Attacking Hunger at Its Roots

This morning, one billion people around the world woke up hungry and tonight, they will go to sleep hungry. This issue has not gotten the attention it deserves, and it is a personal priority of mine and of the Obama Administration to address the challenge of chronic hunger with a very high level of focus and dedication.

Hunger is not only a physical condition. It is a drain on economic development, a threat to global security, a barrier to health and education reform, and a trap for the millions of people worldwide who work from sun-up to sun-down every day to produce a harvest that often doesn't meet their needs.

Today at the World Food Prize ceremony at the State Department, I am honoring Dr. Gebisa Ejeta, who has transformed farming in many parts of the world and saved millions of lives by identifying varieties of a key African crop resistant to drought and specific types of weeds.

We have the resources to give every person in the world the tools they need to feed themselves and their children. So the question is not whether we can end hunger. It's whether we will.

The Obama Administration is committed to providing leadership in developing a new global approach to hunger. We will look to 7 guiding principles to support the creation of effective, sustainable farming systems in regions around the world where the current methods aren't working:

1. We will seek to increase agricultural productivity, by expanding access to quality seeds, fertilizers, irrigation tools, and the credit to purchase them and training to use them.
2. We will work to stimulate the private sector, by improving the storage and processing of food and improving roads and transportation so small farmers can sell the fruits of their labor at local markets.
3. We are committed to maintaining natural resources, so the land can be farmed well into the future. That includes helping developing communities adapt to climate change, which has had a major effect on the world's farms.
4. We will expand knowledge and training by supporting R&D and cultivating the next generation of plant scientists.
5. We will seek to increase trade so small-scale farmers can sell their crops far and wide.
6. We will support policy reform and good governance, because sustainable agriculture flourishes in a clear and predictable policy and regulatory environment.
7. We will support women and families. 70% of the world's farmers are women, but most programs that offer farmers credit and training target men. This is unfair and impractical. An effective agricultural system must have incentives for those who do the work. And it must take into account the particular needs of those whose futures will shape our world: our children.

These seven principles will guide us and help us set benchmarks to measure the impact of our efforts. We are committed to collecting data, assessing our progress, and when necessary, correcting our course.

Supporting sustainable agriculture won't be a side project of the Obama Administration. Attacking hunger at its roots will directly impact whether we meet our foreign policy goals and I invite each and every one of you to join this effort.

Comments

[akbartlett]

Full critique at http://docs.google.com/View?id=dd9sj3jx_0dtp7jtf7
Attacking Greed at its Roots:
A critique of Hillary Clinton's "Attacking Hunger at its Roots"

By Stephen Bartlett and edited by Andrew Kang Bartlett

Secretary Clinton, the first sentence was great: “This morning, one billion people around the world woke up hungry and tonight, they will go to sleep hungry. This issue has not gotten the attention it deserves, and it is a personal priority of mine and of the Obama Administration to address the challenge of chronic hunger with a very high level of focus and dedication.”

We also agree with: “We have the resources to give every person in the world the tools they need to feed themselves and their children. So the question is not whether we can end hunger. It's whether we will.”

The ending was fine: “Attacking hunger at its roots will directly impact whether we meet our foreign policy goals and I invite each and every one of you to join this effort.”

Almost everything else showed how little, Ms. Secretary, you understand agriculture and the greed that fuels agribusiness. To wit:

Secretary Clinton: (1) We will seek to increase agricultural productivity, by expanding access to quality seeds, fertilizers, irrigation tools, and the credit to purchase them and training to use them.

Wrong: The problem is not overall productivity, but generalized poverty. Did those proposing a new Green Revolution say otherwise?

[Martee]

Wonderful! Addressing the root causes of war. This is the way to build peace.

[Lionsden]

In America the root cause of war lay in Democratic Party. They waged war all last century and it was the bloodiest century in all of human history.

The root cause of war is sin.

A Christian should know this.

[TeresaInPa]

letting people go hungry is a sin. As a Christian you should know this.
PS... your retelling of 20th century history is a bit confused. Do you suggest we should not have gone to war with german and japan?
There is such a thing as just war and non just war. As a Christian you should also know this.

[billw8017]

This is a worthy cause, and Hillary Clinton has offered a significant program. As foreigners, we do not have a complete grasp on the problems. The problems are often matters of distribution and accessability while there is still plenty of food in the world. Many experts seem to agree that the small farmer is the most effecient and raises the most diverse crops.

The small Mexican farmer has been hurt by NAFTA. America's corporate farmers first undercut the market for the domestic maize crop driving many farmers into destitution, and -- after attaining the desireable monopolistic position -- raised prices so there is an affordability problem for Mexico's basic food stuffs. This desperation is part of the reason the drug traffic has turned so chaotic.

Both Clinton and Obama said during the campaign that they would re negotiate NAFTA to enhance human rights and job security. Anyway, I'd like to think they said that...

I suppose they have more immediate problems.

[partyofone]

what?

[TeresaInPa]

Clinton said it and she would have done it. Untortunately the Donna B wing of the DNC rigged the primaries to insure Obama "won".

[wagthedog1001]

It's about time we discuss a REAL issue here.

[RMankovitz]

Actually, Nature is working hard to solve this very problem. She has a very long and successful track record of dealing with species that exceed the carrying capacity of their environment. We are on the list and it won't be pretty, but it is certainly long overdue.

You see, the planet is not in trouble, we are. It is our anthropocentric view of the world that leads us to believe that our fate is also the fate of the planet. Nature has billions of years to evolve a replacement for us, hopefully less arrogant.

[VicDaring]

Presuming to know the plans of Nature isn't arrogance?

[TeresaInPa]

nature has no plans, but she does have a track record and the poster is right. You exceed the carrying capacity and nature readjusts things for you desease, hunger... leads to war. It is a fact of life. However that doesn't mean we should not try to feed people and THEN we should talk about birth control.

[CitizenFarmer]

The elite of the administration don't know nothing about farming.

[DEJM]

With all due respect, I note that the list of solutions Secretary of State proposes, some of these have been done away with and neglected in the United States.

Whatever happened to "lead by example?"

It's so hard to take politicians seriously when they neglect our own country.

Let's fix us first, then tackle the rest of the world.

[seted]

Amen.

[TeresaInPa]

actually those things are being done in the US and have been for years.
Google is your friend.

[Lionsden]

We, we, we, we,we. We are gods. We run the world. We are megalomaniacs.

I'm sorry, but the leftists need to save the world to assuage their guilt over their fabulous wealth. Al Gore, George Soros, the John Kerry's, Hollywood, and all the rich democrats who threw nearly a quarter of a billion dollars at Obama for the presidency have plenty of money to save the world.

There is no power given in the Constitution for Americans to save the world. There is no authority to do what Mrs. Clinton proposes.

What this is is Democrats redistributing the wealth of the American people to foreigners. This is plunder wrapped up in self-righteous, self-serving "charity".

These people will not benefit from this. They will end up hungry again because they are corrupt cultures. In the mean time, democrats will plunder the wealth of the USA.

This is called theft.

[SoVerPostEr]

"Me, me, me, me, me. Feeding the people of the world is plunder. Charity is self-serving."

I think I'll choose We over Me. You can stay stuck in your little world. We will make the world a better place for all while you sit off in your corner and sulk with your cynical/self-pity.

[Lionsden]

SoVer:

No one is stopping you from feeding people overseas. Don't be greedy now. Please, show me where in the Constitution anyone has the authority to take my money to provide for the blessings of liberty for FOREIGNERS.

[seted]

Fabulous wealth of Dick Cheney Haliburton, George W Bush, CEOs million dollar bonuses, The top 1% with most of America's wealth. Your point?

[Lionsden]

seted:

They (republicans) are (or should be) free to do what they wish with their wealth, including supporting the charities they choose to support instead of the ones you want to force them to support at the end of a gun via taxation. What businesses is it of yours?

