Running Head: PERSONAL ESSAY

PERSONAL ESSAY: World Hunger Trident University International Kevin S. Varner English Composition II ENG102 Case Study Module Number 2 Coordinator Professor: Dr. Mickey Shachar Core Faculty: Dr. Donald Simon January 30, 2011

PERSONAL ESSAY: World Hunger

ABSTRACT The popular myth that world hunger is caused by a lack of food is easily debunked. It would take very little to show a reasonable person how this idea is false. The challenge is in determining what to do about it. A path to right this horrible wrong must begin with the cause, address the effects, and determine how to prevent or correct it where it begins. As with many injustices in the world, poverty is the true cause of hunger, especially in third world countries where the American definition of poverty could be considered well off. The worlds food supply is growing annually. There is no shortage in availability of calories versus the worlds population. The availability in poor areas is where the shortage truly lies. With roughly 7 Billion people in the world, there were an estimated 925 million hungry people at the end of 2010 (Anonymous 2012), or almost 1 in 7 world-wide. This has been brought to the attention of the world on numerous occasions; whether through campaigns like USA for Africa 25 years ago, or news broadcasts highlighting Somalia today. Money flows in temporarily then, when it is no longer the cause clbre, people stop taking notice and the donations rapidly decrease. Natural disaster shines the light on some poor areas as well, but the Western attention span seems to shrink every decade or so until the only events that matter today are things that happen this week. Throwing money at these issues is a good short term solution to a long-term problem. In order to finally solve this problem the cause must be the target of the world at large.

PERSONAL ESSAY: World Hunger

Causes When discussing hunger as an issue we are really discussing malnutrition, especially protein-energy malnutrition (PEM). Mosbys Medical Dictionary defines PEM as a wasting condition resulting from a diet inadequate in either protein or energy (calories) or both. These inadequacies are major problems for children in developing countries (Elsevier 2009). Multiple causes can be linked to this form of malnutrition. Examples such as a lack of education in child nutrition and poor hygiene conditions leading to disease are prevalent. Not understanding the relation of hunger to improper weaning practices, disease, types of food eaten, clean water and lack of nutrients causes PEM in areas that otherwise would not be suffering as badly (Belachew 2001). Additionally, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) lists three major causes of hunger (and an increase in those classified as hungry) in the world today: 1) neglect of agriculture relevant to very poor people by governments and international agencies; 2) the current world-wide economic crisis; and 3) the significant increase of food prices in the last several years which has been devastating to those with only a few dollars a day to spend (Anonymous 2011). Further complicating this is a lack of arable land to grow sufficient crops in these poor areas, which means they have to purchase food on a wholly insufficient income. Other causes of hunger are more readily recognized. Famine seems to always follow war in any part of the world. Also, unequal income distribution in these poor, third-world countries propagates an economic system that maintains the inability of the undernourished to correct their situation.

PERSONAL ESSAY: World Hunger

Effects The causes are numerous and may be well known to many. Yet, the effects of this type of hunger are more devastating than many realize. High death rates, failure of the young to thrive, PEM related disease, and a general downward spiral in a population. Disease affecting these people hits children the hardest. Two of the most common ailments are Marasmus and Kwashiorkor. Marasmus usually has a root cause starting with the weaning process, followed by diluted and/or dirty formula (Rabinowitz 2009). This leads to gastroenteritis, which causes diarrhea. Many of the undereducated population in areas this effects believe in starvation therapy for those effected this way and decrease the quantity and frequency of intake. This results in retarded growth with manifestations such as loss of subcutaneous fat and muscles of up to 30%, increased appetite, sunken eyes, increased irritability and mild skin and hair changes (Belachew 2001). Kwashiorkor syndrome is a similar disorder, however the manifestation is different. Both are caused by malnutrition, however this syndrome has a fair to normal calorie intake with inadequate protein intake (Shashidhar 2011). Again, the lack of protein being key, and due usually to either lack of education on proper nutrition or lack of resources (money or land) to obtain the proper amount of protein needed. This results in changes to the brain similar to those seen in mental retardation, and manifests in physical symptoms such as psychomotor retardations, pitting edema, moon face, loss of appetite, and obvious apathy (Belachew 2001). These effects may be very specific to disease processes, but the overall effects of hunger on people cannot simply be measured by the physical. The psychological impact of seeing an entire generation of your people fall to disease and starvation has varying effects all of them

