Below is a list of some of the best and most influential world hunger blogs around. The following blogs use various journalistic styles to spread the word about world hunger and news from around the world. After you finish reading through The Borgen Project blog, take a look at some of these!
1. Action Against Hunger- regular postings on major global hunger news and breaking events. The blog is part of the organization’s website. Action Against Hunger is a global humanitarian organization committed to ending world hunger.
2. Bread Blog- part of the Bread for the World organization. This blog reports US national events and important global stories in the fight against global poverty.
3. From Poverty to Power- a blog from OXFAM. It discusses the avenues individuals can take to achieve power. It is based on the thoughts from the Author, Duncan Green, and is meant to serve as a conversation and debate starter about development policy.
4. The Hunger and Under-nutrition Blog– aims to promote an informed dialogue, and serve as a resource for those in the field, and empower people at all levels to do what they can to make undernutrition and nutrition-related deaths and diseases a thing of the past.
5. International Food Policy Research Institute– the organization seeks sustainable solutions for ending world hunger and poverty. They have a vision of a world free of poverty and hunger and their blog focuses on what the IFPRI is doing as well as major news stories.
6. ONE blog- is part of the ONE organization. ONE’s goal is to fight the absurdity of extreme poverty by asking people to advocate for the world’s poor by taking action instead of simply talking about the problem.
7. Plenty to Think About– a blog highlighting, “the thinking persons guide to feeding a hungry planet”. This blog focuses on dietary solutions that can help end world hunger
8. Universities Fighting World Hunger- this organization works with the UN World Food Programme to mobilize US and international universities to make fighting world hunger a core value of higher education institutions. The blog is informative and journalistic and it provides a summary of the actions individuals within the organization are taking to fight world hunger.
9. WhyHunger blog- shares the stories of community-based organizations that are leading by example and working together to build the movement to end hunger and poverty.
10. OXFAM blogs- these blogs come from OXFAM staff around the world and document the problems, successes, and news coming from their local regions.
– Caitlin Zusy
Source: Action Against Hunger, Bread for the World, OXFAM Blogs, Hunger and Under-nutrition Blog, International Food Policy Research Institute, ONE blog, Plenty to Think About, Universities Fighting World Hunger, WhyHunger blog, OXFAM blogs
Photo: Africa Dream
The World’s Most Troubled Countries are Improving
In a recent study by the World Bank, the top twenty most fragile countries are beginning to see improvements in education, health, and poverty reduction. The World Bank studied the development of these countries over the course of a few years and was pleased to announce that the standards of living in each country had improved.
The World Bank studied countries deemed conflict prone and economically unsound and judged based on United Nations standards regarding poverty, hunger and disease that each country must strive to achieve by 2015. These Millennium Development Goals hope to eradicate extreme global poverty by 2030. With the help of foreign aid, six more developing countries are expected to meet the deadline. In 2010, none of these fragile countries were in line to meet the Millennium goals.
Improvements can be seen in places where extreme poverty has been cut in half or girl’s education has improved, like in Afghanistan, Nepal and Timor-Leste. “This should be a wake-up call to the global community not to dismiss these countries as lost causes,” World Bank President Jim Yong Kim said. “Development can and is being achieved, even amid fragility and violence.”
Despite these positive results, there are still many countries that are predicted to not reach the Millennium Goals by 2015. There are several possible reasons as to why some developing countries are not progressing. One may be that wealthy countries cut foreign aid programs when they do not see immediate results, or possibly the country is experiencing a war, making poverty and hunger eradication even more difficult to achieve.
The key to successful reduction of poverty and improved human rights is transparency and accountability of governments, says President Kim. As the World Bank and United Nations develop a closer relationship, they hope to combine financial growth with humanitarian rights. The organizations also hope to work together to uncover the root causes behind conflict and poverty in a given country. This combination will ensure a country’s growth, both economically and socially.
– Mary Penn
Source: Reuters
Photo: mtholyoke
Liter of Light
Fiat lux! Let there be light! A timeless phrase that has been used since biblical times, in classrooms and even in movies has a more humanitarian and sustainable meaning since 2011. MyShelter Foundation, a ‘green-energy for all’ organization, began the Liter of Light project out of a simple idea to light up the homes of those who could not afford to do so themselves. With the help of MIT students, the technology of empty water bottles, water, bleach, and a slab of cement has taken the place of electricity and changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people around the world.
The first installments began in Manila, Philippines. Since electricity rates are so high, families are forced to keep the lights off during the day. Due to the infrastructure of the homes in many of the poorer areas, however, light does not enter the homes during the day and families are left in darkness.
