To solve the world hunger crisis, it’s necessary to address the root causes of hunger. The current international economic system, has increased income inequalities, poverty and hunger worldwide. The IMF and the World Bank have forced the debt-stricken states in the South to adopt policies of liberalization, deregulation and privatization. The globalized system of food production and trade favors large TNCs and reliance on export crops while discriminating against small-scale farmers and subsistence crops. AIDS is another cause of hunger. In societies affected by AIDS, famine is more deadly and difficult to combat. AIDS attacks the most productive age group, typically the men and women working in agricultural production. Global climate change leads to an increased number of weather-related disasters such as floods and droughts, which cause food shortages and famine.* Military conflicts disrupt food production and distribution. Moreover increased global military spending diverts spending from social and economic development. Oppressive regimes and corruption can also cause hunger, by draining scarce funds away from those most in need.
* Just in case anyone was wondering what the connection was between driving a gas-guzzling SUV or Hummer and world hunger, I thought I'd fill in the blanks.
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