Option Topic: Global Hunger

1. Option Topic: Global Hunger

2. Overview 1. Famine affects the health of individuals and communities • Why is global hunger a problem? • What are some of the many factors that lead to food shortages and famine? • What is the impact of political, economic and environmental decisions on a secure world food supply? 1.2 How do famine, food shortages and water quality and/or availability contribute to deficiency diseases? • What are the nutritional consequences of famine? 1.3 How can hunger and famine be addressed in communities? • What are the short term and long term solutions to hunger and famine?

3. tips for the extended response • The last 2 questions of the examination are either of the option topics (SELECT GLOBAL HUNGER) • Start reading / planning extended response questions during reading time • The marks scheme for extended response is as follows: Content marks for each dot point up to 16 marks 4 dot points = 4 marks per dot point 4 marks for use of terms / communication / grammar • Each dot point should be addressed sequentially (leave a one line space) • Do not include an introduction or conclusion or rewrite the question • Should be written in a fluent and logical manner (no dot points) • Include definitions within your answer • Read the dot points carefully! eg if it asks for 3 relevant factors • Avoid using absolute statements

4. Definitions • Hunger can be described as: • An uneasy sensation when the body craves food • More intense and painful than mere appetite • Life threatening if allowed to continue • Leads to malnutrition and starvation • A cause for people unable to work efficiently and thus being able to produce food or earn money to buy food. • They are then forced to remain hungry and their conditions deteriorates.

5. Source: World Hunger Education Service 2012

6. DEFINTIONS • Undernutrition can be described as: • ‘When individuals are undernourished, they can no longer maintain natural bodily capacities, such as growth, resisting infections and recovering from disease, learning and physical work, and pregnancy and lactation in women.’ (Unicef 2006) • ‘Having dietary energy intake below the minimum energy requirement for a healthy body and healthy active lifestyle … not having enough food to eat.’ (Magee 2010p172 )

7. Definitions • Malnutrition can be described as: • ‘A person’s diet is unbalanced, lacking in a proper mix of vitamins, minerals, protein and energy necessary for healthy living.’ (Magee 2010 p172) • ‘There is a lack of nourishing food, clean water and sanitation – major causes of illness…’ (Magee 2010 p172) • ‘…the state of being poorly nourished. It is not merely a result of too little food, but of a combination of factors: insufficient protein, energy and micronutrients, frequent infections or disease, poor care and feeding practices, inadequate health services and unsafe water and sanitation.’ (Unicefn.d.)

8. Famine • Famine can be described as: • ‘An acute food shortage of food affecting large numbers of people. The extend of famine depends on many factors, the most significant being the quality of soil, the lack of a reliable water supply and community support.’ • ‘Temporary famine is usually associated with natural disasters and/or epidemics.’ • ‘Structural famine relates to an underdeveloped economy and/or permanent water.’

9. 1st World, 2nd World and 3rd World Countries • First World Countries • Have the highest standard of living in the world • Have access to adequate food, health care, housing and education • Australia, North America, Japan, New Zealand and Western Europe • Second World Countries • Industrialised and have socialist (state run) economies • Have access to most of the necessities • USSR and Eastern Europe • Third World or developing Countries • Considered to developing their economic base, industries and infrastructures. • Countries that suffer poverty, hunger and starvation • Nepal, Somalia, Sudan, Zambia, Syria and Ethopia

10. Is there enough food in the world to feed people? • ‘The world produces enough food to feed everyone. World agriculture produces 17% more calories per person today than it did 30 years ago, despite a 70% population increase…’ (World Hunger Education Service 2012) • This is enough to provide everyone in the world with at least 2,720 kilocalories (kcal) per person per day according to the most recent estimate that we could find.(FAO 2002, p.9). The principal problem is that many people in the world do not have sufficient land to grow, or income to purchase, enough food.’(World Hunger Education Service 2012)

12. Lack of water (and quality) Natural disasters Agricultural practices Government FAMINE Drought Social structure Fuel Poor soil quality Infestation Economics Education Causes of famine WHICH OF THE ABOVE FACTORS ARE CONCERNED WITH: Environment Social structure Education Politics Economics

13. The Hunger Cycle

15. Environment • Several environmental factors can impact hunger, malnutrition and famine including: • Natural Disasters (drought, earthquakes, cyclones and floods) • Man made environmental concerns • Infestation of crops by pests, animal infections • Foot Mouth Disease, Exotic Fruit Flies • Poor quality soils, natural climate extremes • Monsoonal Flooding • Harmful agricultural practices • Overcropping, leaching of soil • Lack of water, poor or contaminated water, water borne diseases • Insufficient water to wash people or utensils • Lack of fuel to sterilise water and cook food to destroy pathogens

16. Environment – Natural Disasters • ‘In natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes, it is likely to be the poorest communities who suffer first – those living on river flatlands or in poorly built high rise buildings.’ (Magee 2010)

17. Politics and Economic Decisions • War • Using landmines, burning crops, cutting roads leading to markets and water • Trade Embargoes • Preventing imports of needed goods and exports to pay off a country’s debts • Unbalanced International Trade • 70% of the world’s wealth is found in countries where only 25% of the World’s population live • Richer countries can buy products cheaply • Cheap raw materials are then turned in to more expensive products e.g. farm machinery , TVs

18. Fair Trade • Farmers in poor countries are paid only a fraction of the price • Buyers can beat prices down, because farmers have no one else to sell to; however, consumers do not pay any less. • ‘Fairtradeis about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world.’(Fair Trade Australia New Zealand 2012) • ‘Fairtradeaddresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives.’ (Fair Trade Australia New Zealand 2012)

19. social structure • Higher the position in some societies the better access to food, water and services • Low socio-economic status often leads to less • Religious groups with incompatible beliefs systems are unable to work harmoniously; thus, sharing water and food is unlikely. • Women are classified as second class in some societies • Last to receive food • Boys expected to provide for aging parents

20. AnaemiaIron, Folate or B12 deficiency • Symptoms and consequences • Tiredness • Paleness • Loss of appetite • Premature births if severe sufferer • Appropriate dietary change?

