Maintaining Momentum; Speaking for Hungry People
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photo Margaret W. Nea
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As work begins on the 2009 federal budget, we are asking for a $5 billion incrase in development assistance
Though we've recently celebrated New Year's 2008, the federal government has already begun planning for fiscal year 2009, which begins October 1, 2008. On February 4, President Bush submitted his budget request to Congress, which will now begin work to approve 2009 spending levels for all federal programs.
This year, Bread for the World's Offering of Letters calls for an increase in U.S. development assistance – programs which give hungry and poor people around the world the tools and the opportunities they need to support their families. Poverty-focused development assistance includes agriculture, nutrition programs, health care, basic education, clean water and other essentials. Bread for the World seeks an increase of at least $5 billion for FY 2009 to help the United States meet its commitment of meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) -- a set of eight achievable goals to improve the lives of the world's poorest people – by 2015.
President Bush is requesting $3.1 trillion for the federal budget in FY2009. His request for poverty-focused development assistance is $16.48 billion – an increase of $1 billion over the FY2008 appropriation. Yet this amount is only half of one percent of the total budget request. Bread for the World commends the Bush administration for requesting increases for poverty-focused development assistance on the order of $1-2 billion per year for the past several years. These increases are making a difference in the lives of hungry and poor people. But much more needs to be done.
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In sub-Saharan Africa, more than two-thirds of women now receive prenatal care at least once during a pregnancy. Still, a woman's risk of dying from pregnancy and childbirth complications in her lifetime is 1 in 16, compared to 1 in 2,500 in the United States.
Margaret W. Nea photo
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"We have a long way to go to meet our commitment to reduce global hunger and poverty," said Bread for the World president David Beckmann. "And for several years now, results from polls done by the Alliance to End Hunger indicate that voters want the administration and Congress to do more."
The budget request includes about $2.2 billion for the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) and nearly $4.8 billion for the Global HIV/AIDS initiative, commonly known as PEPFAR. The administration also requested a small increase for the Development Assistance account, which is an encouraging reversal of the recent trend of proposing large cuts to these programs. At the same time, the administration proposed a cut of $136 million to Child Survival and Health.
Our 2008 Offering of Letters also calls for better poverty-focused development assistance, and we urge Congress to pass the Global Poverty Act to strengthen the U.S. commitment to achieving the MDGs. If signed into law, the Global Poverty Act would for the first time make it official U.S. policy to achieve the first MDG, cutting extreme poverty and hunger in half by 2015.
To be most effective, development assistance programs need to address the interconnection of development problems. For example, U.S. assistance enables more than a million HIV-positive people in Africa to receive lifesaving anti-retroviral (ARV) medications. But patients may still face hunger, especially if they have been too ill to farm, and poor nutrition can make ARV medications less effective. Thus, agriculture and nutrition programs are essential companions to HIV programs. (For more on the relationships among the various aspects of development, see the background paper in this issue).
Right now, more than 20 U.S. government agencies participate in development activities, too often working at cross purposes. For example, the goal of promoting the sale of U.S. commodities overseas may bring U.S. exports into direct competition with poultry or cotton being produced by low-income rural women as part of an income-generating project. Throughout 2007, Bread for the World members worked to reform the commodity payment policies in the U.S. farm bill, which contribute to artificially low world prices for the subsidized goods and prevent farmers in developing countries from selling their crops at a fair price.
The Global Poverty Act requires the president to develop and implement a coordinated strategy of U.S. aid, debt relief and trade policies. The strategy would emphasize cooperation with other countries and international institutions and must include specific, measurable goals and timetables. It would ensure the maximum benefit to those in greatest need by coordinating the efforts of each agency.
The Global Poverty Act would also require a regular report to Congress on U.S. progress towards meeting the first MDG. Thirteen of the world's major donors have reported on their progress towards meeting the MDGs, while the United States has not.
The House passed the Global Poverty Act on September 25, 2007. On February 13, the Global Poverty Act 9S. 2433) was approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, meaning it can now go to the Senate floor. We'd like to build on this momentum to get the Global Poverty Act through the Senate and signed into law. Urge your senators to cosponsor S. 2433, the Global Poverty Act.
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A Thirst for "Living Water"
By Glen Bengson
The reading (Exodus 17:3-7) takes us back into the wilderness with Israel, as they complain about their difficult conditions and wonder if they were better off under bondage in Egypt. What a contrast to their earlier cries for deliverance! Is this reminiscent of our own culture, in which every improvement in living conditions apparently leaves people no happier than before? How quickly they forget, we often say, of our selective memory. Didn't Israel remember their cry to God (Exod 2:23-25), which God heard and to which god responded through Moses, leading Israel out of Egypt?
I once heard Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer tell of visiting Calcutta and his angry reaction to the abysmal poverty and hunger he saw in that city of millions. "I wanted to scream at God and shout, 'How can you tolerate such suffering?' And then it hit me. In the suffering of the poor, God was shouting at me, and for that matter, at all of us and our social systems that cause and perpetuate hunger, poverty, and inequality." If we listen at all, we can still hear the cries of the people, the cry of God.
In the Exodus text, the people "thirsted for water." In John's Gospel Jesus meets a woman at the well. She is intrigued by his offer of "living water" and the prospect of never again being thirsty. People around the world long for that reality, and not only in a spiritual sense. Church World Service/CROP Walks have an ongoing theme, "We walk, because they walk." This links the ten-kilometer length of the CROP Walk to the laborious, daily walk that many people around the world take to bring home fresh water for that days' needs for cooking, drinking, and washing.
Many denominational relief and development agencies provide resources to dig wells to provide fresh water, develop ponds for local fish-raising industries, clean up polluted water, or teach sustainable agricultural methods that conserve and make the best use of local natural resources. In such ways "living water" can become a reality for more people and enhance their lives.
The Samaritan at the well is a person of another culture and religion, a foreigner, a stranger. She is a woman. All these identities presented problems in Jesus' world, and still do in ours. Our nation struggles to welcome immigrants, who often come with few resources except their exceptional determination and innate skills and who meet suspicion and prejudice simply because they are different. They often suffer "guilt by association" because of what others do. Jesus offers the "living water" of hope to all people, of deliverance from the oppressive practices that deny people their true dignity, and the assurance that God does not judge on the basis of society's values but "in spirit and in truth."
After experiencing the "living water" of God's "amazing grace," the woman cannot help but share the good news, running to tell others. Bread for the World members tell the good news of God's care for poor and hungry people, inviting others who thirst for hope to be part of a vibrant ministry. Bread for the World members contact their members of Congress, write letters to the editor of their local newspapers, and use Bread for the World Sunday resources to encourage others to become advocates for hungry people. Church denominational gatherings, clergy association meetings, ecumenical conferences, and community group events become opportunities for personal testimony to the work of Bread for the World.
The Samaritan woman does not know how people will respond, but she has a passion to tell about the good news in her life -- and others respond. God promises that "my word… shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose" (Isa 55:11). Advocates for poor and hungry people speak with the confidence that comes from knowing they give voice to the concern of people for whom God cares deeply. U.S. senator Paul Simon often said that in his experience "one letter to a member of Congress on a hunger issue saves a life." Our personal testimony for those who hunger will not return empty.
Glen Bengson is pastor of First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Xenia, OH. This reflection was originally published in Hunger for the Word: Lectionary Reflections on Food and Justice, Year A, edited by Larry Hollar. Copyright 2004 by the order of Saint Benedict, Inc. Published by Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN. Reprinted with permission.
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Order Your Offering of Letters Kit Now
This year's Offering of Letters is pushing for more and better development assistance—funding for programs in the U.S. budget that give people in poor countries the hope and opportunity to break the cycle of poverty permanently.
