The Complexities of Hunger

Humans have – or believe they do- the highest capacity to think and act upon thoughts than any other living creature. This doesn’t mean humans rule the whole planet – far from it, for witness the jungles of Africa and even the ocean, which is far from tamed by humans, and where a shark – animal or not- might think it has more control and indeed it might. This point however leads not to discussion of species superiority but rather one of world finance, and perhaps the most poignant failure of all humankind: the inability to calculate and maintain adequate food for all people of the earth.

Like many global arguments the situation with food has its root failure in responsibility. This position of having many thousands of organizations and bodies of governments with the potential, the ability to help in say one certain pocket of the world, results in a sub-position of apathy by proxy. In layman’s terms, it is someone else’s duty. 

Many experts in the field of world hunger are unable to understand the major cause of failure is not resources or ability but rather motivation or desire to do so.  The problem of world hunger cannot at this time be solved because there is not strong enough force in the world to stop it. There is no better example of a case of continued failure to solve than in the tiny, impoverished country of Haiti. The many ironies surrounding the case of this small Caribbean island are well-known. The geographic location, on the heel of Cuba, in the center of an area rich with world tourism, and of course a short distance from the United States. The heaviest burden to provide help has fallen upon the United Nations, who spread worldwide is unable to complete most of this task thrust upon it. In the case of Haiti, recent events have compounded the problem of hunger – a string of hurricanes (2008), literally one after the other, nearly wiped out food crop and with it the seeds needed to plant in the new season. Haiti is a mountainous nation and many of the starving are in remote locations and hard to reach.

Priorities of wealthier nations are thick with politics, combat and most recently their own internal issues with economy and future. Choices made by governments leave questions about the logic of these priorities. This could lead some to consider the implied belief is that feeding it’s people is a task viewed as one that is the burden of the starving nation itself. Or, the duty of wiping out hunger lies with larger, more international bodies such as the United Nations. And yet the whole picture must include many other countries, in Europe for example – France, Switzerland, United Kingdom – the list is exhaustive. 

Ordinary citizens enjoy the comfort of giving, and it appears they continue to give yet the problem of hunger seems hardly dented. On the continent of Africa the malady of starvation is rampant, compounded by rough, inhospitable terrain in parts so the growing of food is limited, although somewhat improved with new seed technologies. However, “commercial” farmers are currently up against campaigns by large food corporations who maintain control of genetically modified seed, even if the seed is sown from a subsequent crop. More recently come to light: the politics of food transport to impoverished regions of the world. In a biting irony to starvation, food that is available and closer to the stricken region may not be delivered if another, foreign company has a contact to deliver the food. The fact that the needed food must travel thousands of mile further, and may reach some people to late has yet to be appropriately addressed. 

It is clear the crushing problem of world hunger needs more immediate attention, a concerted effort by leaders worldwide if it is to be demolished and more people saved.