Building the makeshift light bulbs is easy and requires little to no maintenance. 1 liter plastic bottles are taken, filled with a small amount of bleach to keep the water and bottle clean and free of germs, then filled with water. When sunlight enters the bottle, enough light is produced that equals that of a 55-watt light bulb! The benefits of the water bottle bulbs are endless. Not only do they eliminate the need for electricity during the day, but they also reduce monthly electricity costs, are sustainable, help keep slums free of plastic waste, are easy to install, and add a greater sense of well being to the home environment.
Since 2011, Isang Litrong Liwanag (the translation of Liter of Light in Filipino) has spread to other countries such as Cambodia, India, Vietnam, Spain, Egypt, Peru, Kenya, the Middle East, and even Switzerland. MyShelter hopes to reach its goal of installing 1 million water bottle light bulbs by 2015.
– Deena Dulgerian
Source: A Liter of Light
U.S. Reps Advocate for Foreign Aid to Armenia
In the wake of President Obama’s 2014 foreign aid budget announcement, Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairmen Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.), along with twenty other members of Congress, spoke out on behalf for continuing foreign aid to several Middle Eastern countries. Their proposal included sending monetary aid to Armenia, Nagorno-Karabagh, Javajhj, and Christian American refugee camps in the Middle East.
These congressmen sent a letter to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations requesting an aid budget for Armenia and the other previously mentioned countries. Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-Texas) and Ranking Democrat Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) drafted the letter together and hope that the bipartisan group can persuade the subcommittee to carry out their requests.
The letter asked that Congress approve a foreign aid budget that would provide:
– $5 million in U.S. humanitarian and developmental aid to Nagorno-Karabagh.
– At least 10% of U.S. assistance to Georgia to be earmarked for job creation programs in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region of that country.
– At least $50 million in U.S. economic aid to Armenia.
– Funds for humanitarian and resettlement assistance specifically targeted to Armenian and other Christian populations as well as other minority communities affected by the recent unrest in the Middle East.
– Language strengthening Section 907 restrictions on U.S. aid to Azerbaijan.
– Removal of barriers to contact and communication with representatives of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic.
–Language calling for the participation of Karabagh leaders in the OSCE Minsk Group negotiations.
Congressmen Pallone and Grimm are concerned that Obama’s plan to give $24,719,000 in Economic Support Funds for Armenia will not be sufficient funds to fully aid the country. This budget is significantly less than last year’s $40 million budget. The Armenian government has requested $50 million in aid for 2014, an amount that is unlikely to be granted. Advocates of Armenian and Middle Eastern foreign aid are working diligently to ensure that funds for this region are increased before Congress passes the 2014 foreign aid budget.
– Mary Penn
Source: Armenian Weekly
Photo: Guardian
UAE’s New Ministry of Development and International Cooperation
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – In March, the United Arab Emirates announced the creation of their Ministry of Development and International Cooperation. This new sector of government was established to coordinate all of the development and humanitarian efforts undertaken by the UAE. Since the country was established in 1971, the UAE has made efforts to assist in the development of poorer nations based on the belief that part of their wealth from oil and gas should be devoted to assisting those that are less fortunate. The Arab nation was the sixteenth largest humanitarian donor in 2012, based on the ratio of aid to the size of the economy of each country.
In the past three decades, the UAE has contributed more than $69 billion in loans, grants and developmental assistance in nearly 100 countries around the world. Most recently, the UAE contributed funds to help build hospitals and townships in Iraq, Palestinian territories and Lebanon.
One of the major projects undertaken by the ministry at this time is building refugee camps in Syria to house those displaced by the ongoing conflict. They have already spent over $81 million on Mrajeeb Al Fhood, a refugee camp in Jordan that houses over 25,000 people. The UAE has pledged more than $300 million to continue aiding refugees.
The new Ministry of Development and International Cooperation expanded the already existing Office for the Coordination of Foreign Aid. The purpose of the new ministry is to promote the UAE as a major donor and player in global human development. The majority of the aid that will be provided by the Ministry will be handed out by the government directly, although they are seeking to expand their work with international organizations.
-Allana Welch
Sources: WAM, Gulf Times, UAE Business Council
Photo: Tribune
Indonesia and Regional Food Security
Sufficiency, self-reliance, accessibility, utilization and affordability are key principals in providing food security. Policy makers must focus on maintaining a balance in these principals. When demand is not met by supply, the shortfall can lead to unstable food accessibility.
Self-sufficiency, in many countries, remains the key to continuously providing food security. However, in Indonesia, self-sufficiency has come under threat and the integral agricultural market is at risk. The livelihood of subsistence farmers is increasingly impacted by global issues such as climate change, international food price volatility, and the increasing demand for food from a growing population. The fluctuation and rise in prices of staple foods such as rice, garlic, and onions is leading Indonesia to cooperate with its neighbors to ensure the future of food security nationally and regionally.
