World Food Day is a day of action against hunger. Every year on October 16, people around the world come together to show their commitment to help eradicate hunger in our lifetime. Because when it comes to hunger, the only acceptable number in the world is zero
World Food Day celebrates the creation of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)on October 16, 1945 in Quebec, Canada. First established in 1979, World Food Day has since then been observed in almost every country by millions of people.
Events are set up worldwide to involve people all over the world and set them into action against hunger. From hunger walks and World Food Day dinners to meal packaging events and food drives. There are many ways for people to be a part of solutions to hunger. Ignoring the problems won't help change anything, in fact it can make the problem worse. The events aims to reduce the ostrich effect, where we bury our heads in the sand regarding the issue facing us!
Why Care About Hunger?
Because The Right to Food Is A Basic Human Right.
In a world of plenty, 805 million people, one in nine worldwide, live with chronic hunger. The costs of hunger and malnutrition fall heavily on the most vulnerable.
- Almost five million children under the age of five die of malnutrition-related causes every year.
- Every human being has a fundamental right to be free from hunger and the right to adequate food
- The right to adequate food is realized when every man, woman and child has the physical and economic access at all times to adequate food or means for its procurement.
- 4 in 10 children in poor countriesare malnourished damaging their bodies and brains.
Because We Can End Hunger In Our Lifetime.
It's possible, the world produces enough food to feed every person on the planet. In September 2000, world leaders signed a commitment to achieve eight Millennium Development Goals by 2015. MDG #1 is eradicate extreme poverty and hunger and includes three targets. Since then: Forty countries have already achieved the first target, to halve the proportion of people who suffer from hunger by 2015. The challenge is significant, but these results show us that when we focus our attention, we can make big strides.
Because The Cost Of Neglect Is Too High.
No one in the world needs to experience hunger. In addition to the cost of human suffering, the world loses when people do not have enough to eat. People who are hungry have learning difficulties, are less productive at work, are sick more often and live shorter lives.
Because It Can Happen To Anyone.
Even in America, one of the richest countries in the world, one in seven Americans - 14.3% - does not have enough to eat. Nutritious food can be seen as expensive, making a balanced diet a luxury for many, however it can also be attributed to food education. Due to many living month to month, the loss of a job, a family tragedy, poor health, or an accident can make anyone, anywhere, go hungry in a moment.
Globally, extreme climate events, war, or even financial crisis can dramatically affect a person's ability to feed themselves and their families. Without social safety nets, resiliency measures and good policy in place, these small and large events can set off a cycle of hunger and poverty
World Food Day shouldn't be the only day we act. It can help bring the problems into focus and make more people aware of the initiates and activities happening around the community. For more information about World Food Day and what you can do to help find some links below.
This was first published on The Nut Butter Hub