Poverty & Hunger

I had coffee and ice cream,
walked into the street,
and met a boy with a dream,
with no shoes on his feet,
with no self esteem,
and no shoes on his feet.

What can I do,
for this child on the street,
who is created by You,
and dreams of shoes on his feet?
(Adapted from "Dreaming of Shoes" by Richard Becher)


To a poor person, the Sacred dares not appear, except in the form of food and the promise of work. Every human being has the right to live, and therefore the right to be able to feed themselves. (Adapted from a quotation by Gandhi)


Song: Crumbs From Your Table by U2


The Lost Dream
By Richard Becher

Mama, I can't find my dream
I had it last night but now it's gone.
I was all wrapped up
in a nice clean sheet
with a pillow for my head
and a blanket to keep me warm.
I had a bath before bed
with hot water from a tap,
but now I can't find my dream
and I don't know where it's gone.
I have no pillow for my head,
no blankets to keep me warm
and no water for a drink
let alone for a wash.
Mama, I've lost my dream
and I don't know where it's gone.
It was with me last night
until I opened my eyes
and felt my hard wooden bed
in the cold tin shack
with a dusty mud floor.
I lost my dream, Mama,
I don't know where it's gone
and I don't know where to look.
Perhaps I got it wrong
and I never should have dreamed
for dreams are for the rich
nightmares for the poor.
Dreams have a price
and I can't afford to pay
so I've lost my dream, Mama,
I don't know where it's gone
and I can't afford to get it back.


Silence


Dreaming

Dreams of necessities
Must be fulfilled:
"Where you live should not decide
Whether you live or whether you die."

Dreams of the future
Must be for everyone:
"Where you live should not decide
Whether you live or whether you die."

Dreams of a better world
Must not be all alone:
"Where you live should not decide
Whether you live or whether you die."

Dreams of the day where all have enough
Must be put into action:
"Where you live should not decide
Whether you live or whether you die."


To eradicate hunger, to eradicate poverty, is not impossible.
It requires, however, nothing less than a complete overhaul of our society.
We alone cannot do everything, but we cannot do nothing.
We must not be discouraged.
We must do what we can.
Let it be.


*****


Suggestions For Moving Forward

1) Google and visit the Hunger Site to help feed people with just one click.
2) Buy fair trade whenever possible to ensure people get livable wages for their work.
3) Petition governments to implement real strategies toward eliminating poverty.
4) Learn more about how poverty affects your community.
5) Consider donating time or money to an organization working to eradicate hunger and/or poverty.