Today is World Food Day. In my home office hangs a poster from Oxfam Canada. It reads:
Climate change is more than an environmental issue. It is about poverty and human rights. More than this, it is about the rights of women. At Oxfam, we work passionately to end global poverty and advance gender equality. But climate change is blocking the way. We have to stop climate change in its tracks and we have to start right now.
The U.N. World Food Program states:
Climate change is already increasing the risk of exposure to hunger, malnutrition and food insecurity among the poorest and most vulnerable people. Natural disasters are becoming more frequent and intense, land and water are becoming more scarce and difficult to access, and increases in agricultural productivity are becoming more difficult to achieve.
In honour of World Food Day, check out this video on the Beltran Eco-home and Farm. Juan Beltran, left a quadriplegic after a tour of Iraq, says “sustainability is not being dependent on anyone else”.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SesihrO8doc&feature=player_embedded]
And then go to “1 Billion Hungry.org” to sign a petition calling on our leaders to work to end hunger. And once you’ve done that, how about talking to at least one person today about the link between human-caused climate change and world hunger?
More links:
Juan Beltran: Quadriplegic Iraq Veteran Builds Sustainable Eco-Friendly Farm Home
This is a good reminder that those who are (or will) suffer the most are those living below the poverty line. Thanks, Christine, for including the UTube sgement as well. Pat Weese
Yes, climate change really connects all the issues of inequity and inequality. The good news is that if we address climate change, there will be positive changes to these other issues as well. For example, if renewable technologies become widespread, then it won’t just be the rich industrialized world that has access to electricity. As well, pollution will be cleaned up and those in the developing world who are paying the price for our consumptive lifestyle will be exposed to fewer carcinogens.