Rank and file right-wingers (even the poor ones) believe that it is immoral to loot the rich to give to the poor (even the poor foreigner). This is opposite of the rank and file left-wingers who are poor, but believe it is good to loot the rich to give to the poor (a bit self-serving, isn't it?).

If democrats really cared about the poor over seas they'd be disgorging themselves of their wealth on their behalf and they wouldn't need the middle-man Federal government to do it. It is shame for them to do this by the way, when America is in a catastrophic economic crisis.

Anyway, Christians know that Christ asked us to help the poor DIRECTLY (Proverbs 31) or through the church. He NEVER taught us to help the poor through the state. And he told us that poverty was a problem that would NEVER be solved when he said that we will always have the poor with us.

It is as immoral to loot the rich on behalf of the poor as it is to ignore the poor. Unfortunately, leftists think only ignoring the poor is immoral.

[TeresaInPa]

bwahahhahahha ...please take a look at what the war in Iraq has cost us Mr "Conservative". It was a war of choice with a country that was no threat to us.
The country has decided, democrats are more to be trusted with their money. I would rather be a tax and spend democrat than a Lie borrow and spend republican. It's better for the economy to pay as you go.

[SoVerPostEr]

I posted this two days ago. For those interested --
Here is a website for IFPRI which will send you news updates about hunger and world agriculture issues:

http://ifpriblog.org/

[StoicRep]

To feed hungry people alone, rejuvenates their desire to reproduce.

I am personally disappointed, that despite all the aid we have sent abroad with the poverty act, even though our economy is tanking, Hillary is still crying for more foreign assistance. How about adopting a foreign policy that keeps our important jobs at home? How about getting foreign countries to adopt standards and perform inspections of products, so we know we are not being poisoned by the people who have been given our jobs?

[Hope42]

Birth Control, birth control, birth control!! What is wrong with us that we can't see that that is the only solution??

[Katherine Lott]

"Birth Control, birth control, birth control!! What is wrong with us that we can't see that that is the only solution??"

Calling anything the "only solution" is really logical fallacy, full stop.

The average woman in some of those countries only has 3 children, which she will need to work the farm.

Do you refuse to consider that the productivity of the farmland and amount of farmland in many African and Asian countries is diminishing?

Do you neglect that disease (disease that is curable, btw) keeps many able bodied people from working the land?

Do you forget that the countryside depends on the city and that many countries do not have cities that can manage and encourage economic growth because of constant coups, ignorant dictatorships or military governments with no interest in the welfare of the people?

Above all else, even if a couple doesn't have ANY children, how does that stop THEM from starving?

[jeremiahos]

Birth control is a big part of the solution.
The earth is gravely overpopulated in many areas.
It was never meant to hold this many people.
Especially with our lack of care for our habitat and environment.

And when I say birth control, I don't just mean women.
I mean men, too.
Not a condom, a snip.

[Beachchick]

Thank you. Good grief, we have become such a callous and cruel people. Women have children, even poor women. It's not a crime to be poor.

Thank you Secretary Clinton for caring about women in this country and throughout the world.

[ClarcKing]

Madame Secretary: This is a very good beginning, however the impacts of the present monetary financial derivative debt based global economic collapse has not been factored in the seven points you/the administration are proposing. Speculation, particularly in food markets, free trade which is actually a coercion to trade, usury, perpetual war, unemployment in the millions, out-sourcing of Industry and jobs, cost cutting in medical and health services, an on-going economic and population contraction policy are the main factors in the creation of hunger through-out the world. The United States used to be a net exporter of food and grains. Because of trade agreements, I don't believe that is the case today: the U.S. imports food from "low cost" countries. Food producers in the U.S. are under market pressure to close their operations because they simply are not making enough money to cover production. This situation must be monitored now in the present economic downturn. Food, water, and energy production and distribution must be maintained at present levels and increased wherever possible. The current administration seeks to cut cost in medical and healthcare. This policy has no moral, economic or political value. Medicaid and Social Security must be expanded as a economic and health stimulus. Education, Medical Services and Employment must be managed simultaneously for economic recovery.

