"One day the poor will have nothing left to eat but the rich."
Here are a few myths about hunger as written by the "Institute for Food and Development Policy" in 2006:
MYTH 1: There is not enough food to go around. In reality, there is an abundance. This means there is more than enough. Just looking at the wheat, grain and rice production of the world, there is enough to provide every human being with 3 200 calories a day. There is enough food to provide more or less 4.3 pounds of food per person, PER DAY! There are just too many people living below the poverty line, who do not have access to, or cannot afford this food. |
MYTH 2: There are too many people.
Let us consider MYTH 1. Now let us continue- in actuality, birth rates have rapidly fallen. Although there is rapid population growth in many developing countries, in no way does population density explain hunger. "For every Bangladesh, a densely populated and hungry country, we find a Nigeria, Brazil or Bolivia, where abundant food resources coexist with hunger." Let us consider the Netherlands, a small population who has yet to eliminate hunger. Population growth is not a factor when considering hunger, it is the result of extreme worldwide inequities that deprive people of this opportunity. |
MYTH 3: The Green Revolution is the answer.
Although the Green Revolution have ultimately increased production of crops with their new seeds - "millions of tons more grain a year is being harvested" - it focuses narrowly on the production of crop. The issue with hunger is not the production, rather the distribution. This only allows the richer countries to import from the developing countries, or export more of their crop. In other words, countries like India, Mexico or the Philippines may have an increase of exports, but they aren't solving hunger locally. |
MYTH 4: The poor are too hungry to fight for their rights.
Western culture is fixated on the image of weak, brittle people of the developing world. We often forget how hard they fight for survival. These people are strong, fight day after day without half the resources we do. If they are given the opportunity, they will feed themselves. Our responsibility is not to "Set things right" for them, rather remove the obstacles that big Western companies put in their paths. The U.S government, the IMF, the World Bank have all done nothing but regress any progress developing countries have made. NOTE: THESE ARE ONLY 4 OF 12 MYTHS MENTIONED IN THE ARTICLE. |
Discovering Hunger Through Percents
The United States have many relationships with developing countries. Their closest relationship would be with Mexico. They import and export crops, as well as promote Mexico as an ideal vacation destination. Although the U.S is a "great, rich friend" to have, they leave Mexico dry and hungry. According to the world bank, 53% of the population is living with only a 2$ income per day. Of this 53% - 24% are living with 1$ a day or less. In the year 2012, there were 115 296 767 Mexican inhabitants.
Using this information, let us find out exactly how many people are living below the poverty line.
There is a total of 115 296 767 Mexican people living in Mexico.
53% of the population is living with 2$ or less per day.
Using our formula: is = %
of 100
" 53% of 115 296 767 is ???"
STEP 1: Plugging in our formula- ??? = 53
115 296 767 100
STEP 2: "Cross-Multiply" - 53 x 115 296 767 = 6 110 782 651
STEP 3: Divide - 6 110 782 651/ 100 = 61 107 826.51
This means that 61 107 826.51 Mexicans are living with less than 2$ per day.
Using this new information, let us find out how much of the population is living with 1$ or less per day. We now know that 53% of 115 296 767 is 61 107 826.51. Of the 53% or 61 107 826.51, 24% is living with 1$ or less per day. Therefore:
"24% of 61 107 826.51 is ???"
STEP 1: Plugging in our formula- ??? = 24
61 107 826.51 100
STEP 2: "Cross-Multiple" - 24 x 61 107 826.51 = 1 466 587 836.24
STEP 3: Divide - 1 466 587 836.24/100 = 14 665 878.3624 or 14 665 878.4
This means that 14 665 878.4 Mexicans are living with 1$ or less per day.
53% of the population is living with 2$ or less per day.
Using our formula: is = %
of 100
" 53% of 115 296 767 is ???"
STEP 1: Plugging in our formula- ??? = 53
115 296 767 100
STEP 2: "Cross-Multiply" - 53 x 115 296 767 = 6 110 782 651
STEP 3: Divide - 6 110 782 651/ 100 = 61 107 826.51
This means that 61 107 826.51 Mexicans are living with less than 2$ per day.
Using this new information, let us find out how much of the population is living with 1$ or less per day. We now know that 53% of 115 296 767 is 61 107 826.51. Of the 53% or 61 107 826.51, 24% is living with 1$ or less per day. Therefore:
"24% of 61 107 826.51 is ???"
STEP 1: Plugging in our formula- ??? = 24
61 107 826.51 100
STEP 2: "Cross-Multiple" - 24 x 61 107 826.51 = 1 466 587 836.24
STEP 3: Divide - 1 466 587 836.24/100 = 14 665 878.3624 or 14 665 878.4
This means that 14 665 878.4 Mexicans are living with 1$ or less per day.
Comparing Results: Canada
Let us consider our country Canada: In the year 2012, we had a population of 35 158 300. In the same year we had 9.4% of the population living below the poverty line, or with 2$ or less per day.
Using our formula: is = %
of 100
" 9.4% of 35 158 300 is ???"
STEP 1: Plugging in our formula- ??? = 9.4
35 158 300 100
STEP 2: "Cross-Multiply" - 9.4 x 35 158 300 = 330 488 020
STEP 3: Divide - 330 488 020/100 = 3 304 880.2
This means 3 304 880.2 Canadians are living below the poverty line.
Using our formula: is = %
of 100
" 9.4% of 35 158 300 is ???"
STEP 1: Plugging in our formula- ??? = 9.4
35 158 300 100
STEP 2: "Cross-Multiply" - 9.4 x 35 158 300 = 330 488 020
STEP 3: Divide - 330 488 020/100 = 3 304 880.2
This means 3 304 880.2 Canadians are living below the poverty line.
REFLECTION
Take a moment to consider the Mexican population and the Canadian population. Watch the link on the IMF v, do a little research on Mexico and write a 500 word blog post on your feelings about poverty, and how it defers between developing countries and richer countries, such as Canada.
EXTRA: TAKE A LOOK AT THIS LINK- "THE HUNGER PROJECT"
EXTRA: TAKE A LOOK AT THIS LINK- "THE HUNGER PROJECT"