A chara, - "When a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, itconcentrates his mind wonderfully," Dr Samuel Johnson remarked. Arealisation that you are about to face death by starvation must alsowonderfully concentrate your mind. But for those of us not facing thisprospect, it appears that it does not similarly concentrate our minds.
It is an excellent proposal that the Earth Summit in Johannesburgreduce the number of people in extreme poverty by 50 per cent by theyear 2015. It would be far more commendable to do so now, and to do soby 100 per cent in relation to the immediate need for food. To providefood for the 11 million or so imminently facing famine in SouthernAfrica is indeed a major challenge. The long-term solution also needsto be found. Which comes first?
Is sufficient food available for this in the world today? Yes. Do wehave the means to get the food where it is needed? Yes. Is anythingbeing done? Apparently. Is enough being done? No. Would it cost a lot?Yes. Is it difficult to do enough? Yes.
Am I being simplistic? Quite likely; but how else can one respond inthe face of imminent starvation? Why do we not deal with the immediatesituation? The only explanation I can give is a lack of political will:we just don't want to.
On a human, and, for me, a Christian level, we don't care enough.There are many aid agencies doing a lot. It seems that the resourcesmade available to them are a drop in the bucket. As an individual, Ican add my own minuscule drop.
Since it appears that our political institutions worldwide have notfound it within themselves to take the necessary steps, I ask myself,as a Christian: Is there no way that all our Christian churches, inthis country and worldwide, can get together to act? Now? What can I doto bring it about? I have no idea.
Thank you for allowing this space for me to express my frustration. - Yours, etc.,
PÁDRAIG McCARTHY,
The Presbytery,
Avoca,
Co Wicklow.