21. XerophthalmiaVitamin A deficiency • Symptoms and consequences • Blindness • Night blindness • Ulcers • Increases the severity and risk of diarrhoea, measles and pneumonia. • Appropriate dietary change?

22. KwashiorkorProtein Deficiency • Symptoms and consequences • Apathy • Retention of fluid in tissues (oedema) • Muscle wasting • Fatty liver • Appropriate dietary change?

23. MarasmusProtein and Energy deficiency • Symptoms and consequences • Prominent ribs • Sunken eyes • Little or no fat • Appropriate dietary change?

24. Beri-beriThiamin (B1) Deficiency • Symptoms and consequences • Retarded growth in children • Weakness • Digestive disorders • Inflammation of nervous system

25. Goitre(Iodine Deficiency) • Symptoms and consequences • Enlargement of thyroid in neck • Deaf, mute or retarded babies if mother is sufferer • Spontaneous abortions / still births • Brain damage in infants • Appropriate dietary change?

26. PellagraNiacin (b3) deficiency • Symptoms and consequences • Dermatitis (skin problem) • Diarrhoea • dementia

27. Rickets(Vitamin D deficiency) • Symptoms and consequences • Soft bones which easily deform • Increased risk of broken bones • Dental problems • Appropriate dietary changes?

28. Scurvy(Vitamin C deficiency) • Symptoms and consequences • Poor wound healing • Sore bleeding gums • Frequent bruising • Tenderness of joints and muscles • Appropriate dietary change?

29. Water – A basic necessity • Without safe water, adequate sanitation and good hygiene, diarrhoea and dehydration can develop. • World Vision state (2009) • It [water] is a basic human right and necessary for consumption, personal hygiene, food production and sustaining the natural environment. • In 2009, 900 million people still live without access to safe water. • In 2009, 2.5 billion people still lack adequate sanitation. • Today, 1.8 million people still die every year from diarrhoeal / gastrointestinal diseases.

30. Waterborne Diseases • Typhoid • A fever, headache, abdominal pain, weakness, confusion and diarrhoea • Cholera • Watery Diarrhoea, dehydration, weakness, collapse and dysentery • ‘Globally, seven children die of diarrhoea every minute, mainly due to poor quality drinking water and malnutrition, which still affects the majority of the world population.’ (NetDoctor 1998-2011)

31. Waterborne Diseases - Prevention • Waterborne Diseases can be prevented by: • Improving the quality of water catchment control – testing, preventing contamination by faeces, fencing waterways from animals • Separating bathing and washing from drinking sources • Improving the quality of water by controlling insect and breeding grounds and infestation • Boiling drinking water – difficult to do without the required resources

32. Food and development aid • Food aid ‘is provided by richer countries to help people suffering from malnutrition.’ • Given to Governments, who don’t always make the most appropriate decisions • Upsets local customs • Provides a short term solution to provide food supplies until they can get food of their own • Development Aid ‘is when a country helps the disadvantaged to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence to bring about the changes needed. It aims to end their poverty and help groups regain control over their lives.’

33. Solutions to famine • World Vision is addressing both the short and long-term implications of hunger by: • Teaching farmers how to protect their land, prevent soil degradation, increase sustainability and productivity • Providing farmers with seeds and tools to grow crops and raise livestock • Training farmers on improved agricultural techniques such as crop rotation, drip irrigation and the planting of trees that will enrich overworked soil • Educating families on the importance of feeding their children foods that contain essential nutrients such as vitamins A and C • Helping communities protect their available food resources with new storage techniques • Supporting Food for Work projects that meet immediate food needs and facilitate community infrastructure and development activities • Helping farmers produce and market crops

34. Solutions to famine • ‘WFP delivers hundreds of thousands of tons of food each year, but, increasingly, we give hungry people cash or vouchers to buy food for themselves.’ (WFP 2012) • WFP's Food for Assets projects (also known as Food for Work) pay workers with food to start building a hunger-free future for their communities. (WFP 2012) • ‘In countries where school attendance is low, the promise of at least one nutritious meal each day boosts enrolment and promotes regular attendance. Parents are motivated to send their children to school instead of keeping them at home to work or care for siblings.’ (WFP 2012)

35. Solutions to famine ‘The GROW campaign is all about solutions for a sustainable future in which we all have enough to eat.’ (Oxfam 2012)

36. 2011 Exam question 10. ‘The United Nations has predicted the global population would reach seven billion this year and climb to 9 billion by 2050… To feed all those mouths, ‘we will need to produce as much food in the next 40 years as we have in the last 8000.’ Discuss: • How the provision of a secure water supply can lead to increased food production; • The importance of education in promoting increased food production for growing populations; • The role of a stable Government in the production of food to ensure a secure food supply • The nutritional consequences of insufficient food for the growing population (20)

37. 2011 Assessment Report • ‘Some students continue to write introductions and conclusions, which are not required for this format.’ • ‘Students are also reminded that only one question in this section should be answered, and they should write the question number on the front page of the script book in the appropriate place.’ • ‘Student responses often lacked depth, with little specific detail provided about the suggested strategy.’ • Most students were able to identify several nutritional consequences of insufficient food, but some did not follow up with sufficient detail. Some students simply listed a range of disorders, but students are reminded that a list is not a discussion. Incorrect answers included osteoporosis, diverticulitis, and death. The most successful students were able to name more than one deficiency disease, and provide details of the nutrient involved and the effects of the deficiency