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The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, an initiative of the World Council of Churches (WCC), is calling churches and individuals to join in a world-wide “zero hunger” challenge.
Dr Manoj Kurian, interim WCC-EAA coordinator, highlighted the challenge as part of the Food for Life Campaign, “No one should be hungry, especially in a world that already produces more than enough food to feed everyone. We can build sustainable and waste-free food systems that nourish and support all people and empower the smallholder and family farms that produce the vast majority of the world’s food.”
Three years ago, Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations’ secretary general issued a Zero Hunger Challenge to call on everyone to make a difference – from governments and the UN system, to civil society, business, farmers organizations, labour unions, consumer groups and the scientific and academic community.
Now all individuals and organizations are being asked to join the challenge and pledge to make a difference.
The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance’s Food for Life Campaign has been part of the Zero Hunger Challenge since it began, recognizing that around 800 million people in the world are chronically hungry – just over one in nine people. Malnourishment affects many more. About 500,000 children go blind every year because of a lack of vitamin A, with half of them dying within one year of going blind. An estimated 2.1 billion people are overweight or obese, many of whom would also be diagnosed as malnourished. Approximately one third of food is lost or wasted globally every year during production, transportation and processing as well as through household waste.
Kurian also noted that for Christians, the commitment to ensuring adequate, nutritious food for all is part of our faith. “Scripture tells us many stories about hunger. Matthew 25 – ‘For I was hungry and you gave me food’- speaks directly to us, along with so many other parables and Biblical examples, about our role in ensuring all are fed. “
The Zero Hunger pledge asks groups and individuals to actively work to eradicate hunger. This includes advocating for actions and policies to reach zero stunted children less than two years, ensure100% access to adequate food all year round, sustainable food systems, 100% increase in smallholder productivity and income, and zero loss or waste of food.
Churches, organizations and individuals can “Join the Challenge” by signing up at http://blog.zerohungerchallenge.org/join-the-challenge/
