Food for thought... and hopefully them

I was introduced to the MSNBC PhotoBlog by Hannah while I was in Peru, but I couldn't check it out much while there because the photos never loaded. Now I can, and I like to go and see what the photojournalists are picking up around the world. 

Tonight I realized that the effects of drought are quite different depending on which part of the earth you're standing on. Apparently a lot of bats are hungrier in Texas because the crops are dying, leaving the bugs to die, too. But if you live on the Horn of Africa, the drought is the worst it's been in half a century, has turned to what the U.N. has labeled famine in a couple parts of Somalia, and is forcing millions of people to be "left hungrier." 

I'm sorry about the picture. Frankly, I don't like feeling emotionally forced, and that's what these types of photos are known for. But then, let's be for real. Those kids suffer from malnutrition while ours suffer from mallnutrition.

From PhotoBlog

From PhotoBlog

At my internship this past week, I've done some research about the situation in East Africa. I still don't understand it all, but I've seen a lot of numbers, and I've heard some things from heads wiser and more experienced than mine. This morning someone explained that this food crisis (which is just one of the sad effects of the severe drought) is pretty big news in many other "donation" countries right now. For a couple days it's been eclipsed by the Norway massacre, but besides that, it's at least visible. In the States, it's coming a little slower. And for humanitarian organizations, donations are hard to come by until these types of crises hit the news big time. 

Meanwhile, people are deteriorating and losing their livelihoods. Millions of Muslims are fleeing Somalia because they simply are starving. They're heading to Christian areas in Kenya and Ethiopia--a problem waiting to happen, perhaps--and overfilling refugee camps. I read that the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya has over 380,000 people right now, and it's meant for 90,000. Crops have failed and livestock are dying all around the Horn of Africa (Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia are the worst, but there are several others affected).

I relate with Eeyore sometimes, and being sad is something I think I'm better at than being happy. So I live in a great period of history. Radical Christian terrorists in Oslo, train wrecks in China, mudslides in South Korea, wars in Northern Africa, heat waves in the States, too much snow in Chile, etc. etc.

etc.

World Vision, the World Food Program, and ADRA are the three organizations I'll mention here. I've skipped several meals this week, mostly because I'm easily depressed, but in the end I find it's a nice way to relate a little bit with what's reality for a lot of people, and know that I saved money that I can use for someone else's food. Maybe lame, but I feel pretty good about it, which is saying something.

Feel pressured to do the similar. I'm sure Starbucks will be fine without you, your "old" pants are still fine, and Captain America will still be viewed regardless. Yes, I'm one to talk...

I'm done. 

_______________________

Edit:  Wait, no I'm not.  I realized I only—albeit mostly offhandedly and unintentionally—"guilted" rather than encourage awareness and education, promote a change in lifestyle, or preach about counting blessings.  I should have done more of that.  I struggle with justifying happiness for myself when I don't feel I deserve it, but that doesn't mean I need to drag others down with me.  Everyone I know is doing plenty of good things (for example).  And there are kids to take care of, educations to pay for, birthday gifts to buy, meals to eat, trips to take, nakedness to cover, hobbies to pursue, and so much more.  So keep it up.  It's not like skipping a run to Taco Bell today means a burrito transfers to little Julia's stomach in Kenya.  (Wouldn't that be cool, though?)  And don't forget to pray.  I suppose that doesn't transfer burritos, either.  But it did feed 5,000 hungry people once for a guy who knew the person he was talking to.  Just sayin'.  Okay, now I'm done.