to get goods or people to other markets may raise prices to such a degree that the villager can't compete. The remote village is cut off from larger markets that can increase incomes, create jobs, and improve standards of living. Poverty and hunger become more common.
All of this about roads, and they are only one aspect of infrastructure! It still amazes me, sometimes, how many factors contribute to poverty and hunger. But if there's a bright side, it's that all these factors mean there are lots of ways to approach solutions, too.
Labels: hunger, infrastructure, poverty, roads
Monday, February 11, 2008
$35.9 BILLION spent on pets. Seriously!
Talk about an affluent society! According to the February 4th edition of Time Magazine, Americans spent $35.9 billion on their pets in 2005. $35.9 billion! I contributed to that, and I don't even own a pet! (My brother-in-law's dogs get Christmas presents, too.)
I've got nothing against pets. I can understand that Fluffy has an important place in the family, and deserves to be fed and vaccinated. It's just that, so do people. My point is simply this: If we can fork out $35.9 billion for our pets - just one category of discretionary spending - can't we do better in making sure everyone has enough to eat? And if so many of us are willing to take on the responsibility of caring for pets (and, boy, are we willing!), can't we do the same for people?
Just think about it. If Americans gave as much money to one poverty-fighting group (may I suggest the ELCA World Hunger Appeal?) as they spent on their pets in a year, it would create an organization nearly the size of the Gates Foundation. Think what we could accomplish...
I've got nothing against pets. I can understand that Fluffy has an important place in the family, and deserves to be fed and vaccinated. It's just that, so do people. My point is simply this: If we can fork out $35.9 billion for our pets - just one category of discretionary spending - can't we do better in making sure everyone has enough to eat? And if so many of us are willing to take on the responsibility of caring for pets (and, boy, are we willing!), can't we do the same for people?
Just think about it. If Americans gave as much money to one poverty-fighting group (may I suggest the ELCA World Hunger Appeal?) as they spent on their pets in a year, it would create an organization nearly the size of the Gates Foundation. Think what we could accomplish...
Labels: affluence, discretionary spending, hunger, pets
Thursday, January 24, 2008
There's no fatuity in freerice.com
The first thing you have to know about me is that I love words. So it's no surprise that I'm taken with a Web site that combines vocabulary and donating food. But if you look at the numbers and the press, I'm clearly not the only one who think's Free Rice is pretty cool.
Free Rice is a site that quizzes you on vocabulary. (I learned "fatuity" today!)Each time you select the correct definition of a word, 20 grains of rice are donated to countries in need through the United Nations World Food Programme. Little pictures show the amount of rice you've earned growing in a bowl, and as you gain more, it moves to the side in bundles. In addition to tracking your rice donation, it also gives you a vocabulary score. The words it presents get harder the better you do, and your score goes up and down depending on your performance.
Well. It didn't take long for me to get sucked into this game. And I took a coworker down with me! It's a surprisingly effective time-eater (your employer will love it)! My coworker and I ended up competing. His strategy was speed - answer quickly and earn rice. But loving words as I do, I couldn't bear to not at least try to get the answers right. It slowed me down, so he won the donation competition. But I got a higher vocabulary score, so I could at least feel smarter! :-)
Anyway, it's fun and I recommend it. If you want to know more about it in general, NPR did a short piece. And apparently if you're preparing for the SAT's, you really shouldn't miss it. Have fun!
Free Rice is a site that quizzes you on vocabulary. (I learned "fatuity" today!)Each time you select the correct definition of a word, 20 grains of rice are donated to countries in need through the United Nations World Food Programme. Little pictures show the amount of rice you've earned growing in a bowl, and as you gain more, it moves to the side in bundles. In addition to tracking your rice donation, it also gives you a vocabulary score. The words it presents get harder the better you do, and your score goes up and down depending on your performance.
Well. It didn't take long for me to get sucked into this game. And I took a coworker down with me! It's a surprisingly effective time-eater (your employer will love it)! My coworker and I ended up competing. His strategy was speed - answer quickly and earn rice. But loving words as I do, I couldn't bear to not at least try to get the answers right. It slowed me down, so he won the donation competition. But I got a higher vocabulary score, so I could at least feel smarter! :-)
Anyway, it's fun and I recommend it. If you want to know more about it in general, NPR did a short piece. And apparently if you're preparing for the SAT's, you really shouldn't miss it. Have fun!
Labels: freerice.com, hunger
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Hunger resources to feed the soul during Lent
Hi, folks! My first post on "Hunger Rumblings" is very practical in nature, as it's time to order resources for Lent, as Ash Wednesday is February 6. Help your congregation, Sunday School class, circle, committee or other group "take on" for Lent...a journey to feed the soul to gain courage and commitment to feed the hungry. Blessings on your heads! Sue-s
1. ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal's "God's Math" 40-day plus calendar and coin box.
40-day calendar: Free. ISBN 978-6-0002-2015-0; 1 pkg=25 calendars.
Coin box: Free. ISBN 978-6-0002-2004-2; 1 pkg=25 boxes.
Request these and other ELCA World Hunger materials by calling Augsburg Fortress at 800/328-4648, visiting the online store at www.augsburgfortress.org/elcahunger, or by visiting www.elca.org/hunger/resources
2. The ELCA World Hunger Lenten Fellowship Leader's Guide, pp. 7--11 of the Advent 2007--Easter 2008 edition of ELCA World Hunger Congregation Connections. Find these pages online at http://www.elca.org/hunger/resources/hungerguide.html or request a free copy of Congregation Connections (ISBN 978-6-0002-2013-6) by calling 800/328-4648 or by visiting the online store at www.augsburgfortress.org/elcahunger
3. Order Eco-palms by February 20 for Palm/Passion Sunday.
Visit www.lwr.org/palms to order.
4. Sign up and receive daily environmental Lenten devotions online.
Subscribe to the ELCA's daily 2008 environmental Lentenreflections, "Living Earth: A 40-Day Reflection on OurRelationship With God's Creation" at www.elca.org/advocacy
This is a limited subscription; the first e-mail will arrive onAsh Wednesday and the last e-mail will arrive Easter Sunday.
1. ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal's "God's Math" 40-day plus calendar and coin box.
40-day calendar: Free. ISBN 978-6-0002-2015-0; 1 pkg=25 calendars.
Coin box: Free. ISBN 978-6-0002-2004-2; 1 pkg=25 boxes.
Request these and other ELCA World Hunger materials by calling Augsburg Fortress at 800/328-4648, visiting the online store at www.augsburgfortress.org/elcahunger, or by visiting www.elca.org/hunger/resources
2. The ELCA World Hunger Lenten Fellowship Leader's Guide, pp. 7--11 of the Advent 2007--Easter 2008 edition of ELCA World Hunger Congregation Connections. Find these pages online at http://www.elca.org/hunger/resources/hungerguide.html or request a free copy of Congregation Connections (ISBN 978-6-0002-2013-6) by calling 800/328-4648 or by visiting the online store at www.augsburgfortress.org/elcahunger
3. Order Eco-palms by February 20 for Palm/Passion Sunday.
Visit www.lwr.org/palms to order.
4. Sign up and receive daily environmental Lenten devotions online.
Subscribe to the ELCA's daily 2008 environmental Lentenreflections, "Living Earth: A 40-Day Reflection on OurRelationship With God's Creation" at www.elca.org/advocacy
This is a limited subscription; the first e-mail will arrive onAsh Wednesday and the last e-mail will arrive Easter Sunday.
Labels: Congregation Connections, eco-palms, ELCA, environment, God's Math, hunger, Lent, Lent resources
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