TACOMA, Washington — Ordinary citizens taking action against global poverty is the greatest way to eradicate it. Ordinary citizens have more power than they think, capable of influencing U.S. leaders and encouraging them to use their national power to end extreme poverty.
On Aug. 17, hundreds of Global Citizen supporters gathered at The TODAY Show to take part in a day of action centered on ending world hunger. Participants arrived early in the morning to write letters to U.S. leaders encouraging them to support the Food for Peace Reform Act.
The Food for Peace Reform Act was introduced to Congress earlier this year on Feb. 12. If passed, it will authorize USAID to provide emergency and nonemergency foreign assistance, where nonemergency assistance will work against malnutrition and prevent food crises. Ultimately, Food for Peace promotes global food security.
The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization estimates that about 805 million people suffered from malnutrition in 2012-2014, but Food for Peace has the potential to provide eight to 12 million people with food aid.
Additionally, the act works to ensure that more people will be fed at a lower cost. So, not only does Food for Peace save lives, it is also cost-effective.
As citizens arrived at The TODAY Show plaza, they were entered to win two tickets to the Global Citizen Festival on Sept. 26. Hundreds of people came together to fight global poverty, specifically by calling on their senators to support Food for Peace and taking action against world hunger.
Furthermore, on signs provided by Global Citizen, participants wrote what the world can achieve by working together to combat extreme poverty.
Fighting world hunger is a stepping-stone to ending global poverty. Malnutrition is a serious challenge in many developing countries and Food for Peace has the power to alleviate world hunger, save lives and lift communities out of poverty.
– Sarah Sheppard
Sources: Global Citizen, GovTrack, World Hunger
Photo: Youtube