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Global

World hunger facts  Global web links

For climate change and other environmental issues see the Hunger Notes special report Global issues: the earth, the environment, and poor people

A grove of huarango trees sits amid the sand dunes at the edge of Ica, Peru. The trees help balance the arid valley, capturing moisture coming from the west. Nonetheless, villagers are cutting down the last remaining trees.  Photo: Tomas Munita/New York Times

A grove of huarango trees sits amid the sand dunes at the edge of Ica, Peru. The trees help balance the arid valley, capturing moisture coming from the west. Nonetheless, villagers are cutting down the last remaining trees.  Photo: Tomas Munita/New York Times

The ecosystem in Peru is losing a key ally--the huarago tree  Simon Romero New York Times November 7, 2009 Cutting down huarango forests caused the collapse of the Nazca civilization 1500 years ago Jody Bourton BBC News November 2, 2009  See Hunger Notes special report: Hunger, the environment and climate change

Paraguay president sacks army head BBC News November 5, 2009

Binding treaty no longer a realistic goal for climate summit, UN chief concedes  Ben Webster Times Online November 4, 2009 See Hunger Notes special report: Hunger, the environment and climate change


Key ways in which current farming practices harm the earth include loss of biodiversity, overuse of chemicals and pesticides, and loss of plant and animal habitat due to the expansion of farming. The loss of biodiversity as a result of current farming practices includes an estimated loss of  three-quarters of the genetic diversity in agricultural crops over the last century. Photo: Jane Some/IRIN

Feeding the world without harming it IRIN November 3, 2009 

Gunman kill union leader in Mexico Elisabeth Malkin New York Times November 1, 2009 

Feeding the world without harming it IRIN November 3, 2009 See Hunger Notes special report: Hunger, the environment and climate change

Current intellectual property rights, especially those for GMO seeds, threaten poor farmers, food security and the right to food  United Nations October 21, 2009

Deal set to restore ousted Honduran president Ginger Thompson and Elisabeth Malkin New York Times October 25, 2009 

Current intellectual property rights, especially those for GMO seeds, threaten poor farmers, food security and the right to food  United Nations October 21, 2009

Fiser's mother wants him to return to school some day. Photo: BBC

Fiser's mother wants him to return to school some day. Photo: BBC

Bitter lives of Bolivia's child workers  Andres Schipani  BBC News October 11, 2009

G-20 to replace G-8 as major economic forum--China, India, Brazil and South Africa will now be included  Annys Shin and Michael D. Shear  Washington Post September 25, 2009 See Hunger Notes special report: Trade and hunger

G-20 to increase developing country voting power in the International Monetary Fund by about five percent (barely addressing the vast power of developed countries in the IMF) Xinhua September 25, 2009

A mother and daughter, lacking water at home, wash clothes in a nearby spring. Photo: Rodrigo Cruz/Wall Street Journal

A mother and daughter, lacking water at home, wash clothes in a nearby spring. Photo: Rodrigo Cruz/Wall Street Journal

Mexico City's water shortage worsens Nicholas Casey Wall Street Journal September 12,  2009 See slideshow (requires Flash)  See Hunger Notes special report: Global issues: hunger, the environment, and climate change 

Denise de Oliveira, a resident of Santa Cruz, Brazil, receives about $70 a month from the Brazilian government under an innovative program known as Bolsa Familia. Photo: Tyler Bridges/MCT

Denise de Oliveira, a resident of Santa Cruz, Brazil, receives about $70 a month from the Brazilian government under an innovative program known as Bolsa Familia. Photo: Tyler Bridges/MCT

Countries in Latin America pioneer an anti-poverty program that works--paying poor families a stipend and requiring that school-age children stay in school Tyler Bridges McClatchy Newspapers September 21, 2009 The World Bank description of Brazil's Bolsa Familia program. A United Nations Development Program evaluation of Brazil's Bolsa Familia. See Hunger Notes special report: food is a human right.

