Back before Thanksgiving I saw an ad in an Asheville paper for something called a Hunger Banquet. Sponsored by a church group, the event was planned to "allow organizers and participants alike to experience how our decisions affect others in the world."
Guests draw tickets at random that assign them to a high-, middle-, or low-income tier and receive a corresponding meal. The percentage of tickets in each tier correspond, more or less, to the distribution of wealth in the world.
The 15 percent in the high income tier are served a sumptuous meal. The 35 percent in the middle income section get beans and rice. And the remaining 50 percent get a small bowl of rice.
I wondered what it would be like to go to a hunger banquet. Particularly, what would it be like to draw the sumptuous meal ticket?
Guests draw tickets at random that assign them to a high-, middle-, or low-income tier and receive a corresponding meal. The percentage of tickets in each tier correspond, more or less, to the distribution of wealth in the world.
The 15 percent in the high income tier are served a sumptuous meal. The 35 percent in the middle income section get beans and rice. And the remaining 50 percent get a small bowl of rice.
I wondered what it would be like to go to a hunger banquet. Particularly, what would it be like to draw the sumptuous meal ticket?
Could I eat and enjoy that meal while my table mates had only beans and rice?
Or rice alone?
Or would I say, 'Let's put all this food together and share"? Is that Socialism? Or is it Charity, Christian or otherwise?
That hunger banquet is on my mind as I resolve (like so many) to go on a diet after all the holiday feasting. It was an accident of birth, that gave me, as most of those born into so-called first world countries, the 15 percent meal ticket and now I wonder, what about those unseen table mates?
Two small suggestions: This from Pat D. who says she's never had a problem (i.e. solicitations or spam) from this site The Hunger Site It links to all sorts of charities, each of which (don't ask me how or why) is benefited just by your click. (Probably something to do with ads on the site.)
And there's the extremely addictive Freerice.com where you can build your vocabulary, (in English or another language -- I'm working on my French), improve your geography or math skills, or do a little art appreciation, all the while causing rice to be donated to feed hungry people. Really pretty cool.
Neither of these is going to end world hunger. I know that. But they might just keep me mindful that my decisions do affect others in the world.
That hunger banquet is on my mind as I resolve (like so many) to go on a diet after all the holiday feasting. It was an accident of birth, that gave me, as most of those born into so-called first world countries, the 15 percent meal ticket and now I wonder, what about those unseen table mates?
Two small suggestions: This from Pat D. who says she's never had a problem (i.e. solicitations or spam) from this site The Hunger Site It links to all sorts of charities, each of which (don't ask me how or why) is benefited just by your click. (Probably something to do with ads on the site.)
And there's the extremely addictive Freerice.com where you can build your vocabulary, (in English or another language -- I'm working on my French), improve your geography or math skills, or do a little art appreciation, all the while causing rice to be donated to feed hungry people. Really pretty cool.
Neither of these is going to end world hunger. I know that. But they might just keep me mindful that my decisions do affect others in the world.
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