Exodus from Hunger: We Are Called to Change the Politics of Hunger

by David Beckmann

Overview

It is within America's technical and financial power to help end world hunger in our lifetime, if we set our hearts and minds to the task. Contrary to what many people believe, the world has made measurable advancements against hunger and poverty over the last several decades. But too often the binding constraint on further progress is a simple lack of political will. As a result, one of the most powerful ways to affect change is often the most neglected- political activism.

In this powerful and hopeful book, David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World and a leading anti-hunger activist, looks at the causes of hunger, presents case studies of countries that have made great strides against it, and puts a human face on the problem by sharing stories of people who are, quite simply, hungry every day. The problems can seem overwhelming but Beckmann lays out a clear and workable plan for effectively using political channels to make great progress. He not only challenges us to get involved, he shows us how. It is no less than our call to do so.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780664236847
Publisher:	Westminster John Knox Press
Publication date:	10/20/2010
Pages:	216
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

David Beckmann is president of Bread for the World and has served at the World Bank on projects to reduce poverty. He founded and serves as president of the Alliance to End Hunger, helped found the ONE campaign with Bono, and appears regularly in mainstream and religious media. The author of several books on issues of hunger and poverty, Beckmann is a Lutheran minister and has a degree from the London School of Economics.

Table of Contents

Foreword Archbishop Desmond Tutu ix

Introduction 1

Part I Where Things Stand Now

1 Widespread and Increased Hunger 19

2 Dramatic Progress Is Feasible 30

3 Countries That Have Reduced Hunger and Poverty 47

Part II Where We Want to Go

4 This Is God Moving in Our Time 65

5 Getting Serious about Poverty Would Be Good for America 81

6 People of Faith Can Make Congress Work 91

7 Hopeful Developments in U.S. Politics 110

8 A Time to Change History for Hungry People 132

Part III How We Get There Together

9 How God Has Drawn Me In 155

10 Take a Step 167

11 We Need God 183

Notes 186

Index 197

Editorial Reviews

Though tremendous improvements in health and education have helped slow the epidemic of global hunger in recent decades, more needs to be done to help lift people out of poverty, says Beckmann, president of the antihunger advocacy group Bread for the World. Beckmann strongly supports new international efforts such as the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals, rock star Bono's ONE campaign, and programs funded through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. But he also shows how no country has made gains in staunching hunger without government antipoverty programs. Beckmann offers a multifaceted solution to domestic poverty, including citizen activism, community soup kitchens, good jobs, and government policies and programs. This book will be appreciated by church groups eager to bolster their charitable outreach, especially since it includes several inspiring vignettes of ordinary Christians doing extraordinary things to help stop hunger. The book's weakness is that it covers too much ground without offering a structured or easily applicable way forward. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly