Food provision is a basic human need and therefore should be a basic human right. However, under capitalism we are seeing people, in countries that are defined as developed, going hungry in silence as they choose to ‘heat or eat’ or resort to food banks.
Under the guise of a ‘cost of living crisis’, both failed states in Ireland are unable to sufficiently feed its population. And yet, there is no shortage of food supply. These are basic symptoms of capitalism and an economic model that puts the interest of profit over the needs of the people.
In the 6 counties 1 in 10 children have been defined as living in a “food insecure” household. These are households where parents are having to make difficult financial decisions on scarce budgets to try and feed their children, with the proper nourishment not being guaranteed. This year, 26,000 food parcels were delivered directly to children, this is a 39% increase in demand from the previous year.
As a result people are having to feel the indignity of having to resort to food banks to feed their family. There is no indignity in resorting to available food supplies to feed your family, the shame lies firmly at the door of the rich and powerful.
The Trussell Trust that manages the majority of food banks in the 6 counties reported that 61,500 food parcels, an average of 170 per day, were given out over the last year. This is a 36% increase compared to the same period the year before.
And things are only going to get worse with the blame being put on cuts to Universal Credit, increasing inflation, rising bills and the cost of living crisis. What they really mean is capitalism.
The only way that we can ensure that basic needs are put above profits is by breaking the shackles of capitalism and building a just and fair society.
We can begin to build that alternative today by establishing initiatives such as breakfast, lunch and dinner clubs, similar to the Black Panthers or the popular lunches in Catalunya, the establishment of community allotments or social supermarkets. A lot of this great work is already being done or established, but we need to deliver on scale. We need to restore community confidence and pride and eventually move away from food banks and focus on community solidarity over charity.
We need a revolution.
