Episcopal Press and News

Hunger Threatens World; Churches Must Act

Diocesan Press Service. April 4, 1968 [64-4]

The affluent nations have about twelve years left to ward off a world hunger cataclysm, James MacCracken, executive director of Church World Service declared recently.

Church World Service has passed its twentieth year of service to overseas needy. During that time this service agency has distributed more than four billion pounds of foods to people in need overseas and has spent approximately $100,000,000 in Asia, Africa, Latin America and parts of Europe.

"Today there are more than 15,000,000 refugees in Asia, the Middle East and Africa," Mr. MacCracken declared. "At the same time the population explosion is fast outpacing the world's food production, and it must be kept in mind that the population growth is not a simple, even-paced increase, but a geometric mushrooming. The world has been repeatedly warned that unless every available resource is thrown into the battle against hunger and the constant threat of famine, we may reach the point of no return by 1980. By then, the situation may get completely out of hand."

In addition to direct aid in the world's starvation areas, and disaster assistance, Church World Service has conducted scores of food-for-work projects, community development programs, and has participated in joint efforts with Catholic counterpart agencies in many parts of the world. The Protestant agency works through indigenous Christian churches in the countries being assisted. In recent years Church World Service has stepped up its pace of family planning programs and intends to increase that type of assistance in countries where governments and peoples become more aware of the need for such programs.

Episcopalians support the efforts of Church World Service through the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief. Contributions, which are tax-deductible, should be sent to The Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief, 815 Second Avenue, New York, N. Y. 10017.