Living with Hunger
I watched this program last night and I was shocked.
The people were hungry every day. There was usually nothing to eat but maybe some wild cabbage (a kind of weed). If they were lucky, their diet may consist of a sort of bread and bean paste. The wild cabbage was actually difficult to eat and caused stomach problems. They would eat it just to have something in their stomachs, albeit for a short period.
I was impressed by these people who would work tirelessly and without complaint, with no food. They would not complain if they had to eat wild cabbage. They wouldn't know what, if any food they would get the following day.
The documentary-maker (Sorious Samura) ate whenever his host family ate. And went hungry as they did. They would go and work their farms (actually just small plots of land) without any breakfast.
Some local men went to the town (some 35km walk) to find some work. They bricklayed for about 40p for the day. The presenter recommended they spend the money on a bowl of rice. They had never seen rice, let alone tasted it. There was no work the next day.
Imagine living day to day without knowing if you will have food the next day. Imagine going to work in the fields without any food. Imagine eating something revolting just because there is nothing else to eat.
On the C4 page there is a First Direct advert offering £25 for just opening an account. This seemed somewhat callous. £25 could buy about 100 bowls of rice. This would be enough to keep 3 people alive for a month.
Why are people paying more for a cup of coffee these days than ever before (£3 for a latte at Starbucks), whilst Ethiopia is getting screwed on their major export?
I ate my food with a very different perspective today.
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I would love to get the opportunity to see that documentary (and for my children to see it).
I have added a link to Insight News. Apparently, it will be showing 1st March on Discovery/Times.
This documentary aired on one of our news channels here - it is a real eye opener isn't it. It is difficult to understand why there is always money for destroying countries (Iraq, Afganistan) but never money for helping poor countries. We don't seem to have our priorities in line.