In poorer nations, energy needs trump climate issues Emily Wax Washington Post September 9, 2009

US halts aid over Honduras coup BBC News September 3, 2009

US-Colombia military base agreement prompts questions in both countries Juan Forero and Mary Beth Sheridan Washington Post August 27, 2009 Alarm at US-Colombia troops plan BBC News August 11, 2009 Increased US military presence in Colombia could pose problems with neighbors Simon Romero New York Times  July 23, 2009

European farm subsidies go to more than just farmers Doreen Carvajal and Stephen Castle New York Times  July 16, 2009

A boy rested on the mud in a dried-up section of the Euphrates River near Jubaish, Iraq, in June. Photo: Moises Saman for The New York Times

A boy rested on the mud in a dried-up section of the Euphrates River near Jubaish, Iraq, in June. Photo: Moises Saman for The New York Times

Iraq suffers as the Euphrates river dwindles Campbell Robertson New York Times July 13, 2009

World leaders fail to agree specific target for climate cuts--agree only to 'substantially reduce' global emissions by 2050 Patrick Wintour and Larry Elliott  Guardian.co.uk July 8, 2009 Poorer nations reject a target on emission cut  Peter Baker New York Times July 8, 2009

Egyptian jailed for three years for writing satirical poem about President Mubarak—in Egypt ‘insulting’ Mubarak brings this sentence BBC News July 14, 2009 See Hunger Notes special report: harmful economic systems and how they oppress people

G8 pledges to increase assistance to developing country agriculture BBC News July 10, 2009 G8 pressured to honor aid pledges--the global recession has helped reduce aid from wealthy nations even as it pushes millions more into poverty Howard LaFranchi Christian Science Monitor July 9, 2009 G8's promise to Africa is likely to be broken--pledge to double aid by 2010 far behind schedule Kathryn Hopkins The Guardian June 11, 2009 See Hunger Notes special report on development assistance

Pope calls for ethical dimension to global capitalism and a new world political authority to help champion "the common good" Riazat Butt Guardian.co.uk July 7, 2009  See the Pope's encyclical Charity in Truth

The Iranian opposition leader, Mir Hussein Moussavi, appeared publicly for the first time in more than two days on Monday. Photo: Behrouz Mehri/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

As Iran calms, a struggle for political power and legitimacy intensifies Michael Slackman New York Times July 7, 2009  Khamenei calls for inquiry as demonstrators protest Iranian election results Robert F. Worth and Nazila Fathi New York Times June 13, 2009

Haiti gets $1.2 billion debt cancellation after long wait EURODAD July 3, 2009

Economic crisis could last years  Al Jazeera  June 25, 2009 More financial, food, and hunger crisis stories

Ousted Honduran president wins international support Marc Lacey New York Times June 30, 2009 Honduran military ousts President Zelaya  William Booth and Juan Forero Washington Post June 29, 2009 Honduran president fires armed forces boss  BBC News June 25, 2009 See Hunger Notes special report:  harmful economic system stories

One billion people throughout the world suffer from hunger, a figure which has increased by 100 million because of the global financial crisis, UN says BBC News June 19, 2009 More financial, food, and hunger crisis stories

Members of an indigenous group opposed to Peru’s plans to open large parts of the Amazon to drilling and logging demonstrated Thursday in Iquitos, Peru. Photo: Tomas Munita/New York Times

Peru prime minister to step down over handling of Amazon crisis  Reuters July 4, 0009 Protesters gird for long fight over opening Peru’s Amazon  Simon Romero New York Times June 11, 2009 9 hostage officers killed at Peruvian oil facility--Amazonian Indians demand that Peruvian president  withdraw decrees that ease the way for companies to carry out major energy and logging projects in the Amazon Simon Romero New York Times June 6, 2009

Using a mix of grass-roots activism, lawsuits and old-fashioned lobbying,  Dr. Yuri Melinihi and his organization tackle issues from illegal logging in protected forests and the impact of a growing mining industry to the supply and cleanliness of water. Photo: Peter Morrison / Associated Press

Bullets don't stop Guatemala green activist. Shot 7 times by an unknown assailant, his enemies include drug traffickers, midnight loggers, mining giants and corrupt military men.  Ken Ellingwood Los Angeles Times June 11, 2009 More harmful economic system stories

