The world produces enough food for
everyone, but not everyone has enough food.
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Tim Whitby for Getty Images
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Getting
hundreds of people (myself included) to stand outside for an hour on a very
cold winter’s evening is no mean feat but it happened. Wednesday 23 January saw months of work and planning
come to fruition with events around the country to launch the new campaign
supported by more than 100 NGOs and faith groups, Enough Food for Everyone IF.
In London,
Somerset House with its vast courtyard provided a spectacular setting for the
challenging films and celebrity speeches projected across one wing of the
building. Arriving early with colleagues,
I certainly felt the sense of anticipation that precedes such occasions as people
gathered, young and old, different cultures and backgrounds, all committed to taking
action together to bring an end to the scandal of hunger.
So why a new
campaign this year? The UK assumes the
presidency of the G8 and David Cameron has
committed to hosting a Hunger Summit prior to the G8 Summit in June. It is a crucial opportunity for the UK to show
leadership in tackling the four big IFs:
Aid Enough food for
everyone IF we give enough aid to stop children dying from hunger and help the
poorest families have enough food to live.
Land Enough food for
everyone IF we stop poor farmers being forced off their land, and we grow crops
to feed people not fuel cars.
Tax
Enough food
for everyone IF governments stop big companies dodging tax in poor countries,
so that millions of people can free themselves from hunger.
Transparency
Enough food for everyone IF governments and big companies are open and
honest about the actions that prevent people getting enough food.
IF our leaders
take these steps, it will change the future for millions of people who live
with the day to day struggle of hunger. This year could be the beginning of the
end for global hunger.
Change
happens when motivated individuals persuade others to act with them to tackle
injustice, as evidenced by the campaign to abolish the slave trade (as actor
Bill Nighy reminded us on Wednesday evening), and more recently, Jubilee 2000
and Make Poverty History. But it’s a
long haul. IF is all set to join that
list but this year will only be the start.
The Methodist Church, Methodist
Relief and Development Fund,
the United
Reformed Church and
the URC’s Commitment for Life programme have all signed up to the
campaign and will be helping to resource action and reflection during the year.
There’s an
enormous amount of information already so find out how you, your church and
community can get involved in IF.
