May 12th, 2008 at 4:21 pm | posted by ONE.Partners
You signed ONE’s petition to President Bush about the global hunger crisis—137,000 of you did, in fact. Our nation’s leaders are hearing our voices. But this crisis is still in the news. People are still going hungry.
You can keep the pressure on by taking another next step.
Join ONE partner Bread for the World’s emergency online campaign, Recipe for Hope. For six weeks, from Mother’s Day through Father’s Day, you’ll receive an email with an Ingredient for Despair—more information on the causes of this crisis—and an Ingredient for Hope—specific actions you can take to help end it. Bread will tell you something you can do and something you can say to our nation’s leaders. Then we’re all doing our part to help hungry people around the world at this perilous time.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:18 am | posted by Virginia Simmons
Last week, we reported on the continuing calls to alter food aid policy so that 1/4 of the food could be purchased local to its distribution location (rather than shipping it all from the U.S.) Today, Reuters reports on a tide-changing shift toward that change.
Some excerpts:
President George W. Bush, taking a harder line in recent weeks, appears closer to victory in persuading Congress to accept a proposal to use some U.S. food-aid funds to buy crops overseas in the end game of a long-delayed agriculture law.
Giving poor countries the authority to buy food aid locally “seems like it’s becoming a requirement to get this farm bill passed,” said Rebecca Bratter, who follows trade at U.S. Wheat Associates, an industry group….
Although no final decisions have been made, according to one congressional aide, lawmakers are more likely than ever to set aside sharp agribusiness opposition and vote to allow up to a quarter of the largest food-aid program, run by the U.S. Agency for International Development, to buy crops overseas.
May 2nd, 2008 at 10:56 am | posted by Virginia Simmons
1970 Nobel Peace Prize winner Norman Borlaug and Georgetown professor and former USAID administrator Andrew Natsios join the chorus advocating for U.S. food aid reform in this joint Wall Street Journal op-ed.
Specifically they state: “Congress should amend the Farm Bill to allow up to 25% of the appropriation for USAID’s food-aid program to be used to purchase food locally” instead of insisting, as the bill currently does, that the U.S. only purchase and ship U.S.-grown food.
A couple more excerpts:
The U.S. government currently buys grain and other foodstuffs from American farmers for free distribution in poor countries…
Ocean shipping costs are 20%-30% of the food-aid budget; and it takes on average over four months to order, buy, ship, offload and transport food by ground. In a famine, people can die waiting for the food to arrive.
Other problems arise. One food shipment sunk in a storm off the coast of Asia in 1996. In 2006, two food shipments were hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia. Hurricane Katrina nearly shut down much of the foreign food-aid delivery system in the Mississippi Delta…
Seventy-five percent of USAID food aid goes to Africa, the most food-deprived region of the world. More robust agricultural growth there will help in a period of rising food prices. More prosperous African nations will become better trading partners, expanding imports of U.S. agricultural commodities, machinery and technology. Any near-term losses will lead to longer-term gains for the American economy.
May 1st, 2008 at 4:06 pm | posted by Virginia Simmons
This afternoon, just hours after ONE staff dropped off a petition at the White House with nearly 120,000 signers, President Bush stood before press and TV cameras to call for $770 million in emergency food aid.
You can now see a transcript of his 3:30 PM public speech here.
Some excerpts:
In recent weeks, many have expressed concern about the significant increase in global food prices. And I share this concern. In some of the world’s poorest nations, rising prices can mean the difference between getting a daily meal and going without food…
I think more needs to be done, and so today I am calling on Congress to provide an additional $770 million to support food aid and development programs. Together, this amounts to nearly $1 billion in new funds to bolster global food security…
As America increases its food assistance, it’s really important that we transform the way that food aid is delivered. In my State of the Union address this year, I called on Congress to support a proposal to purchase up to nearly 25 percent of food assistance directly from farmers in the developing world. And the reason you do that is, in order to break the cycle of famine that we’re having to deal with too often in a modern era, it’s important to help build up local agriculture…
We believe in a timeless truth: To whom much is given, much is expected. And so therefore at home we are working to ensure that the neediest among us can cope with the rising food prices. And with the new international funding I’m announcing today, we’re sending a clear message to the world: that America will lead the fight against hunger for years to come.
