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WORLD FOOD DAY HAS SIGNIFICANCE FOR WEST VIRGINIA AND U.S.
WORLD FOOD DAY BACKGROUND
World Food Day marks its 60th anniversary this year. It commemorates the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Activities are planned in 150 countries around the globe.
This year's theme is "Agriculture and Intercultural Dialogue." The theme recalls the contribution of different cultures to world agriculture and argues that sincere intercultural dialogue is a precondition for progress against hunger and environmental degradation.
Throughout history, the intercultural movement of crops and livestock breeds has revolutionized diets and reduced poverty. For example, the potato, which can be grown quickly and economically, was introduced to northern Europe from South America in the 16th century, helping to free the masses from longstanding hunger.
Maize, which is originally from the Americas , now feeds much of Africa . Europe and Africa contributed their plants to the Americas , including coffee, grapes and wheat. The introduction of the camel to Africa from Arabia allowed people to live and travel in more extreme environments and added protein from meat and milk to diets.
More than 850 million people around the world suffer from hunger. More than 40 percent of all humans rely on agriculture, forestry, hunting or fishing for their livelihoods.
For more information on World Food Day, visit www.worldfooddayusa.org , or www.feedingminds.org , which features a brand new "Youth Window." |
West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass is urging citizens throughout the state to observe World Food Day October 16 and to help needy families by donating canned goods at collection spots throughout the state.
“Hurricane Katrina very clearly showed all of America that we are not immune to food emergencies,” said Commissioner Douglass. Although such dire situations are thankfully rare in this country, food is an everyday issue for many West Virginians who must rely on the generosity of others, or make difficult spending decisions to have enough food to eat.”
Many people would be shocked to know how many families rely on local food pantries to stock their kitchens. “During the winter months when fuel bills are highest, we feed over 30,000 families in Kanawha and Putnam Counties,” said Elaine Harris, Chairperson of United Food Operation (UFO), a non-profit, all-volunteer organization that collects food for a dozen local pantries. “The sad thing is there are people out there we’re never going to know about unless someone refers them because they’re too proud to ask for help, or they think that someone else needs the help more.”
Donations can be dropped off at Capitol Farmers’ Market, West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) offices at the Capitol Building and Guthrie, and on the campus of WVU Institute of Technology in Montgomery. Collected food will be donated to local food pantries.
The teleconference is interactive and will be held in the electronic classroom of the library on Friday, October 14, 2005 from noon to 3 p.m. The featured speaker will be author and critic Frances Moore Lappe, who will give her perspective on the man-made causes of hunger and the significance of our everyday choices in creating a world free of hunger. Lappe’s books have been translated into over a dozen languages. She has been a visiting scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has lectured widely to university audiences, community groups and professional conferences. WVU Tech Professor Jan Rezek said a campus hunger walk will precede the teleconference.
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant,
animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory
and consumer protection programs, as mandated by state law. The
Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials
in West Virginia. Currently, Commissioner Gus R. Douglass is the
longest-serving agriculture commissioner in the nation. For more
information, visit www.wvagriculture.org.
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