Food Not Fuel
The War in Ukraine is causing a hunger crisis in Africa and G7 countries are not helping.
Catholics across the country will be celebrating the Feast of Corpus Christi on June 19 and on this occasion, a question arises; how we can live out Christ’s presence in our lives, particularly in a world which is fraught with discord and complexity.
Jesuit Missions is asking you to speak out for justice by using this feast as an opportunity to support our Food NOT Fuel petition. The War in Ukraine is having a deadly impact on food supply of many of the world’s poorest people. This is because Ukraine and Russia supply so much of the world’s wheat.
Fr Charlie Chilufya SJ from the Jesuit Justice and Ecology Network Africa (JENA) has noted that:
Wheat price increases are hitting poorer countries hard. Since the start of the year, wheat prices have gone up 53%. It is estimated that 400 million people depend on Ukraine’s food exports. Many poorer countries are dependent on these exports to feed their people.Meanwhile, many G7 countries are buying the remaining wheat for use in the production of biofuels. Europe is still changing 10,000 tonnes of wheat – the equivalent of 15 million loaves of bread – into ethanol for use in cars every day’.
While biofuels have a role to play in the transition to a low carbon economy, the choice being made by many countries is putting cars ahead of people.
In the complex world in which we live, we need to be increasingly aware of opportunities to speak out for the world’s marginalised. Jesuit Missions believes that this grain should be made available to developing countries for food and we are asking you to get involved. What we are asking you to doOn the Feast of Corpus Christ, we are asking you to sign our petition calling on the government to use food supplies to feed people in the developing world. Sign the FOOD NOT FUEL petition {HERE}
Dear Prime Minister,
The Feast of Corpus Christi on 19 June comes at a time when millions of people are living with the threat of starvation and death. Pope Francis has remarked that, “We cannot partake of that Bread if we do not give bread to the hungry”.Wheat price increases are hitting poorer countries hard. Since the start of the year, wheat prices have gone up 53% and it is estimated that 400 million people depend on Ukraine’s food exports. Meanwhile, many G7 countries are buying the remaining wheat for use in the production of biofuels. Europe is still changing 10,000 tonnes of wheat – the equivalent of 15 million loaves of bread – into ethanol for use in cars every day.
I believe this cannot be justified call on you to urge for the pause in production of biofuels and to prioritise feeding people. At the G7 you must prioritise FOOD NOT FUEL.
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