Hunger in the world is a silent but very real and very deadly killer. Continents like Africa have struggled in food production due to poor soil, bugs, too many pesticides, or too much water. Other countries like Brazil have enough food to supply the people but the distribution of the food is the silent killer. In Africa a movement has been started to introduce natural predators to the pests that are destroying many crops. They also seek to provide the farmers with genetically engineered seeds that are resistant to pests and disease. In Brazil a movement is in place to provide meals to children at school and at daycares. This movement alone has made a significant impact against the malnourished children of Brazil. However the movement in Brazil isn’t solely focused on children’s needs. A program has been instituted to not only feed the children but the parents as well. In addition to providing food they also provide education about good nutritional habits, and a market where the producer can sell directly to the consumer at lower costs in a free market space. The goal is to take crucial steps to reducing hunger in countries around the world. There is more on the film at http://www.silentkillerfilm.org/
This film supplemented class because we have been looking at the poor and impoverished through texts like “God’s Politics” and the Psalms. We also are focusing this whole semester to the poor and impoverished peoples all around the world by examining different texts, partaking in different activities like Feed My Starving Children, and listening to “Hunger Speakers.”
After watching this film I realized how you cannot simply continue to “give” the people all around the world food, but rather you need to teach them different techniques so that they can farm their own land and therefore support themselves in the future. We also need to teach them about good nutrition and healthy eating habits. So we can help those who are in need of food not only by supplying food but through education so that they in the future can support themselves.
