Message from APD for Economic and Social Development, Penny Veness

 

"The shocking fact is that every eight seconds a child somewhere in the world dies of hunger-related causes. Almost one billion people wake up each morning, uncertain of where their next meal will come. Now is an opportunity to join with Soroptimists world wide as well as with other concerned organizations and individuals to recognise World Food Day.

"Every one has an inherent right to food and to employment free from exploitation, starvation, or abuse. So please campaign for the implementation of the UN Millennium goal to half the people who suffer from hunger.

"Your club /region /country is urged to draw attention to World Food Day and consider organising one of the following events or campaigns.

• Organise a multi-cultural food festival or the planting of a sustainable food garden.

• Provide a meal to those unable to cater for themselves due to poverty, incapacity or social exclusion.

• Lobby governments and multinational companies to pay their worker a fair wage in proper, time bound and safe working environment.

• Carrying out surveys to check on the availability of gm & additive free foods.

• Encourage the use of fair trade products within your local community.

• Hold a tea coffee/party with fair trade products.

• Promote healthy eating in schools, workplaces, restaurants and at home.

• Campaign for proper labelling of food and drink.

• Lobby fast food chains for healthy low fat alternative menus.

• Encourage sustainable food production through partnerships, work shops, ,consumer power and seminars.

• Lobby governments to promote fair trade treaties and biodiversity.

• Produce a healthy eating menu booklet.

• Campaign for trade justice and end dumping of subsidised goods prohibitive trade barriers.

"Next year is the UN year of the potato so why not holds a potato fest! Encourage local food production. Encourage breakfast clubs in the developing world to ensure attendance and hunger free schooling.

"SI is encouraging sustainable development, as it promotes self-sufficiency in food production and can prevent many unnecessary deaths. According to informed sources an adequate diet could save over 2.5m lives a year [American Journal of Clinical Nutrition].

"I hope you will find the ideas above exciting and stimulating and I look forward to hearing and reading about your projects in respect of world food day.

"Many thanks"

Penny Veness
Assistant Programme Director - Economic and Social Development