a world without hunger

is it possible? people over at the united nations think so.

"During FAO's lifetime, the planet's population has almost tripled to more than six billion people. Thanks to the efforts of millions of farmers, to the creativity of scientists and to the growth of industry, trade and communications, we now produce more than enough food to feed everyone. Average daily food intake per person has risen by 23 percent since 1945."

so if we produce enough for food for everyone, what is the problem? in a word, distribution. that's the simple answer. a complex answer would involve an in-depth study of politics, economics, natural resources, history, and more. but i think the deepest answer lies within the human heart and in the reality of our fallen world.

"Today, with the continued existence of world hunger -- 852 million persons still suffer from chronic undernutrition -- and increasingly frequent globalized food emergencies, it is more necessary than ever to have a global forum where consensus can be reached on the international dimensions of food security, including food production, safety, trade and consumption."

a global forum is good, but what can i do today? how can individuals like me who care but have limited resources respond to this issue? perhaps buying fair trade products...which help many independent farmers make a living to support their own families. perhaps seeking discipline in my consumption of food and other products. "reduce, reuse, recycle." i learned about that green triangle in middle school and i think it's still useful. perhaps giving away books and other things that i am no longer using to people who might benefit from them. perhaps borrowing books instead of always buying (ouch, that one hurts me). perhaps volunteering at the local food pantries in town to meet the needs of neighbors we may not know. perhaps writing to elected officials and sharing my concerns with them.

"That nations invest some $975 billion each year in military spending and spend just under $80 billion in aid that could reduce the hunger and poverty that breeds conflict confounds common sense."

Perhaps, most important, praying to the Lord of heaven and earth for "daily bread" to be given to all, and that the day would quickly come when nations would beat their swords into plowshares and not train for war anymore.