Our World

Draught in Eastern Africa

There has been a major draught in Kenya that has left millions - 2.3 to be exact- in need of the bare necesities of life. This is the fifth season in a row that the crops have failed because of little or no rain. The people of Kenya largely depend on their agriculture to survive. The malnutrition rates have gone up significantly- from 18-30% in children under the age of five. About 15% of these are considered emergency. That's just in Kenya. The drought rages across eastern Africa and affects Ethiopia, Djibouti, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. This drought is not only causing famine and agriculture problems, it will hurt Africa's economy at huge rates. Power plants are cutting back and the dams are at their lowest levels ever. We have just finished learning about how the world has enough food for everyone, and all we need to do it distribute it more effectively. We can't let some countries suffer and die while we struggle with obesity. We are so rich and have more than what we need. Many people live on a dollar or less a day and we complain that we don't make enough per hour. To add insult to injury, we hesitate and make excuses when our counrty tries to help another. All we can think of is ourselves. How many times in a day do we think about what is best for ourselves, what we like the most, and how we can improve our own lives. What if, sometimes, we thought of someone else? There are so many people in need of help and we have the opportunities and resources to do it. As Leo Tolstoy said, "everyone thinks of changing the world but no one thinks of changing himself." If we don't step out and help the people in need, who will?

posted by Anonymous @ 2/11/2006 04:42:00 PM