The Zero Hunger (Hambre Cero) program is
in a hurry to end the malnutrition of millions of people in
Brazil, but it isn't compulsively anxious to show results. It
is useless to criticize the colors of the walls in the living
room when work is still being done on the foundation of the
house. Particularly when working with a program which doesn't
want to depend on public assistance. As president Lula said
when presenting the program, it is more important to teach how
to fish than to hand out the fish. The program tries to promote
the involvement of those who benefit from it.
MESA (the
Extraordinary Ministry of Food Safety and Fight Against Hunger)
established five priority areas in which to introduce the
program: the semiarid region of the Northeast which include
Valle do Jequitinhonha in Minas Gerais; rural settlements;
indigenous villages; rural zones where free blacks
traditionally resided (quilombos); and the population that
lives in waste dumps and from their product.
That doesn't
exclude the other areas in the country. Any municipality can be
integrated in the program as long as it tries to institute as
soon as possible the municipal CONSEA (Council for Food Safety
and Nutrition). Also, states need to follow the example set by
Mato Grosso do Sul and Minas Gerais.
Like CONSEA,
the membership in states and municipalities needs two-thirds
representation from civil organizations (with priority for
entities acting in the area of food safety) and one-third
representation from the government.
If the
municipality is located in an area prioritized by the federal
government, there is greater possibility that the families to
benefit will receive the nutrition identity card sooner. (Be
advised that Zero Hunger only requires invoices from legitimate
merchants. The federal government does not encourage fraud. In
the absence of receipts, the beneficiary's word suffices.)
Municipalities
outside of prioritized areas, once they establish their
CONSEAs, must initiate as soon as possible implementation of
the program, channeling resources from private entities and
volunteers. As president Lula said in his presentation of Mesa
Brazil, sponsored by SESC, Zero Hunger will only be successful
if the general public plays a main role in it.
To get the
program going, a series of initiatives can and need to be
taken, such as enrollment of the people who will benefit,
implementation of food banks, literacy and professional
training, cooperatives, family farms, basic sanitation, etc.
Municipalities
such as Diadema (SP) opted to join others situated in priority
areas and also strived to eradicate hunger in their locality.
Diadema's prefecture and CONIB (Israelite and Brazilian
Confederation) cooperated with Itinga (MG). During the next
four years, they will assist in improving human development in
that municipality visited by high members of Lula's
government.
"Hunger is
yesterday," said Gabriela Mistral. "And it can't
wait," added BetiÒo. The success of the program
depends, above all, on the action of the Brazilians. This is
our battle. The enemies are malnutrition and social exclusion.
The victory will be the life of millions of people.
For the first
time in history, a president transforms in political decision
an evangelical gesture: to multiply the bread.
Also in this
section:
US State Department report on human rights in
Panama
Frei Betto, Lula's assault on
hunger
Girvan, The Greater
Caribbean This Week
Jackson, China's news
blackout is our health hazard
Tikkun, Give us news, not
propaganda
RSF, US attack on the
international press
CPJ, US attack on the
international press
