Feeding the people is concentrating the minds of many; it is a problem today in the undeveloped world and, if we do not take steps immediately, it will be a problem in the future for the whole world, Western society included.
The main issues in the third world are conflict and civil war, despotic governments, drought and flood, all of which lead to famine and all ensure that those least able to help themselves are the ones who suffer the most the sick, the elderly, the incapacitated and the very young.
The distribution of vital food supplies in areas hit by drought and famine is very often delayed by the leadership who, in many cases, siphon off the goods to sell to those for whom it is freely intended or to store to feed themselves or their loyal staff, including their military personnel. This is one of the ways in which the most tyrannical of leaders can guarantee undying support from those who do his dirty work. It has been reported from inside secretive North Korea that rice and other foodstuffs donated by the Western world are found being sold in the street markets at exorbitant prices; this has actually been captured on hidden camera, while the very vulnerable have been witnessed eating grass and tree bark. The leadership denies this but, of course, it is impossible to verify it one way or the other if access to Western reporters is denied.
We have severe problems right now since the devastating Cyclone Nargis tore through the hearts, lives and souls of Burma; vital aid is standing around when it could, as I type, be saving lives.
I think one of the most important issues we in the West should address is the fact that so many societies shut themselves off from the outside world. Feeding their people now and in the future is always going to be next to impossible unless we work towards a radical solution. The leaders of these nations really do not care about their own people and we should try and educate them, make them realise that their countries could be prosperous and healthy if they were to nurture those who would willingly work towards that prosperity and health, as long as they earned enough to be able to keep their families alive and thriving.
We could help by stopping the sale of arms to dictatorship regimes, therefore, eventually, removing most of their power and leading to a fairer distribution of that power. This would help prevent the many civil wars that erupt, further compounding food shortages. I don't think we can impose our democratic system through force; this has been tried and has failed catastrophically in Iraq, as we see and hear every day, but,surely, we can at least try and educate, and denying the leaders the arms and weapons they always seem to have the money for, would be a start.
In countries hit by flood and drought, there is such a lot we can do, from donating cash, to be used by genuine aid agencies on the front line of these areas to ensure that it will go where it's needed, to supplying water purification units, wells and bore holes, along with the training and maintenance tools needed to guarantee continuing supplies of clean drinking water and water for growing crops; to providing tools, agricultural equipment and even the very seeds needed to plant reliable crops. Too many of those living in these areas try to scratch the simplest of livings from very unforgiving terrain; here in the West we have the technology, the expertise and the wherewithal to make a difference and to empower them to help themselves.
We need to bear in mind that, if we could achieve all that I have set out here, we still have to counsel the needy; they are fearful and suspicious and will remain so for a long time. After all, they have been able to trust and rely on no-one but themselves for all their lives. The effort that would be needed would mean hard work, heartache, soul searching, physical labour, the nightmare of the administrative and logistical requirements, and lots and lots of money. The money does exist; we always respond magnificently when natural disaster hits our fellow man, and the governments of the world have more than enough to spare after all, they can always find the money needed to start and maintain wars. There is an army of willing, kindly and compassionate people ready, at a moment's notice, to go into stricken areas and just do what they can to help. They ask for no reward, they do it because they want to. If we could tackle all these concerns and problems with fortitude, empathy, resilience and, of course, cash, we could alleviate the predicted shortage of food that looms on the horizon, and the world would be the wonderful place it should be with food and clean drinking water for all. After all, we all need these simple basics of life and we are all equally entitled to them.