"While this year is the 60th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights, the deep, worldwide food crisis is threatening everyone’s primary right to be free from hunger". That’s why "immediate action needs to be taken to help those in danger, starving or malnourished": this was said by mgr. Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, as he spoke on July 2nd at the meeting of the High level standard of Ecosoc (the UN Economic and Social Council). In his speech, published today, mgr. Migliore points out: "It’s hard to think that in a world which spends over 1.3 trillion dollars a year (851 billion euros) in armaments, the life-saving funds required to face people’s immediate needs are not available". According to the Vatican diplomat, "from the middle to the long term, the initial aids for the economic emergency must be boosted by everyone’s organised efforts to invest in long-term agricultural schemes that are locally and internationally sustainable". The last 25 years have seen considerable progress being made in reducing the number of destitute people and, unless we reinvest in agriculture, the progress made" risks "going lost". (continued)
