Today (October 16, 2011) is World Food Day. It’s a worldwide event designed to increase awareness, understanding and promote action to alleviate hunger. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reports that about 925 million people do not have enough to eat, with the worst problems being concentrated in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
To support this important event I’ve joined forces with bloggers from around the world for Blog Action Day to spread the word that famine and hunger are obscene and we won’t tolerate it any longer.
Today is a day to take action. All it takes is a few seconds to make a difference.
Sign the petition-
“We who support this petition find it unacceptable that close to one billion people are chronically hungry. Through the United Nations, we call upon governments to make the elimination of hunger their top priority until that goal is reached. “
Take a moment to watch the F-Word video from One:
Take the Food Quiz to learn a few surprising facts about hunger.
Blog Action Day also falls within Non-GMO Month. At this time the FDA doesn’t require the labeling of GMOs in food ingredient lists. If we take a look at our friends in the EU and other countries -GMO labeling has been the norm for years. We all deserve to know what we are eating.
The next time you open your refrigerator think about all who don’t have food. The next time you throw food away think about all who don’t have food. This is a day to combine our collective voices and be heard. This is a day to spread the word and do something to help. Famine is the real obscenity. Let’s put an end to it.
How did you do on the quiz? I learned I have a lot to learn!
[Photo courtesy of GreenPeace in honor of Blog Action Day 2011]
Oh my goodness!! This post is a real eye opener!! Thanks.
I know Alicia-it’s so hard to believe there’s so much hunger and famine throughout the world. That’s what I love about this particular Blog Action Day-it really raises awareness about such an important issue.
Congratulations on your article about food!
Our participation is very important to the world.
It is a great pleasure to come meet you!
Kisses from Rio de Janeiro.
Oops, I missed World Food Day, which is pretty bad since food system issues are at the top of my list of environmental issues! Anyway I just wanted to say that it really, really pisses me off that people think we don’t have enough food to feed the world. It’s not about quantity, it’s about distribution and equality!
I couldn’t agree with you more Andrea. The food is there for all and we need to focus our efforts on distribution-getting it out to the many, many in need. Now we have to figure out how to make this happen-no small task!