Feed The World (?Sometimes?) Do they know its Christmas Time ?

Feed The World ( ? sometimes ?)  Do they know its Christmas Time ?

Wouldn’t it be nice if we marshalled the World’s resources so that the Poor were fed first ?

Living in the rich country of the UK, I have become acutely aware that my cupboards, fridge and freezer are relatively well stocked.   

There is also enough food to feed my cat Bertie for about 10 days.  

I also have the confidence that I can top up from the supermarkets when I need to.

I contrast this with my friends from The Gambia, Sally & Mohammed Camara, and their 2 young girls Grace and Sarah.

In the good times, Mohammed was employed by the Government in a clerical support role, and Sally worked for Water For Africa in a clinic.  

Their combined income was about £80 per month.  

From their hard work they were able to pay the compulsory £10 per month school fees.  

Their girls also had smart school uniforms.  

The main focus of their survival plan though, was saving enough money so that they could buy their monthly 10Kg bag of rice.  

At a price of £40 per bag, the target was usually achieved by week 2 or 3, and the purchase was made immediately.  

Any surplus monies went to buy daily vegetables and the occasional fish.  

There is no Pension in the Gambia ,so all of the families supported Sally’s elderly parents, as well as others that were too unwell for work.

These were good times, and the Camaras and others considered themselves truly blessed.

However, Water For Africa closed its Gambia clinic, and now Sally was without work.  

The jobs situation had become very bad and the only work paid about £20 per week.  

They survived and remained upbeat and blessed.

Recently the Tourist trade has ceased and The Gambia has no source of income.

Government jobs are being cut as there is no money in the Treasury.  

There is no unemployment benefit, no furlough and presently the rich Countries are doing a Donald (America First).

Add to the above that the price of rice has risen by 45% in just over a year, and most of that rise has been in the last month.  

The bag of rice is now circa £60.

Let us consider how rice is sold in today’s free market capitalist society.  

There is a traded market in CWT of rice and this is currently $14.5 per CWT.  

The producers sell to the highest bidders.  

And the highest bidders sell firstly to the countries that will pay the most ( e.g. Europe, USA etc), and any surplus is then sold at the highest price possible that the poorest countries can afford. 

This is completely in line with capitalist and free market thinking.

Now for some bold thinking and a need for brave leadership.  

What if the G20 AID budget was prioritised so that the first spend was invested in the purchase of the rice for the poor.  

A fair guaranteed price could be obtained.  

This would ensure that the poor get fed first.  

The remaining rice could then be auctioned to the highest bidders in USA and Europe etc.

However where we find ourselves today, where our needs come first (America 1^st , and maybe UK 1^st ??), where our politicians are self-serving, where we have a huge lack of compassion, and where our compassion is only a spark when it could be a flame. 

What chance is there for Sally, Mohammed, Grace and Sarah ?

Will history tell the story of how we became one world, where everyone was included in ‘A brotherhood of Man’ or will history tell the story of how we became USA First (indeed insert any rich country), and how we allowed self-serving leaders and politicians to carry on feathering their nests.

Let’s hope that HISTORY does say that although we responded late, when the response came it was generous and was given by Love.

Now wouldn’t that be nice.

Love and Peace.