Posted by 4Heather on November 15, 2009 at 10:26pm
It seems to be an accepted fact of life that a small percentage of people will go hungry. We live with the idea that there are those who cannot find nor afford the food they need. Yet, as previously mentioned, these people are thought of as only a small percentage. However, the number of impoverished people has risen in the world. Now, the number has reached an overwhelming total of one billion. That is approximately one 6th of the total world population; and its growing ever day.To combat this sad statistic, the United Nations has reached out to try to find the kind-hearted and generous people of the world. They have begun an online campaign, of sorts, to appeal to individuals to help the rest of humanity.They are joining with the World Food Programme’s “Billion for a Billion” mission. Its goal is to feed that unfortunate sixth of the population with a donated total of 6.7 billion dollars U.S. This is relying solely on the public, completely on individuals.
Constantly, the government is asked to help the less fortunate. They are given the responsibility, taking it away completely from average people. But average people can make all the difference. Average people can and should step up to those who cannot step up themselves.This call for public help comes with the announcement of a daylong hunger strike, in support of those who will not eat that day or the next. UN officials are responding to the call. They are fasting, feeling the pangs and emptiness that so many feel; so many children feel.The highest donation ever collected has been $2.9 billion dollars. This is ridiculous. There are single forces, single people, that have more than enough money to feed that one billion people. There are those who build and build their wealth, who then constantly indulge in what they do not need, as others suffering without the very necessities.And yes, hunger strikes are a kind thought. They are a nice gesture. Yet do they really get the point across? So you go hungry for a day, loose a pound or two. Thousands of women in America do that by choice every day. I understand the need to feel and relate to the impoverished, but why not just help? Just donate, just reach out. This is humanity on all of our backs, and its slowly crumbling, its broken pieces hitting us all on the head.
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