Skip to content
ELCA Blogs

ELCA World Hunger

ELCA Blogs / ELCA World Hunger / Thirst in a Hungry World: 10 Facts about Water

Thirst in a Hungry World: 10 Facts about Water

Teri Mueller

Water is closely related to hunger, disaster, and poverty. Take a look at the 10 facts below to learn more!

  1. A lot of water is used to produce foods that we often take for granted. Consider that it takes 200 liters to produce a glass of milk, 70 liters to produce an apple, 140 liters to produce a cup of coffee, and 2,400 liters to produce a hamburger.1
  2. The total amount of water generally needed to produce food for one person for one day ranges from 2,000 to 5,000 liters.2
  3. Humans are able to use only about 1% of the 70% of the earth that is covered by water.3
  4. Water is closely connected to food security as agriculture is responsible for 70% of the water that is withdrawn by the agricultural, municipal and industrial sectors.4
  5. It is estimated that there will be a 19% increase in agricultural water consumption by 2050 due to population growth.5
  6. Progress has been made as advances in access to drinking water have occurred over the past few decades. The World Health Organization reports, “By the end of 2012, 89% of the global population used improved drinking water sources, a rise of 13 percentage points in 22 years or 2.3 billion people.”6
  7. However, approximately 780 million people in the world still do not have access to clean drinking water. One third live in Africa and around 130 million live in Latin America and the Caribbean.7
  8. Contaminated water still plays a part in 80 percent of all worldwide sickness and disease.7
  9. Children are hit especially hard by not having clean water. Shortages account for the daily deaths of more than 3,000 children under the age of five. These children die every day due to water-related illnesses like diarrhea.8
  10. Between the 1970s and 2005, the percentage of the Earth that experienced serious drought more than doubled.7

Interested in helping with water issues in our world? Check out options that are available in the Good Gifts catalog!

Would you like to subscribe to the ELCA World Hunger blog?  Click here to enter your email address on the homepage.

Teri Mueller is an intern with ELCA World Hunger.

  1. “Water and Hunger,” The Water Project, http://thewaterproject.org/hunger
  2. “Water and Hunger,” The Voss Foundation, http://www.vossfoundation.org/therippleeffect/water-and-hunger/
  3. “Water Supply in the U.S.,” United States Environmental Protection Agency,http://www.epa.gov/watersense/pubs/supply.html
  4. “Water for Food,” U.N. Water, http://www.unwater.org/topics/water-and-food/en/
  5. “Water for Food PDF,” U.N. Water,http://www.unwater.org/fileadmin/user_upload/unwater_new/docs/water_for_food.pdf
  6. “WHO/UNICEF highlight need to further reduce gaps in access to improved drinking water and sanitation,” World Health Organization, http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2014/jmp-report/en/
  7. “Water Facts,” Food and Water Watch, https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/water/interesting-water-facts/
  8. “World Water Day 2013: How Shortages Affect Women, Kids, Hunger (And What You Can Do),” The Huffington Post,http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/22/world-water-day-2013-facts_n_2927389.html

Myths and Realities about Water Shutoffs in Detroit

Ryan P. Cumming

Access to clean water has long been a concern of ELCA World Hunger.  Together, we have supported our companion churches with projects like wells, knowing that ending hunger means not only having food but also having clean and safe water for washing fruit and vegetables, cooking, drinking, and sanitation.  God taught Moses to sanitize the waters of Marah (Exodus 15:25) and graced God’s people with water from the rock (Exodus 17:1-7).  Clearly, the basic need of water for life is never far from God’s attention, nor from ours as the people of God.

shutterstock_198729194

But even as we focus on the need for water in the developing world, we can often miss the problems people in the US face in accessing water.  Lately, more attention has been on this issue since the news media have taken up the story of water shutoffs in Detroit.  Last year, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) ramped up efforts to shut water off to homes with delinquent accounts.  By this spring, the shutoffs had increased exponentially, with more than 7,500 homes losing access in April and May 2014, and DWSD threatening to shut off up to 3,000 more customers each week this summer.  This comes as Detroit is in the midst of the largest municipal bankruptcy in US history.

Thankfully, the department has responded to criticism and halted the shutoffs – at least for now.  Yet, there was so much misinformation and misinterpretation about the crisis, that it is difficult to see what this meant for Detroit residents – and what it means for the rest of us.  Below are some of the myths and realities about the Detroit water shutoffs.

Myth #1 – This is about residents refusing to pay the bills they owe.

Reality – The municipal water department in Detroit had no intention of holding its worst delinquents accountable.  Until public opposition got in the way.

DWSD has argued that shutting off water to customers is the only way to force residents to pay the nearly $100 million dollars owed to the department.  However, while 39,000 households had their water shutoff within the last year, DWSD has only recently – after significant community pressure – begun sending notices to the 22,735 commercial accounts that are delinquent.  And these businesses and agencies owe quite a bit more than the few hundred dollars homeowners are behind (see this April report from local news WDIV):

  • Ford Field (home of the Detroit Lions) – $55,803 [1]
  • Eastern Market – $60,911
  • Joe Louis Arena (home of the Detroit Red Wings) – $80,255
  • Veterans Administration hospital – $131,006
  • Vargo Golf (Oakland County golf course management firm) – $437,714
  • State of Michigan – $5,000,000

Recently, DWSD has started sending shutoff notices to commercial customers, but this appears to have been the result of public outcry rather than original intent.  In fact, the contractor hired by DWSD to shut water off was not even equipped to shut off commercial customers.  And residents are still waiting for these large businesses to lose their access to water.

