Sunday, November 23, 2014

Pope Opposes Food Speculation | News | teleSUR

By TeleSUR

The Pontiff criticized the global economic system and made reference to the importance of a fair distribution of the world’s food supply.

Pope Francis, at the Second International Conference on Nutrition taking place in Rome, Italy, condemned Thursday food speculation and corporate greed as mechanisms which undermine the global struggle against poverty and hunger.

During his speech, the Pope urged the wealthy countries to share with the disadvantaged nations, while criticizing the squandering, consumption and unequal distribution of the world’s wealth.

"It is also painful to see the struggle against hunger and malnutrition hindered by 'market priorities,' the 'primacy of profit', which reduce foodstuffs to a commodity like any other, subject to speculation and financial speculation in particular," the Pope said.

"The hungry remain at the street corner... and ask for a healthy diet. We ask for dignity, not for charity," he said. At the same time, he condemned the “paradox of abundance,” where there is plenty of food for everyone, but not everyone can eat.

Leaders and representatives of more than 190 countries and international organizations have been meeting since yesterday in Rome at the conference organized by the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization.

The FAO stated that the conference proposed by the World Health Organization seeks to respond to current “nutritional challenges” and to identify priorities for improving international cooperation concerning nutrition.

According to the FAO’s data, around 2 billion people, a third of the world’s population, lack sufficient nutrition, and are deficient in vitamin A, salt, iodine, iron and zinc. Nearly 161 million children exhibit delays in their growth due to lack of nutrition.

Pope Opposes Food Speculation | News | teleSUR