End Hunger Blog

Southern California Fire: How You Can Help

If you would like to assist people impacted by the fires in San Diego and other parts of Southern California, the Associated Press has an article with a list of organizations that are accepting donations.

UN World Food Programme Official Released in Mogadishu

Idris Osman, the officer-in-charge of the UN World Food Programme office in Mogadishu, Somalia, was released earlier this week.  He had been detained since October 17th.

2008 World Development Report Focuses on Agriculture

On Friday, October 19 the World Bank released its World Development Report 2008.  The focus of the 2008 report is on agriculture, and the report is entitled "Agriculture for Development."  In the report, "The World Bank Group is advocating a new ‘agriculture for development’ agenda. According to the WDR, for the poorest people, GDP growth originating in agriculture is about four times more effective in reducing poverty than GDP growth originating outside the sector."

The World Development Report 2008 section of the World Bank website contains a downloadable version of the report and related materials.

"World Hunger Relief Week" is October 14 - 20

Yum! Brands, the parent company of restaurants including KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, is organizing "World Hunger Relief Week" from October 14 - 20 to raise awareness about the crisis of global hunger and mobilize action.  They are working with the United Nations World Food Programme in this event.

"World hunger is a problem of epic proportions, and unfortunately it is increasing each day. As the world's largest restaurant company, we believe it is our privilege and responsibility to use our clout and make a difference in the lives of others less fortunate who are starving around the globe," said David C. Novak, Yum! Brands Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Our World Hunger Relief efforts will continue year after year. Our goal is to create a global movement to help stop the dying, and start the living. We believe we can truly make a difference in the lives of others by helping them move from hunger to hope."

For more information:

• World Hunger Relief Week website (FromHungerToHope.com)
• World Hunger Relief Week: Press Release
• United Nations World Food Programme

World Food Day is October 16; Focus is "The Right to Food"

World Food Day is observed each year around the world on October 16, the day that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) was founded in 1945.  World Food Day serves to raise awareness on the problem of hunger and food insecurity and the opportunities for making progress.

The Right to Food is the theme for World Food Day 2007. Events will be taking place in countries throghout the world to mark this event, including a worldwide candlelight vigil at 6pm on October 22.  The World Food Day website contains additional information on this event as well as educational materials in multiple languages.

To learn more about World Food Day 2007 and the Right to Food:

• World Food Day 2007 (FAO)
• The Right to Food (FAO)
• United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food
• Achieving the Right to Food: The Human Rights Challenge of the Twenty-First Century (FAO)
• Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food Security (FAO)

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is October 17

October 17, 2007 marks the 20th anniversary of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.  The theme for this year's day is "People Living in Poverty as Agents of Change: 20th Anniversary of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty."  To learn more about this event:   

• Information on the 2007 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
• General information and history of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
• United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/196 (PDF) (passed December 22, 1992; declaring October 17 as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty)