There is the opportunity to support World Vision in a fundraiser and campaign to raise awareness of the GFC - The Global Food Crisis - which is affecting 1 in 6 of the world population. Funds raised will go to Nepal, and Kenya, on projects to increase reliable access to food and clean water, reduce the effects of climate change on food production, develop livelihoods through micro enterprise development and training, and investing in agricultural education and development. A hand up not a hand out.

There is currently a World Crisis caused by the rise in food prices in the Third World. This is due to the increase in demand for food and a reduction in supply. This has forced up the price of food. In the third world the poor spend on average 70% of their income on food any increase can have a dramatic effect on the families’ ability to feed itself.

Facts / reasons for the current increase in food prices.

• Climate change is reducing the production of grain, Eg. Some harvests in Australia, a major grain exporter are down 50%.
• Due to grain shortages some exporting countries have made illegal the export of grain from their country to ensure they have sufficient reducing supply for everyone else.
• After the boom of agricultural Research and Development of the 1980's which boosted food production, R&D expenditure has been low, this has led to low investment in tackling issues such as soil erosion and salinity.
• Urbanisation in countries such as China has taken people out of agriculture, reducing food production.
• The high price of oil effects production, transportation and oil based fertilizer costs.
• The use of grains to produce Bio-Fuels is reducing food supply. In the USA a quarter of all grain produced went into producing Bio-Fuels last year instead of food. This is the equivalent of feeding 330m people.
• The world's middle class is rising, this is great but it has resulted in more meat being eaten. To produce 1kg of meat produced it takes 7kg of grain.
• Due to grain shortages in the world prices have become unstable as commodity traders have taken out contracts on the price of grain resulting in profits for the traders which the world poor have to fund. 

A 40 Hour Famine is being run from the 20th - 22nd August to raise funds for World Vision. If you would like to become a part of the efforts to raise funds for the cause please contact John Edmundson, if you would like to sponsor me or take part in the fund raising yourself. I will be giving up solid food for 40hours though any other participant can give up anything they want. Eg. Technology.

There will be The Inner Northwest Brisbane 40 Hour Famine Community Challenge Celebration in

 Kulgun Park at Kelvin Grove Urban Village on Sunday the 22nd August from 12pm until 4pm to where there will be live entertainment and food to celebrate the campaign which is being organised by local churches including New Hope. All are welcome to come along.