 

Myth #2 – This is about a municipal department trying to pay its bills.

Reality – This is an attempt to create opportunities for profit by shaming and harming over-burdened households.

On the one hand, yes, the department needs money to function, and this money comes from customers paying for a service.

On the other hand, DWSD issued $1.16 billion in bonds in 2011-2012 to pay for its aging infrastructure.  According toBloomberg Businessweek, more than $500 million of this was given to banks like JP Morgan Chase to terminate financial agreements.  In fact, as Detroit was heading for bankruptcy, JP Morgan Chase made money on the swap.

This goes a step further, though.  In June 2014, Detroit Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr reviewed several bids to privatizethe Detroit water department, making way for private companies to operate and manage the public service.  As The Guardian reports, the shut-off campaign comes as this shift toward privatization gains momentum, leading many to believe that residents are losing water to make the utility a more attractive entity for investors.

We should also bear in mind that Detroiters currently pay twice the national average for water services and are facing yet another rate hike.  In 2009, the rates paid by Detroiters were substantially higher than the rates paid by suburban residents, many of whom get their water from Detroit.  At that time, the average water and sewage bill in Detroit was $62.75; in the suburbs, it was $26.56.[2] And this is in a city sharing a border with the source of nearly 1/5 of the world’s surface freshwater.

 

Myth #3 – Customers have the money; they just don’t want to pay.

Reality – Yes, customers have the money, though typically it might go to other luxuries – like food.

DWSD officials have argued that the shut-off campaign has been a success since as many as 60% of delinquent accounts have been paid.  That figure, however, obscures the reality that many people are paying their water bills with money that would go to other needs like food, health care, or transportation.

Detroit has an excessively high rate of poverty.  Over 38% of residents live the below the federal poverty line ($23,850 per year for a family of four).   The unemployment rate has fallen from a high of nearly 28% in 2010 to nearly 15% in 2014 – still more than twice the national average.  Homes in the city – usually the single largest asset for individuals and families – sell for less than a new car.  With delinquent water bills running into the thousands of dollars, many families simply cannot get caught up without assistance.

 

Myth #4 – This a local issue; no one outside Detroit is affected.

Reality – Detroit is the latest example of a shift toward privatization of water services and, some fear, commodification of water itself.

As researchers from Georgetown University Law Center pointed out in an April 2013 report, “In the United States today, the goal of universal water service is slipping out of reach.”

The distressing reality is that this is merely one example of what some see as a gradual shift from viewing water as a public good to viewing it as a private commodity, available only or mostly to those with the means to pay for it.  Many cite examples like Bolivia, which, in the late 1990s, was forced to lease its water supply to Bechtel, a multinational corporation that doubled water rates within a few years, leaving many Bolivians paying nearly a quarter of their income for water.

The World Bank famously declared in a 2000 sourcebook on Africa, “Work is still needed with political leaders in some national governments to move away from the concept for free water for all…” (see Gernot Kohler and Emilio José Chaves,Globalization: Critical Perspectives, page 200).  The World Bank, of course, was the entity that forced Bolivia to lease its water system to Bechtel.  As communities continue to grow and water use continues to expand, more and more companies see the opportunity for profit in privatizing water supplies, regardless of the “large-scale and long-term risks and harms”posed by privatization.

But this isn’t limited to other countries.  In the US, cities and states are increasingly turning toward private corporations to operate or manage their water systems, and multinational corporations are seeking water rights for bottling, shipping overseas, and agricultural and industrial uses.

What has privatization looked like in the US?  Ask Atlanta, Ga., residents whose water ran brown and had to be boiled often after private firm United Water cut jobs and training for employees once it took over the city’s water supply.  Even when they are not providing unsanitary water, private firms raise rates, fail to ensure long-term sustainability of infrastructure, and do little to prevent the degradation of the interconnected water systems within a region, according to Craig Anthony Arnold, Boehl Chair in Property and Land Use and Professor of Law at the University of Louisville.

 

Myth #5 – This is not about race.

Reality – To ignore race is to miss the entire background against which this situation plays out.

Almost half of the Black citizens of Michigan are living under non-democratically elected “overseers with little say in the governments nearest them.”  Legislation passed by the disproportionately white state government allowed the governor of Michigan to appoint emergency managers in cities under financial distress.  These managers have more power than locally elected officials and are not accountable to the voting citizens of the area.  Of the eight municipalities that have been or are under emergency management, six have been majority-black cities.  This is despite the reality that many majority-white cities in Michigan face as bad – if not worse – financial distress, according to reports.

Even if the governor begins to correct discrimination in this process, there is a legacy of racist policies and processes that have left their mark on Detroit.  From riots to protest integrated housing, to denial of federal loans to Black would-be homeowners, to redlining of neighborhoods as recently as 2000, the bankruptcy of Detroit has to be seen against a backdrop of the deep divisions and lasting scars of institutional racism.

