hunger

Our young friends have had enough of war, displacement, trauma and hunger.  60 million people, worldwide, now seek refuge, many of them fleeing war and violence. Shameful warlords and war profiteers, such as those who commandeered U.S. wars against Iraq and Afghanistan, destabilize defenseless populations. 

The irony of fasting all day, claiming to empathize with the hungry, then overeating during Iftar. The dollars spent on lavish fast-breaking spreads and the calories consumed,. It’s an  indulgence that affects our relationship with Allah, our bodies, and our neighbors.

How Much is Too Much? “Get out of the shower!” your little brother shouts as he bangs on the washroom door. “You’ve been in there for twenty minutes!”  The 20 minutes you spend in the shower, use up 400 liters of water. 

Have you seen him who belies the rewards and punishments of the Hereafter? He it is who drives away the orphan and does not urge giving away the food of the poor. (Quran, 107:1 - 3)

On any given night, an estimated 700,000 people in America are homeless. Some 20% or more of these are families with children. Homeless families are the fastest growing segment of the Homeless population.

The United States Congress recently designated June 10 as National Hunger Awareness Day.  While hunger and poverty are ongoing problems in all of America, and even more so, the rest of the world, we can use this time to work more proactively on the issue. Here are five simple things you can do.

Poverty in America? One of the richest countries in the world? Yes, poverty is a reality in America, just as it is for millions of other human beings on the planet. According to the US Census Bureau, 35.9 million people live below the poverty line in America, including 12.9 million children.