Despite the focus on hunger and poverty in the MDGs, under nutrition remains a problem of almost unimaginable proportions. In 2010 it was estimated that 925 million people in developing countries were suffering from some form of under nutrition- that’s up from 824 million in 1990.
There are many causes of this problem: an unfair global food system that favours large scale industrial food production over small scale farming; significant gaps in international financing for agricultural production; large numbers of people eating not enough or not nutritionally rich enough food; fluctuating food prices that force millions of people into food poverty…..the list goes on.
However, the winds of change are starting to blow.
This June, the leaders of the G8 are meeting in the UK to discuss, among other things, the crisis at the heart of our food system. What’s more, on June 8th ahead of the G8 meeting, David Cameron is hosting a ‘Hunger Summit’ in London, to make a resounding international call for financial resources and political will to tackle under-nutrition.
Over the past few months, hundreds of UK charities have been working together as part of the ‘IF Campaign’ to make sure world leaders clearly hear the call to end world hunger.
This month we will be joining the global movement to end the crisis in our food system. We are calling on the UK Government and David Cameron to stand up and make a strong pledge at the Summit and to implement changes that will create a fair and sustainable food system for all.
Materials included this month:
- Action sheet: The UK’s moment to lead: turning the tide on under-nutrition
- Background sheet 1: A case study on undernutrition
- Background sheet 2: Campaigning on undernutrition
- Your invitation to change the world
GROUP MEETINGS FOR TELEPHONE CONFERENCE: 7th May 2013, 8pm
This month there are groups meeting to join the conference call in: Central London, South London, Poole, the Stort Valley, Birmingham, Oxford, Macclesfield, Central Sheffield, South Sheffield, Leicester, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Norwich, Bath, Bristol, Leamington Spa, Reading and Linlithgow. If you would like information on the location of your local group, please get in touch with us in the office at: felix.jakens@results.org.
If yo would like to join the conference call there are 3 numbers you can call – 0844 762 0762, 0203 398 1398 or 0800 22 90 900. You must then enter the participant code, which is 18723. If you would like advice about which number to call please contact us in the office.
We look forward to you joining us
