The Copenhagen Consensus initiative, which includes five Nobel laureates in its panel, has declared that tackling malnutrition should be the main priority in the world.
The Times-Online news website has reported that the provision of nutritional supplements, such as vitamin A and zinc to babies and children in the developing countries is most important in order to prevent totally avoidable deficiencies that are known to affect hundreds of millions of children. They comment that this is the 'most cost-effective way of making the world a better place.'
The aim of the report is to prioritise solutions to the world’s many problems according to their costs and benefits, and the most important priorities it concludes is to improve diet. On the other hand, efforts to reduce global warming through reductions in greenhouse gases, were rated at the bottom of the league table. The economists considered the costs of effectively tackling climate change too high with limited overall benefit, while research into renewable energy and new low-carbon technologies, such as solar and nuclear fusion power, was ranked 14th in important.
See: Peter Henderson, Forget Climate Change, we should spend on nutrition.' Date 30/05/08
1 comment:
This reminds me of the passage in Ezekiel 16 where the prophet declared that the sin of Sodom was that they had surfeit of food and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy.
Terrible times are coming on the world with oil running out, various nationalistic and tribal conflicts, madness like that of the racist, Marxist dictator Mugabe in Zimbabwe destroying the agricultural system, and many other problems face the world, some of our own making, some not. The rich west will not remain immune for much longer, already the howls are going up-as if hte British government could alleviate the developing oil crisis by passing laws!.
Our best bet, even if only for self preservation (if that is possible) would be to address ourselves to the relief of global food poverty. Exactly how, well that's a big bunch of problems, but a start would be for each one of us with any disposable income to follow the teaching of Jesus and give regularly to development and relief charity.
Post a Comment