By Anthony Banbury
The Nation
Publication Date : 2005-06-11
In the last quarter-century, Asia has undergone an economic boom unparalleled in human history. The effects can be seen everywhere, in Thailand as well as in neighbouring countries. Not only have the middle classes grown, but entirely new middle classes have been created in countries where there were none previously. Extreme poverty has been cut to a fraction of what it once was.
A global walk against child hunger is due to take place in 90 countries around the world.
The Walk the World event, organised by the UN World Food Programme, is raising funds for school meals in poor nations.
Every year, about 6.5 million children under the age of five die because hunger leaves their bodies too weak to resist disease.
Hunger and poverty are also among the main reasons why 100 million children are not in school.
News is pouring in from all over the world! 2000 people walking in the zoo in Jakarta... 1000 people walking on the beach in Freetown... 1000 walkers out in the steets of Hanoi... and just read what Alejandro has just sent me from Honduras:
TEGUCIGALPA AND SAN PEDRO SULA, HONDURAS, June 12, 2005
An estimated 6 thousand people in Tegucigalpa and some 5 thousand in San Pedro Sula participated in the walk today. Many personalities among them President Maduro and his wife, first lady Aguas Ocaña.
Minister for Information and National Orien-tation, Chief Chukw-uemeka Chikelu, will tomorrow in Lagos, represent President Olusegun Obasanjo at the flag-off of this year's "Walk the World" organised by the World Food Programme.
The event is to raise awareness and attract funds to tackle global child hunger.
Organisers intend to raise N50 million from this event.
Proceeds from the event would be channelled into supporting the proposed School Feeding Programme, recently announced by the Federal Government, and ensure its long term sustainability.
Among the other 200,000 citizens and celebrities Walking the World with us today, WFP Spokesperson and model Lauren Bush brought her grandfather, former U.S. President George H. W. Bush, along to the Athens, Greece Walk. (Here are the pictures to prove it!)
UPDATE: The Bushes took time out of their vacation to walk in Greece (news), but they did not physically attend the Athens Walk.
The first video footage from today's Walks has just come in and we posted it here on the website -- so check it out!
Reading the stories and browsing the photos already posted to the site today are a powerful reminder of the magnitude of our global effort, but there's nothing like video to give you a sense of what really happened at some of the other Walks.
If you see yourself in any of the clips, let us know. This first video contains clips from the following cities:
Matt Keller sends us this message from his phone at the New York, NY Walk:
Dikembe Mutombo, the NBA star has just addressed the crowd in New York City and has told about his dedication to Africa and his desire to be part of a cause that seeks to end the suffering of children. An incredible reminder as to why we are all here!
are you just returning from your walk? if so, how was it? we want to hear about it! post a comment and add photos to your your event page so that we can all celebrate with you.
as of right now, 35 of 268 Walks to end child hunger have begun!
As of right now, we're just 60 minutes away from the FIRST Fight Hunger: Walk the World event for 2005-and only a few clicks away from feeding a total of 13,000 children through this website!
Walkers in Auckland, New Zealand are starting at 10AM local time / 9p GMT and will be among the first of over 200,000 people walking in 270 locations in 87 countries over the next 24 hours.
