Earth Equity News

UN. Reports 1 Billion People Hungry. AP, October 14, 2009. "A record 1 billion people worldwide are hungry and a new report says the number will increase if governments do not spend more on agriculture. According to the U.N. food agency, which issued the report, 30 countries now require emergency aid, including 20 in Africa. The trend continues despite a goal set by world leaders nine years ago to cut the number of hungry people in half by 2015. 'It's actually a world emergency that calls for action from both developing and developed countries,' said Otive Igbuzor, the head of international campaigns for Action Aid International. 'We know a child dies every six seconds of malnutrition,' he said. Spiraling food prices have added to hardships, especially in the world's most desperate countries where the poor could barely afford a single daily meal to begin with."