TALK ABOUT HUNGER AND POVERTY

I accidentally came across Professor Richard Robbins' writing,my eyes were glued to his notes as to why people go hungry in the world of plenty.I have read and heard much of the huge number of people who are hungry but I could not fully understand why almost a billion people go to bed hungry everyday when the world produces more than the population needs.It grieve me to learn that the highest percentage of the hunger victims are women and children.As I continued to read the notes I  quoted Professors Richard's words that said "To understand why people go hungry you must stop thinking about food as something farmers grow for others to eat, and begin thinking about it as something companies produce for other people to buy..."It made little sense to me until i further read his notes,he described food to be a commodity.He stressed that people who don’t have enough money to buy food on an estimation of more than one billion earn less than $1.00 a day and they simply don’t count in the food equation.in other words,if you do not have money to buy food no one is going to grow it for you.He yet put it another way to say"You would not expect The GAP to manufacture clothes,Adidas to manufacture sneakers or IBM to provide computers for those people earning a $1.00 a day or less,likewise,you would not expect ADM(Supermarkets to the world) to produce food for them."

This clearly indicate that the the problem is not inadequacy but accessibility of the food by those who are undernourished and are really in need of the food.Just as the sneakers are right on the shelves of the shops but without money you can not have them.The same way food is right on the plates but without money you can not access it.Understanding this somehow I figured out why women and children are the most victims of hunger.Well one of the reason would be lack of their participation in the Labor force that deny them opportunities of being economically empowered,social suppression and many other factors that we all know surround women too would be a contributing factor to this high percentage.

With such a highlight,it plainly indicate that poverty is the major or root cause of hunger thus to say hunger is an effect of poverty and poverty is largely a political issue manifested as an economic issue as we can see that food is rated as a commodity and requires money thus leading us to the economic view point of the matter.politics greatly influence how food is produced, who it is produced by,who benefits and for what purposes the food is produced such as exporting rather than for the hungry, feedstuffs, etc. In most cases we tend to find that million acres of land are privately owned and the owners are those subjected to power.The best agricultural land in the world is used to grow commodities such as cotton,sisal,tea,tobacco,sugarcane and cocoa,items that are non food products or marginally nutritious but for which there is a large market.This brought me a picture of  the big tea estates i have been to in Thyolo the sourthen region of Malawi.The time i have been in the tea estates i never could imagine if this whole land was to be used for food crops,i now try to imagine what could it be like?could we ever go hungry at some point as a nation? More questions kept coming as to who own this land?who is benefiting from the produce?I realised that despite having few Malawians owning such big estates(not only the estates in Thyolo but other tobacco and cash crop estates across the nation),most of the tea and coffee estates are owned by foreigners who cultivate to sell to their mother land as exports.If you happen to be in one of these estate you agree with me that most of the Laborors are the victims of hunger and many of them are women and children.There is an increased child labor in these estates and the Labor earnings are queit pathetic.As a result you find out that many of these children do not go to school as they struggle to earn a dime so they can at-least buy food or support their families and they happen to be victims of multiple problems such as illiteracy, poverty,hunger,health issues and many other problems.This shows that to get rid of hunger we need to fight poverty in the first place.

There should be an assurance that people gets enough money or the means to acquire it to buy and create a demand for food markets.With the rising population it is easy to say that the fast growing population in some parts of the globe is a source of hunger and poverty.that is not so true as we all know that the world produces more than the needs of its population but i do believe it is the international trade, economic policies and the control of land that have lead to immense poverty and hunger and therefore less access to food.Most poor countries have taken this to be a way of seeking for food aid from rich countries so as to meet the food demands of their population.To some extent this is a bad omen for countries or governments to rely on such schemes. Food aid especially that which is not for emergency purposes can actually be very destructive on the economy of the recipient nation and contribute to more hunger and poverty as time goes. Free, subsidized, or cheap food, below market prices undercuts local farmers, who cannot compete and are driven out of jobs and into poverty.Many poor nations are dependent on farming, and so such schemes of food aid leads to the destruction of local farmers and their production, while supporting and bolstering large agribusiness.It is therefore important for governments to make policies that will appropriately govern the local markets for the benefits of the small farmers.and the nation as a whole.

