In direct reaction to the famine, starvation, and death of over 1 million Ethiopians in 1984, scores of American musicians came together in July 1985 to record this famous video that leaped to the top of the US and UK charts. Moreover, over $100 million in funds were raised and contributed by a consortium calling themselves USA for Africa.
The price volatility of the African food crop remains highest in the world.
One week ago, I asked you to join me to fight hunger in the name of April Food Day.
I want to write about Ethiopia and how the country’s food policy is changing.
What if rural farmers could monitor global futures trading and accordingly plant their crops to achieve maximum efficiency and wealthy returns?
The Ethiopia Commodities Exchange, a market system formed in 2008 under the supervision of former World Bank economist Eleni Gabre-Madhin, aims to provide security to under-capitalized farmers.
As she explains in the below June 2007 video, it is customary for a sack of grain to be traded five or six times between the producer and the consumer, thereby increasing handling costs.
The ECX was created to change the system and create an ecosystem, wherein financial, legal, and ICT operations would co-exist with farmers, a clearinghouse, and nationwide warehouses. One element is through implementation of so-called “internet cafes” in rural areas of the country for farmers, who otherwise have no access to computers, to track price dissemination in real-time through mobile and satellite technology.
Have a listen to this fascinating 20-minute video:
In the name of April Food Day, the social change blog organizers ask you to click here to donate to Feeding America, a national food bank.
I understand if you can’t afford to donate something. In that case, add a comment below about your recollections from 1984-85 and what you remember most about the Ethiopian famine and the Live Aid phone-a-thons.
If you’re too young, maybe there’s some other international crisis involving the loss of food crops and hungry citizens that you’d like to share your memories about?
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Ari Herzog is an online media strategist and Newburyport City Councilor-Elect.
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Thanks for writing about this issue and spotlighting Feeding America. I will be donating as soon as I’m able. In the meantime, you asked,
“In that case, add a comment below about your recollections from 1984-85 and what you remember most about the Ethiopian famine and the Live Aid phone-a-thons.”
My only memory is a great example of What Not to Do if you have or work with kids: when I couldn’t finish a meal, my parents told me I should eat up because “children were starving in Africa.” Maybe they also provided some kind of age-approprate explanation of hunger and food cycles, but unfortunately all I remember is how other people’s very real suffering was used to manipulate me into polishing off my tator tots. Kids have the potential to be highly empathetic workers for human rights – help them make that connection, and give them something real to do about an issue like hunger, such as collecting food or a walk-a-thon, and you will be amazed.
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