Four months after Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, Suad Khadir and her family are still living in a tent. To escape the heat, they often seek refuge under the rubble. Photo: Ashraf Amra./New York Times

Four months after Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, Suad Khadir and her family are still living in a tent. To escape the heat, they often seek refuge under the rubble. Photo: Ashraf Amra./New York Times

Misery hangs over Gaza despite pledges of help Ethan Bronner  New York Times May 28, 2009

Rodrigo Rosenberg's video, made before his death and saying 'if you see this, I will have been murdered', has been shown repeatedly on Guatemalan TV. See the video on YouTube

Video made by Guatemalan lawyer blames his slaying on Guatemalan president William Booth Washington Post May 14, 2009 


Gang suspects are arrested in a suburb of San Salvador. Gang violence is one factor in the country’s homicide rate, one of the world’s highest. Slayings averaged almost 12 a day in the first three months of this year. Photo Jose Cabezas / AFP/Getty Images

El Salvador grapples with rising bloodshed--per capita homicide rate is 10 times US Tracy Wilkinson Los Angeles Times May 13, 2009

Election win for Ecuador's Correa BBC News May 2, 2009

Food prices remain high in developing countries Food and Agriculture Organization April 23, 2009

Mexico has ramped up its containment efforts.  Photo: BBC

Mexico has ramped up its containment efforts.  Photo: BBC

Mexico flu sparks global action BBC News April 23, 2009

A boy stands in parched corn field near Harare, Zimbabwe.  Photo: Associated Press

A boy stands in parched corn field near Harare, Zimbabwe.  Photo: Associated Press

Could food shortages bring down civilization? The biggest threat to global stability is the potential for food crises in poor countries to cause government collapse. Lester Brown Scientific American May 2009 Climate change resulting in drought, population growth, and neglect of developing country agriculture will cause billion-person famines in next 40 years, US scientist says  Lewis Smith Times Online March 23, 2009  See Hunger Notes special report Global issues: the earth, the environment, and poor people

Mexico flu sparks global action BBC News April 23, 2009

he police archives with information on the disappeared and the Guatemalan government's role in their disappearance might have been destroyed  had it not been for Police Officer Ana Corado who refused an order to destroy the records before they were identified and secured by human rights activists. Photo Ann Marie O'Connor/Washington Post

The police archives with information on the disappeared and the Guatemalan government's role in their disappearance might have been destroyed  had it not been for Police Officer Ana Corado who refused an order to destroy the records before they were identified and secured by human rights activists. Photo Ann Marie O'Connor/Washington Post

The emerging secrets of Guatemala's disappeared Anne-Marie O'Connor Washington Post April 11, 2009 

Wife of Guatemalan human rights activist kidnapped, tortured, as her husband was about to release a key human rights report Manuel Roig-Franzia  Washington Post April 11, 2009 

Impoverished Haiti slips further as remittances dry up Mary Beth Sheridan Washington Post April 17, 2009 

Hernando Renteria is among the farmers who returned to his land in Choco to find it planted with African palm oil trees, one of which he's hacking down. Photo: Juan Forero/Washington Post

Hernando Renteria is among the farmers who returned to his land in Choco to find it planted with African palm oil trees, one of which he's hacking down. Photo: Juan Forero/Washington Post

Colombia orders return of stolen farmland. Illegal militias forced hundreds of poor black farmers off their land, which politically connected businessmen then seized and turned into lucrative palm oil plantations. US pact is motivation for move, critics say.  Juan Forero Washington Post March 23, 2009

Mauricio Funes greeted his supporters in San Salvador on Sunday night after winning El Salvador’s presidential election. Luis Romero/Associated Press

Mauricio Funes greeted his supporters in San Salvador on Sunday night after winning El Salvador’s presidential election. Photo: Luis Romero/Associated Press

