Hunger and Waste

Friday, May 08, 2009
WASHINGTON: An estimated 3.5 million children younger than 5 are at risk of hunger in the United States, according to government numbers provided by an anti-hunger group.

That is more than 17 per cent of children who could suffer cognitive and developmental damage if they are not properly fed. The not-for-profit advocacy group Feeding America based its findings on 2005-2007 data from the US Census Bureau and the Agriculture Department. The study, released on Thursday, is the first to look at these numbers for children under the age of 5, according to the group. Feeding America runs food banks and feeding centers around the country.

The study also shows that in 11 states, more than 20 per cent of children under 5 are at risk of going hungry. Louisiana has the highest rate, with just under a quarter of children at risk. According to the Agriculture Department, 11 per cent of households lacked enough food for an active, healthy life before the economy worsened late last year.

The study looks at a range of children who are at risk, from those who have low quality or variety of food to those who regularly experience hunger.

I read this article in the newspaper “Jang” of Pakistan today.

Can you imagine that in the great U.S. of A, children will go hungry? And this, in the country known for its tremendous waste of food? An average American needs almost double the food compared to an Asian.

The only reason that I can think of is that while some are going hungry, others are wasting and wasting too much.

Companies are also like people. While some are struggling, others overuse and waste resources.

I once read that Mother Earth has enough of everything for all of us. We should know how to rationalize and allocate resources properly. So it goes for stable companies. The resources may be enough. Are we using and allocating them judiciously and rationally?

The time is now sirs and madams.