Remember 1985, Things Are Worse

Remember this...



or this.....


I VIVIDLY remember watching both the concert from London and then Philadelphia, wishing I was older so I could not only be there (cause let's me honest I was a teen and some of the hottest bands at the time were there) but also so I could donate money and be a part of something that seemed so big. Something that seemed like it was going to change the world. An end to famine and starvation- what an amazing thing to be a part of.

Well now it's 26 years later and not only have we not solved the problems of famine and scarcity in a world of plenty- but once again a significant portion of our world is poised on the brink of starvation. This time there is no worldwide concert, no benefit- just NGO's on the ground begging for the West to help.

It is with no small sense of irony that this post follows several posts about our vacation but the reality is, it does. And because it does, I am more acutely aware than usual at the degree of luxury and privilege my life (and that of my children) has. Children who are well fed, and tucked into a bed knowing that tomorrow their biggest problem with food might be that they don't like the variety of pop-tart that is left in the box (organic reasonably healthy pop-tarts at that)

It is hard to imagine that but for a series of events in the first 9 months of her life, K might be one of those children in the therapeutic feeding program, or in the refugee camps, or worse. She could have been one of those faces in the photos- her birth family might be.
Instead she is in bed with swimmer's ear because she has gone swimming every day for the last 20 days on this side of the world where we don't worry about the water running out.

So I ask- Why are we still here 26 years later looking at photos of dusty places where there isn't enough to survive. We donated and gave and cared at least enough to assuage our guilt but nothing has changed. Scarcity is still an issue, poverty is still an issue and children are starving. In fact in the time it has taken you to read this post 3 children have died of starvation (and that number is 10 if you watched both videos too)
We have screwed up because money isn't the answer, and food aid isn't the answer-
those are things that provide enough "help" to keep us from actually having to help.

Of course, in the short term, meeting the immediate need is crucial. And as soon as you finish reading this post, click here and select a charity that appeals to you and donate what you can. Then see if you can live without your 20 oz soda or cafe grande for a couple of days and donate a little more.
But don't relax after that because you ARE. NOT. DONE.

'Cause see- we have both been there and done that and it isn't enough. So here's what you need to do...
Go to the library and check this book out
It provides a fairly easy to read and comprehensive look at why starvation and poverty continue and exactly what the first world needs to do differently if we are ever going to eliminate poverty, famine and starvation.
And yes, it takes us giving up a little piece of the pie but lets be honest- look at us.
We really don't need that piece of pie.

I would also recommend this book but it is a much heavier read and you will get what you need to know just reading Enough.

And then lobby our government to do what's right, and other governments to do what is right. And get involved to make the real changes that would prevent this

image from http://patriciashannon.blogspot.com/2011/07/famine-in-horn-of-africa-how-to-help.html

images from http://senweb.lr.k12.nj.us/Library/class%20projects/Stapleford/famine45/weather%20katie.htm

No mother should have to watch their child die from a situation that we have the power to solve RIGHT NOW-

if we choose to.

Please donate now but don't stop there.

Donate. Learn. Lobby. Inform. Advocate.

But above all Speak Out because when millions understand, they will not remain silent.

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