Salvadoran vows moderate rule: president-elect promises to improve economy, help poor William Booth Washington Post March 17, 2009 El Salvador elects first left president  Blake  Schmidt and Elisabeth Malkin New York Times March 16, 2009 In El Salvador vote, the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN), the revolutionary group-turned-mainstream political party, seems poised for victory William Booth Washington Post March 9, 2009

Bolivian leader redistributes thousands of acres of land from large-scale owners BBC News March 15, 2009

Pipelines to mines siphon water from some of the driest towns on earth, in northern Chile. Photo: Tomas Munita for The New York Times

Pipelines to mines siphon water from some of the driest towns on earth, in northern Chile. Photo: Tomas Munita/New York Times

Chilean town withers in free market for water Alexi Barrionuevo New York Times March 14, 2009

Job candidates tussle for enrollment forms at a career fair in India, where more than half a million jobs vanished in the last three months of 2008, according to the World Bank. Photo: Mahesh Kumar/Associated Press

Job candidates tussle for enrollment forms at a career fair in India, where more than half a million jobs vanished in the last three months of 2008, according to the World Bank. Photo: Mahesh Kumar/Associated Press

US downturn dragging world into recession Anthony Faiola  Washington Post March 9, 2009

Soldiers moved into Ciudad Juarez to try to regain control of a city in which more than 2,000 people have been murdered over the past year.  Officials say they intend to have 7,000 troops and police in position by the end of the week. Photo: Associated Press

Soldiers moved into Ciudad Juarez to try to regain control of a city in which more than 2,000 people have been murdered over the past year.  Officials say they intend to have 7,000 troops and police in position by the end of the week. Photo: Associated Press

US Defense department: Mexico's two most deadly drug cartels have more than 100,000 foot soldiers--an army that rivals Mexico's armed forces Sara A. Carter Washington Times March 3, 2009 Mexico troops enter drug war city BBC News March 2, 2009

CIA adds global financial crisis to daily threat updates for President Obama: growing CIA belief that economic meltdown is now principal security threat Joby Warrick Washington Post February 26, 2009

Chávez wins removal of term limits  Juan Forero Washington Post February 16, 2009

Lebanon: Climate change and politics threaten water wars in Bekaa IRIN February 1, 2009    Arabic language version

First salvos of trade wars as worldwide recession deepens Anthony Faiola Washington Post February 1, 2009  Downturn accelerates as it circles the globe--economies worse off than predicted just weeks ago Anthony Faiola Washington Post January 24, 2009 A stimulus plan with dual goals: reform and recovery David E. Sanger New York Times January 31, 2009 Biden to  lead task force on 'middle class' issues with goal to raise standard of living for working families Anne E. Kornblut and Anthony Faiola Washington Post January 31, 2009

An Aymara Indian voted Sunday at a polling station in El Alto, Bolivia, a city of slums on the outskirts of the capital, La Paz Enrique Castro-Mendivil/Reuters

An Aymara Indian voted Sunday at a polling station in El Alto, Bolivia, a city of slums on the outskirts of the capital, La Paz Enrique Castro-Mendivil/Reuters

Bolivians ratify new constitution Simon Romero New York Times January 26, 2009 As Bolivia votes on new constitution, opposition finds itself divided Joshua Partlow Washington Post January 25, 2009

Access to maternity care helps save lives. Photo BBC

Access to maternity care helps save lives. Photo BBC

Women in poor nations are 300 times more likely to die in childbirth or from pregnancy complications than those in the developed world, UNICEF warns  BBC News January 15, 2009 

Worldwide measles eradication target unlikely to be reached--European nations major part of the problem BBC News January 7, 2008

UN and Red Cross add to outcry on Gaza war  Ethan Bronner New York Times  January 9, 2007  100 survivors rescued in Gaza from ruins blocked by Israelis  Craig Whitlock and Reyham Ardel Kareem Washington Post  January 6, 2008

To rid slums of drug gangs, police in Rio try war tactics  Joshua Partlow Washington Post  January 6, 2009

Wealthy countries seek land in Cambodia, Madagascar, and Brazil  David Montero Christian Science Monitor December 22, 2008

Number of children immunized has been inflated for years David Brown Washington Post  December 9, 2008

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