100 major charities launch joint campaign to end the hunger trap

Almost a billion young people will be permanently trapped in poverty by 2025 because of the damage done to them by hunger and malnutrition when they were children, according to a major new campaign launched recently. The “IF” campaign marks the biggest coming-together of the UK’s major development agencies and faith groups since Make Poverty History in 2005, with more than 100 organisations taking part, and support from philanthropist Bill Gates, and Desmond Tutu.

A report released by the ‘IF’ campaign warns of the human and economic cost of hunger in a world where there is enough food to feed everyone. As well as the 937 million young people whose life chances will be permanently damaged by the impact of childhood hunger by 2025, the report estimates that malnutrition will be costing developing countries an annual £78 billion in lost economic output by 2030.

The campaign, which was formally launched in cities around the UK including Belfast and Derry, calls on David Cameron to use the UK’s G8 presidency in 2013 to take action on the root causes of the hunger crisis in the poorest countries. It argues that there is enough food for everyone:

·           IF we give enough aid to stop children dying from hunger, and help the poorest people feed themselves through investment in small farmers.

·           IF we stop big companies dodging taxes on the profits they make overseas, so that the poorest countries have the resources and infrastructure to free themselves of hunger.

·           IF we stop poor farmers being forced off their land, and use the available agricultural land to grow food for people, not to grow biofuels for cars.

·           IF we force governments and big corporations to be honest and open about the actions they take that stop people getting enough food.We want our leaders to act on the four big issues that stop everyone getting enough food.

Taking action on the evasion of corporation tax by multinational companies alone would enable developing countries to raise enough revenue every day to save the lives of 230 children under 5 currently dying because of malnutrition.

Comedian and actor Eddie Izzard was born in Yemen before living and going to school in Northern Ireland, where the G8 Summit will be held in June.

Speaking of his support for Enough Food for Everyone IF, Eddie Izzard said:

“If I hadn’t been born in Yemen maybe I wouldn’t be so interested in international politics. Maybe I wouldn’t realise how British politics affect whether children live or die abroad. IF is a tiny, but powerful word. IF is about hope. IF is about believing in the power that every person has to help transform the world. We can make 2013 the beginning of the end for the global hunger crisis. IF we all get together, we can make world leaders change the future by tackling the root causes of hunger. Please join us at www.enoughfoodif.org”

Other high profile supporters including actors Bill Nighy, Keeley Hawes and Bonnie Wright, musician Baaba Maal, athletes Denise Lewis and Colin Jackson, and rugby legend Matt Dawson.

Desmond Tutu supports Enough Food for Everyone IF and said:

“Hunger is not an incurable disease or an unavoidable tragedy. We can make sure no child goes to bed hungry. We can stop mothers from starving themselves to feed their families. We can save lives. We can do all of this, IF we are prepared to do something about it. IF we challenge our leaders to take action. IF they listen to us. It’s time the world’s decision-makers came to the right decision on hunger. It’s time to end the unnecessary suffering caused by the failure of the current food system. We can make hunger a thing of the past IF we act now.”

Launch events took place at Queen’s University, Belfast and Ebrington Square, Derry and were attended by campaign supporters and representatives of ‘IF’ coalition members in Northern Ireland. A tour of a large inflatable ‘IF’ also took take place in towns right across Northern Ireland.

Member agencies include Beyond Skin, Christian Aid, CADA (Coalition of Aid and Development Agencies NI), Concern Worldwide (UK), Disability Aid Abroad, Fields of Life, Global Education Network NI (GENNI), NUS, Oxfam Ireland, Save the Children, SERVE, Tearfund, Trócaire and War on Want NI.

If enough people show they care, world leaders will have to act. Join us at www.enoughfoodif.org

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For media enquiries and a copy of the report please contact one of the following press officers:

Phillip Graham                            Adrian Horsman                David O’Hare

Oxfam Ireland                            Christian Aid                     Trócaire

Tel: 028 9089 5959                    028 90648133                  028 90808030

Mobile: 07841 102535                07710764093                            07900053884

About Enough Food for Everyone IF:

Enough Food for Everyone IF is a coalition of 100 organisations and counting which have joined together to campaign the G8 on the issue of global hunger. The last time we worked together at this scale was for Make Poverty History. Now that the G8 group of world leaders are returning to the UK, we are demanding they take action on hunger. 2013 won’t be the end of hunger, but it could be the beginning of the end. Join us at www.enoughfoodif.org

For current Members of Enough Food for Everyone IF, visit www.bond.org.uk