Hunger No More

Free live webcast Monday, June 6, 2005 @7:00 p.m. EST.

On June 6, 2005 at 7:00 PM, the first Interfaith Convocation on Hunger will bring together faith leaders from around the nation with more than a thousand participants to draw attention to the scandal of hunger at home and abroad. In a spirit of reverance, all those in attendance will pray together and stand in solidarity with the millions of volunteers who feed the hungry and bring relief to people in need. Because these are the early days of a new presidential term and a new congressional session, the leaders and their supporters will call on the President and members of Congress to join with Christians, Jews, Muslims and people of other faiths in a new commitment to end hunger. On the eve of National Hunger Awareness Day, this convocation will usher in scores of observances around the United States. It will also be the culmination of the three-day conference called: One Table, Many Voices: A Mobilization to Overcome Poverty and Hunger.

PSoTD has this to say while moonighting at the Unpaid Punditry Corps

Worldwide hunger ought to be one of the most important issues that each of us tries to deal with on a regular basis. When I say one of the most important issues, I mean it completely kicks the shit out of issues like lowering taxes and mandatory sentencing and filibusters and other items. It isn't a preference of society, it is a matter of individual survival, and so much of that individual's success at surviving is dependent on the "luck of the draw" - where a person is born. At the species level, we should focus on it.

But worldwide hunger is an issue many of us give a few minutes of time, if that, and then move on. To go beyond that requires leadership that transcends denominational or partisan or even national limitations. It requires focus, it requires resources, it requires the communication abilities to present the issues and the efforts in a way that can reach and touch many more people than it currently does. It may require a 21st Century Saint, or a martyr, to shake us out of our well-fed doldrums. It definitely requires more.

This isn't to say that charitable organizations and good people aren't doing the most they can with what they have to help the hungry. This is to say that the effort needs elevated into a national, and international, priority of the top order.

So, how does that get done? Because we, as a country and a world, are not getting it done.

eRobin reminds us to click The Hungersite daily. (cool gift ideas and cups of food, too!)


The National Council of Churches offers some solutions, buy the video or download the study guide for free

Hunger No More: Faces Behind the Facts
New Documentary On the Air Beginning Oct. 24 on ABC-TV Affiliates