PERSONAL ESSAY: World Hunger

devastating. Everything from an increase in crime and violence to a complete withdrawal and loss of hope for the future can be readily seen. However, though seemingly different, all of these effects lead to the same downward spiral in the population effected. Actions The goal of any program to fight world hunger needs to address prevention and sustainability of resources. General education needs to be the basis; discuss nutrition, infant and toddler care, breakthrough the cultural bias inherent in some regions that limits food division based on sex or age, show methods of making food secure and options for acquiring the needed items to combat PEM. Follow this with development of what resources are available to hungry areas making governments aware and accountable for taking care of these regions. Create infrastructure to allow for the growth of dynamic communities that work to sustain each other without the need of permanent outside assistance. Methods such as food for work or food subsidy programs can begin changing the culture around nutrition. Numerous organizations exist that are working toward these goals. The World Food Programme (WFP) is the United Nations frontline agency in the fight against hunger (WFP 2012). Some of the techniques they use to prevent and fight hunger can be utilized internationally by governments to begin the process of recovery. Encouraging free meals in school alone will increase the likelihood children will be fed at least one good meal a day, and you encourage education of the young. The Food for Assets program (WFP 2012) allows a means of paying for infrastructure improvements such as irrigation systems with food. This allows local farmers and villagers to work toward improving their own existence and ability to sustain community growth while decreasing or eliminating hunger. The WFP also has programs in place that provide special nutritional items such as ready to use foods (PlumpyDoz and

PERSONAL ESSAY: World Hunger

Supplementary Plumpy), high energy biscuits, and compressed food bars (WFP 2012) that cost pennies, but provide a starting point in combating starvation to allow recovery. Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization (ECHO) is another such organization whose techniques could be adopted by governments to address this issue (ECHO 2012). This organization focuses on agricultural solutions and development through training and innovation to create sustainable crops that can be used as both food and a source of income. Conclusion Every year you hear people discuss their desire for such grandiose ideas as World Peace, Eliminate Poverty and End World Hunger. While peace and prosperity are two very difficult things to effect on a global scale, we already have the resources to attack world hunger. The causes are tied to war and poverty in many instances, but in fighting the hunger problem you can eventually effect some change in the poorest areas of the world to decrease some of the reasons for conflict. Other causes are poor education, rigid cultural bias, and lack of resources. This can be affected through different agencies and governments adopting a positive stance toward education and change. In a world where 1 in 7 people are starving, while we have enough nutrition available to provide over 2000 calories a day to every one on the planet, change should be as simple as making the decision to end hunger.

PERSONAL ESSAY: World Hunger

References Anonymous (2011) 2012 World Hunger and Poverty Facts and Statistics. Updated December 4, 2011. Retrieved from: http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/world%20hunger %20facts%202002.htm Belachew, Tefera; et, al (2001) Protein Energy Malnutrition. Ethiopia Public Health Training Initiative. In collaboration with EPHTI, the Carter Center, Ethiopia Ministry of Health, and Ethiopia Ministry of Education. Jimma University publication. Retrieved from: http://www.cartercenter.org/resources/pdfs/health/ephti/library/modules/Degree/Mod_Pro t_En_Malnut_final.pdf Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization (ECHO) (2012) ECHO: What We Do. Retrieved from: http://www.echonet.org/content/whatWeDo Elsevier (2009) Protein-Energy Malnutrition Definition. Mosbys Medical Dictionary 8th Edition, 2009. Rabinowitz, Simon MD, PhD (2009) Marasmus. Medscape Reference updated May 20, 2009. Retrieved from: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/984496-overview Shashidhar, Harchalli (2011) Malnutrition. Medscape Reference updated October 25, 2011. Retrieved from: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/985140-overview World Food Programme (WFP) (2012) Fighting Hunger Worldwide: Our Work. Retrieved from: http://www.wfp.org/nutrition/special-nutritional-products