Imagine the year 2050. Wheat prices have increased by over
90 percent , child undernutrition has increased by 20 percent and crop yields
continue to decrease due to lack of water. These are just some of the ominous
predictions from a new
studythat finds climate change
could have negative consequences for agricultural productivity and human
well-being if action isn’t taken.
The study, released this month by the International Food
Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), is the first study that models crop growth under
climate change with insights from a detailed agriculture model. The model’s results shows how vulnerable
agriculture is to climate change: changing precipitation patterns will cause
more crop failures and higher temperatures will increase the number of weeds
and pests and reduce crop yields. Combined with an increasing world population,
unchecked climate change will continue to increase food insecurity, especially
in the developing world.
While
the results of the study are distressing, the study asserts actions can be
taken now to mitigate the effects of climate change. IFPRI recommends that the
international community continue to implement effective development programs,
as people are better able to adapt to climate change when they have more
resources. Other recommendations include
increasing investments in agricultural research and productivity and supporting
community-based adaptation strategies. While the report estimates the cost of
adaption could be $7 billion per year, a seemingly massive number, it becomes
less daunting when one considers that over
$100 billion was spent
on overseas assistance in 2008.
The
United Nations World Food Program (WFP) is well aware of the impact of climate
change on food security. WFP currently works to address the impact of climate
change by helping communities become more food independent, planting trees,
building wells and reinforcing river banks. (Check out WFP adaptation stories
from Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Haiti here). Further, WFP’s Vulnerability Analysis and
Mapping (VAM) initiative and Early Warning System allow WFP to better predict where protective measures need to
be taken.
The
Roadmap
to End Global Hunger
also helps to address the impact of climate change on food security by calling
for increased investment in sustainable agricultural development. Act
now to make sure this important legislation
becomes law. Call or write your representative
and encourage him or her to support the Roadmap to End Global
Hunger and Promote Food Security Act of 2009 (H.R. 2817).
-Kristin Cullison Public Policy Intern Friends of WFP
Recently, the WFP Committee of the Northern San Fernando Valley finished up its advocacy tour. We have now
successfully met with our congressman and both senators' offices - all
of the people that represent us here in California.
During our last meeting with Senator Boxer’s senior field representative,
we really noticed how far we’ve come, both in our confidence and ability to
speak effectively about the Roadmap to End Global Hunger and the Global Food Security Act.That afternoon, we arrived in front of the Federal
Courthouse in Los Angeles
(an ominous building to say the least), and were a little intimidated.
However, once inside we were met by the
kindest gentleman, Boxer’s senior field representative Adolfo Bailon. He was so warm and generous with his
time.He spent about 20 minutes with us and
he seemed impressed by how together we were, both in our succinctness when presenting the information and in having all of the materials ready (thank you
WFP outreach team for the blue folders!).It was a really pleasant meeting, and we got to share some of our
personal experiences and views too, which was a really nice touch.
We have learned various lessons from our
advocacy experience, not the least of which is that you never know just quite
what to expect - all of our meetings have been unique experiences in their own
right.However, our commitment to this
cause has been constant, and we’ve done our best to bring global hunger policy
into the spotlight with the very people who can turn legislation into reality.Next step…community awareness!
-Jessica Mullan WFP Committee of the Northern San Fernando Valley
Supporters of the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) around
the world are stepping up to raise awareness about global hunger. Friends Lionel
Margueron and Laurent Rochat of Switzerland are among these dedicated WFP
advocates. The pair biked across Cambodia and Thailand last month, beginning in
Phnom Penh on September 7 and ending in Bangkok on September 21, to raise money
for WFP as part of Yum! Brands’ World Hunger Relief campaign. The travel was
paid for entirely by Lionel and Laurent and all donations went to WFP.
While on the road, they were met with some surprising
setbacks. At times, the two had to push their bikes through knee-high water
brought on by heavy rains. On their way to the Thai border, they were advised
not to leave the road due to a large presence of unexploded landmines.Given these difficulties, you might ask, “Why
bikes?” On Laurent and Lionel’s blog,
they say they chose to bicycle because it’s a “slow and respectful means of
transport, [and] the bicycle allows a more direct and faster contact with the
local population and its culture.”
Lionel and Laurent say that they were touched by their
experiences on the journey. When they decided to stop in a remote area on their
way to Chanthaburi, they encountered a local family. “We try to get to know
them a little better. As always, it is quite simply that these people invite us
to sit and share a moment of life,” they say in their blog.
While their trip is over, their message of hope endures. By
the end of September, Laurent and Lionel’s bike ride had raised more than
$10,000 for WFP.
People around the world will celebrate World Food Day
this Friday, October 16. You can help Friends of WFP celebrate by talking with
your Congressional representatives about your support for legislation that addresses
global hunger.It’s empowering, easier
than you think and makes a huge difference.
