UK parliamentarians join faith charities to launch campaign to tackle global hunger
Parliamentarians from across the faiths came together this morning in the Houses of
Parliament to celebrate the launch of a major new campaign by Britain’s leading development charities and faith groups.
‘Enough Food for Everyone IF’ is the largest coalition of its kind in the UK since Make
Poverty History in 2005. The campaign warns that in a world where there is enough food for everyone, the scandal of children growing up hungry also imposes a grave economic burden on the developing world, costing £78 billion over the next 15 years.
More than 30 parliamentarians and representatives from five of the 109 UK organisations included in the campaign were present. Speakers from the Jewish and Christian faiths shared their own stories of responding to the challenge of global hunger.
The breakfast was hosted by Labour Shadow Minister for Climate Change Luciana Berger MP and Right Reverend John Packer Lord Bishop of Ripon and Leeds.
In its first report launched yesterday the group, which numbers more than 100 organisations and has the backing of philanthropist Bill Gates and Desmond Tutu, warns of the human and economic cost of hunger in a world where there is enough food to feed everyone.
As well as the 937 million children and young people (aged 15-40) whose life chances will be permanently damaged by the impact of childhood hunger by 2025, the report estimates that malnutrition will be costing developing countries an annual $125 billion (£78 billion) in lost economic output by 2030.
Great strides have been made in reducing poverty and 14,000 fewer children are dying each day than in 1990. But hunger is threatening to reverse these achievements. Hardworking poor farmers, especially women and their children, vulnerable and ordinary people everywhere face the highest food prices in a generation. In the UK, the numbers of people needing to use food banks has risen sharply. Climate change is making things even worse.
Henry Grunwald QC OBE, President of World Jewish Relief said: “World Jewish Relief is excited to support this groundbreaking campaign to tackle world hunger. Food has always been central to Jewish life and traditions and for people go to bed hungry when there is enough produced to go around is not right. This morning’s breakfast has been a fantastic opportunity for faith groups and charities to come together and pledge their communities’ support for this campaign.”
Luciana Berger MP said: “It is a scandal that in a world where we have so much, 1 in 8 people still go to bed hungry. That’s why I’m delighted to be backing the Enough Food for

Everyone IF campaign – we really do have the opportunity to make 2013 a historic year by showing global leadership at the G8 and beyond.”
The Rt Rev John Packer Lord Bishop of Ripon and Leeds said: “It is a shocking that in a world where we have so much, 1 in 8 people still go to bed hungry. That’s why I’m delighted to show my support and am glad that churches and faith communities up and down the country are backing the Enough Food for Everyone IF campaign – we really do have the opportunity to make 2013 an historic year by showing global leadership at the G8 and beyond.”
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Notes to Editors:
About Enough Food for Everyone IF:
Enough Food for Everyone IF is a coalition of more than 100 organisations and counting which have joined together to campaign for action by the G8 on the issue of global hunger.
The last time we worked together at this scale was for Make Poverty History. Now that the
G8 group of world leaders are returning to the UK, we are demanding they take action on hunger. 2013 won’t be the end of hunger, but it could be the beginning of the end. Join us at www.enoughfoodif.org
The ‘IF’ movement challenges the Prime Minister to tackle 4 big IFs to help there be enough food for everyone:

IF we stop poor farmers being forced off their land, and use the available agricultural land to grow food for people, not biofuels for cars.

IF governments keep their promises on aid, invest to stop children dying from malnutrition and help the poorest people feed themselves through investment in small farmers.

If governments close loopholes to stop big companies dodging tax in poor countries, so that millions of people can free themselves from hunger.

IF we force governments and investors to be honest and open about the deals they make in the poorest countries that stop people getting enough food.
For current Members of Enough Food for Everyone IF, visit www.bond.org.uk
IF enough people join us in showing support for ending hunger, world leaders will be forced to act. Join us at www.enoughfoodif.org
For more information and a copy of the report please contact: Gemma Parkin, Media
Manager, Enough Food for Everyone IF: T: +44 (0)207 095 5452/ +44 (0)7920 287546 / E: gparkin@cafod.org.uk
/ press@enoughfoodif.org