Petition Tag - famine

The Australian Government decision to defer an increase of international aid to 0.5% of Gross National Income until 2016 was disappointing. In particular, a substantial increase in aid to the humanitarian food crisis in the Horn of Africa, and the unfolding crisis in Sehal, is needed.

Over 23 million, many children, are at serious risk of dying of starvation. This of priority concern to Australians that realise the situation. Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger is also the first Millennium Development Goal, which Australia has commited to, and one of the most basic of all civil rights. The Australian government has recently increased spending to over 70 million on emergency food aid in the Horn of Africa, but this pales in comparison to the dire needs for emergency food aid; it pales in comparison to our spending on other disasters, such as over a billion following the 2005 tsunami; and it pales in comparison to our commitment to less urgent regional programs (e.g. over 90 million now committed to building police capacity in the Pacific).

Masses of children starving to death, and many at risk, even on the other side of the world, is UNACCEPTABLE to 'most of us'. But most of all, it should be UNACCEPTABLE to the governments of developed nations with the resources to affect wide scale change.

Moreover, the longer this dire situation continues, the greater the likelihood that previous development gains in these areas will be lost, and future aid liabilities will increase.

Map illustrating current crisis in Eastern Africa is below (may take 1 minute to load).


View Larger Map

View petition

The Horn of Africa - Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Djibouti and Eritrea - is currently facing the worst drought it has experienced in 60 years. This has brought on extreme famine and dug the area deeper into poverty.

Violence and conflict in the countries have also led to internal turmoil, corrupting the government. Without stable governments, there is no hope for these countries to get back on their feet anytime soon.

View petition

I am deeply concerned by this famine. When 20 or 30 people die it makes a big headline, but in this recent famine, over 29,000 innocent children have died in Somalia so far and another two million children still need urgent assistance.

I believe that this tragedy is not receiving enough attention and the situation is being forgotten by people. We can't stop tsunami or earthquakes but we can prevent famine, as it is part of a human tragedy. We knew already three months before it started that this famine was coming. Now we are still required to work to prevent their death even months after the headlines have gone.

These children are like our children. The fact that they were born in another continent, doesn't mean that we shouldn't do anything about them. Adults have some choice in their life but children don't have any choice in this situation. They are the silent victims of hunger and need to be supported and have access to the basic human rights of food, health, and shelter until they get to stage that they can make their own decisions in life. It is sad that we have enough food for everyone on the planet; just the problem is that food is not shared appropriately.

View petition

People children women and men are starving to death in Somalia while we enjoy wasting food in developed countries they are human being they have the right to live with dignity and pride they first of all the right to live. we suck their resources and in exchange we give them nothing but poverty and humiliation. Stop that!!!

If only those rich Arabs who are wasting their money in financing some club without even gaining anything help your brothers first save those people from dying!

View petition

Whereas the United Nations (UN) recognizes a day of each year as Holocaust Remembrance Day, a day to reflect upon the hardships of the holocaust, let the UN also recognize a “Gael/Irish Grievance Day.” The Gael/Irish Grievance Day stands in recognition of the dehumanization and genocide of Irish populace in the years 1845 through 1850. An internationally recognized day for Irish and Irish descendants living in other countries to memorialize the atrocities inflicted upon their ancestors. A day the UN promotes to educate the facts of the famine and the grievances of the Irish. This day honored as a testimonial and acknowledgement to the grievances of the Irish.

History: Between the years 1845 and 1850, known as the “Great Famine” or “Irish Potato Famine”, over one Million Irish died from the affects of famine (malnutrition, malnutrition disease or diseases associated with blighted potato). The cause of the famine was said to be blighted potatoes; however potatoes were not the only food source in Ireland. Additionally discrimination against the Irish population was condoned and incited by those that governed in Britain. British Government controlled Ireland in its entirety until the year 1921.