Last week I visited the offices of my representative and senators
as part of Friends of WFP’s Summit
on Global Hungerto advocate for
bills that incorporate recommendations from the Roadmap
to End Global Hunger. This was the
first time I had visited my representatives. I was apprehensive. What would I
say? What if they asked me something I did not know?
There was nothing, however, for me to be nervous about. I
met with legislative staffers from each of my Congressional representatives’
offices. I asked for my representative to support H.R.
2817 (The Roadmap to End Global Hunger and Promote Food Security Act of
2009) and H.R.
3077 (The Global Food Security Act of 2009), and for my senators to support
S.
384 (the Senate version of the Global Food Security Act of 2009). They were
friendly, interested in hearing why global hunger issues were important to me
and encouraged me to follow up with them in the future.
The meetings took only two hours of my day, but they
helped me to send an important message about what the U.S. government should do
to implement a comprehensive strategy
to address global hunger. It was also empowering
to voice my opinion and to take part in the democratic process.
You can take action too! Click here
to learn how to call, email or write your Congressional representatives.
-Kristin Cullison
Public Policy Intern
Friends of WFP
World Food Day takes place on October 16, a mere two days
away! The purpose of World Food Day is to raise awareness and encourage action
to alleviate hunger around the world. This year’s events are of utmost
importance as the number of hungry people has increased to over 1 billion for
the first time in history. If you’ve thought about getting involved but don’t
have the time or don’t know how to start, this is a golden opportunity. Both
the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) and Friends of WFP have a number of
ways for you to get involved that can be as simple as having dinner.
WFP suggests
simple actions. For example, try tweeting hunger facts to friends to raise
awareness or playing the quiz game on FreeRice.com, which gives
10 grains of rice to the hungry for every question answered correctly. You can
even make a meal for $1 with friends to understand what many people around the
world do everyday.
Friends of WFP also has a number of events taking place
around the United States thanks to dedicated supporters and WFP Committee
volunteers. In Houston, Texas, students are being asked to skip lunch and
donate the money they would have spent on their meals to Friends of WFP. The FIGHT campaign, organized by a group of
high school students in Houston, will be distributing information and holding
classroom sessions on hunger.
Additionally, the Melting Pot in Boca Raton, Florida will
donate 15 percent of your bill to Friends of WFP if you mention “World Food Day”
between October 16 and 23. Check
to see if there’s an event near you!
October 6 marked the end of the 2nd Annual Summit on Global Hunger and Friends of the World Food Program’s 8th Annual Awards Ceremony. While the annual events may be over, the sessions left attendees with a lot to think about.
From October 5-6, Friends of WFP hosted the 2nd Annual Summit on Global Hunger in Washington, DC. Volunteers with our WFP Committee program, as well as a select group of corporate stakeholders and major donors, attended the event for in-depth educational presentations and workshops on the issue of global hunger with experts from the field, meetings with Members of Congress to discuss hunger policy, panel discussions with private sector leaders about best practices in corporate social responsibility and strategic planning sessions targeted to further develop and expand the WFP Committee program.
Each panel and conversation led to a greater understanding of the global hunger crisis and what we can do both individually and collectively to help. One of the panels that particularly struck me was ‘The Role of the U.S. Government in Ending Global Hunger.’ Speakers included Peter Frosch, Legislative Director for Representative Betty McCollum (D-Minn.); Representative Jim McGovern (D-Mass.); and Susan Bradley, Senior Policy Advisor in USAID’s Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA) and Deputy to USAID’s Global Food Security Coordinator.
This panel gave real hope to improving global food security as the three speakers discussed the new goals of the U.S. government to create a more strategic partnership with both relief organizations and other countries. This will ensure a better focus on all aspects of hunger needs. A sustained commitment from the United States is necessary in continuing the success of a comprehensive strategy to address hunger; one year is not enough. The goal is that this will be a multi-year commitment.
Also, country ownership of hunger alleviation programs will play an important role in the exit ability of the United States. While resources from the U.S. government go a long way in relief, the speakers suggested that this is not enough and improved policies must also be an integral part of the strategy. This country ownership will allow each national government to play a huge role in alleviating poverty once the initial framework for relief has been set up.
The Summit on Global Hunger left attendees with a lot to do and think about. I am grateful for having been able to attend such an informative two-day event that will surely lead to important actions in the future. I hope to see you all at next year’s event!
Right now, your support is more
important than ever for those pushed deeper into poverty and hunger.
Please watch this video, share it with your friends and
remember: we couldn’t help the World Food Program provide assistance to
millions of people each year without your support! Hunger is solvable and
together we can make a difference.
A year after the onset of the world financial crisis, there
are signs of recovery in the U.S. economy.Many parts of the developing world, however, still face significant
challenges in meeting their basic
food needs. There are currently over 1 billion undernourished people
worldwide today: over 100 million more than last year. This dramatic increase is
partly due to skyrocketing food prices in the spring of 2008 and was further exacerbated
by the financial crisis, with its rippling effects leading to greater job
insecurity and a reduction in international aid and remittances.
