Could Ireland lead the world in ending hunger? Ireland, its Diaspora, and the fight against hunger

“The Fight Against Hunger: The History and Future of the Irish Role in Humanitarian Assistance” discussed at Fordham University

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Tom Arnold, CEO of Concern Worldwide, Niall O’Dowd, founder of IrishCentral.com, Cormac Ó Gráda, Author and Professor at University of College Dublin School of Economics, and David Rieff, Journalist and Author.

Photo by Ken Levinson

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Concern has supported the campaign since its inception and will be co-hosting two events around this weekend’s G8 summit to ensure that members renew their commitments to food security and nutrition, particularly during the 1,000-day window.

However, with 55 million children suffering from acute malnutrition and one billion people suffering from food insecurity, there is still much more that needs to be done to ensure that generations are not lost or stunted because of a lack of food and nutrients. “We have never before had the knowledge, evidence, and political and grassroots support as we do now to make malnutrition history,” said Arnold.

With Ireland taking over the EU Presidency in 2013, it will be in a unique position to push the international community for larger collective efforts to tackle hunger and respond to predictable emergencies, like the food crisis that is now unfolding in the Sahel region of West Africa where 18 million people are now facing food insecurity as a result of drought and failed crops and rising food prices. “It is the right thing to do – morally, economically, and politically for Ireland to lead on hunger globally,” said Arnold.

Beyond the Irish Government, freeing mankind from hunger could also be something for the Irish people – both domestically and overseas – to rally around. “The story about Ireland is also about the people working to relieve the world of famine now, not just the economy,” said O’Dowd.

“This is something we could ask the diaspora to get more involved in and doing something noble. We are talking about famine. We are talking about diaspora. It’s time for the two come together.”
 

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