Facts known today of the “Great Famine” evident its infliction on the Irish population and not of natural causation:

1. The fungus, Phytophthora Infestans, the cause of the potato blight, only affected potatoes, tomatoes and plants in the potato family;
2. Phytophthora Infestans was cause of potato blight in England and Scotland in the year 1844 (one year before it struck Ireland) and was without famine or casualty;
3. Shipping records show, between 1845 and 1850:
• (a)Daily shipments of live stock, dairy, wheat, grains and other vegetables continued to leave Ireland bound for England in 1840 – 1850, the highest export years 1844 and 1845;
• (b) The total shipments leaving Ireland amounted to enough food to sustain approximately 18 Million people for the period of time, almost twice the number of people as the census recorded population of Ireland between years 1841 and 1851;
4. Food was left behind for British use;
5. Approximately 200,000 armed Constables and British Military escorted the food from mainland Ireland to the Irish docks for shipment to England.

Evidence of British government intent to reduce the Irish population exists with an 1846 publication by Charles Edward Trevelyan, Assistant Secretary to the Treasury in London 1840 – 1859. His position placed him in direct charge of the administration of Government relief to the victims of the Irish Famine. Charles Trevelyan cited the Famine as “a mechanism for reducing surplus population”. He added “the judgment of God sent the calamity to teach the Irish a lesson, that calamity must not be too much mitigated. The real evil with which we have to contend is not the physical evil of the Famine, but the moral evil of the selfish, perverse and turbulent character of the people”. Charles Edward Trevelyan’s ideals and discriminations of Irish were realized with the Laissez-Fair policy of Lord John Russell (British Prime Minister 1846 – 1852) during the famine.

The 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the crime of Genocide Article II defines genocide as the following:

Article II.
In the present Convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group as such:
• (a) Killing members of the group;
• (b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
• (c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
• (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
• (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

It is a reasonable articulation in accordance with the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the crime of Genocide Article II; those that governed in Britain were responsible for genocide of the Irish population of 1845 – 1850. The continued exportation of food was the cause of the famine and not the blighted potatoes. The removal of the food was deliberate (evidenced by the military escorts). The removal of food created conditions of life (the famine) that brought about the destruction in part (approximately 1,500,000 of 8,000,000) of the Irish (Article II (c). Additionally, the inhumane treatment towards the Irish population by British Government surmounts to violations under the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights Articles 2, 5, 22, 23 (1) and 25 (1).

Article III
The following acts shall be punishable:
• (a) Genocide;
• (b) Conspiracy to commit genocide;
• (c) Direct and public incitement to commit genocide;
• (d) Attempt to commit genocide;
• (e) Complicity in genocide.

The UN recognizes historic events that occurred throughout the world. It creates laws and a day’s of remembrance, promotes the education on facts, and promotes building museums and monuments. Among the recognized topics, the Holocaust is taught in schools, memorialized with monuments, museums in almost every major city and a day of recognition. The UN memorializes the Genocide of European-Jewish at the hands of Nazi-Germans in Europe.

In the 50 States of the USA, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to the Jewish Virtual Library, a Division of the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise, there are approximately 6,453,880 Jews living in the USA and its territories, or approximately 2.2% of the U.S. population. According to http://www.jewfaq.org/populatn.htm, the world Jewish population is estimated between 13 – 14 Million. There are Holocaust Museums and Monuments in cities throughout the world. The events of the Holocaust are taught in schools. The Holocaust day of remembrance is recognized by the United Nations (UN) each year. A Holocaust survivors fund has been created.

In the 50 States of the United States of America (USA), Puerto Rico and the U.S. Territories, according to the 2009 U.S. Census American Community Survey, approximately 36,915,155 Americans Identify as Irish-American or Irish ancestry (12% of the U.S. population); Canada Census 2006 4,354,000 Identify as Irish-Canadian or Irish ancestry; Australia Census 2006 1,803,741 identify as Irish ancestry; England Census gives approximately 6,000,000 Irish descendants or Irish ancestry, and Irelands Central Statistics Office there are approximately 6,197,100 people living in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland; it also places approximately 70,000,000 Irish/Irish descendents living abroad.

Little has been done to recognize the conditions in Ireland that brought about its physical destruction in part (Article II (c)). There are a few monuments dedicated to the Irish famine in some countries. In the United States, particularly in the North East, Ohio and Illinois, parks and monuments have been named in honor of the famine. There is a monument in Canada, a few in cities throughout England and a few in Australia. Furthermore, there is a day in Ireland that is recognized as a famine memorial day.