Currently, Indonesia’s food policy is based on the aim of self-sufficiency and production is sustained within the economy to such a level that it could eventually lead to a food crisis. While this encourages small-scale farming, it makes food availability uncertain for many of the nation’s poor and compromises a well-balanced diet. While recent changes in dietary patterns and private-sector investment in agriculture will allow for growth and diversification in agricultural production, it may not be enough. As the country of highest productivity and production of rice in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Indonesia could potentially generate earnings in the regional market. Subsequently, local markets would gain a boost from the benefits of an export-oriented economy.
Since 1979, East Asian countries have integrated rice reserves to create a formal Strategic Plan of Action on Food Security in 2009 with the end goal being regional food security. While regional food security still has yet to be accomplished, many strides have been made in regional crop risk management, insurance schemes, strategies for regional transportation, and public-private partnerships. Indonesia holds the potential to strengthen self-sufficiency and national food security through aid to domestic competitiveness, systematic cash transfers, and cooperation with non-state stakeholders to minimize the adverse impacts of open food trade regimes. Implementation of these policies and principals would eventually lead to the accomplishment of national and regional food security for Indonesia and East Asia.
– Kira Maixner
Source: The Jakarta Globe
Photo: New Security Beat
Oxfam Raises World Hunger Awareness at Banquet
University of Central Missouri hosted an Oxfam Hunger Banquet to raise money to fight world poverty and hunger. The event raised $9,250, of which $9,000 was in the form of donated Sodexo swipes (student meal plans) and $250 in cash. Other donations included 150 pounds of food to be sent to developing countries.
The 100 students and other city residents who attended the banquet were educated on how to end global hunger through long-term development plans and emergency relief programs. Oxfam also emphasized the importance of implementing fair trade rules, combating global climate change, and standing up for human rights.
The Hunger Banquet emphasized access to food inequalities in the world by randomly assigning attendees to represent people in the world who were food insecure, consumed just enough calories for a healthy diet, or consumed more than the necessary amount of calories. To mimic real-world statistics, 15% of the people could eat a high amount of calories, 35% could consume the basic amount of calories, and 50% of attendees were food insecure.
Those who were given the lowest status had beans, rice, and a glass of water for dinner. The 15% of high-class people were served their dinner on China plates and crystal glass. The juxtaposition of people eating beans next to people consuming a fancy meal added a new outlook on world hunger for those who were present at the banquet.
Another alarming fact that attendees took home with them is that 16,000 children die every day from hunger. To put this in perspective, the town where the event was held, Warrensburg, has a population of 16,304. The Hunger Banquet was a huge success in terms of raising money and donations for the world’s poor and also because the attendees are now more aware of the struggles millions of people face every day. Many students left the banquet ready to take action against global hunger.
– Mary Penn
Source: digital Burg
Top 10 World Hunger Blogs
Below is a list of some of the best and most influential world hunger blogs around. The following blogs use various journalistic styles to spread the word about world hunger and news from around the world. After you finish reading through The Borgen Project blog, take a look at some of these!
1. Action Against Hunger- regular postings on major global hunger news and breaking events. The blog is part of the organization’s website. Action Against Hunger is a global humanitarian organization committed to ending world hunger.
2. Bread Blog- part of the Bread for the World organization. This blog reports US national events and important global stories in the fight against global poverty.
3. From Poverty to Power- a blog from OXFAM. It discusses the avenues individuals can take to achieve power. It is based on the thoughts from the Author, Duncan Green, and is meant to serve as a conversation and debate starter about development policy.
4. The Hunger and Under-nutrition Blog– aims to promote an informed dialogue, and serve as a resource for those in the field, and empower people at all levels to do what they can to make undernutrition and nutrition-related deaths and diseases a thing of the past.
5. International Food Policy Research Institute– the organization seeks sustainable solutions for ending world hunger and poverty. They have a vision of a world free of poverty and hunger and their blog focuses on what the IFPRI is doing as well as major news stories.
6. ONE blog- is part of the ONE organization. ONE’s goal is to fight the absurdity of extreme poverty by asking people to advocate for the world’s poor by taking action instead of simply talking about the problem.
7. Plenty to Think About– a blog highlighting, “the thinking persons guide to feeding a hungry planet”. This blog focuses on dietary solutions that can help end world hunger
8. Universities Fighting World Hunger- this organization works with the UN World Food Programme to mobilize US and international universities to make fighting world hunger a core value of higher education institutions. The blog is informative and journalistic and it provides a summary of the actions individuals within the organization are taking to fight world hunger.
9. WhyHunger blog- shares the stories of community-based organizations that are leading by example and working together to build the movement to end hunger and poverty.
