Option Topic: Global Hunger

OPTION TOPIC: GLOBAL HUNGER

OVERVIEW1. 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?

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

TIPS FOR THE EXTENDED RESPONSE

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.

Source: World Hunger Education Service 2012

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 2010 p172 )

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.’ (Unicef n.d.)

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.’

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

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)

CAUSES OF FAMINE

WHICH OF THE ABOVE FACTORS ARE CONCERNED WITH:Environment Social structure Education

Politics Economics

GovernmentFAMINE

Natural disasters

Drought

Fuel

InfestationPoor soil quality

Lack of water (and quality)Agricultural practices

EconomicsEducation

Social structure

THE

HUNG

ER C

YCLE

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

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)

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

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.

‘Fairtrade is 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)

‘Fairtrade addresses 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)

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

ANAEMIAIRON, FOLATE OR B12 DEFICIENCY

Symptoms and consequences• Tiredness• Paleness• Loss of appetite • Premature births if severe

sufferer

Appropriate dietary change?

XEROPHTHALMIAVITAMIN A DEFICIENCY

Symptoms and consequences•Blindness•Night blindness•Ulcers•Increases the severity and risk of diarrhoea, measles and pneumonia.

Appropriate dietary change?

KWASHIORKORPROTEIN DEFICIENCY

Symptoms and consequences• Apathy• Retention of fluid in tissues

(oedema)• Muscle wasting• Fatty liver

Appropriate dietary change?

MARASMUSPROTEIN AND ENERGY DEFICIENCY

Symptoms and consequences•Prominent ribs•Sunken eyes•Little or no fat

Appropriate dietary change?

BERI-BERITHIAMIN (B1) DEFICIENCY

Symptoms and consequences•Retarded growth in children•Weakness•Digestive disorders•Inflammation of nervous system

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?

PELLAGRANIACIN (B3) DEFICIENCY

Symptoms and consequences•Dermatitis (skin problem)•Diarrhoea•dementia

RICKETS(VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY)

Symptoms and consequences• Soft bones which easily deform• Increased risk of broken bones• Dental problems

Appropriate dietary changes?

Symptoms and consequences•Poor wound healing•Sore bleeding gums•Frequent bruising•Tenderness of joints and muscles

Appropriate dietary change?

SCURVY(VITAMIN C DEFICIENCY)

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.

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)

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

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.’

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

SOLUTIONS TO FAMINE

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)

SOLUTIONS TO FAMINE

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

2011 EXAM QUESTION10. ‘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)

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