We are on the brink of a crisis that threatens us all, especially the poorest and most vulnerable in the world. The warning signs are clear, food prices are at record heights and in the last year some 44 million people have been pushed into poverty as a result.
In a world that already produces more than enough food for everyone, almost a billion people, one in seven of us, go to bed hungry every night. Meanwhile, up to half of all food the world produces goes to waste.
By 2050 there will be nine billion of us on the planet. To meet growing demand the food system must be transformed. Demand must be met despite increasing water scarcity, growing competition over land and climate change threatening poor farmers from Kenya to Kansas.
Even here in America, over 40 million people go hungry every day. This is both a domestic and an international problem. It is a very real issue for all of humanity.
But meeting the challenges of tomorrow is about more than a boost in global food production. We’ll need to first wake up to the reality that our food system as we know it is broken. Luckily, there is already a movement gaining steam that has the energy, desire, and capability to change things for the better.
That is why I am taking part in Oxfam’s GROW campaign. I’ve been working with Oxfam for over 6 years, because I believe in the mission to fight poverty and build a better world. I admire Oxfam’s tenacity and willingness to tackle controversial topics and not shy away from addressing the politics and power issues that stand in the way of true progress.
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Because overcoming hunger is not just a scientific challenge, it is also a political one. We must bridge the gap between those that have their needs met and even live with abundance, and the billions that struggle just to survive. I have seen both sides of prosperity: From growing up in Africa, to struggling and fighting for survival on the streets of Paris, to now living in California.
Oxfam’s GROW campaign will seek to get to the very heart of this challenge. To tackle hunger at its root, to face up to the threat of climate change, and to open the door to a new era of success, so that everyone has a chance to survive having their most basic human needs met.
I have personally experienced hunger, I have witnessed charity firsthand, and I have seen the power of what one can do to make a difference. Imagine what we can do if we all work together. The possibilities for progress are endless. I hope you will all join us to add your skills, your brains and your power to this fight. Together we can empower change. To learn more about the GROW campaign please visit www.oxfamamerica.org/grow. Find them on Twitter @OxfamAmerica
Djimon Hounsou is an Academy Award winning actor and activist who works with Oxfam to battle world hunger. Follow Djimon on twitter @DjimonHounsou
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Djimon Hounsou speaks at a recent conference for Oxfam America in Washington, D.C.
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Djimon Hounsou speaks at a recent conference for Oxfam America in Washington, D.C.