Unless our politicians bring in some reforms that will be looking in needs of the life of those people living in rural communities and the less privileged as far as hunger is concerned,we will be able to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger in our nation.Many of you can agree with me that most of the farm productions take place in the rural communities but it is these communities that suffer the most with hunger and poverty.It is rare to find a family going without food in urban areas as it is in rural communities.It is rare to find a child who does not go to school in urban areas as it is in rural areas and it is indeed rare to find a woman victim of maternal health in urban areas as it is in rural areas.Even the gender equality and empowerment of women Gap in the urban and rural areas is quiet huge despite that we are still struggling for it in our nations as a whole.It is these rural residents that are highly susceptible to environmental injustice,it is  hard for accessibility of medical facilities as pertaining to diseases like Malaria just to mention a few for these people.You will find out that the small medical facilities mostly health centres located in our rural areas do not even have a laboratory to do the rapid malaria test.At times it would even operate without drugs not even a mere pain killer.This keep on leaving behind the development of the communities which influences the development of the nation as whole.

Basing on these facts it is certain that meeting one of the Millennium development goals greatly influences the rest of them as it interrelates to the growth of a human being,growth of a nation as well as open up solution to the next problem that was unlocked.

FIGHT HUNGER AND POVERTY,TALK ABOUT IT,DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOU WITNESS A CRISIS!!!

Nepal Villages Mission Trips - Water Projects

Nepal Villages Mission Trips - Water Projects

LEARNING OUR WAY FORWARD INTO THE CLIMATE OF TOMORROW...CLIMATE GOVERNANCE

Changing climate and weather patterns are predicted to have severe negative
impacts on food production, food security and natural resources. At different levels and scales appropriate responses to climate change are needed. This includes both adaptation, mitigation and land use change measures to curb the impacts of climate change and prevent further climate change to occur.
Climate change, its impact but also the adaptation and mitigation strategies have
to be placed within the realm of sustainable development. Vulnerability to climate
change can be defined in terms of people’s livelihoods and the environment and
economy they are part of (people-planet-profit).

Furthermore, climate change adaptation and mitigation activities are part of complex change processes. The impact on food production, food security and natural resources in developing countries are likely to be severe. Addressing these requires the involvement of different stakeholders (communities, citizens, farmers, policy makers, extension workers, scientists, media, businesses etc.). Apart from the need to understand the complex issues regarding climate change, these stakeholders have different positions, interests and power levels, while effective adaptation and mitigation will require concerted efforts. Since climate change is highly complex and uncertain, an emergent and learning process is required. The adaptation and mitigation measures will involve social and institutional change.

The capacity to facilitate these complex change processes is limited in many
countries. The need for dealing with the complexity and uncertainty of climate
change and its impact, as well as the knowledge, skills and attitudes to bring
stakeholders together in analysing climate change issues is urgent.
(WAGENINGEN)

GLIMPSE A CHANGE,EDUCATE A GIRL

Through the windows of pain,hurt,passion,sorrow and fear for the future,i look at that life of a child,a child that is locked in the bars of her home,a seed image glows as i deeply think of this child. I Imagine seeing a seed that will grow into a multiple harvest but no one is there to grow it,nobody cares of sowing it nobody gives thought to its end result.Time goes nobody dares to take the seed and plant it,it is wasted and is trashed.This seed picture is a girl child somewhere around the globe,no one realise she is a reverend entity,she is a solution for the world's problems tomorrow if supported today.