Discover the difference this assistance can make in real lives and real families, and what a difference your letters on their behalf can make. Bread for the World's 2008 Offering of Letters kit includes a handbook with helpful information on this year's campaign, worship resources, other materials to help you organize an Offering of Letters and a DVD that illustrates how our work can help hungry families. Order the 2008 Offering of Letters Kit from our online store at www.breadstore.org or by calling 1-800-82-BREAD.
It's membership renewal time
This is the time of year when we ask all Bread for the World members to renew their annual membership. This year, please consider renewing your membership online and make your gift go to work faster. Visit our secure website at www.bread.org/renew to renew today.
Nominees Sought for Bread for the World Board of Directors
Members of Bread for the World are invited to nominate persons who could make valuable contributions to the Board of Directors.
For more information and nomination form, contact Dolly Youssef at dyoussef@bread.org or 1-800-82-BREAD, ext. 192. Deadline for nominations is April 7, 2008.
Become a Hunger Justice Leader
We're looking for the best and brightest new advocates to become Bread for the World's Hunger Justice Leaders. Motivated activists, ages 18-35, are invited to apply for an all-expense paid leadership training from June 14-17 in Washington, DC.
Those chosen in this highly competitive process will:
- Interact with premier organizing and issue experts.
- Connect with other leaders from across the country.
- Hone their skills to become an inspiring organizer.
- Deepen their faith. Put it into action.
- Commit to leading efforts against hunger and poverty in their local communities in partnership with Bread for the World.
Apply today online.
If you're not in this age range, please pass along this information to others you know. You'll be helping Bread for the World expand our base of hunger advocates. And you'll help new advocates gain valuable skills to speak out for hungry people.
Applications must be received by March 15, 2008.
We will cover all costs for those selected. Successful candidates will be notified of their selection by April 1.
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Stewarding Our Resources
"We are not helpless in the face of great poverty," says Rev. Rusty Goldsmith, a retired Episcopal priest living in Birmingham, AL. "We can find organizations that do God's work and do it effectively, and get as involved as we're called to do."
Supporting trustworthy organizations is important to Rev. Goldsmith, who was an investment banker in Montgomery, AL, when he first heard about Bread for the World in the mid-1970s. "I asked the director of my parish about stewardship beyond the local level. He mentioned Bread for the World as an organization that was doing good work for people living in poverty around the world." He recalls that Lent was approaching: "As part of my preparation, I learned more about international hunger and poverty, and each day of Lent, I set aside a little money for Bread for the World's work."
A couple of years later, he entered seminary at the University of the South in Sewanee, TN. "In one of my classes, we were looking at effective interdenominational organizations, and Bread for the World's name was mentioned there, too." Rev. Goldsmith later became a member of the seminary's board and remained involved with Bread for the World. He found that it was after he retired from active ministry, though, that he had the most time to devote to Bread.
"I write letters, and I've encouraged younger people I know to get involved with Bread for the World, but mostly I've focused on money issues," Rev. Goldsmith said. "I'm part of Bread for the World's Development Committee, so a lot of my responsibility is in stewardship and investing."
Rev. Goldsmith also helps spread the word about our work. For example, he hosted a dinner last fall in Houston, along with friend and fellow activist Judy Andrews, primarily for friends and acquaintances who are interested in social justice. "There are often resources available in Houston. But you must make the case that it is a solid organization," he said.
"What Bread for the World does is often harder to explain than giving direct assistance to poor people in a village, providing them with goats or money to dig a well. What we're trying to do is more difficult – make changes in the policies and the structure – but in the long run, it is even more important. Rather than sending food to Kenya, it is trying to change the systems that determine what happens to poor families in Kenya.
“When I find a group like Bread for the World that is godly, and well-conceived, and is moving things in the right direction, I really cherish that and try to bring it to other people.”
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Low-Income People: Part of the Economic Solution
Phrases like "net job loss," "the subprime mortgage crisis" and "possible recession" dot the papers these days. TV news reminds us that consumers are cutting back on purchases and the stock market has experienced precipitous declines accompanied by only partial comebacks.