This is not even to mention that research has demonstrated that the burden for paying for public services like water is disproportionately borne by African Americans.  In their analysis of data from Detroit, researchers Rachel Butts and Stephen Gasteyer found that “water costs more in areas with greater proportions of racial minorities,” regardless of household income or whether the home was in an urban or rural area.[3]  The structural injustice caused by discrimination in housing and employment, coupled with economic shifts, thus shows its long reach over time.

 

Myth #6 – The people of Detroit are broke and broken; their situation should inspire pity and move the rest of us to go there and help.

Reality – There is nothing wrong with the people of Detroit; there is something deeply wrong with the systems – inside and outside the city – that seek to constrain them.

As I sat with a pastor from Detroit and talked about the upcoming ELCA Youth Gathering, he flipped a common lens on its head – “No one is bringing God into Detroit; God is already here.”  Having grown up north of Detroit and recalling fond memories of evenings and weekends in the city, I often think of Philip’s words to Nathanael when people talk about Detroit with pity or derision: “Nathanael asked him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see!'” (John 1:46).

It’s no lie to say that outside attention and criticism helped force the city’s hand in this situation.  But that is not to say that the recent moratorium in shutoffs came from the hard work of anyone but Detroiters themselves.  Coalitions of faith communities, along with many other community organizations, have been involved in peaceful demonstrations and activism.  Many of our ELCA brothers and sisters have also been active.  Some Detroiters have gone so far as to be arrested for physically placing their bodies in front of water shutoff valves for their neighbors.  In addition to this, the Detroit Water Brigade has provided immediate relief to families in need and advocated for affordable water for all people, with a cap on the utility fees that can be charged to a household.  There are also local agencies working to help people pay their bills or make arrangements to pay with DWSD.

Detroit does not need rescuers from outside.  What those of us who are not from the city can do is support what is already going on, learn more about the context of Detroit and the current situation, and listen to community members.  We can also help bring attention in our own communities, by using what we have learned to change the conversation about Detroit, and join the conversation about what it means for water to be a human right – both around the world and in our own communities.

 

Ryan P. Cumming, Ph.D., is Program Director of Hunger Education for ELCA World Hunger.  He can be reached atRyan.Cumming@ELCA.org.

 

[1] The owners of Ford Field have recently resolved their bill by providing evidence that the delinquency was a clerical error. Still, it is curious how they were able to resolve this without having their water disconnected, while stories of residents facing shutoff due to billing errors, arrearages from prior property owners, or water leaks continue to emerge from the city.

[2] Rachel Butts and Stephen Gasteyer, “More Cost per Drop: Water Rates, Structural Inequality, and Race in the United States—The Case of Michigan,” Environmental Practice 13,4 (Dec 2011): 393.

[3] Butts and Gasteyer, 392.

Bethel New Life: A Close-up View

Teri Mueller

On Wednesday, July 16th, the summer interns at the ELCA churchwide office had the opportunity to visit Bethel New Life on the West Side of Chicago. Bethel New Life is an example of an organization that has done some amazing work with its social ministry and community development programs. I was very excited about the opportunity to see the work of a community partner of the ELCA and to get a glimpse of how grassroots work relates to work we do at the national churchwide office.  The experience was educational, inspirational and thought-provoking.

Joe Young, ELCA Program Director of Community Development, briefed us on some of the background of the community before we actually went into Bethel. He described the difficulties the community has faced, saying, “The Neighborhood was very, very different prior to the Nelsons’ coming…25 plus years ago, the neighborhood was a mess.” (Mary Nelson was the former CEO of Bethel New Life.) He further went on to explain that the neighborhood has had unemployment ranging from 10-45% over the years. People have had to make tough choices about things like feeding their family or fixing their roof.  Large parts of the north Austin neighborhoods are also food deserts, meaning that there are no actual full- service grocery stores so people have to travel a significant distance to get food or purchase it from often overpriced corner stores. Some stores even have customers ask for food behind plexi-glass that separates customer from vendor. They do not even get the dignity of picking out their own food, and sometimes the items they purchase are expired.

Prior to visiting Bethel, I knew very little about the organization. Bethel New Life was born in a time of severe hurt after the riots of the late 1960s and early 1970s that followed the Civil Rights Movement and the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. The organization was founded over 30 years ago in 1979 by Bethel Lutheran Church. The church had a dream of making an impact on the poverty and desBethel Artworkpair that the local community was facing. Though money was scarce, members decided to mortgage the church and put the limited funds they had into purchasing a building. They relied on their faith and passion as they diligently worked to make a difference.

Photo: Outdoor artwork at Bethel New Life 

Ms. Mildred Wiley, Senior Director Community Affairs, provided us with a lot of the history of Bethel along with giving us a tour and telling us about new initiatives. Ms. Wiley made it very clear that Bethel has a legacy of looking at community assets and working to help enable people. Her colleague, Ms. Tina Levy, Director of Communications and Fundraising, talked about how the community has been entrenched in poverty for decades and explained Bethel’s philosophy to “value people investing in themselves so they can help themselves.” Ms. Levy also shared with us about the West Side Forward campaign that is currently underway. The campaign seeks to significantly reduce concentrated poverty on Chicago’s West Side. I was amazed looking at the figures within the West Side Forward report.  It claims that the total cost of transforming the neighborhood over the next ten years would be about $3.4 billion dollars, while the cost of keeping it the same would be around $29.1 billion. The solution seems like it should be clear, but I know change takes a lot of time, convincing and initiative.  Bethel tour in hallway

Photo: Ms. Wiley gives the interns a tour of Bethel

West Side Forward is directly part of Bethel New Life as it serves as the strategy of the organization. Staff are heavily invested in the initiative. Bethel’s core areas of focus over the next ten years align with West Side Forward and include Community Economic Development and Education.  Senior housing is also a key part of Bethel New Life. We had a chance to see senior housing, economic development, and education in action during our visit. Ms. Wiley took us on a very informative tour of Bethel’s facilities. Bethel has both senior housing and assisted living housing. We got to hear about many of the services offered at the assisted living facility including a barber and beauty shop, nurse’s station, activity room, fitness facility, full meals and more.

