I am not belittling the hunger we have
do have in this country. Hunger can affect 1 in 6 of
us(1),
but Americans are the world's largest consumers(2)
We are 5% of the world's population and consume more than 20% of the
world's resources. Setting aside that untenable imbalance, to still
have people who are hungry in this country is a moral outrage. Sadly,
to most Americans, the problem is the opposite of hunger.
Most Americans barely feel the
sensation of hunger. We eat so much, so often, that it is amazing we
still have a word for 'hunger.' At the first twinge of hunger –
more an emotion than a physical sensation – Americans simply reach
for something, anything, to stuff into their mouths. The ubiquity of
food, mostly bad, fast food, makes it nearly impossible for most of
us to experience actual hunger. Diabetes, heart disease and cancer
are simply the logical result of the way we live and eat.
The leading causes of death for
Americans are below. At least half of the top ten are diseases of
affluence. We are killing ourselves with lifestyle choices. The rest
of the world strives to live like us, to be as successful as we are.
What a cruel joke we're playing. Not only is it unsustainable for 5%
of the population to consume 20+% of the resources, it is unhealthy
too. The U.S. is not a shining city on the hill, it's actually a
brand new nursing facility up there for treating our diabetes, heart
disease and cancer. We are killing ourselves, convinced we're happy,
while the emaciated faces of the developing world watch.
When I started to change my diet in the
last month or so, there were times before I got used to the new
routine that I felt hungry. No pain or serious hunger, but a pull.
Though it felt like an outside force, it was all me. Suddenly I had
only thoughts of food, any food, that I could stuff in my face.
Luckily, I had new rules. I couldn't eat just anything. That is when
I decided that feeling hungry was a good thing. I am not starving.
Never in my life have I been skinny or even looked hungry. I decided
to be proud of feeling hungry. I was managing to consume less of the
world's precious resources all while making myself a bit healthier.
There were nights I counted the fast
food franchises as I drove home from work, fighting the steering
wheel to keep from turning in. My stomach was growling, nagging at
me, but I drove on. There is nearly nothing I can eat at a fast food
joint anymore anyhow. Once I got home, I had to keep myself from
emptying the pantry. It is possible to eat too much even of the good
stuff. Nevertheless, not only was I proud of the new way I was
eating, I was proud to feel a little hungry. It wasn't, however, real
hunger.
Americans eat almost twice the protein
they need. Not only do we eat way more food than we need, Americans
throw out 200,000 tons of edible food EVERY DAY.(3) It
is in our interest to change our consumption habits. This is not a
political statement. It is, first and foremost, about our health.
But secondly, if the developing world catches up to our level of
mindless consumption how are we going to get to 500% of the
resources. Of course, we can only ever have 100% of the planetary
resource pie to go around. Nevertheless, when the other 95% of the
world starts getting their 20%, we will need the 500%. That's several
more planets than we have. How's that going to work?
So far, I have left alone the entire
fairness argument. Is it fair, just because we managed be one of the
first to the first world, that we have so much while others do not.
Can you blame some in the third world who view us with disdain?
Historically, Americans are great champions of fairness. How did we
miss this one? Could we ever reach the point where we are willing to
decrease our lifestyle in order to spread the wealth, and the
peace(!) around the world? Imagine if we helped countries develop and
compete economically rather than dropping bombs on them. Would we
have less enemies in the Middle East? Undoubtedly.
30,000 people died from hunger in the
world today. 30,000 more will die tomorrow. We Americans will never
know the dizziness of real hunger. We won't know the distended
bellies, nor the long term health problems if we manage to survive.
Most of us will never know the ache of going to bed hungry, not
knowing when or where the next meal is likely to come. One simple way
to change our attitudes, and effect some change, is to be proud of
our stomachs growling. Rather than the plaintive howl of the hungry
ghost, sing the song of borborygmi. Go a little longer between snacks. Don't immediately reach for something, but get a little hungry. Drive passed the
franchises, get all the way home and cook something healthy – from
scratch. Be proud to reduce your consumption just a little. Be that
much healthier. Leave some for the rest of the world.
Number of deaths for leading causes of death, U.S.
- Heart disease: 599,413
- Cancer: 567,628
- Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 137,353
- Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 128,842
- Accidents (unintentional injuries): 118,021
- Alzheimer's disease: 79,003
- Diabetes: 68,705
- Influenza and Pneumonia: 53,692
- Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis: 48,935
- Intentional self-harm (suicide): 36,909
link}http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/lcod.htm(4)
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Image lifted from here.
