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Written by Karen D. Swim
In 2007, in the United States alone 37.3 million people were in poverty, across the globe poverty touches nearly 3 billion people. Some may only be in poverty for a period while for others it is chronic and severe.
On average, 25,000 people die every day from hunger or diseases that are caused by hunger. This amounts to about one person every 3 ½ seconds. Before you get to the end of this post 5 or more people will have died from hunger.
According to the United Nations, the cost to solve the problem of people dying of hunger and diseases is about $195 billion a year. In March of 2002, Twenty-two of the world’s wealthiest countries pledged to share the financial burden by working toward each country giving 0.7% (a little less than 1%) of their national income in international aid, which would raise the $195 billion.
Some countries met their goal, others are scheduled to meet it in 2012, or 2013. Six countries (Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United States) have not yet set up a schedule.
Politics often compete with poverty and world hunger issues. We cannot solely rely on governments to solve this problem. Each of us must care and then we must act.
What Can You Do
- Write a letter to your President or Prime Minister urging support of International Aid.
- Donate money to organizations that are solving hunger.
- Support your local food bank. Each time you grocery shop, buy one extra food staple. At the end of the month, take your “extra” items to the local food bank. You can even take advantage of “buy one, get one free” sales to stock up for the food bank at no extra cost to you.
- Buy Fair Trade items. You may have noticed the Fair Trade Certified label on coffee, rice, sugar or even shampoo bottles. Fair Trade means that farmers and workers received a fair price for their product. With a fair price they can feed their families and their children can attend school instead of working in the fields. Fair Trade also affects the entire community. Fair Trade premiums are invested in social and business development projects like scholarship programs, quality improvement trainings, and organic certification. Fair Trade farming is also free of chemicals that harm farmers and the environment.
- Donate to Kiva. Kiva is a person to person micro lending site. Your donation goes directly to a person with a need.
Poverty is a problem that we can solve. Every small effort makes a difference. I hope that on this day as bloggers raise their collective voices that we can raise awareness and action. Do you have any ideas on how we can help those in poverty? Please share your ideas, and comments in the feedback section.
Resources
Sample letter to send to President or Prime Minister
List of organizations working to end hunger and disease
information on Fair Trade
Roland Hesz says
I joined kiva for exactly the same reason.
But, I don’t agree with the “give them food” solution. Give them a chance to grow their own food, to sell their own products.
That means that no food donations should be done, honestly.
No farmer can sell his grain if you have free UN grain on the market.
You can’t compete with free. And if the farmer can’t sell the grain, he will stop being a farmer and goes to the city. To be a poor, starving factory worker. Or an unemployed homeless.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,363663,00.html
Help these countries build their own market, like in they started in Ethiopia.
A lot of times starvation is not because there is not enough food, or land, but because there is not enough information, no market, no order to it.
(http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/elene_gabre_madhin_on_ethiopian_economics.html)
I don’t believe in the give a fish, I believe in the teach them and let them fish.
Ellen Weber says
Oh I love the notion of writing it as HISTORY rather than a continuing problem, Karen! Let’s take yet another step today to make that closer to a reality! Thanks for the inspiration!
Karen Swim says
Hi David, you are so right! Sometimes we may not see it, but we really do have so much. We live like royalty compared to so many others in the world. It really helps to balance the perspective.
Karen Swim says
Hi Ellen! It’s so nice to see you here. I’ve been enjoying your comments over at Word Sell. Hope really does make the difference, doesn’t it? There are so many things that we have collectively solved, I look forward to the day when we can write this as history and not a continuing problem.
Karen Swim says
Janice, you and others from the gulf region are such a wonderful testament to the human spirit. Yes, we can count our blessings. It’s amazing how your perspective changes after losing so much. I know that even if I only have a $20 bill to give, it’s worth giving. By the way I was blown away watching the evolving colors of your piece. I have learned so much from you about the creative process. Bless you for sharing!
Karen Swims last blog post..Blog Action Day 2008 – Poverty
Karen Swim says
Hey Melissa! Your post was so powerful today! It is heartwarming to see that so many care. The Fair Trade is awesome. I too am a huge fan of conscious spending and to know that purchasing Fair Trade truly does change a village (or community) is powerful!
Karen Swims last blog post..Blog Action Day 2008 – Poverty
Karen Swim says
Hi Jamie! Yes microlending totally rocks! I love Kiva and do give there but have also participated in other efforts, small change – big difference. Just doesn’t get any better.
Karen Swims last blog post..Blog Action Day 2008 – Poverty
Karen Swim says
Brad, I cannot describe the feeling of giving to Kiva. You’re so right it’s easier with a team. Go Team World! 🙂
Karen Swims last blog post..Blog Action Day 2008 – Poverty
Karen Swim says
Hi Robyn, isn’t it astounding! The hunger numbers just slice through me. We can make a difference, and I say thank goodness for that!
Karen Swims last blog post..Blog Action Day 2008 – Poverty
Karen Swim says
Hey Robert thank you! The Fair Trade goods are awesome. The Body Shop was one of the leaders in this industry. It is a good feeling to know that the dollars you’re spending are actually doing good.
Karen Swims last blog post..Blog Action Day 2008 – Poverty
David says
Thank you for the reminders.
We have so much to do, don’t we?
David
Davids last blog post..Whistle while you work
Janice Cartier says
I think microlending is the way to go. And on the grocery shopping list a category: Fair trade food bank food. Excellent.
I am still rebuilding, but I think we can all find and count our blessings and pass them on.
Melissa Donovan says
I’ve heard of fair trade, but I didn’t know that I should be looking for it on the products I buy. Thanks for informing me Karen. I try to be conscious of what buy and where my money will end up. I feel greatly encouraged about eliminating poverty because almost all the blogs I read are participating in Blog Action Day and that tells me that people do care and are willing to take a stand. And that’s pretty cool.
Jamie Grove - How Not To Write says
Great post, Karen. Direct and to the point.
As Brad said, Kiva is amazing. Those who want to learn more about microlending should check out the Grameen Bank. http://www.grameen-info.org/ founded by Muhammad Yunus, won the Nobel Peace Prize for his groundbreaking work in microlending.
Jamie Grove – How Not To Writes last blog post..Thinking about What to Write
Ellen Weber says
Thanks Karen, especially for the challenge where you wrote POVERTY IS SOMETHING WE CAN SOLVE. It holds out hope for all you recommend here!
Ellen Webers last blog post..10 Marks of Mental Poverty on Blog Action Day
Brad Shorr says
Hi Karen, Kiva is a great model – the more I learn about it the better it sounds. The job is a lot easier when many people pitch in, isn’t it?
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Distributism – A Third Response to Poverty
Robyn McMaster says
Karen, the numbers related to poverty are overwhelming. Thanks for the reminder of what they are. We can each make a difference in many avenues against it. Thanks for providing some excellent tools.
Robyn McMasters last blog post..Education – Power to Fight Inner City Poverty – Blog Action Day
Robert Hruzek says
Karen, I have never heard of that Fair Trade thing. I’ll start looking for it from now on whenever we shop.
Thanks for a clear and concise “What We Can Do” list! Nothing left to do but… do it!
Robert Hruzeks last blog post..It’s Time