March 29, 2012

Today in class we started talking about food security. We talked about what food security was and how it affects those in our world today, especially those that we would have never thought about....

Who do you think of when you think of people who are food insecure? Would you think about your next door neighbor or a co-worker?

Your answer would be probably not... Most people when they picture people who are food insecure think about unemployed individuals and those that are not trying to help themselves. But in fact many people around us are food insecure. I would have never thought that people who have full-time jobs would be food insecure. It is scary to think about all those individuals that have to go to food banks and soup kitchens to get a meal because they can not afford food for every meal. In the news they are saying how unemployment is decreasing but in fact it has not really decreased. The rate of unemployment is affecting millions of Americans. It is hard for me to believe how so many Americans are food insecure and can not afford to eat at every meal when you look on the television or read a magazine you see all of the celebrities that are making millions of dollars for just a show or movie. How can some people in the country be making so much money they don't even know what to do with it while others are struggling to even eat. Our societies perceptions of things are greatly skewed. I know that some celebrities do help out and donate to organizations around the world but what about our country? Some people are more worried about feeding children and individuals in other countries when there are so many people going hungry right here at home. If Americans just spent some of that money that they spend to have all the newest technologies or upgrading to get a larger home and gave some of that money to help others in need. Those people in need just need a little bit of money to feed themselves...that is all. It is shocking how peoples perspectives are now a days. People are worried more about having "things" instead of worrying about the more important things in life. Everyone always wants to have more than the person next to them. Or "things" really more important than saving lives or people being able to eat?

Food insecurity should not be as widespread in this nation like it is....

Educating individuals may be the best way to help decrease food insecurities. By educating people we can make them more aware and we can teach people ways to help decrease their food costs. Some of these ways are things that we used to all do long ago....Gardening :)