10 january 2018_final

News From Non -Aligned World
Global food Crisis ailing NAM Members
By IINS Research Team
“Although, the basic thrust of the movement
is in favour of peace, disarmament and
security, NAM has stressed the need of
equality and development, and to realize
its dream of a better world, NAM has given
importance and emphasis to development of
its member countries, eradication of poverty
and illiteracy. One of the main consequences
of such poverty have been the global food
crisis that trouble the population at large
affecting the standard of life”
In 1955, a conference was held at Bandung, Indonesia
where NAM took its birth. The basic principles or
concerns of NAM are to struggle against all forms of
imperialism, to keep co-operation and close terms
of friendship with all countries, disarmament and
international security so on and so forth. Basically,
the aim of NAM is to “shape a better world”, create an
equitable world.
Although, the basic thrust of the movement is in favour
of peace, disarmament and security, NAM has stressed
the need of equality and development, and to realize
its dream of a better world, NAM has given importance
and emphasis to development of its member countries,
eradication of poverty and illiteracy. One of the main
consequences of such poverty have been the global
food crisis that trouble the population at large affecting
the standard of life.
The world food crisis is affecting more than 3 billion
people, which is approximately half of the total
population. The increasing population may seem to be
the main cause for this problem. However, it is not true.
Thousands of people across the globe are not getting
enough nutrition to survive which is resulting in poor
health condition and in some cases, death. The world
food crisis is caused primarily because of unequal
distribution. Enough food is available to provide at least
4.3 pounds of food per person per day world¬wide. The
problem, therefore, is not of production but clearly of
access and dis-tribution.
The average calories available (2807 per person per day)
exceed average requirements (2511 per person per day)
worldwide. The other reasons of food shortage cited are
population explosion and numerous other reasons like
war, droughts, floods, earthquakes, and the like.
The steps NAM has taken to eradicate poverty and
establish equality in this world are commendable. In
the 1994 Cartagena summit, the member nations of
NAM clearly stated that from now on, the economic
development of the countries will be given topmost
priority and certain steps will be taken to resolve the
financial crisis of these countries.
In this regard, NAM stressed the strengthening of
the “United Nation’s capacity and effectiveness in the
field of development”. In the Cartegena summit, it
has been stated that, although the general economic
situation has recovered distinctly, in many cases,
this development has benefited only a few who
have accumulated unnecessary amounts of wealth
and power and improper distribution of it, while
unemployment, in various regions, has reached to
an alarming magnitude and poverty leading to food
crisis is spreading inexorably, giving rise to grim social
imbalances.
The curse of hunger continues to terrorize and has
dramatically increased and illiteracy continues,
however, to be one of the greatest obstacles to the
efforts to improve the living conditions of our peoples.
Moreover, wide sectors of our societies continue to lack
basic medical services, including drinking water, to
satisfy their primary needs for survival.
The Non-Aligned Movement continues to strive for
peace, independence, sovereign equality of the States
and non-intervention in their internal affairs, which
some are now trying to disregard.
At the same time will continue unflinchingly to work
towards the economic and social betterment, the
strengthening of democracy and the free determination
of the peoples.
Non-Aligned Movement has created three committees
to resolve the issue of poverty and hunger, and to
strengthen the economic condition of its member
countries through co-operation, Standing Ministerial
Committee for Economic Cooperation, High-Level
Working Group for the Restructuring of the United
Nations and Working Group on Human Rights.
(13)
January, 2018