World Hunger

 

Have you ever been hungry? Perhaps so hungry you made the comment, "I'm starving!" Each of us at some point in time have skipped a meal or been late to the dinner table with our stomachs growling in anticipation of that first mouthful of food 'til feeling fully satisfied. The question is "Have you ever really experienced starvation?" More than likely, as with me, your hunger was only momentary, which is not the case for everyone.

World Food Day was first launched in 1945. The reason: to celebrate the launch of the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization.

World Food Day gives us an opportunity to consider those who endure harmful, unrelenting hunger—and how we can use our plenty to make a difference for them, both the chronically hungry in our own neighborhoods, and those with even greater physical needs around the world.

The main principle which World Food Day celebrates is the furtherance of food security all over the world, especially in times of crisis. The launch of the Food and Agriculture Organization by the UN has played a huge role in taking this worthy goal forward. Its annual celebration serves as a marker of the importance of this organization and helps to raise awareness of the crucial need for successful agriculture policies to be implemented by governments across the world to ensure there is ample food available for everyone.

In recent years, World Food Day has used its annual day of celebration to focus on different aspects of food security and agriculture, including fishing communities, climate change and biodiversity.

Family Farming is the focus of World Food Day 2014

 

The 2014 World Food Day theme - Family Farming: “Feeding the world, caring for the earth” - has been chosen to raise the profile of family farming and smallholder farmers. It focuses world attention on the significant role of family farming in eradicating hunger and poverty, providing food security and nutrition, improving livelihoods, managing natural resources, protecting the environment, and achieving sustainable development, in particular in rural areas.

The UN General Assembly has designated 2014 “International Year of Family Farming.” This is a strong signal that the international community recognizes the important contribution of family farmers to world food security.

On October 16, World Food Day, join the global movement to end hunger. Be a part of the solution in your community and around the world.
Because when it comes to hunger, the only acceptable number is zero.

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