[Comment] The Will to End the Global Food Crisis

from the Washington Post

It is a question with an obvious answer, something Jesus knew as he asked it: “Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone?” (Matthew 7:9). No, of course not. A caring parent does everything possible to nourish a child. But these days, in places like Haiti and Cameroon, that means feeding a child cakes made from mud and grass—not much better than a stone—to try to stifle the hunger pangs that just grow sharper.

The world is in the grip of a global hunger crisis, fueled by soaring food prices. Prices on many items have nearly doubled in the past three years, especially for corn, wheat, rice, and soy. These increases devastate families in the poorest parts of the world, where people spend up to 80 percent of their income on food.

Even before this emergency, 854 million people around the world went to bed hungry. One child dies every five seconds from hunger-related causes. Now, as many as 100 million more people could fall into poverty due to the current crisis.

Though the situation in the United States is not as extreme, we are not immune. Last year, one in ten U.S. households experienced hunger or was at risk of hunger. As rising food prices drain family budgets, more low-income people are turning to food banks, where supplies are quickly being depleted. Up to 29 million Americans will be using food stamps this year, the highest level since the program began in the 1960s. Even before food prices began to shoot up, most food stamp benefits ran out by the third week of the month.

After 30 years of progress against hunger and poverty, these setbacks are heartbreaking. God has been moving in our time to liberate hundreds of millions of people from poverty. This is the 21st century exodus story. It’s happening in places like China, Chile, and Ghana. The loving God we know certainly hears the prayers of mothers and fathers who cannot feed their children. Despite the hunger crisis, God is still moving in our time but God expects us to do our part.
Hunger will end when we build the political will to end it. Food is a basic need, and everyone, including our government, must do their part to end hunger.

Some may feel that the current hunger crisis is beyond their ability and power to resolve. But by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can make a difference.

Bread for the World launched an emergency Recipe for Hope online campaign, running from Mother’s Day to Father’s Day. Weekly emails from Bread will offer ingredients for a Recipe for Despair (more information on the causes of this crisis) and a Recipe for Hope (simple but crucial actions people can take to help end it).

Action to help hungry people is motivated and sustained by grace. Anyone who knows the God of the Bible knows that fighting hunger is sacred work. In every crisis there is an opportunity because God is moving as well and we’re invited to be part of it.

Rev. David Beckmann is president of Bread for the World.