Either we find another planet to accommodate our ever-increasing needs or we change our relationship with planet Earth
The old lady who lived in a shoe, as we know from nursery rhymes, had so many children she didn’t know what to do.
It’s a lesson that comes to mind as Covid-19 throws into stark relief just how central food is to our lives and the stability of our society.
Not since World War II has our global society been so focused on ensuring we have enough to eat.
As the pandemic has spread, governments have put a range of lockdown mechanisms in place, with health care, public safety and food security at the centre.The pre-lockdown stockpiling, which emptied supermarket shelves, sparking panic and pandemonium, demonstrated our new-found appreciation for the importance of food.
Fortunately, in South Africa, food supply chains have proven robust and resilient. Generally, we’re able to get essentials. Of course, this is only true for those able to earn an income during lockdown.
Millions are not in this privileged position and for them, income options are running out. Many now fear starvation. They include the unemployed, those unable to work in the informal sectors and those not protected by Covid-19 mitigation measures.
Before Covid-19 about 11% of South Africans suffered hunger regularly. But as the virus takes its toll on the economy, it’s likely to get dramatically worse.
Hunger and a dearth of jobs threaten our already fragile social stability.
The gains we have made in the past two decades forging a more equal society are in jeopardy.
We really do not want to drift back to how it was in 2002, when over 29% of South Africans regularly went hungry. It will come as no consolation that across most of Africa things are far bleaker. Read more…
