EACH day, a billion people do not eat enough
to satisfy their hunger. Yet, this atrocious condition should not exist,
according to the United Nations.
“You have said that your first priority is
the eradication of extreme poverty.” So spoke United Nations Secretary-General
Kofi Annan on September 8, 2000, to an assembly of the world’s most
powerful men and women. They had come together for the United Nations
Millennium Summit, during which several of those leaders made frank comments on
the problems of the world’s poor. “Extreme poverty is an affront to humanity,”
said the vice president of Brazil. The prime minister of Great Britain went
even further when he said: “There is a dismal record of failure in Africa on
the part of the developed world that shocks and shames our civilization.”
Those two speakers made plain that the
nations had disgraced themselves by failing to do what they could to feed
starving humans. As proof of their desire to improve living conditions for all
on earth, those attending the summit committed themselves to action in an
eight-part resolution that included the following: “We will spare no effort to
free our fellow men, women and children from the abject and dehumanizing
conditions of extreme poverty, to which more than a billion of them are
currently subjected. . . . We resolve further: To halve, by the year
2015, the proportion of the world’s people whose income is less than one dollar
a day and the proportion of people who suffer from hunger.”
What progress has been made toward that noble
goal since September 2000?
Actions Speak Louder
Than Words
In 2003 the Global Governance Initiative of
the World Economic Forum began assessing what had been done to achieve the
goals outlined in the United Nations Millennium Declaration. The official
report, released on January 15, 2004, states: “For all of its most
important goals, the world is failing utterly to put forward the needed effort.”
Regarding hunger, the report states: “The problem is not an absolute shortage
of food in the world—there is enough to go around. The problem is that
available food and adequate nutrition do not get to those who lack money.”
On the overall problem of poverty, the report
says: “The responsibility for the lacklustre performance now lies mainly with
governments, rich and poor. But a global economic system designed by the
wealthy is too often stacked against the poorest. The wealthy countries,
despite much rhetoric, show little interest in reforming that system or in
substantially increasing development assistance targeted to the poorest.” In
the face of this reproof, the politicians continue to debate rather than act
and the governments continue to maneuver, each for its own advantage.
Meanwhile, the world’s poor continue to have empty stomachs.
A fact sheet from the World Economic Forum,
entitled “From Aspiration to Action,” warns that “vast swaths of humanity will
face increasing hunger unless international trade policies are changed,
national policies focus on hunger and successful local efforts are multiplied.”
And who needs to make better policies and more “successful local efforts”? The
very governments that in 2000 publicly declared their determination to improve
the lot of all humanity.
One broken promise may lead to
disappointment; several broken promises lead to distrust. By not keeping their
word to care for the poor, the world’s governments have reaped distrust. A
mother of five living in a poor Caribbean country is able to feed her family
one meal a day. She says: “I only care about whether we can eat. It doesn’t
matter who’s in power. We’ve never gotten anything from anyone in power.”
The Bible writer Jeremiah said: “I well know,
O Jehovah, that to earthling man his way does not belong. It does not
belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.” (Jeremiah 10:23) The
failure of human governments to solve the problems of the poor confirms that
Bible truth.
But there is a Ruler with both the power and
the desire needed to solve man’s problems, and the Bible identifies him. When
that Ruler takes charge, no one will ever go hungry again.
A Basis for Hope
“To you the eyes of all look hopefully, and
you are giving them their food in its season.” (Psalm 145:15) Who is this One
who is attentive to man’s need for food? Our Creator, Jehovah God. Although the
human race has suffered from famine and other problems for thousands of years,
Jehovah has always been interested in people. He has observed the failure of
human governments, and his infallible Word, the Bible, shows that he will soon
replace them with his own government.
Jehovah says: “I, even I, have installed my
king upon Zion, my holy mountain.” (Psalm 2:6) This proclamation from the
highest authority in the universe is cause for hope. While human rulers have
often failed to help their subjects, Jesus Christ, as the King appointed by
God, will bring benefits never seen by earth’s poorest people.
Through this King, Jehovah will feed all
hungry ones. “The Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich
food,” says Isaiah 25:6 in the New American Bible. Under God’s Kingdom
in the hands of Christ, people will never lack good food, no matter where they
live. Regarding Jehovah, the Bible says: “You are opening your hand and
satisfying the desire of every living thing.”—Psalm 145:16.
AWAKE magazine 2005
Please go to www.jw.org for more articles
“Every year, nearly
3 million babies die within the first month of life, most from preventable
causes. More than a third of these babies die on their first day of life.”—Save
the Children International.
In 2011, according to
Public Health England, in 15 London boroughs, there was an increase in deaths
from particulate-matter air pollution. Ironically, diesel has been promoted as
green because it is more fuel efficient and emits less carbon dioxide. However,
91 percent of particulate-matter air pollution in that area comes from
diesel vehicles.
A number of schools and
universities are replacing textbooks with electronic tablets that are loaded
with the necessary reading material, software, apps, and other media. Whether
this is more cost-effective, however, has been questioned.