She is a girl child and the society does not feel like a place she belongs ,her future is shattered, she knows no rights, she can not define happiness, she can not express knowledge and self reliance is to her a song she has never known nor heard,all she know is waking up every morning and do the household chores as expected and marriage being the next door of opportunity she hopes of landing to.She fully relies on her husband as she get married,if the husband is challenged with obstacles not to support her at some point she is on the neck of her children for survival.Mentally she is tortured,she can not even explain her own health and her own life. She lives in a world where she feels inadequate,she has no voice to her situation not even to the elders of the village,she has no one to defend her injustice, no ear to listen to her cries.How can such a life make a difference in this world,It takes you and i to touch this life.it takes one to stretch a hand and reach out to the point of need of this girl,it takes a teacher to instill the knowledge and open gates for her future,she needs to be taught of her rights,she need to be taught and inspired so that she can make a dent in the vastness that is the universe.she need a response to untie the chains behind the bars she is in.somebody who understand her cries .Remember she is a mother of tomorrow,she is the overseer of the next family,the next village and the next world.Try to imagine what an impact it can make to the world only if this little girl is cared about today.It is the lives of the very most important beings that are systematically denied opportunities.

Send this little girl child  to school,support her education and you are building a world,you are turning a dream into a reality and reaching that vision that seem impossible.When you panel to talk about health issues,this transformed girl child will understand,she will stand up to play her part in building a health life for all,when you talk of environmental issues she will take a lead to advance and control those environmental threats and barriers.She will be the bread winner for her family,she will no longer be a burden to her husband nor her children.Preserving her culture will be at heart,with her,she will carry along the precepts of her ancestors and use it to build a strong understanding of the contribution of culture to resolve world problems.After her comes another transformed life she will bring through education. She will never be silent for other girl children locked in bars she will  raise the echos of their voices and display them out with a sense to bring solutions to their needs.

Imagine the picture of the seed that looked dormant being a socially empowered woman,standing up to build policies impacting the nation and the globe.Can you visualise that bar locked girl child being an economically empowered woman,supporting the cause of those in need.Academically she holds not just the papers as a significance of her knowledge but she briefly explain and express the wisdom instilled in her through her decisions and acts of wisdom.she will be a role model to many,she will be an inspiration to that other girl who is low.She will be a decision maker,a policy maker a world's answer and a solution to the next generation needs.

It just needs a supporting hand,a passionate heart and a true life to open up the doors of transformation to this girl child.All it requires is a considerate voice that will shout for the rights and education of this girl child.Yes,it awaits the action of the policy makers and government to offer room for the development of this girl child and create a full and clear empowered woman we dream of.Change a life support a girl child,send her to school!

THE GLOBE IN MY HANDS,I CAN BE THE CHANGEMAKER

   

Ever thought of being the change maker? Ever thought of impacting your world? As an individual, a family, a nation or a world at large? There are others too who think that way and It seem impossible when you do not have the zeal to take your dreams and visions the way you go. It is only when we see the glass half full that we can accomplish the missions we set to be the change makers. I recently had a privilege to attend a four weeks fellowship as a young woman leader in Ghana, I met many other young African ladies from various career backgrounds and we shared ideas and created a network that binds us to work together build a better world with input from all walks of career and talents in each one of us. As a student and a youth, I always thought my views and efforts cannot be appreciated, Little did I know that I can contribute in shaping the world. The fellowship I attended has been an eye opening scenario to me and many others too. I listened to many speakers and fellow young people who have the zeal to change the world amongst the speakers was Mama Solar of Kenya, and I would love to share part of her story. She is a woman so passionate about the environment, she has a story that moved me to come back home and start writing about Climate change and other issues to inform people that we can protect our environment, we can access pure drinking water, we can afford a  health life and we can earn a living easily. It all lies in our hands, as individuals what are we doing?

Mama solar cloche used plastic bags that we normally get after shopping from various places. She makes different items like handbags, tissue holders, fruit baskets and many other of which one item would earn her almost US$ 10.Mama Solar does not only cloche to sell out, she also train other women with the skills and help them earn a living and save the environment .One thing that amazed me is that not a piece of these plastics is trashed, the very tiny pieces are used to make cushions, the very cushions you would have on your sofa set and feel so comfortable leaning on. I took a moment to think why is she doing all this? Is it just for money? No, she is passionate about the environment she is teaching others too to protect the environment to make full use of the waste resources like polythene bags that contribute to pollution of our environment and in the long run contributing to the global climate changes. Can you imagine yourself killing two birds with one stone? Just think of yourself as an individual comfortable with a clean environment, an individual making full use of every resource around you and benefit from it. it’s possible we all have talents that we can use to build and protect our environment as we earn a living through it too.

Food is vital, it is fuel our lives. We all need to eat to keep going. As a woman mostly African woman the first place to be every day is in the kitchen. We cook using different energy sources like electricity and gas just to mention a few. Most of us know how expensive and unreliable electricity is in Africa and not everyone would afford cooking with gas, many of the Women including myself have ever and some are still using the three stone cooking method which involves firewood, thus wood burning, this is one of the major contributors to global warming as the burned wood releases 20% of human greenhouse. Looking at how we all are affected with this mama solar uses a solar cooker, it is very affordable, u can make it at home and its efficient in its use, it is made of a cartoon and foil paper and depends on the sunshine to cook, bake, and grill whatever food. This really grabbed my attention, I silently thought “ how many days do we experience sunshine in Africa?” its almost 208 days or more out of the 365 days we have in a year , why then don’t we adopt this method that requires us to use the sun a natural resource that is readily available and at no cost for almost 208 days plus a year and serve electric power as well as our environment from being polluted by the greenhouse emissions. Going deeper one would realize that this solar cooker is not only option for saving the environment but also as a way of preventing some diseases that may result from smoke in our cooking places. If you are an African of have ever been in Africa and visited the rural areas you will agree with me that the kitchen infrastructure is a closed room and if you are inside cooking all you inhale is smoke which covers the whole room and often result in teary eyes. This is often a cause of many diseases like common cough and lung cancer among others. If we can adopt to the solar cooking model not only shall we save trees but also save human lives as well as our globe.

Being an agriculture genetics student myself and having visited most farms that grow plants in greenhouses, I have always been challenged with its effects. It is a fast and very productive way of raising health crops that would feed millions but the effect of the greenhouse gases are far beyond just food for millions as it will cost a million more lives and other living creatures. The greenhouse gases thus methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide leads to global warming which is changing our ecosystem in many ways. The birds’ species are slowly declining, animal growth is decreasing and human life is at risk with a decreasing lifespan. With my genetics experience as a student, I view the genetically engineered crops to be far a better solution as these crops effectively recycle carbon dioxide. Algae too is a good absorber of carbon dioxide and if we can replenish our oceans with algae by cultivating it on a large scale in our farms as it is indicated that the algae species is also declining will help us control the global warming problem and will also be a way of preserving and conserving the algae species besides protecting our environment.

In seeking to learn more on environmental issues and agriculture which is one of the human activities leveling up global warming. I was privileged to attend one of the agroforestry policy dialogue of ICRAF in Malawi and I fully support the initiative that they are carrying out to encourage farmers grow trees on farms. Knowing that this will not be an easily accepted initiative to every farmer they emphasize on trees that are beneficial. These are trees that are either fruit trees or trees that are of soil improvement benefit and is well explained to the farmers that most of them are adopting the system. This agroforestry system does not only benefit the farmers as a way of having bumper harvest and some fruits for either family consumption or market but is also contributing to the conservation of our environment, avoiding soil erosion, and the trees use carbon dioxide in the photosynthesis process thus making use of the greenhouse gas that would affect the climate change through global warming. It is quite interesting how our world can go green with high benefits to all.

The youths are so innovative, talented and most of them open to learn and implement the conditions of our world today. If governments would put up policies that will involve youth participation and fully support their initiatives in many areas we will come up with ways that will solve most of the problems facing our world including global Climate change. Let us build and support a whole youth leader where all their talents, ideas, knowledge and passion will come together and build the world.