Running Head: PERSONAL ESSAY

PERSONAL ESSAY: World Hunger

Trident University International

Kevin S. Varner

English Composition IIENG102

Case StudyModule Number 2

Coordinator Professor: Dr. Mickey ShacharCore Faculty: Dr. Donald Simon

January 30, 2011

PERSONAL ESSAY: World Hunger

ABSTRACT

The popular myth that world hunger is caused by a lack of food is easily debunked. It would

take very little to show a reasonable person how this idea is false. The challenge is in

determining what to do about it. A path to right this horrible wrong must begin with the cause,

address the effects, and determine how to prevent or correct it where it begins. As with many

injustices in the world, poverty is the true cause of hunger, especially in third world countries

where the American definition of poverty could be considered “well off”.

The world’s food supply is growing annually. There is no shortage in availability of

calories versus the world’s population. The availability in poor areas is where the shortage truly

lies. With roughly 7 Billion people in the world, there were an estimated 925 million hungry

people at the end of 2010 (Anonymous 2012), or almost 1 in 7 world-wide. This has been

brought to the attention of the world on numerous occasions; whether through campaigns like

USA for Africa 25 years ago, or news broadcasts highlighting Somalia today. Money flows in

temporarily then, when it is no longer the cause célèbre, people stop taking notice and the

donations rapidly decrease. Natural disaster shines the light on some poor areas as well, but the

Western attention span seems to shrink every decade or so until the only events that matter today

are things that happen this week. Throwing money at these issues is a good short term solution

to a long-term problem. In order to finally solve this problem the cause must be the target of the

world at large.

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PERSONAL ESSAY: World Hunger

Causes – When discussing hunger as an issue we are really discussing malnutrition, especially

“protein-energy malnutrition” (PEM). Mosby’s Medical Dictionary defines PEM as “a wasting

condition resulting from a diet inadequate in either protein or energy (calories) or both. These

inadequacies are major problems for children in developing countries” (Elsevier 2009). Multiple

causes can be linked to this form of malnutrition. Examples such as a lack of education in child

nutrition and poor hygiene conditions leading to disease are prevalent. Not understanding the

relation of hunger to improper weaning practices, disease, types of food eaten, clean water and

lack of nutrients causes PEM in areas that otherwise would not be suffering as badly (Belachew

2001). Additionally, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) lists three

major causes of hunger (and an increase in those classified as hungry) in the world today: 1)

neglect of agriculture relevant to very poor people by governments and international agencies; 2)

the current world-wide economic crisis; and 3) the significant increase of food prices in the last

several years which has been devastating to those with only a few dollars a day to spend

(Anonymous 2011). Further complicating this is a lack of arable land to grow sufficient crops in

these poor areas, which means they have to purchase food on a wholly insufficient income.

Other causes of hunger are more readily recognized. Famine seems to always follow war

in any part of the world. Also, unequal income distribution in these poor, third-world countries

propagates an economic system that maintains the inability of the undernourished to correct their

situation.

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PERSONAL ESSAY: World Hunger

Effects – The causes are numerous and may be well known to many. Yet, the effects of this type

of hunger are more devastating than many realize. High death rates, failure of the young to

thrive, PEM related disease, and a general downward spiral in a population. Disease affecting

these people hits children the hardest. Two of the most common ailments are Marasmus and

Kwashiorkor.

Marasmus usually has a root cause starting with the weaning process, followed by diluted

and/or dirty formula (Rabinowitz 2009). This leads to gastroenteritis, which causes diarrhea.

Many of the undereducated population in areas this effects believe in “starvation therapy” for

those effected this way and decrease the quantity and frequency of intake. This results in

retarded growth with manifestations such as loss of subcutaneous fat and muscles of up to 30%,

increased appetite, sunken eyes, increased irritability and mild skin and hair changes (Belachew

2001).

Kwashiorkor syndrome is a similar disorder, however the manifestation is different. Both

are caused by malnutrition, however this syndrome has a “fair to normal calorie intake with

inadequate protein intake” (Shashidhar 2011). Again, the lack of protein being key, and due

usually to either lack of education on proper nutrition or lack of resources (money or land) to

obtain the proper amount of protein needed. This results in changes to the brain similar to those

seen in mental retardation, and manifests in physical symptoms such as psychomotor

retardations, pitting edema, “moon face”, loss of appetite, and obvious apathy (Belachew 2001).