May 1st, 2008 at 3:13 pm | posted by Virginia Simmons
President Bush just called on Congress to approve $770 million to help alleviate food shortages causing widespread hunger and social unrest around the world.
WASHINGTON, May 1 (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush will call on Thursday for $770 million in new international food aid to help ease high global food prices, a senior administration official said.
Bush planned to make a statement on food assistance at 3:30 p.m. (1930 GMT), the White House said. (Reporting by Tabassum Zakaria)
April 30th, 2008 at 4:35 pm | posted by Virginia Simmons
Most days, ONE’s Steve Wilson and Chandler Smith alternate sending out updates on important global poverty news stories from the day. I don’t always get a chance to make posts for all the notable articles, so I wanted to share today’s round-up with our ONE Blog readers.
Finishing up a two-day meeting in Switzerland, Ban Ki-moon said the U.N. has a agreed on a series of measures to address food shortages in the medium and long term, and will establish a top-level task force to coordinate the response.
Spiraling food prices are hitting private charities and relief agencies, with some of the world’s largest aid providers, like World Vision and Care, warning they will soon be forced to slash programs on their existing budgets.
Raymond Offenheiser, president of Oxfam America, writes in ‘The Hill’ today that the most urgent step America can take to respond to the food crisis is to change the way we deliver our food aid: allow food to be purchased where it is needed rather than ship it halfway around the world.
As Egypt, a key U.S. ally, responds to rising food prices and the resulting tensions within its population, it’s clear the crisis is about more than simply food: it’s about stability and global security as well.
April 30th, 2008 at 10:00 am | posted by Virginia Simmons
Oxfam’s President Raymond C. Offenheiser wrote an important op-ed in today’s Hill on the world hunger crisis. In it he states:
“the most urgent thing we can do is reform food aid programs. President Bush’s move to release an additional $200 million in emergency aid is a good first step. What Congress needs to do now is reform food aid policies to allow for food to be purchased where it is needed rather than shipping it halfway around the world.
Americans are the most generous donors of food aid in the world, providing half of the world’s food aid. But Congress requires all food aid to be purchased from American farmers, even when it is available closer to where it is needed. Congress mandates that food aid be processed and bagged in the U.S., even when that is the costliest option. Congress mandates that most food aid be shipped on U.S.-flagged vessels, greatly adding to costs and delays. So for every dollar we spend on food aid, only 50 cents actually reaches the people in need.
“This series explores the causes and effects of the world’s worst food crisis since the 1970s. A complex combination of poor harvests, competition with biofuels, higher energy prices, surging demand in China and India, and a blockage in global trade is driving food prices up worldwide. Some countries, especially in Africa, are facing an increasingly dire situation while even consumers in wealthy nations are being forced to adjust.” (The Washington Post)
.
Series’ schedule:
Sunday, April 27
Global Shortage: As food demand and supply fall out of balance, the sustaining power of globalization is breaking down. In a world interlinked as never before, the food crisis spreads from country to country, sparking unrest and spiking hunger.
Monday, April 28
In Africa: The Food Trap. With prices soaring, the world’s poorest nations, dependent on the global marketplace to feed their people, are losing the fight against hunger. Mauritania, and much of Africa, relies on imported food. As trade breaks down, destitute people face tough choices.
Tuesday, April 29
Wheat: Vast transformations in U.S. agriculture have encouraged farmers to plant less wheat, spelling an end to an era of cheap bagels, pasta, bread and noodles.
Wednesday, April 30
Corn: Congress and President Bush have set mandates for corn-based ethanol use. But the linking of food and fuel is creating problems for livestock and poultry farmers and consumers.
Thursday, May 1
American Consumers: Consumers in almost every income bracket are looking to save by altering where and how they buy food.
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The content of each post and each comment represent the views of that author and does not necessarily reflect the views of the ONE Campaign or ONE Action. ONE does not support or oppose any candidate for elected office, and any posts expressing support or opposition for a candidate is not endorsed by ONE.
You signed ONE’s petition to President Bush about the global hunger crisis—137,000 of you did, in fact. Our nation’s leaders are hearing our voices. But this crisis is still in the news. People are still going hungry. 