While food prices have stabilized since 2008, they have not
fallen to pre-2008 levels. Faced with higher food prices and weak economies,
many in the developing world are forced to sell critical productive assets,
such as livestock or farming equipment, to buy food. Such a scenario can result
in a downward spiral into poverty, leaving families unable to provide for their
basic food needs, let alone send their children to school or access health care.
This situation is further aggravated in regions that face environmental crises,
such as Guatemala,
West Africa
and Kenya,
where droughts and floods are destroying crops and displacing residents.
The impact of the financial crisis on the world’s hungry
illustrates the need for a comprehensive strategy to address global hunger, one
that can provide during emergencies but also reduce long-term vulnerability.The
Roadmap to End Global Hunger does just that. Developed by a broad-based
coalition of nongovernmental organizations, including Friends of the World Food
Program, the Roadmap outlines a comprehensive strategy that will enhance the
effectiveness of U.S. policies and programs addressing global hunger. You can
make a difference in the lives of the world’s hungry. Act
Now and tell Congress to support the Roadmap.
-Kristin Cullison Public Policy Intern Friends of WFP
You only need to take a quick glance through this blog to know the obvious: hunger is a pervasive, alarming problem in today's world. For the first time in history, over 1 billion people are living with hunger. At the same time, food aid is at one of its lowest points in recent history, with the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) facing a $3 billion budget shortfall in 2009.
But despite these overwhelming statistics, there is a way for you to help. President Obama and Secretary Clinton have announced the administration's intention to strengthen and expand U.S. international hunger alleviation efforts - making this the perfect time to promote H.R. 2817, the Roadmap to End Global Hunger and Promote Food Security Act of 2009.
The Roadmap Act offers a comprehensive strategy to address global hunger, based on the Roadmap to End Global Hunger report developed and endorsed by Friends of WFP and a coalition of more than 40 organizations. The Roadmap supports several key proposals, including:
Emergency Response programs to save lives by providing immediate assistance to those people directly impacted by natural disasters and civil conflict.
Safety Net efforts to assist communities and governments in establishing programs that help prevent vulnerable populations from becoming destitute.
Nutrition programs to ensure pregnant and lactating women, infants and other at-risk populations have access to sufficient food and nutrients.
Agricultural Development programs to help break the cycle of hunger among the vast majority of the world’s poor who rely on agriculture for their livelihoods.
Right now there are numerous U.S. government agencies and programs focused on ending global hunger. A comprehensive strategy like the Roadmap will coordinate these agencies so that the U.S. can address hunger more efficiently and effectively.
Ask your representative to sponsor the Roadmap Act (H.R. 2817)!
1. Click here to look up your representative.
2. Dial (866) 569 FOOD between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.
3. Ask to be connected to the office of your representative.
4. Say: “I would like Representative _______ to cosponsor H.R. 2817 and help ensure that the Obama administration’s strategy to address global hunger incorporates all of the measures needed to comprehensively address global hunger.”
For more info on how you can take action, click here.
-Alli Bailey
Communications Assistant
Friends of WFP
In the last two weeks, the Northern San Fernando Valley WFP Committee of California has had two congressional meetings to discuss the Roadmap Act and the Global Food Security Act.Our first meeting was with Congressman Brad Sherman’s Chief of Staff, Bradford Cheney, and the second was with Senator Dianne Feinstein’s Los Angeles Field Representative, Molly O’Brien (seen right).Although these meetings were slightly intimidating at first, we found these experiences to be extremely powerful and rewarding (and maybe even a little fun, too…).Our first meeting with the Congressman’s office was pretty intense - we were glad that we had done some good research (theFriends of WFP's 'Current Legislation' page lays things out quite nicely), prepared an outline and assigned discussion points among ourselves.We also did some of our own research on our Congressman and Senator’s records on similar issues and were sure to provide a list of the current co-sponsors and the status of each piece of legislation. This information proved to be very valuable!All of this prep work definitely helped us hit the key points and keep things moving.
During our second meeting, we felt a lot more confident.While our first meeting lasted only 10 minutes, we spent over half an hour at the Senator’s office getting into the details of both pieces of legislation.We found both offices to be extremely receptive and overwhelmingly nice and accommodating.Both offices were going to pass the information we gave them on to their legislative analysts before any decisions could be made, but they were both happy to have constituents informing them on pieces of information that mattered to them.In fact, we, as a group, felt really powerful.We are a relatively new and small committee (there are only three of us), but we felt like in our small numbers we were able to bring to light some important issues and pieces of legislation that our representatives may not have known about otherwise.And the fact that we may have some impact down the road on the possible co-sponsorship of these acts is a pretty amazing feeling!
-Jessica Mullan (WFP Committee of the Northern San Fernando Valley)
-- If any other committees are going to be participating in similar events, we’d be happy to send over our outlines and other pieces of research that we found to be useful - we spent quite a bit of time mulling over the details of these pieces of legislation.Feel free to contact us! (wfp.nsfvalley@friendsofwfp.org) --
