Coalition Goes on Hunger Fast to Protest Budget Cuts
04/04/2011
A large coalition of Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and other advocacy organizations have announced a broad based movement of fasting, prayer and advocacy, provoked by budget cuts proposed by Congress that would disproportionately hurt those living in poverty.
On March 27th, Ambassador Tony Hall, Jim Wallis, president and CEO of Sojourners, Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World and Ritu Sharma, president of Women Thrive Worldwide--announced the beginning of their own fasts. They challenged people of faith and conscience to join them, pledging to put pressure on Congress to form a "circle of protection" around programs benefitting poor and hungry people.
"Seven in ten of the world's hungry are women, who are also responsible for ensuring that their families are fed," said Ritu Sharma, "As someone who has tried to live on a dollar a day myself in some of the world's poorest areas, I have experienced a little of what they struggle with every day. It is essential for our lawmakers not to slash budgets that invest in the sustainability of global food supplies when food prices and hunger are both at all-time highs."
Hunger and poverty are, at their core, women's issues. Women and girls make up a little over half of the world population, but they account for over 60 percent of the worlds hungry. Cuts to international assistance programs affect these women and children, in tangible and long lasting ways.