Dear brothers and sisters in the love of God,

Since 1993 the Catholic Church in Korea has officially provided overseas aid and observed annually the last Sunday of January as the Overseas Aid Sunday to participate in the effort to find a solution for the poverty of many people.

 

 

 

Natural disasters, climate change, regional conflicts, unfair trade regulations, worsening agricultural production shortages, and higher food prices are all aggravating factors of the worldwide food crisis. According to the report of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, food prices rose by 54% in 2007 and, as a result, 37 countries have had to face severe food shortages and more than 3 billion people of the world will experience a food crisis in the future.

 

According to the report of the World Bank, 100 million people have been newly reduced to poverty and live on less than 2 dollars a day. Of this 100 million, 35 million are still in their childhood. Ten million children are under the age of 5, and 35% of them are dying because of malnutrition. The report described the spread of the food crisis over the world as a "silent Tsunami crossing all borders."

 

 

 

In recent years, climate change, bio-fuel production, oil price hikes, and population growth have made the supplying of food more difficult. Furthermore, unfair trade practices have made many farmers more dependent on the world market and have encroached upon the agricultural sector of poorer countries. World food production has increased more than double in the last 40 years. This number surpasses the population growth rate for the same period. It means that we are now producing more than enough food to nourish the whole population of the world. What, then, is the cause of the food crisis? Why are so many people still starving?

 

Food shortage is not the cause of starvation. The problem is the inappropriate and unjust distribution of food in spite of ever increasing productivity. The food crisis ultimately is a matter of distribution, i.e. a matter of distributive justice.

 

 

 

The global food crisis is a matter of survival for the needy. Many people are now threatened with starvation. They are "the poorest of the poor." Being confident that we can eliminate starvation means being convinced of the possibility of a true change. We can contribute to the elimination or reduction of starvation in many ways. However, we have to first recognize the fact that there is a mysterious power in us, urging us to give ourselves to our neighbours with all our hearts, before we take necessary measures against starvation. Then we have to have a conviction that the lives of our neighbours and our own lives are inter-connected. Besides, the spirit of community is also required to promote mutual help and co-existence.

 

Most of all, we have to eliminate the causes of the prevalent misery and poverty, starvation and destitution, even if much money and resources are spent for the development of new weapons. Extreme economic inequality, resulting from a desire for dominance, contempt for human beings, mistrust, and selfish desire, should be promptly eliminated. We have to be concerned about various requests from many regions of the world where people are suffering from poverty and destitution, including demands for food, health care, education and employment. We also have to be concerned about the rescue of an ever increasing number of refugees, migrants and their family members.

 

Furthermore, many people of the world are still suffering from extreme poverty. Such a dire situation, where many people are still deprived of the basic necessities of life, tormented with hunger, disease, and every kind of misery, should be immediately overcome (Cf. Gaudium et spes, n. 88). We should give not only out of our abundance, but also out of our necessities.

 

Remembering what Jesus told us, "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (Jn 13,34-35), and listening to the words of God, "In time of trouble remain true to your friends" (Sir 22,23), we as Christians should give our word that we will take the initiative in serving and loving our neighbours who are suffering from all kinds of poverty and will provide hope for them through our words and deeds.

 

I pray that God may bless you in abundance on your way to hope and love. I will remember and give thanks to the many faithful who contribute to the special collection for Overseas Aid Sunday and to the many supporters who make donations.