The New Famine. Debate of causes of hunger in the third world today.

Essay by pilariCollege, UndergraduateA-, April 2007

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Over 750 million people are starving in the world today. Understanding what causes hunger and starvation on such a massive scale is vital not only to the welfare of the disadvantaged, but survival as people on this planet. Consensus varies as to why or how a population can go hungry, and how to remedy the situation. There is disagreement on how to deal with famine originating from basic differences in fundamental concepts (or assumptions) of the way the world “is” or is expected to be in the future. The many speculations of specific causes can be boiled down into three concepts that underlie the solutions or conclusions to the problem. They are: man vs. his environment, environment vs. man, and man vs. man. The purpose here is to identify and compare these concepts within the causes of hunger and evidence discussed, and to find the best solution in preventing hunger.

The final debate lies in how to direct a plan of action. Some choose to focus on prevention—environmental reform, birth control; other’s to combat social issues at hand—corruption, bad policy, and warring nations. Through this discussion of famine and from the evidence supporting the concepts within, the most relevant solution will be clear.

Famine is a condition of starvation from lack of proper nutrition that affects large numbers of impoverished people from underdeveloped or third-world countries—or any place not considered a “superpower”. Conditions are bleak within this environment and poverty also prevails. Either the economies have failed for various reasons, or the wealth is unevenly distributed. Most of the workforce is displaced; unable to produce a viable income from lack of resources, or they cannot compete in local or global markets. Some participate in local industry but do not make enough money to sustain themselves .

In some but not...