Ms. Elayne Nickaloau, Director of Education at Bethel New Life, talked to us about the educational components of Bethel. She explained that Bethel places a strong emphasis on identifying partners and forming connections. She specifically mentioned the collaboration between Bethel and the By the Hand program in the community. The hardest challenge Bethel faces on the education front is getting people to dream and find hope in what they can do. Great programs are in place, but attracting participants is a challenge as is the case with many new opportunities.

We also got to see and hear about the Small Business Development Center at Bethel. In my eyes, the center is a combination of the educational and economic foci of Bethel. There is a 14 week entrepreneurship program that goes through forming a business plan, marketing strategies, etc. and helps people start their own businesses which can help contribute to the local economy. We briefly met Mr. Marshawn Feltus, a graduate of the Entrepreneurship program and owner of ACT Yoga. He talked passionately about his business and the benefits of yoga.

Bethel is also doing some awesome work that helps with economic development. Bethel has a three- pronged approach towards community economic development that focuses on business development, workforce development, and asset-building. One example of a helpful economic service that is supported by Bethel is the Community Savings Center.  When the neighborhood started to decline decades ago, all of the banks left the community and people could not easily obtain loans for socio-economic and racial reasons. Because of this, the Community Savings Center at Bethel New Life has significantly helped community members.

Street picture
Photo: Ms. Wiley talks about the economic climate of the neighborhood

Looking back, the trip to Bethel was challenging because it was hard to see a neighborhood lacking in things that I have always regarded as fairly basic services like banks and grocery stores. However, it was also extremely inspiring to see the positive work that Bethel New Life has done and witness some of it in a first-hand manner. I do not know what the future holds for me or the other interns, but I know that I want to do my part to combat social injustices in one way or another. Together, we have the power to make an impact. As Joe Young asked us at the end of our trip, “If not you, then who? If not now, then when?” Supporting ELCA World Hunger and organizations like Bethel New Life is one way to have an impact. There are communities like those on the West side of Chicago combatting the effects of poverty all over our city, country, and world, but a positive difference can be made.

Teri Mueller is an intern with ELCA World Hunger.

Hunger, Poverty and the Minimum Wage

Teri Mueller

​Imagine a world where you cannot afford to put food on the table. Imagine a world where hungry children look up at you with pleading eyes as you stare at an empty pantry that you cannot afford to stock. Imagine not being able to provide for the basic nutritional needs of yourself and those you love. Imagine having to make the choice between paying for heat in the dead of winter or purchasing nutritious food.

Many people in America do not need to imagine the above scenarios. For them, the frustration of poverty is a daily reality. Many wage workers all across the country struggle to get by. These workers’ wages are at or slightly above minimum hourly wage of $7.25. Chapter 2 of the 2014 Bread for the World Hunger Report focuses on the problems of poverty and hunger that many hourly workers face. Statistics reveal the harsh reality that 28% of American workers earned poverty-level wages in 2012. While many people believe that teenagers make up the majority of low wage workers, in actuality, 80% of minimum wage earners are at least 20 years old. Poverty does not just affect the jobless, as 10 million families with at least one person employed still fall below the poverty line. Furthermore, a report issued in 2013 by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities noted that  “Among SNAP households with at least one working-age, non-disabled adult, more than half work while receiving SNAP — and more than 80 percent work in the year prior to or the year after receiving SNAP.  The rates are even higher for families with children — more than 60 percent work while receiving SNAP, and almost 90 percent work in the prior or subsequent year.”

Raising the minimum wage is a very controversial topic but one that has increasingly come up in recent months. A 2014 report from Oxfam International supports a minimum wage increase from the present $7.25/hour to $10.10/hour over the next few years. The report states that 25 million workers would be affected, one-third of whom have dependent children. Additionally, over 20% of women would benefit from a minimum wage increase as women tend to work in minimum-wage jobs more often than men. Oxfam emphasizes the growing income inequality in the United States as the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Specifically, the report notes that “in 2013 the CEO-to-average-worker pay ratio was 331 to 1; 30 years ago, it was just 40 to 1. Today, the CEO-to-minimum-wage-worker pay ratio is 774 to 1.”

Despite the millions of people that would be positively affected by an increase of the minimum wage, controversy abounds because of possible adverse effects on the overall American economy. The cost-benefit ratio of an increase is rather unclear. Oxfam claims that economic growth and development would occur because better-paid workers would spend more money and contribute more in taxes.  However, some business owners and federations are strongly against a minimum-wage increase because they say it will kill jobs and force employers to cut back employees and raise prices. ACNNMoney article from early May explains the strong opposition of some companies to the proposed $10.10/hour minimum wage.

The contentious nature of minimum wage issues can easily overshadow the people behind the debate. Regardless of political views, we must remember the thousands of people in the US who are struggling to get by and provide adequate nutrition for themselves and their families. There are plenty of resources in our world, and we are called to seek a sufficient, sustainable livelihood for all. We have the responsibility to consider our neighbors and family and to not solely maximize our own interests. Support for a livable wage is necessary as we strive to walk along side wage workers. Because of these convictions, the ELCA supports an increase in the federal minimum wage. Visit the advocacy statement on raising the minimum wage to learn more about the pressing nature of the issue and the views of the church.

Teri Mueller is an intern with ELCA World Hunger.

The young and hungry: The reality of food insecurity for many American children

Teri Mueller

No one likes to be hungry, but for many American families, food insecurity is a regular part of life. Currently, one quarter of American children are at risk of hunger (See Table 12 in Bread for the World’s 2014 Hunger Report). In 2012, the prevalence of food insecurity among U.S. households was 14.5%. Children were hit even harder as 21.6% faced life with food insecurity.The last six years have been tough on American children. Food insecurity jumped up after 2007, which corresponded with the economic recession of 2008. To be specific, there was 16.9% prevalence of food insecurity among children in 2007 and 22.5% prevalence of food insecurity among children in 2008. (See Table 12 in Bread for the World’s 2014 Hunger Report). That is an increase of 5.6% in solely one year.

Young people especially suffer as a lack of food can jeopardize more than immediate health. For instance, frequent food insecurity can affect the development and educational attainment of children. Hungry children are more likely to be late to school or miss altogether.1 If they do arrive, they struggle to focus on learning.

Children who do go to school often rely heavily on the food provided through programs like the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Sometimes the lunches provide students with the only actual meals they receive all week. The NSLP provides families that are under or at 130% of the poverty level with free school lunches for their children. Families who fall between 130 and 185% of the poverty level qualify for reduced-price lunches.

As summer continues, many children who relied heavily on school lunches must find other ways to get food. Because of this, programs like the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) have been established. The week of June 2nd-6th served as the kickoff of SFSP for Summer 2014.  However, significantly fewer children are reached by the SFSP in comparison to the NSLP. Specifically, a USDA report mentioned in a Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentential article says that only 2.3 million of the 30 million children that receive reduced price meals during the school year continue to receive meals over the summer.

The problem of food insecurity among children has not gone away in the United States, but federal programs like NSLP, SFSP, and others help young Americans receive food and nutrition. However, danger has arisen as many of these programs are up for reauthorization in the near future. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 permanently implemented the NSLP and the School Breakfast Program, but other programs are set to expire in 2015. They must be renewed in order to continue. The SFSP and the Special Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) are two examples of programs that need to be reauthorized soon. The continuation and strengthening of these programs along with the work of many community organizations is important for the future of American youth. With time and effort, we will hopefully begin to see a decrease in food insecurity among children in the future, which will result in improved conditions for the growth and development of America’s young people.

Teri Mueller is an intern with ELCA World Hunger.

  1. Mariana Chilton & Donald Rose, “A Rights-Based Approach to Food Insecurity in the United States. American Journal of Public Health 99:7, 2009: 1203-1211

Region 6: Ethics of Eating Announcement – UPDATED

Henry Martinez

​

Ethics of Eating

Region 6

Thursday – Sunday, Aug. 14-17, 2014

​It seems obvious that food is essential to our lives and communities. But what we see on our plates is part of a complex process that involves a confluence of lives, communities and systems. The Ethics of Eating event presents an opportunity to explore issues of food production and our response to this process as it relates to hunger, the environment and daily life. As people of faith, we approach the topic from a theological lens, while listening to those who are involved in this system for their livelihood. Join us as we consider this topic through some hands-on experience at a farm, a variety of speakers and engaging discussion.

ELCA World Hunger is inviting approximately 25 participants from various contexts in the region to attend the Ethics of Eating event in the Mansfield, Ohio, area Thursday, Aug. 14 – Sunday, Aug. 17, 2014. ELCA World Hunger will underwrite the cost of participation. To ensure the best stewardship of ELCA World Hunger’s investment in this event, participants must commit to attendance of the entire Ethics of Eating event.

Application Due: Monday, July 14, 2014

For this event, participants will be invited from Region 6, which includes the following synods:

6A  ̶  Southeast Michigan

6B – North/West Lower Michigan

6C – Indiana-Kentucky

6D – Northwestern Ohio Synod

6E – Northeastern Ohio Synod

6F – Southern Ohio Synod

 

Please email ELCA World Hunger (hunger@elca.org) to request the Ethics of Eating application. Your completed application AND letter of support are due by July 14, 2014, if you wish to be considered for participation. Applicants will be notified of invitation decisions shortly thereafter. After June 30, applications will be approved on a rolling basis until all openings are filled.

After this event, each participant will:

  1. Enrich their understanding of a just and sustainable food system and gain perspective on a theological response to hunger.
  2. Implement a follow-up project, action or activity.
  3. Participate in the ELCA World Hunger Leader Network and online community.
     
    If you have any questions, please contact ELCA World Hunger (hunger@elca.org) or 800-638-3522, ext. 2616. We look forward to receiving your Ethics of Eating application.

