World Hunger and Healthy Food

The Superman comic, “Peace on Earth” reminds us that not one man or system (even a superman) can solve the problem of hunger all over the world. Like Superman realizes, there are many complexities involved in feeding those that are in need like politics, tyrant leaders, culture, safety, and distribution. Before he sets off on his mission he believes that there is in fact enough food to feed the world and that lack of distribution capabilities is the problem. However, we learn that distribution is actually both the problem and the solution. The problem lies in the fact that unhealthy junk food and grain-based foods are solely being distributed in excess especially in vulnerable communities. Not only is junk food most accessible in food swamps and deserts but grain and other processed foods are usually what is given as food “aid” to these areas as well as communities overseas. In fact, the food Superman was hauling around the globe to feed communities was grain.

Though the act is noble, distributing grain can further exacerbate the problem as grain not only has very little or no nutritional value but can actually cause harm if eaten in excess. If someone that is battling hunger/famine only has grain-based foods to eat alone, I would say that it is probably being eaten in excess. The harm this can bring to our bodies manifests in lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, Alzheimer’s, and struggles with fertility and inflammation. Inflammation can cause or worsen other health concerns such as asthma/allergies, arthritis, joint pain, cancer (colon, breast, and lung), ulcerative colitis, eye disorders, skin disorders, and gingivitis. Just like Superman realizes at the end of the comic, we are doing more harm than good when distributing this type of food. I believe that access to healthy food is a basic human right and that includes foods that provide nutritional value needed to function at our highest capacity and live long prosperous lives.

Food scarcity and insecurity should not be such a difficult task as caloric restriction can actually increase one’s lifespan. The key would be to eat less grain and high-calorie foods and a solid amount of nutritious foods that provide all the vitamins and minerals we need to survive and thrive. Unfortunately, nutritious foods do not increase profits as highly addictive ones do. Again, capitalism and financial profits take priority in politics and society. Nutritious foods are only more expensive to produce now because we have destroyed forests and degraded soil to produce grains such as wheat, corn, and rice. Perhaps due to chemicals and engineering to increase yields, there is sometimes a surplus of wheat that drives prices and profits down. When this happens, farmers are forced to give away the excess as “aid”, destroy it, or restrict production moving forward. These are the root causes of food scarcity, not the neo-liberal, Malthus ideology that population growth is simply exceeding food production capabilities.

In the “Peace on Earth” comic, Superman says that it is not his “place to dictate policy for humankind…” and that perhaps the sight of him “fighting hunger on a global scale will inspire others to take action in their own ways”. Maybe it is not his place as he is an alien to our planet, but for creatures and citizens of this Earth I do believe it is our duty to dictate policy for humankind. As he says, we can each take action in our own ways, find our place in the movement. Get involved in local, state, national, and international politics is one way, but there are many others like designing food systems for corporations that can truly nourish populations and still make a profit, or as Clark Kent does himself at the end of the story, educate the youth or anyone how to properly grow their own food. The old saying referenced in the comic says, “give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime”. Though in today’s world there are many complexities to solving world hunger, sharing/reaching out to those in need and inspiring others to do the same is as crucial as ever. This can be giving physical food or items but it more effectively means empowering, educating, sharing our knowledge and our time with others.

I think about the issue of food insecurity in my own community of South Florida and all the different organizations and people doing what they can to help fill the bellies of the hungry. Organizations like food pantries, soup kitchens, or churches still mostly provide grain-based foods, or non-perishable processed foods. However, I also see community gardens like the Green Haven Project providing free organic produce, knowledge and a safe space to people of all ages in Overtown, Miami (a food swamp). Most farmers markets in this area also provide affordable organic produce and healthy foods as well as offer to double the value of EBT funds. Additionally, I have noticed that sliding scale CSA programs have helped provide nutritious foods to those in need. Through discussion with those involved in these types of organizations I have realized that individuals dealing with food insecurity would rather be empowered through knowledge or financial opportunities to choose the healthier food options by growing themselves or paying themselves rather than be given whatever is leftover or whatever other people or organizations choose for them.

Lastly, to bring in the role of the FEW nexus in solving hunger, food scarcity is also directly related to water scarcity and extremely dependent on use of energy. According to the Asian Development Bank, water for food production accounts for 70% of water withdrawals. Thus, good and proper water governance is essential to food security. Additionally, the Asian Development Bank also mentions that globally, 80% of water for agriculture comes directly from rain, and 20% from irrigation. Though this may sound like a good thing, our use of non-renewable resources for energy, and creation of waste amongst other things have increasingly caused drought (due to climate change), and leave us with little hope that rain will do the heavy lifting of watering our crops. Improper use and/or creation of energy and water for monocropping for example only creates more scarcity. Understanding that proper food, water, and energy systems can provide enough nutritious food for our growing population will also help us conserve energy, water, and soil for continuous abundance.

References:

Dini, P., & Ross, A. (1998). Peace on Earth. readcomiconline.com. DC Comics New York. Retrieved November 8, 2021, from https://readcomiconline.li/Comic/Superman-Peace-on-Earth/Full?id=47578#1.

Asian Development Bank, (2013). Thinking about water differently: Managing the water-food-energy nexus. Metro Manila. Retrieved November 8, 2021, from https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/30409/thinking-about-water-differently.pdf.

Culhane, T.H. (2019). Module 7 Pt 1 (Edited). Retrieved November 8, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3U5lbyof_o&t=1s.

Culhane, T.H. (2019). Module F4 7 Superman Pt 2 Edited. Retrieved November 8, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEeThdCI1Z4.