Monday, March 25, 2013

Hunger: the shocking truth

Enough Food For Everyone If

Hunger: the shocking truth

The world has enough food for everyone, yet not everyone has enough food to live.

The current ENOUGH FOOD FOR EVERYONE IF campaignstrives to raise awareness of the global hunger crisis so that we are all, alongside 100 organisations, urging world leaders to act by putting global hunger firmly on the agenda at the G8 meeting in June 2013. *As you may know, the UK Government has just announced that it is keeping its promise to spend 0.7% of national income on aid. A great first step.*
Joanna Callender, intern for the Christian Aid Collective, tells us how she has been involved in spreading the message of the campaign through a massive paint fight. You can see the videohere »
A few weeks ago I took part in a powder paint fight which is helping to raise awareness of global hunger. Confused? Initially, so was I….
“If you can keep your head about you when all are losing theirs…”
This is the opening line from Rudyard Kipling’s famous poem; If. You might’ve heard of it. The word ‘If’ is central to the ENOUGH FOOD FOR EVERYONE IF campaign to end world hunger.
This year, 100 organisations are joining together to spread the message that there is enough food for everyone. Extreme poverty doesn’t occur because our planet is over populated, but it is caused by the way food is grown, distributed and consumed. But solving this problem can only happen if we get involved.
“If you can take one leap to make IF happen, and fill your mission for justice with friendship and laughter…”
This is why I found myself covered in paint on a Saturday afternoon. I’d never participated in a paint fight before. The idea was a little alien, but I quickly found that it’s exactly what you’d imagine. Dressed in boiler suits, we had cups of powder paint that we threw at each other.
By the end of it we looked pretty impressive. And we’d had an afternoon of fun and laughter that we wouldn’t forget. But it was more than just a paint fight – we were creating a piece of artwork with a difference. The finished film, contains a reworking of Kipling’s poem, If. It’s challenging us to join in. We, as young people, have a voice that can change our world.
“If you never tire of speaking out with passion; and dream big, but not make dreams your master…”
The reason I found myself there in the first place was because I decided last year that I wanted to challenge myself to fight for justice.
I’m interning with the Christian Aid Collective – a network of young people who want to challenge the world we live in, and end extreme poverty. That’s why we got involved with ENOUGH FOOD FOR EVERYONE IF. That’s why I found myself in a paint fight.
There would be enough food for everyone IF; Companies stop dodging tax, we stop landgrabs for biofuels, there is greater government transparency over their involvement in the food chain and continuing commitment to provide aid.
Raise your voice and get involved in support of the ENOUGH FOOD FOR EVERYONE IF campaign. You can sign to show your support for the campaign here and check out our website for updates and resources to use at school, university, in your church or youth group and at the dinner table.
“Yours is the earth and everything in it; enough for you, for everyone.”

A bit more from Joanna about interning for the Christian Aid Collective

Interning with the Collective means stepping outside of your comfort zone and doing things you’ve never done before (for me, that includes being pelted with paint but also a trip to Zimbabwe, campaigning outside the government and finding myself talking on a podcast…) But, more importantly, it’s also ten months where you get to be part of a charity who are striving to make a difference in over 50 countries. I’ve found myself growing in enthusiasm and becoming more passionate about justice. It has challenged me and made me recognise that we’ve all got a part to play.
Applications are open for next year’s interns – fancy joining in?