I received an e-mail today from Sojourners that I thought I would also share on here. I would encourage you to follow the link at the bottom and urge your congressperson to vote to ensure that hungry people around the world are able to receive rice in the quickest and most cost effective manner. While I understand the need to stimulate our economy, it simply does not make sense morally to pursue economic stimulus in a way that keeps the poorest of the poor hungry. I would encourage you also to pray for our nation’s leaders that they would pursue a policy that would benefit the least of these.
You’ve probably seen the headlines about record food prices, which have led to deadly violence and panic across the globe.
The U.N. Secretary-General said last week that the situation has “become a global crisis,” and the World Food Programme is warning of a “silent tsunami” of hunger. Even here in the U.S., grocery stores are starting to ration sales of rice.
Sadly, this desperate situation is being worsened by our own government’s policies. While we spend billions of dollars on food for the hungry overseas, Congress requires that all of it be purchased from farmers in the U.S. and shipped halfway around the world — wasting money and delaying the food’s arrival.
It seems so obvious: When buying food for hungry people overseas, buy from farmers nearby — it’s simpler, cheaper, and better for the local economy and environment.
But even as children are at risk of starving to death, Congress has shown more interest in increasing profits for big American agribusiness than in ensuring that we feed as many hungry people as possible.
These policies are decided as part of the Farm Bill, a mammoth but little-known piece of legislation that governs our nation’s agricultural policies. So far, it’s been shaped mostly by a narrow group of farm-state legislators and industry lobbyists — and it’s become so laden with pork-barrel spending that President Bush is threatening a veto.
But our lawmakers have one last chance to get it right before the bill goes to the president’s desk. One simple change could make a dramatic difference in addressing the global food crisis.
Click here to tell your senators and representatives to fix our food aid policies.
Thank you for raising your voice, as we seek to follow Christ in feeding the hungry multitude.
Blessings,
Patty, Michael, Elizabeth, and the rest of the team at Sojourners
Please click on one of the links above and fill out the brief form to write to your representative. Thanks.
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