FOOD AND ENERGY CRISIS:
CHALLENGES TO FIGHTING POVERTY AND PROTECTING THE EARTH

11 JULY 2008

We, members of the World Council of Religions for Peace, convened on the occasion of the Summit of the G8 heads of state in Japan, have endorsed a statement calling on the G8 Summit to address major challenges that confront our human family. 

As religious leaders, we are particularly seized by the current food crisis. We are painfully aware that this food crisis has the greatest impact on the poorest and most vulnerable groups. Each of our religions recognizes in its own way the inviolable dignity of every person. Our religions compel us to work in solidarity with those who are suffering from the absence of food. 

We note that excess food consumption amounted to US$20 billion and the food wasted in a single country costs as much as US$100 billion. US$30 billion is needed to address the current global food crisis affecting 862 million hungry people. The world can afford to feed its people, and it is morally imperative that we take action to do so.  

Food security is, we firmly believe, fundamental to fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals. 

In addition, we note the many links between energy and food shortages. The diversion of food into bio fuels has profoundly contributed to current food shortages.  In addition, rising energy costs have placed food staples beyond the reach of the poor. 

Therefore, we call on governments, intergovernmental bodies and the corporate world to urgently take action to solve the food crisis.

In light of the urgency for action, Religions for Peace calls for:

•    Immediate contributions to cover the needed US$30 billion to provide food to the 862 million people in the world currently without adequate access to food.
•    Reconsideration of agricultural subsidies in the rich countries to avoid dumping of food that undercuts the efforts of the farmers in emerging food production areas
•    Urgent partnerships to develop innovative methods of increasing food production in poor countries that are sustainable built on local conditions and maintain bio-diversity.
•    Increased production of cleaner bio-fuel that is not in conflict with food production to help energy self sufficiency and employment in poor countries
•    Measures to reduce the excessive wastage of food in rich countries.

Every man, women and child needs food.  Our religions call us to unite in working to meet the urgent food crisis.  Let us also build together the sustainable systems each community needs for food security.