View petition

Whereas the United States (U.S.) honors a United Nations (UN) recognized day of each year, Holocaust Remembrance Day, a day to reflect upon the hardships of the holocaust, let the U.S. also recognize a “Gael/Irish Grievance Day.” The Gael/Irish Grievance Day stands in recognition of the dehumanization and genocide of Irish populace in the years 1845 through 1850. A nationally recognized day for Irish descendants in the U.S. to memorialize the atrocities inflicted upon their ancestors. A day the U.S. promotes to educate the facts of the famine and the grievances of the Irish. This day honored as a testimonial to the grievances of the Irish.

History: Between the years 1845 and 1850, known as the “Great Famine” or “Irish Potato Famine”, over one Million Irish died from the affects of famine (malnutrition, malnutrition disease or diseases associated with blighted potato). The cause of the famine was said to be blighted potatoes; however potatoes were not the only food source in Ireland. Additionally discrimination against the Irish population was condoned and incited by those that governed in Britain. British Government controlled Ireland in its entirety until the year 1921.

Facts known today of the “Great Famine” evident its infliction on the Irish population and not of natural causation:
1. The fungus, Phytophthora Infestans, the cause of the potato blight, only affected potatoes, tomatoes and plants in the potato family;
2. Phytophthora Infestans was cause of potato blight in England and Scotland in the year 1844 (one year before it struck Ireland) and was without famine or casualty;
3. Shipping records show, between 1845 and 1850:
• (a)Daily shipments of live stock, dairy, wheat, grains and other vegetables continued to leave Ireland bound for England in 1840 – 1850, the highest export years 1844 and 1845;
• (b) The total shipments leaving Ireland amounted to enough food to sustain approximately 18 Million people for the period of time, almost twice the number of people as the census recorded population of Ireland between years 1841 and 1851;
4. Food was left behind for British use;
5. Approximately 200,000 armed Constables and British Military escorted the food from mainland Ireland to the Irish docks for shipment to England.

Evidence of British government intent to reduce the Irish population exists with an 1846 publication by Charles Edward Trevelyan, Assistant Secretary to the Treasury in London 1840 – 1859. His position placed him in direct charge of the administration of Government relief to the victims of the Irish Famine. Charles Trevelyan cited in his publication of the Famine as “a mechanism for reducing surplus population”. He added “the judgment of God sent the calamity to teach the Irish a lesson, that calamity must not be too much mitigated. The real evil with which we have to contend is not the physical evil of the Famine, but the moral evil of the selfish, perverse and turbulent character of the people”. Charles Edward Trevelyan’s ideals and discriminations of Irish were realized with the Laissez-Fair policy of Lord John Russell (British Prime Minister 1846 – 1852) during the famine.

The 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the crime of Genocide Article II defines genocide as the following:

Article II.
In the present Convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group as such:
• (a) Killing members of the group;
• (b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
• (c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
• (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
• (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

It is a reasonable articulation in accordance with the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the crime of Genocide Article II; those that governed in Britain were responsible for genocide of the Irish population of 1845 – 1850. The continued exportation of food was the cause of the famine and not the blighted potatoes. The removal of the food was deliberate (evidenced by the military escorts). The removal of food created conditions of life (the famine) that brought about the destruction in part (approximately 1,500,000 of 8,000,000) of the Irish (Article II (c). Additionally, the inhumane treatment towards the Irish population by British Government surmounts to violations under the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights Articles 2, 5, 22, 23 (1) and 25 (1).

Article III
The following acts shall be punishable:
• (a) Genocide;
• (b) Conspiracy to commit genocide;
• (c) Direct and public incitement to commit genocide;
• (d) Attempt to commit genocide;
• (e) Complicity in genocide.

The U.S. recognizes historic events that occurred throughout the world. It creates laws and honors day’s of remembrance, promotes the education on facts, and promotes building museums and monuments. Among the recognized topics, the Holocaust is taught in schools, memorialized with monuments, museums in almost every major city in the U.S and a day of recognition. The U.S. memorializes the genocide of European-Jewish at the hands of Nazi-Germans in Europe.

