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Brazilian President blows whistle on hunger
27.08.2010 09:17 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) —
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has joined a global anti-hunger campaign organized by FAO, signing his name to FAOs «1billionhungry» international petition and blowing the campaigns yellow «whistle against hunger».
The whistle-blowing took place at a ceremony held in Brasilia. Nearly half a million people worldwide have so far signed FAOs «1billionhungry» petition calling on world leaders to make the eradication of hunger their top priority. Supporters of the campaign are invited to"blow the whistle" on hunger.
FAO goal is to obtain one million signatures by the end of November and present them to the 192 Member States due to attend FAOs Governing Council then. Currently, about one billion people in the world suffer chronic hunger.
«Hunger hurts and kills. And we cant be indifferent in the face of such suffering,» said FAO Representative in Brazil Hélder Muteia at the ceremony, before inviting Lula da Silva to whistle.
Last nights ceremony coincided with another significant anti-hunger initiative the launch of Brazils new National Policy on Food and Nutritional Security, which took place during a meeting of the Brazilian Food and Nutritional Security Council (CONSEA).
Under recent reforms, the right to food is now one of the social rights guaranteed by the Brazilian Constitution. It is upheld by Brazils Food and Nutritional Security Law. Separate legislation requires that 30 % of the food products used in school meals must be bought from family farmers.
Muteia expressed warm praise for Brazils ongoing national Zero Hunger strategy and the countrys determined effort to promote social inclusion, and called on other countries to do the same.
The «1billionhungry» project is a major communication campaign intended to rally global support for an end to hunger in the world. Other celebrities who have signed the petition include actor Jeremy Irons, musician Chucho Valdés and athlete Carl Lewis.
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