However, this may be a good time to reflect on just how lucky we are to live in one of the richest nations on earth.  It seems kind of maudlin to say, but it is the truth.

Many others across the globe would be thankful just to have clean drinking water, enough food to feed their children or some basic antibiotics to fight off diseases that were cured or done away with over a century ago in the core nations.

UN votes nearly unanimously that food is a basic human right

A somewhat contentious vote (for some) went before the United Nations and was passed nearly unanimously.  The vote was whether to add food to the list of basic human rights.

The measure saying food was a basic human right passed 180 to 1.   Financial freedom should be on the agenda eventually, which would give people the option of payday loans in lieu of loan sharks.

The votes for were signed by almost every nation of the world, including many of the big time power players.  China, the UK, Germany, France, even the tiny Principality of Liechtenstein, all voted yes.

Who voted no?

As stated, only one nation opposed the measure. That dissenter, who opposed the idea that all human beings should have food to survive on, was the United States of America.

We aren’t going to start America bashing here. This isn’t an anti-American forum, and this author, for one, isn’t about to back a different horse in the least. But it seems, at the least, to be arrogant on the part of our leaders to pursue a policy in which those who can’t provide for themselves aren’t given a helping hand by a nation with the richest agricultural base in the world and the largest food reserves perhaps in recorded history.

This author is not one who is about to start advocating that any one nation has to take care of the world. That would be ludicrous. But it is at least worth discussing that this has transpired.

We all hear it so many times during the season, but that hardly negates the truth of the statement

It is an oft repeated sentiment that there are “starving kids” elsewhere in the world, often to persuade kids to eat vegetables ineptly prepared by their parents that smell like an NFL lineman’s gym sock. But in the wake of severe food shortages the world over, it’s all too terrifyingly true. Citizens of the island nation of Haiti have been resorting to eating literally sand and dirt “cookies” to stave off starvation and suffering as a result of ingesting the soil.

So remember, if you have to look into getting payday loans to cover a short-term gap in your finances, do not, by any means think there is any shame in doing so.  There are millions who would love to be in your shoes.

Juicy Burgers contributes to the childhood obesity epidemic in America

Fast food is cheap, easy, and unhealthy, but quick payday loans can help you pay for real groceries. Unfortunately, nutrition comes at a cost. America’s alternative to nutrition is fast food. The world’s alternative to nutrition is no food at all. Fortunately for Americans, this is the land of the free, and one of our financial freedoms is the access to all kinds of loans. If you want to feed your family nutritious, healthy food, it’s comforting to know that grocery stores boast aisles of wholesome foods and quick payday loans are available as a short term financial solution for paying the grocery bill. The rest of the world isn’t so fortunate.

Obesity Epidemic and World Hunger

While American children are getting fatter, children around the world are starving. An obesity epidemic and world hunger? It seems like a sick contradiction, but the numbers don’t lie. Obesity in American children ages 6-11 has more than tripled in the last twenty years. Nearly 20% of American children are overweight or obese, and almost one-third of American children eat fast food every day. Fast food consumption accumulates to about six extra pounds each year for every child. Elsewhere in the world, one child dies every six seconds from starvation. The World Food Programme has calculated that hunger now kills more people on an annual basis than tuberculosis, malaria and AIDS collectively.

Unequal Distribution

The unequal distribution has been one of the biggest contributors of world hunger. This year, more food has been produced worldwide than in all of history, which means that there should be more food per person. However, the way food is distributed denies those dying of hunger the right to eat. Other reasons for increasing world hunger include high transport costs, more droughts, and the depletion of natural resources like water, farmable land, and oil.

Limited Resources

Like oil, food is a limited resource, but Americans eat and consume as though food is a never-ending commodity. Americans take food for granted, and our meat-eating habits are taking a toll on the world. It takes about seven pounds of grain to produce one pound of beef. So every time you roll through the drive-thru to order juicy burgers for your children, not only are you contributing to the childhood obesity epidemic in America, you are also contributing to world hunger. Imagine how much further seven pounds of grain could go than one pound of beef.

Smart Food, Smart Money

It’s easy to understand that eating fast food is more convenient for you and your family. Although both are pricey, getting fresh produce and other healthy foods at the grocery store can definitely be more expensive than your favorite fast food restaurant. It’s even easier to understand that cheap food is appealing right now because of how the economy is going. Your budget is tight, and the more money you can save, the better. However, in this case, even though the nutritious foods are more expensive, it will be worth it in the long run. By feeding your family healthy foods and skipping those greasy burgers, you’ll be making the world a healthier, better-fed place. In case you’re running low on cash until your next payday, don’t give into the convenience and low price of fast food. Opt for quick payday loans to pay for those wholesome foods.