In the 50 States of the United States of America (USA), Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to the Jewish Virtual Library, a Division of the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise, there are approximately 6,453,880 Jews living in the USA and its territories, or approximately 2.2% of the U.S. population. There are Holocaust Museums and Monuments in cities throughout the U.S. and the world. The events of the Holocaust are taught in schools and state education systems have in place a lesson plan for holocaust education. The Holocaust day of remembrance created by the United Nations (UN) is observed in the U.S. each year. The U.S. has passed laws authorizing federal funds for Holocaust survivors. A commission exists including members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate on the Holocaust. A Presidential Holocaust Advisory Committee was established.

In the 50 States of the United States of America (USA), Puerto Rico and the U.S. Territories, according to the 2009 U.S. Census American Community Survey, approximately 36,915,155 Americans Identify as Irish-American/Irish ancestry (12% of the U.S. population). Little has been done to honor the grievances of the Irish population. Some monuments have been built in cities of the North East states, Ohio and Illinois. Still no recognition of the true causes of the famine of 1845 – 1850 has been taught in schools nor a day honored for the genocide of Irish populace.

Additionally, in 1997 by Britain’s Prime Minister Tony Blair made a partial acknowledgement of the wrongs bestowed the Irish population in a letter about the Great Famine. He wrote “those who governed in London at the time failed their people by standing by while a crop failure turned into massive human tragedy. We must not forget such a dreadful event.”

Irish immigrants and descendents have a long standing history in the United States. During the time of the famine, those Irish that survived the trip to the United States on coffin ships, many enlisted in the Union Army and fought in the Civil War (ie NY 69th). These same Irish-American U.S. Civil War vets returned to Ireland during uprisings to fight for its independence.

View petition

In North Korea, there is danger of thousands of people dying due to lack of food. In this case, the government of DPRK are unable to help the people as much as they wish to, due to various trade and food blockades imposed on the country.

Were the leaders of wealthy nations to supply North Korea with adequate food aid, this would save countless lives, and is thus a very valuable cause; helping innocents in need.

View petition

www.awhistleagainsthunger.org

Did you know that there are a billion people starving worldwide? Around 29,000 of children under the age of five - 21 every minute - die every day, especially due to preventable causes. More than half of these deaths are in fact, due to hunger.

It is my wish that with this message you feel motivated to help with the ‘1billionhungry.org’ project, a worldwide initiative proposed by the United Nations Organisation for Food and Agriculture (FAO), that I represent as Extraordinary Ambassador, which seeks to put together 1 billion signatures from all over the world with the aim to attract the attention of governments to act with the maximum priority with the eradication of hunger.

For this reason, we urge you to sign and promote this campaign together with fellow citizens; we would very much appreciate any collaboration you could give to promote this project among your friends, family, colleagues and acquaintances, which would help fulfil the proposed aims.

View petition

www.1silbatazocontraelhambre.org

Sabías que en el mundo hay mil millones de personas que pasan hambre? Alrededor de 29,000 niños y niñas menores de cinco años – 21 por minuto –mueren todos los días, especialmente de causas que se podrían evitar. Es precisamente el hambre, la causante de más del cincuenta por ciento de estas muertes.

Es mi deseo que este mensaje te motive para colaborar con el proyecto "www.1billionhungry.org", iniciativa propulsada por la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Agricultura y la Alimentación (FAO) a nivel mundial, de la que funjo como Embajadora Extraordinaria, con la cual se busca recaudar mil millones de firmas en todo el mundo, con el objetivo de realizar un llamado de atención a los gobiernos para que le otorguen la máxima prioridad a la erradicación del hambre.

Con este fin se requiere tu firma y el promover esta campana entre los ciudadanos, por lo que agradeceremos toda la colaboración que puedas brindarnos para que este llamado se reproduzca entre tus amigos, empleados y relacionados, y se logre el objetivo propuesto.

View petition

Raising animals for food is one of the largest sources of carbon dioxide and the single largest source of both methane and nitrous oxide emissions. Removing animal flesh from the food chain may be the only realistic, viable, manageable, enforceable, and effective government solution needed to slow global warming, and to ultimately play the largest role in stopping it.

The human race cannot run away from or escape the consequences of global warming!!