“How much should I give?” – A lesson from Zacchaeus

Henry Martinez

Before we get too far into this, it’s worth pointing out that Zacchaeus is not asked the question “How much do you give?” or anything like it, and yet his story can’t be told without considering how entangled his identity is with this concern. It is an uncomfortable question that typically doesn’t make its way into our conversations, but before we bristle too much we should ask Zacchaeus what wealth meant to him.

Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10) presents a curious case for Luke, who offers chief tax collector and rich man as primary descriptions. The former implicates him, by default, in a system of corruption and on the margins of acceptance according to religious authorities (see the Pharisees’ reaction to Levi in Luke 5:30). The latter places him in a group that stands out in this gospel for its unwillingness to give to the poor. Biblical scholars observe that the name Zacchaeus means “pure” or “innocent,” neither of which fit Luke’s descriptions. But what makes Zacchaeus all the more curious is that in Luke’s gospel we don’t expect a man of his reputation to be so intrigued by Jesus or even responsive to his mission, “to bring good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18).

Luke’s uses both teaching parables and narrative interactions to portray the rich. The most notable parables are of the rich man who decides to have bigger barns built for himself so that he can retire and enjoy life (12:13-21) and the rich man and Lazarus (16:19-31). The first encounter we see between Jesus and a rich man ends with the rich man feeling sad after learning that he would have to sell his possessions and give the money to the poor in order to have eternal life (18:18-30). From these stories we get the sense that wealth leads one to a tragic end. But just when it looks like the rich are out of hope, Jesus hints there is another way of looking at things: a way that is possible only for God.

In addition to the unexpected announcement of Jesus’ visit, Zacchaeus hears the grumbling crowd. At the heart of their grumbling is an accusation that is just as much against Zacchaeus as Jesus. This prompts the first words we hear from Zacchaeus, who addresses the concerns about his character by offering an explanation of his charitable contributions and financial intentions, which is not unreasonable given the assumptions regarding his reputation. He says:

“Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” (NRSV; emphasis mine)

It is worth noting that some translate his words to “I will give,” and “I will pay back” suggesting a future plan that he has not yet enacted (NRSV, CEV). Other translations chose the present tense for both verbs, suggesting actions that he is currently doing and plans to continue (NIV, RSV, The Message). Both are possible translations of the Greek verbs, but regardless of which we opt for, the power in this statement is the challenge of the common assumptions about identity and wealth. No one expects this rich man, let alone tax-collector to say that he gives or will give to the poor.  Biblical scholar David Tiede finds similarities between the Zacchaeus story and a healing story, where it is not a physical condition which he suffers, but a spiritual one.[1] However, the spiritual condition is not just a personal one.

In this context, the healing comes in the form of Jesus’ announcement that Zacchaeus is a “son of Abraham” (no longer just a “tax collector”) and salvation has come to his household. The declaration of salvation is not just a personal experience, but indicates wholeness and healing in a broader sense. Theologian Fred Craddock observes that salvation has personal, domestic, social and economic dimensions.[2] Knowledge of the social implications of his wealth distinguishes Zacchaeus from the other rich men in Luke. He recognizes that wealth is a dangerous thing, and he uses his wealth to make up for social and economic disparities.

In an overview of how wealth is presented in Luke and Acts, scholar Joel B. Green finds that wealth is certainly used as an economic measure, but that it is also woven into issues of status, power, and social privilege. He writes of the significance of Zacchaeus’ decision, “According to the cultural script of Luke’s world, Zacchaeus behaves toward those who make their lodging at society’s margins as if they were his friends, his neighbors, his kin.”[3] If numerous other factors are involved in wealth, implicit in the question of how much should we give is the issue of how we relate to others. Zacchaeus shows us that wealth is a central matter for our spiritual health, identity and personal relationships. It is a dangerous thing to be sure, but one that can’t be ignored.

Henry Martinez is an education associate for ELCA World Hunger.

[1] David Tiede, Luke, (Augsburg Commentary on the New Testament), 320.

[2] Fred Craddock, Luke, (Interpretation), 220.

[3] Joel B. Green, “Wealthy…Who? Me? Surprising Perspectives on Faith and Wealth from Luke-Acts,” The Living Pulpit(2003), 18-19.

The Entanglement of Conflict and Hunger

Teri Mueller

​Where there is violence, hunger often lurks in the shadows. Though not always apparent, food scarcity can serve as a catalyst of conflict as well as a consequence of violent outbreaks. In many ways, the complex relationship between conflict and hunger is a bit ambiguous. Either one may cause the other. Wars may result from the desperation of the hungry or the greed of resource owners, but hunger may also be created from the devastation of war.

Functioning as a catalyst, hunger can fuel conflict due to either an overall shortage of commodities or the exploitation and selfish use of commodities by those in power. Additionally, inflation of food prices can cause high tensions and even riots.1People compete over land and resources. Hunger provokes conflict as it can be used as weapon. Sieges can damage food supplies. Land and livestock are often destroyed.2 Economic sanctions can also severely hurt the food stability in a region as we have seen in Syria. The list goes on and on.

