The one billion people suffering from hunger across the globe need a voice. Unfortunately, they rarely find it in media coverage. You could watch hour after hour of cable TV news and see nothing about global hunger.
Even with all the coverage of the war in Afghanistan, the media seldom dive into the hunger and poverty aspect. This is a huge oversight when you consider that food shortages and lack of development damage any hopes for stability in that country.
What can be done to bring more attention to hunger and its implications on world peace and progress?
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is reaching out to bloggers and writers to help raise awareness about the global hunger crisis. WFP calls the campaign "Bloggers Against Hunger."
A blogger/writer is provided a "toolkit" of resources about world hunger and is encouraged to spread the word. An emblem provided by WFP is available for posting on the blogger’s site. Twitter users are encouraged to join the campaign as well.
In this Internet age, when media outlets like the big cable TV news stations miss a story, someone with a computer, and the will, can get the job done instead. Budding journalists as well as those already established with online webzines and blogs can prove crucial to turning the tide against global hunger.
Bloggers Against Hunger couldn't come at a more critical time. The ranks of the hungry are rising fast and food aid funding is going down. The World Food Programme, for instance, is facing a $3 billion shortfall. Some food aid programs are being cut. The implications for international stability are enormous if something is not done.
In the United States the Congress has yet to pass the Roadmap to End Global Hunger legislation, which would create a White House office to coordinate U.S. response to the food crisis. Bloggers against Hunger can be a pivotal tool to push Congress to move on this legislation.
For more information about bloggers against hunger visit the WFP site.