• by Jose Graziano da Silva
• Monday, May 30, 2011
• Inter Press Service

Eating is such a fundamental aspect of our existence, that I find it strange that anyone should question the wisdom of proposing that FAO ¬which was set up in 1945 to end hunger¬ should do all in its power to help ensure that everyone can eat 3 meals a day. But today almost 1,000 million people -one in seven of the earth’s inhabitants¬ are still chronically hungry, writes Jose Graziano da Silva, architect of the Zero Hunger Program, former Brazilian Minister of Food Security and Fight Against Hunger, FAO Representative for Latin America and candidate of Brazil for election as next Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation.

As anyone who misses a few meals knows, hunger makes the body weak and diminishes concentration. Long-term hunger has dire effects. It prevents adults from working, even if they want to, and it stops children from learning at school. Undernourished persons are more susceptible to disease and their life expectancy drops. If a mother is hungry during pregnancy and cannot provide enough food for her babies before their second birthday, they will be disadvantaged for all their life.

Like many other people, I view access to adequate food as a human right.

This is not mere wishful thinking. With my own eyes, I have seen what has happened in countries that have taken the hunger problem seriously. Ask any Ghanaian, Vietnamese or Brazilian about the impact of their anti-hunger programmes, and I am sure that they will confirm my impressions. (FIN)

© Inter Press Service (2011) — All Rights Reserved. Original source: Inter Press Service

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