Sign up to beat hunger (From Witney Gazette)
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Sign up to beat hunger
10:00am Wednesday 6th March 2013 in Letters
Sir – As we in Witney cope with the economic stresses and strains of recent years it’s worth remembering the real scandal of our age: hunger.
Hunger kills more people than Aids, malaria and tuberculosis combined. Two million children die each year because of malnutrition. The food system is broken. The world produces enough food for everyone but not everyone has enough food.
We know we can change this. All this suffering and death is preventable if we can persuade the Government to act.
Why is this relevant to us in Witney? This year, our MP, David Cameron, will be hosting the world’s most powerful leaders in the UK at the G8 summit.
They could change the future for millions of people who live with the day to day struggle of hunger, but only if we work together to force them to fix it.
This is why I am part of the If campaign, to make sure everyone has enough food to live. I want others to join me in encouraging Mr Cameron to take a lead on this issue. You can sign up at enoughfoodif.org
Together, we can make 2013 the beginning of the end for global hunger. That means me, you and all the groups across West Oxfordshire coming together to encourage the Prime Minister to make progress tackling four big Ifs.
1. Aid: Give enough aid to stop children dying from hunger and help the poorest families have enough food to live.
2. Land: Stop poor farmers being forced off their land and we grow crops to feed people not fuel cars.
3. Tax: Governments should stop big companies dodging tax in poor countries, so that millions of people can free themselves from hunger.
4. Transparency: Force governments and investors to be open and honest about the actions that prevent people getting enough food.
If David Cameron and other leaders take these steps, it will change the future for millions of people who live with the day to day struggle of hunger.
This year could be the beginning of the end for global hunger.
The If campaign is supported by groups including Oxfam, Christian Aid, Save the Children, the Methodist Church and the Church of England.
Let’s all sign up to make a difference.
Paul Langley, Waterford Road, Witney