These effects may be very specific to disease processes, but the overall effects of hunger

on people cannot simply be measured by the physical. The psychological impact of seeing an

entire generation of your people fall to disease and starvation has varying effects – all of them

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PERSONAL ESSAY: World Hunger

devastating. Everything from an increase in crime and violence to a complete withdrawal and

loss of hope for the future can be readily seen. However, though seemingly different, all of these

effects lead to the same downward spiral in the population effected.

Actions – The goal of any program to fight world hunger needs to address prevention and

sustainability of resources. General education needs to be the basis; discuss nutrition, infant and

toddler care, breakthrough the cultural bias inherent in some regions that limits food division

based on sex or age, show methods of making food secure and options for acquiring the needed

items to combat PEM. Follow this with development of what resources are available to hungry

areas making governments aware and accountable for taking care of these regions. Create

infrastructure to allow for the growth of “dynamic communities” that work to sustain each other

without the need of permanent outside assistance. Methods such as “food for work” or food

subsidy programs can begin changing the culture around nutrition.

Numerous organizations exist that are working toward these goals. The World Food

Programme (WFP) is the “United Nations frontline agency in the fight against hunger” (WFP

2012). Some of the techniques they use to prevent and fight hunger can be utilized

internationally by governments to begin the process of recovery. Encouraging free meals in

school alone will increase the likelihood children will be fed at least one good meal a day, and

you encourage education of the young. The “Food for Assets” program (WFP 2012) allows a

means of paying for infrastructure improvements such as irrigation systems with food. This

allows local farmers and villagers to work toward improving their own existence and ability to

sustain community growth while decreasing or eliminating hunger. The WFP also has programs

in place that provide special nutritional items such as ready to use foods (PlumpyDoz and

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PERSONAL ESSAY: World Hunger

Supplementary Plumpy), high energy biscuits, and compressed food bars (WFP 2012) that cost

pennies, but provide a starting point in combating starvation to allow recovery.

Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization (ECHO) is another such organization

whose techniques could be adopted by governments to address this issue (ECHO 2012). This

organization focuses on agricultural solutions and development through training and innovation

to create sustainable crops that can be used as both food and a source of income.

Conclusion

Every year you hear people discuss their desire for such grandiose ideas as “World

Peace”, “Eliminate Poverty” and “End World Hunger”. While peace and prosperity are two very

difficult things to effect on a global scale, we already have the resources to attack world hunger.

The causes are tied to war and poverty in many instances, but in fighting the hunger problem you

can eventually effect some change in the poorest areas of the world to decrease some of the

reasons for conflict. Other causes are poor education, rigid cultural bias, and lack of resources.

This can be affected through different agencies and governments adopting a positive stance

toward education and change. In a world where 1 in 7 people are starving, while we have

enough nutrition available to provide over 2000 calories a day to every one on the planet, change

should be as simple as making the decision to end hunger.

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PERSONAL ESSAY: World Hunger

References

Anonymous (2011) 2012 World Hunger and Poverty Facts and Statistics. Updated December 4,

2011. Retrieved from: http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/world%20hunger

%20facts%202002.htm

Belachew, Tefera; et, al (2001) Protein Energy Malnutrition. Ethiopia Public Health Training

Initiative. In collaboration with EPHTI, the Carter Center, Ethiopia Ministry of Health,

and Ethiopia Ministry of Education. Jimma University publication. Retrieved from:

http://www.cartercenter.org/resources/pdfs/health/ephti/library/modules/Degree/

Mod_Prot_En_Malnut_final.pdf

Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization (ECHO) (2012) ECHO: What We Do. Retrieved

from: http://www.echonet.org/content/whatWeDo

Elsevier (2009) Protein-Energy Malnutrition Definition. Mosby’s Medical Dictionary 8th Edition,

2009.

Rabinowitz, Simon MD, PhD (2009) Marasmus. Medscape Reference updated May 20, 2009.

Retrieved from: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/984496-overview

Shashidhar, Harchalli (2011) Malnutrition. Medscape Reference updated October 25, 2011.

Retrieved from: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/985140-overview

World Food Programme (WFP) (2012) Fighting Hunger Worldwide: Our Work. Retrieved

from: http://www.wfp.org/nutrition/special-nutritional-products

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