[christea39]

"The root of hunger is not the scarcity of food, but political instability and corruption that stops the flow of food at specific times and places. " This comment is correct, but only one part of the problem. Sustainable Agriculture is the way to go via Organic Farming which also helps reduce global warming because Mother Nature's Food Soil Web in organic farming retains carbon in the soil, while Genetically Modified & Conventional Farming releases carbon into the atmosphere due to poor soil quality. It's all about the soil -- from creating healthy immune systems in plants which create healthy immune systems in people. Conventional and GMO (untested on humans) farming practices pollute the environment, create health hazards for farmers, create superweeds whose pollen is released into the atmosphere with new allergens, et. al. etc. Check out www.pathtofreedom.com where a family in Pasadena, CA is growing over 6000 lbs of organic fruits, veggies and edible flowers on 1/10 of an acre, yes 3 tons or organic food on 1/10 of an acre. Additionally, a farmer in ME (Elliot Coleman) is growing organically year round even in the snow. It's about the right crop for the right season. Over 80% of America can grow crops year round if properly educated. America needs to stop subsidizing Agribusiness/Crops and start subsidizing the individual farmer as they do in Europe. Supporting sustainable organic farminng worldwide is one step in the right direction for addressing hunger & global warming.

[Katherine Lott]

Can organic agri really meet the demands of all these places, with their many different climates?

[partyofone]

Do we have any concept of what we are releasing into nature with GMOs?

[christea39]

If we are on a united front globally in regards to truly solving world hunger, absolutely. When Israel was first established they grew food in straw stacks due to arid conditions and having to feed so many mouths immigrating to Israel. I have OG yukon gold potatoes growing in two bales of straw in my backyard. I live in rainy New England & I'm already harvesting organically grown lettuces, kale, swiss chard, radddichio and peapods as of this week. There are clay pot irrigation systems which the Pasadena Family uses due to the shortage of water. OG farming was the worldwide standard for thousands of years until WWI when pesticides & herbicides were introduced after the nitrogen bomb was invented. Look what has happened to the environment and cancer rates since then. The National Cancer Institute states that 90% of all fungicides can cause cancer. You cannot wash this stuff off your fruits and veggies. In Milwaukee there is a gentleman who owns 2 acres and is teaching inner city families about organic farming and provides a farmstand to give them access to nutritionally dense food instead of the cheap process food found in their local inner city markets. There are a growing number of Americans waking up to the fact that agribusiness is intent only on the bottom line and not about providing nutritrient rich food. The FDA ... forget about it .. they sold out under Reagan. Look to the Center for Food Safety to fight for safety

[GMOtears]

Indeed this is all logical and caring. Hemp for fuel was suppose to happen with Henry Ford with Model T cars ,but rockefeller and GE mafia stopped that quick. It's going to be up to the everyday people to create loving, healthy, healing, sustainable ways of living. the government and much of the older generation have too much $$ invested in destroying it.

[ElKabongJr]

On the nature of truth.....truth is a lot like the Sun...it shines no matter what you think or dont think....it will not change its intensity for you or for your wants, or needs. The truth in this limited sense is absolute. You may come to the Sun, or move away from it, but it will not come to you, nor move away from you,or anyone else. What Hillary is saying is heartfelt and I truly understand what she is saying...I understand her compassion.....I really do....and in fact I am ashamed. In fact I feel great and almost inexplicable guilt. Yet...the truth is what it is, and I cannot change the truth at my whim, nor can Hillary Clinton, bright as she is; we are bound by its laws, indeed, by its very whims if any such characteristics there could be assigned to so lofty and high born a god as is truth. What Hillary wishes has not yet been granted, and from what I can see at least, shall not be granted for decades,nor perhaps ever.....only so much would I dare say. In the end I think we should try to overcome our personal tendency to believe in our own limitless powers.....this is a dangerous and destructive deception no matter how truly good this tendency may seem at first glance to be in some few special people; if not, we may come to do more harm, than good.

[Katherine Lott]

All that poetic gunk, and for what? What in the world did you just try to say?