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Downturns in the U.S. economy affect low-income people more than others. Putting away savings on a regular basis can help families be prepared for these downturns.
Rick Reinhard photo |
Downturns in the U.S. economy affect low-income people more than others. Investors may be receiving lower returns because banks made too many "subprime mortgage" loans, but lower-wage families are often the ones experiencing foreclosure on their homes. In the last quarter of 2007, foreclosures rose 75 percent over the same period in 2006. In addition to losing their homes, families may also have difficulty obtaining rental housing because their credit ratings have been severely damaged.
Workers in low-wage jobs are often among the first to be laid off in tight economic times. In January 2008, the U.S. economy lost 17,000 jobs, concentrated in construction and manufacturing -- the first month of reported job decline since August 2003. The unemployment rate for African American teenagers rose from 27.9 percent in October 2007 to 35.7 percent this January.
Many low- or moderate-income workers do not qualify for unemployment benefits; according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the U.S. unemployment insurance program has so many restrictions that it reaches just 37 percent of unemployed workers. Other workers do receive benefits but cannot find new jobs before their benefits run out.
But low-income families are also key participants in a national economic recovery. The idea behind government efforts to stimulate economic activity is to provide additional resources to people who will put these funds to work in the economy right away. It is not as useful to give the resources to those who are more likely to save the extra money. According to Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody's economy.com, providing a temporary increase in food stamp benefits is the most efficient way to stimulate the economy, generating $1.73 in increased economic activity for each $1 of cost. The second most effective strategy is to extend unemployment benefits.
Unfortunately, the economic stimulus package that Congress passed on February 8 fails to include either of these measures. So while the stimulus package includes tax rebates for seniors and disabled veterans, it misses opportunities, like temporarily increasing food stamp benefits, to rapidly infuse the economy with dollars that could strengthen it.
Bread for the World Institute’s 2008 Hunger Report, Working Harder for Working Families, looks at strategies that will help lower-income workers build financial security. The report may be ordered or downloaded. To learn more about how assets, such as a home, can help families escape from poverty permanently, visit www.bread.org/assets.
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As mentioned above, in June, Bread for the World will be hosting a special training event for hunger activists ages 18-35. This age group is increasingly energized around fighting hunger and poverty. Here are a few examples of their work in the past year.
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| At Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI, students (above, left) at an event for Micah Challenge wrote letters on paper plates to their members of Congress, emphasizing that they had just participated in a dinner designed to raise awareness of hunger. Micah Challenge is a global Christian campaign aimed at holding world leaders accountable to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. This effort is rallying young evangelicals worldwide. The U.S. campaign is housed at Bread for the World's office in Washington. |
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On Bread for the World's 2007 Lobby Day, a group from Templo Calvario Assembly of God Church in Santa Ana, CA, met with their representaties on Capitol Hill to ask for broad reform of the U.S. farm bill.
photo by Jim Stipe |
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Undernourished People and the Millenium Development Goal Target
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Here is a regional breakdown of progress being made in on Millennium Development Goal 31, to reduce by half the proportion of people who suffer from hunger.
Though progress has been made weverywhere, much remains to be done to fight hunger, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.
Source: The State of food Security in the World, 2006, FAO |
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Urge your senators and representatives to approve an additional $5 billion in poverty-focused development assistance for 2009.
Also, ask your senators to cosponsor S. 2433, the Global Poverty Act.
Points to make:
- An additional $5 billion will help the United States keep its commitment to achieve the Millennium Development Goals: cutting hunger and extreme poverty in half, reducing child mortality by two-thirds, and meeting other specific goals that will provide hope and opportunity for millions of poor families around the world.
- The Global Poverty Act will encourage better coordination of U.S. policies and programs and improve the effort to fight world hunger and poverty.
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
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Publications, Bread for the World
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Washington, DC 20001
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