Thursday, March 30, 1989 / University Daily Kansan
Slattery: Lift debt to end hunger Many countries import food, then must sell it to pay their creditors
by John P. Milburn Kansan staff writer
Efforts to combat the world hunger problem cannot be successful unless action is taken to relieve the debts of poverty-streaked countries, Rep. Jim Slattery said yesterday.
Slattery, D-Topeka, addressed more than 100 people about U.S. policy for world hunger and the need to support the United Ministries of 1204 Oread Ave., as the second part of a four-part University Forum.
He said that more than 1,500 people in world — including 1,200 children — would die of starvation during his hourlong speech. Hunger is a problem not only in Africa and Southeast Asia, but also in Latin America, he said.
sattert said he had a special place in his heart for the people of Honduras because he traveled there several years ago, Argentina, Venezuela and a few other Latin American countries have increased the production of sugar succeeding in dealing with hunter, he said.
As long as individuals of poor countries are hungry, the potential for violence and revolution exists, he said.
"One thing that we should always remember is that hunger is clearly at the root of a lot of domestic strife and turmoil around the world." Slattery said. "We are not going to neighborring countries in many of our neighboring countries until we deal with the problem of hunger."
Slattery said that one of the problems with world hunger was that only seven countries in the world exported more food than they need. The United States, France, Australia and Canada
He said food distribution methods compounded the problem. In order to retire debts to lender countries, poorer countries sell food products instead of giving them to starving people. That is true for several Latin America countries, and enormous debts to the United States, he said.
"I am absolutely convinced the most important thing we can do in the short term and over the next decade is to put in place a Third World debt alleviation program that would reduce this debt burden." Slattery said.
Slattery is co-sponsor of legislation that would attempt to aid poor countries by
educating illiterate women and lowering the mortality rate of children younger than 5 years old. He would like to see the mortality reduced to 70 deaths for every 1,000 births.
He said studies had shown that food production had increased, hunger had decreased and population control had been more effective. Education has helped populations of poor nations were educated.
The Global Poverty Reduction Act, supported by Slater, would attempt to achieve the global goal of reducing poverty.
Before Slattery arrived, several people spoke of hunger problems in the United States that were seemingly ignored by the government.
Jim Wakefield, director of food nutrition programs for East Central Kansas Community Action Agency, said he had attended a conference in Washington, D.C., recently that dealt with the problem of hunger in the United States.
I the very fact that those individuals had come from 44 states, numbering 350 people, to me demonstrated effectively that hunger is a very serious thing," he said.
by Kris M. Bergquist Kansan staff writer
Panel members urge students to help the hungry, homeless
Hunger is a political, social and economic problem that doesn't just face other parts of the world. It's in Lawrence.
And last night, six panelists and an audience of about 50 found that hunger was not the reason.
"There is no rational reason why there are 600 people in Lawrence who are homeless," said Forrest Swall, assistant professor of social welfare and a panelist. "The conversation is one thing, but helping to do things like serving at the LINK kitchen have to get to a connection. This gives a sense of responsibility to the problem."
KU Students Against Hunger sponsored the panel discussion, "American Activism: Ending World Hunger," as part of KU's War on Hunger week. University faculty involved in human projects served on the panel. Judith Rivalley, executive vice chair, moderated.
"This event is important because it is directing attention to important questions." Ramaley said. "Students are helping their community."
Fred Rodriguez, associate professor of curriculum and instruction and a panelist, said that it sometimes was hard to understand poverty among plenty.
"Sometimes I think we're preaching to the choir," Rodriguez said. "Those people walking on Jayhawk Boulevard are the ones that we need to be reaching, and we're not."
"Students could do things like volunteer work. It takes a personal commitment, and it requires a lot of time."
Paul Donaghue. Prairie Village freshman, has spent the past five summers helping the hungry and homeless in the ghettos of cities such as Detroit and Chicago.
"It's not surprising that people on campus aren't more interested. They have a lot to do." Donaghue said. "But I lived with them. It opens your life a lot."
Amy Cranch, coordinator of the event, said she was encouraged that most of the students at the event were not associated with KU Students Against Hunger.
"This definitely showed that people are interested, even not those affiliated with the group," said Cranch, Chesterfield, Mo., sophomore.
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