10. OXFAM blogs- these blogs come from OXFAM staff around the world and document the problems, successes, and news coming from their local regions.
– Caitlin Zusy
Source: Action Against Hunger, Bread for the World, OXFAM Blogs, Hunger and Under-nutrition Blog, International Food Policy Research Institute, ONE blog, Plenty to Think About, Universities Fighting World Hunger, WhyHunger blog, OXFAM blogs
Photo: Africa Dream
Olivia Wilde and the Half the Sky Movement
Wilde recently participated in a PBS documentary and movement known as Half the Sky. Half the Sky is a movement aimed at igniting the change necessary to eliminate the oppression of women and girls worldwide. The Half the Sky movement was started by Nickolas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. Kristof and WuDunn wrote a book by the same name, which focused on turning oppression into an opportunity for women worldwide.
The movement uses videos, websites, games, and educational tools to spread awareness of women’s issues as well as to help create solutions to empower women. The video series is a four-hour series broadcast on PBS and other international channels. It was shot in ten countries and includes several celebrities such as Olivia Wilde, America Ferrara, Meg Ryan, and Gabrielle Union. The series displays portraits of women and girls living in some of the worst conditions imaginable, yet fighting to improve and change them.
Wilde appears on the second night of the series. She traveled to the Umoja Women’s Village in Kenya where the women of Umoja make beautiful handmade beaded items. The women in the village depend on the sale of their beaded items to support themselves and their families. The profits fund community projects selected by the women including scholarships for young girls, teacher’s salaries, lunches for preschoolers, and a freshwater and health care project.
Wilde also traveled to visit Jamii Bora. Jamii Bora is a micro-financing organization providing small loans to women in extreme poverty to start their own small businesses. The organization has an incredible success rate, helping women escape poverty and establish themselves independently.
The series hopes to raise global awareness of extreme poverty and hopes to educate and empower women worldwide to help each other out of poverty. The movement spreads a strong message of hope and progress.
– Caitlin Zusy
Source: Half the Sky
Ben Affleck Lives Below the Line
Academy Award winner actor Ben Affleck is taking part in the Living Below the Line challenge. Next week, he will be living on just 1 dollar and 50 cents a day. The challenge requires participants to bid farewell to their comfortable and stable lives for 5 days to experience poverty on a personal scale. Living Below the Line was “cofounded in 2009 by Rich Fleming from the Global Poverty Project and Nick Allardice from the Oaktree Foundation in Australia.”
The U.S. Country Director of the Global Poverty Project, Michael Trainer, said that last year approximately 15,000 people were part of this Living Below the Line challenge and more than 3 million dollars were raised. According to the Yahoo report, Ben Affleck’s participation will build awareness and raise funds for the Global Poverty Project. The Project’s main emphasis is to get people to recognize their potential effectiveness by coming together and fighting to end global poverty. Next week anyone can be, and everyone should be, in solidarity with the poor with this humbling poverty experience.
–Leen Abdallah
Source: Examiner
UK’s End of Aid to S. Africa Attracts Criticism
The United Kingdom’s announcement that it would stop giving direct foreign aid to South Africa in 2015 has drawn criticism from international aid organizations like Oxfam and Action Aid. The U.K. has opted to supplant development aid with a trading relationship. This decision is similar to one the U.K. made last year to end monetary aid to India.
Action Aid is critical of both decisions and warns wealthy countries of ending aid to middle-income countries. One critique of the UK’s announcement is that it is not giving South Africa enough warning or time frame to adjust to the sudden decrease in aid. However, even more importantly, money given by U.K. foreign aid that went towards vaccines and other medicines for impoverished people will abruptly go unfunded. The U.K.’s foreign aid program also focused on improving health conditions for women giving birth and reducing labor deaths.
However, Justine Greening, the U.K.’s International Development Secretary, maintains that South Africa should no longer rely on foreign aid since it is now “the region’s economic powerhouse.” The Secretary met with South African officials and agreed that it was time to change their relationship to strictly trading partners.
Despite this justification, the head of development finance and public services at Oxfam, Emma Seery, reminds the U.K. that, although South Africa is becoming more developed, there is still vast economic and social inequalities in the country. U.K.’s monetary assistance went towards programs that many poor people depended on and now they will either have to find another way to fund the programs, or the programs will cease to exist.
At its highest point in 2003, the United Kingdom was giving South Africa about $40 million in foreign aid. Although the U.K. will no longer be investing in South Africa, the country is still receiving aid from other countries and is continuing to improve itself. Hopefully, the combination of these two factors will ensure that South Africa’s poor receive the assistance they need and rely on.
– Mary Penn
Source: BBC
Photo: BBC