View petition

In April, 2006, The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) published a report hailing camel’s milk as a new superfood: “Prospects are bright for camel dairy products which are highly nutritious... camel milk is three times as rich in Vitamin C as cow’s milk, with high concentrations of iron, unsaturated fatty acids and B vitamins. It is currently prescribed for patients in Russia, Kazakhstan and India, while in Africa, it may be recommended for treating AIDS.”

View petition

Серйозні вчені та поважані політики більше не піднімають питання про історичний голодомор на Україні в 1932-1933 роках.

До нещастя, голодомор на Україні не визнаний Організацією Об'єднаних Націй як геноцид.

В світлі нових доказів, процитованих італійським істориком Andrea Graziosi, визнаним експертом по голодомору на Україні, - голодомор на Україні, кінець кінцем, буде визнаний як геноцид, оскільки недавно виявлена документація вказує на таке лиходійство.

Моральна відповідальність Сталіна і його режиму добровільного голодування неповинних людей не можуть бути знехтувані. Жахливі втрати життів при голодоморі були результатом кримінальної діяльності Радянського режиму.

---------------------------------------------------

Serious scholars and respectable politicians no longer challenge the historicity of the Ukrainian famine of 1932-1933.

Unfortunately, the Ukrainian famine is not recognized as genocide by the United Nations.

In the light of new evidence cited by Italian historian Andrea Graziosi, a recognized expert on the Ukrainian famine, the Ukrainian famine will eventually be recognized as genocide because recently revealed documentation points to such a crime.

The moral responsibility of Stalin and his regime for voluntarily starving millions of innocent people cannot be denied. The monstrous loss of life, the Holodomor, was the result of criminal activity by the Soviet regime.

View petition

Let us remember the Millions who the Soviets starved to death in Ukraine.

During 1932/33 the Soviet Government confiscated and exported the bulk of the grain harvested in Ukraine. The confiscation was carried out ruthlessly by special military and militia detachments brought in from Russia.

Families were left to starve. At least 7 million Ukrainians starved to death. This horror was a Soviet State secret until Ukraine declared its independence in 1991. Despite this the Government of the United Kingdom was fully aware of what had happened! The Ukrainian Government has named this tragedy - the Holodomor - to acknowledge that it represented deliberate starvation and genocide of the Ukrainian people.

The Ukrainian Government has designated 26 November as an official day of remembrance for victims of "Holodomor" - meaning murder by hunger - and other political crackdowns.

Please help us secure the UK Government's formal recognition of the Holodomor by signing this petition.

View petition

Refugees are people who are fleeing from serious danger. ie war, political persecution, famine, economic crisis or natural disasters. In the uk asylum seekers face difficulties and barriers: widespread, indiscriminate detention; poverty; poor housing; poor access to healthcare; lack of training and employment opportunities.
In housing, lower standards are applied for families seeking asylum than for other families. The vouchers refugee families receive are set at a lower value than Income Support levels and stigmatise asylum-seekers. Many children who have lost their families and seek asylum do not receive the same care that is routinely offered to other children in need. When the Government signed up to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991, they made an exception - refugee children. Asylum seekers come here because their lives and/or the wellbeing of their families and homes are in danger. They would not choose to leave there homes and families out of choice. They are the victims of war and famine and drought and poverty and they need our help. we are a country of plenty, and it is our responsibility as a civilised, developed nation and as human beings to give these people a home and a chance and treat them with compassion and respect.

View petition

Refugees are people who are fleeing from serious danger. ie war, political persecution, famine, economic crisis or natural disasters. In the UK asylum seekers face difficulties and barriers: widespread, indiscriminate detention; poverty; poor housing; poor access to healthcare; lack of training and employment opportunities. In housing, lower standards are applied for families seeking asylum than for other families.

The vouchers refugee families receive are set at a lower value than Income Support levels and stigmatise asylum-seekers. Moreover, many children who have lost their families and seek asylum do not receive the same care that is routinely offered to other children in need.

When the Government signed up to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991, they made an exception - refugee children. Asylum seekers come here because their lives and/or the wellbeing of their families and homes are in danger. They would not choose to leave there homes and families out of choice. They are the victims of war and famine and drought and poverty and they need our help. We are a country of plenty, and it is our responsibility as a civilised, developed nation and as human beings to give these people a home and a chance and treat them with compassion and respect.

View petition