Global hunger is a global problem. I don’t know that there was a time in the history of the world that we were better equipped with the resources, technology, power and money to be able to solve world hunger then we have today. It’s so obvious we have the resources and ability to do this that the UN’s first Millennium Development Goal is to:
- Reduce by half the proportion of people living on less than a dollar a day
- Reduce by half the proportion of people who suffer from hunger
We, as the human race, have agreed to accomplish this goal within the next 8 years (2015). It doesn’t look like we are on track. It seems we can talk the talk, but we can’t walk the walk. It seems we need to do something more drastic to make this goal a priority in the world.
What if we (meaning the human race) collectively took a ‘hunger strike’ of sorts and refused to eat out until we figured out this issue of global hunger? Could you imagine the implications something like that would have?
First of all, just in the USA we spend 354.4 billion dollars eating out each year. Just that, without the help of any government could solve world hunger. If we stopped eating out an entire sector of industry would suddenly be crippled and can you imagine the outcry from the CEO’s to the burger flippers? If there was no demand for beef overseas, we might suddenly free up enough livestock and grain to feed the people who need it most.
Blow up a building or start playing with nuclear stuff and we’ll hope in multi-million dollar jets, mobilize thousands of troops, and unify a whole country to zero there energy and hatred on one man. Thousands dying every day is the same story that was happening before I was born. It’s the same dull, unexciting, situation that was happening as relatives bought me cute little baby outfits when I was little, friends bought me cheap plastic toys, as pizza and breadsticks were enjoyed at Showbiz, and it’s the same story now as I take my fun money and go for a night on the town.
It should disturb us today, it should have bothered us ten years ago. Could you imagine a collective hunger strike and the implications that would have?
Ariah,
Interesting concept. However, I don’t think that disrupting the US economy (especially an industry that employes many low-income wage earners!) is a solution. It may even lead to more hunger….
“Thousands dying every day is the same story that was happening before I was born. It’s the same dull, unexciting, situation…”
Is that really what you meant to say? I agree with Kate. I support the idea of limiting our discretionary spending and giving to the less fortunate, but I don’t think we necessarily need to completely stop spending “fun money.” The job situation is certainly an issue too. If we spend that much money eating out, that’s supporting a lot of workers!
Kate,
I appreciate your thoughts. That’s certainly a dilemma of this idea, that’s sort of why it’s a “what if” cause I’m just brainstorming outcomes. What I’m suggesting is not a permanent change, but rather a boycott of sorts, on a massive scale. I think the impact would be so drastic that our country and others would immediately see it as a priority to address the hunger situation in the world.
Brian,
I was trying to be sarcastic, or something, with that statement (I guess it doesn’t work very well). The point is that there is some reason we don’t make any change in our lives at all amidst the awareness of the hunger situation in the world.
I understand eating out supports workers to some degree, and I think capitalism makes a lot of sense in helping everyone out, but I’m weary of a trickle down approach sort of attitude.
The point was to suggest a drastic initiative, a boycott of sorts, that would have a serious and crippling impact. When they boycotted buses in the south it caused the lose of jobs for many bus drivers, and I would bet many of them stood up to agree with the change. When employees strike the point is not to put themselves out of a job and cripple their city, it’s to make a drastic temporary change to bring to light a serious issue that needs to be addressed.
That was my thought.
Personally, I like it. Martin Luther King Jr. style!
In the early church, if they didn’t have enough food for the hungry people knocking at their door, the entire community would fast until they had enough where they could ALL could eat together.
I think that should definately be our way of doing things, too.
Ohav Shalom,
Jamie
By the way, I really like the new avatar option you added to your site. Very nice!
Hmm…I just signed up for Gravatar and added a pic, but for some reason it’s not showing up here. Any suggestions, Ariah?
Thanks!
I have the same question as Jaime… just signed up for Gravatar and it’s not showing up. Suggestions?
Kate and Jamie,
I’ll take a look into it. I do think it takes the gravatar site a little while to put the images through the system. If it’s not working for you two by monday I’ll definitly look into it.
I’m really glad you like the idea though! I wasn’t sure if it was a welcome addition or not.
I also added a ‘I heart comments’ section on the sidebar listing the most frequent commenters, and guess who are in the top two spots? you!
hehe That’s funny. : )
Thanks, Ariah.