Hunger also functions as a consequence of conflict. An article from a 2012 edition of New Routes: A Journal of Peace Research and Action explains that conflict and social instability impact the “core elements of food security” which areavailability, access, and utilization.1 Damaged equipment, destroyed farmland, closed markets and displaced farmers and herders all cause the availability of food to be jeopardized. Access to food is impeded when roads are destroyed, which leads to supplies being cut off. The utilization of food is not executed properly when there is a lack of clean water or shortages of certain nutrient-dense foods.1 Prolonged conflict can cause prolonged hunger. Even after the conflict ends, suffering continues due to hunger.

The intertwined nature of conflict and hunger is evident in our world today. A clear example can be seen by looking at the Central African Republic (CAR) where conflict has been heavily present since December 2012. According to the World Food Programme, around 1.6 million people in CAR are currently food insecure. They additionally reported that the 2013 agricultural production rate was approximately 40% lower than in 2012 and that food stocks in the main market in Bangui (the capital city) were only 20% of pre-crisis levels. Children have been hit especially hard by malnutrition. It is clearly evident that people are suffering due to conflict-related hunger. The ELCA is deeply concerned about the situation in CAR and supports the work of our companions in the region in an effort to combat poverty and hunger. (Read more about the work in CAR on the Lutheran Disaster Response blog.)

Hunger and conflict are not new problems, and there is no doubt that the two are closely connected. God has provided abundantly, but humans have created scarcity through the abuse and inefficient use of resources. Scarcity becomes especially prevalent around times of conflict. As Christians, we are called to acknowledge the reality of hunger and conflict in our world today. We are called to love our neighbors who are halfway across the world as well as the people who live next door or down the street. We are called to do our part to combat scarcity by advocating for food in a needy world and encouraging non-violent mediation in the midst of conflicts as we look forward to the day when God welcomes us to the eternal peace of our heavenly home.

Teri Mueller is an intern with ELCA World Hunger.

  1. Pedro Conceicwo  & Sebastian Levine, “Breaking the Cycle of Conflict and Hunger in Africa,” New Routes: A Journal of Peace Research and Action 17:3, 2012: 31-33
  2. Marc Cohen & Per Pinstrup-Andersen, “Food Security and Conflict,” Social Research 66:1, 1999, 375-416

Book Review: Peter Singer’s The Life You Can Save

Henry Martinez

​

Peter Singer, The Life You Can Save: How to Do Your Part to End World Poverty.  New York: Random House, 2010.

life you can save

I imagine it takes a good amount of restraint (and/or editorial skill) for a philosopher to present an argument, offer supporting anecdotes, and still manage to deliver an accessible read that comes in under 200 pages. In this account Singer makes the case for charitable giving, specifically charity that is directed toward the most vulnerable people. The argument, as Singer outlines, provides enough of a hook that readers could find themselves intrigued by his case even if they disagree with his underlying assumptions. It can be summed up in this way: “in order to be good people, we must give until if we gave more, we would be sacrificing something nearly as important as the bad things our donation can prevent” (140).

Singer shapes the claim and its premises on a utilitarian philosophy that appears demanding and unsustainable, but coalesces into a realistic approach by the end of the book. Before he gets there, Singer identifies and counters some common objections to giving.  In a section entitled “Human Nature,” he tackles some psychological factors for why we don’t give more. Singer uses moral dilemmas to explore these, then highlights examples of philanthropic efforts to explain how cultures of giving are created. Having made the case for giving, Singer turns his attention to the state of aid, providing examples of the work of certain aid organizations. Even here, Singer doesn’t shy away from some of the challenges and difficulties aid organizations face. Of these challenges, he states, “the uncertainty about the impact of aid does not eliminate our obligation to give” (124). His main argument in this section is that significant life-improving work can be done at a relatively minor cost.

In the final section of the book Singer presents “A New Standard for Giving.” Perhaps recognizing one of the deep-seated rationalizations for not giving, he turns his attention to parents’ concern for their own children. He presents a challenge by stating that when we consider moral imperatives we don’t always assume that parents ought to put their children first. This works on a philosophical level, but Singer then points out that if an obligation is going to be accepted widely, we have to recognize that parents will meet the basic needs of their own children before that of strangers. Singer, by looking at how we defend moral obligations, though, argues that luxuries spent on one’s children are not justifiable ahead of the basic needs of others.

Singer avoids sounding prescriptive throughout the book until it comes to laying out his realistic approach to charitable giving. He suggests that people give 5% of their annual income, recognizing that some could comfortably give this amount and more, while others would find it difficult. He goes on to apply a progressive suggested donation based on the income tax bracket, which would, he calculates, raise eight times the amount of money required to meet the Millennium Development Goals. Singer’s recommendation is mainly for those making over $100,000 per year. For those who find themselves under this amount his message is essentially to think about the extra spending money we have and to cut back on luxuries. He demurs at defining this, but the logical conclusion of his philosophy is that a luxury would be anything more than what would be considered a basic need.

Those who are looking to make a case for charitable giving may appreciate the directness and consistency of the argument in this book. It may also appeal to those who appreciate debate, since Singer relies on his premises to pursue his main argument. But it is in the terms of the argument where we see the greatest contrast between Singer’s philosophy and a faith-based one. Singer acknowledges that there is evidence for charitable giving within the teachings of the major world religions, but his argument is not made on religious terms. As a result, his case progresses on a universalist approach, which runs the risk of undermining the efficacy of faith traditions and their competing, contextualized ethics.

Singer’s argument begins, “in order to be good people…” His argument is built on the assumption that charitable giving, specifically to the poorest and most vulnerable, makes us better people. Lutherans would reverse course, arguing that we are justified in Christ, which leads us to be giving. Even though we would start from an entirely different foundation or central claim than Singer, this does not mean his argument is irrelevant. Singer’s presentation essentially points out the reality of sin and injustice: some are very wealthy, many people are suffering, many more can do at least something about it. After reframing his argument, our efforts are better spent answering his challenge from within our own tradition. This book can be helpful in a study of what it means to “be good,” or as a discussion starter for groups looking to study stewardship. From a Christian perspective, one book that raises similar questions is Ron Sider’s Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger. Like Singer, he points out the disparities between the affluent and impoverished but builds the case for charitable giving from within the Christian tradition. Another book that Lutherans would appreciate for the theological connections is Samuel Torvend’s Luther and the Hungry Poor.

 

​​Henry Martinez is an education associate for ELCA World Hunger.​

Meet the Summer 2014 Interns!

Teri Mueller

​Lisa Burns, ELCA World Hunger Fundraising Intern

 

Lisa's Picture

My name is Lisa Burns, and I am a rising senior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I am studying global health with a focus on the regions of the Middle East and Latin America. As such, I have studied both Spanish and

Arabic and the university level. In the fall of 2014 I plan to further my knowledge of the Arabic language and culture through study abroad in Amman, Jordan. I am passionate about social justice and health issues, especially as they pertain to women and children. In the future, I hope to pursue a career in nonprofit work with an international focus. Therefore, I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with ELCA World Hunger this summer. I will be working on the fundraising side of the appeal and interacting with donors.  I expect that I will learn a lot from my colleagues and my experiences here!

I was born and raised on the south side of Chicago and love the city. I have three sisters and a brother (who is getting married this summer!) In my free time, I enjoy reading and listening to and playing music. I play classical piano and a smattering of guitar. I like most music, especially when it’s live, and books about almost anything. In the past, I have done volunteer work at hospital emergency rooms throughout the state. I also spent several semesters volunteering with a program in Champaign that sends books to prisoners in Illinois state penitentiaries. These volunteer projects really helped to spark my interest in social justice. A fun fact about me is that I have two differently-sized pinky fingers!

Teri Mueller, ELCA World Hunger Education Intern

10 Facts about Me!

  1. I am a senior at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa where I am double majoring in International Relations and Peace and Justice Studies with a minor in Spanish. I really love to learn!
  2. I grew up in Manchester, Iowa and went to school at Maquoketa Valley in Delhi, Iowa.
  3. Traveling is one of my passions. I recently returned from a European tour with the Wartburg Choir in which we visited eight countries and had 18 concerts in 28 days. I also spent a month studying Spanish in Costa Rica in May 2013.Teri_Mueller
  4. Teasingly called the black sheep, I am the only one of my intermediate family to not be a music major.
  5. I was elected Student Body Vice President for the 2014-2015 school year.
  6. I work as a Resident Assistant at Wartburg and am responsible for planning monthly community programs based on the college’s pillars of leadership, service, faith, and learning.
  7. I have a strong interest in human rights and social justice and have done research focused on restricted freedom of foreign movement, violence against women in Mexico, and various peace activists.
  8. In my spare time I enjoy running, reading, volunteering, traveling, and spending time in the beauty of God’s natural creation.
  9. I love volunteering and participating in service trips and hope to take time after I graduate to work with a service-oriented organization.
  10. I am extremely excited to be the World Hunger Education Intern for summer 2014 and look forward to learning about and assisting with the work of ELCA World Hunger!

Megan Flowers, ELCA Malaria Campaign Intern

Howdy! My name is Megan Flowers and I am a senior community development major at Texas A&M University. This summer I am working as an intern with the ELCA Malaria Campaign. I am thrilled to take part in helping to eliminate preventable diseases. Lately I have learned a lot about caring for people with all you have, especially for those who are in the margins and vulnerable populations.

Megan's Picture 2

Through the ELCA campus ministry at Texas A&M, known as Treehouse Ministries, I have grown passions for poverty, hunger, homelessness, and health. As Team Leader and Office Assistant for Treehouse, I have had several extremely transformative years where I have grown in my faith, servant leadership, justice mindset, and meaningful relationships. This ministry has been a place I can call home, a community of the most loving people you could ever imagine. Yet, it is a group that continues to challenge each other to learn and change and grow. I am excited to take part in leading this ministry again as the fall approaches; for I know it will be another amazing adventure.

The last two summers I have worked at Ebert Ranch Camp, a part of Cross Trails Ministry, in Harper, Texas. As Adventure Coordinator I facilitated the high and low ropes courses, archery, and outcamp (outdoor cooking and camping). Camp was a bit of a scary adventure for me. Initially I had no idea what I was getting into. I had never even climbed a ropes course, and it was one of my first experiences with a ministry of the ELCA. And yet, I absolutely I fell in love with it. For the way camp impacts campers, staff, families, and all those involved, it will always have a special place in my heart.

This summer I hope to learn to love even more, to have a special place in my heart for the ELCA Malaria Campaign, the City of Chicago, and all the new relationships I will make on the way. I am overjoyed to see what the summer brings!