Recorded presentation

Carl W. Nelson, PhD, Northeastern University, 319 Hayden, 365 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, 617-373-4751, ca.nelson@neu.edu

Class is a determining factor in the epidemics of obesity that plague many in the developed world as well as those that suffer from hunger, wherever they may live. World wide health care costs linked to poor and inadequate nutrition are staggering. While correcting fundamental failures of production and distribution brought on by market driven systems based on special interests and profit will ultimately be central to the elimination of poverty and food insecurity here and abroad, well designed and relatively inexpensive humanitarian relief efforts can play an important role in the shorter term without perpetuating current contradictions, increased dependencies, or ecologically unsound practices. Three of the initiatives outlined by George McGovern (The Third Freedom, 2001)- a worldwide universal school lunch program, a worldwide universal WIC program, and a UN Food and Agriculture Organization managed food reserves program deserve close examination from nutrition and public health professionals.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Recognize the political and class based relationships of poverty, nutrition, and health.
• Evaluate the cost of ending world hunger and of not ending it.
• Assess the feasibility of establishing through the United Nations world wide school lunch and WIC programs.

Keywords: Food and Nutrition, Hunger

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation