CONTACT: Julie Martinez
512-593-2590
TEXAS A&M-KINGSVILLE HOSTS
WORLD FOOD DAY TELECONFERENCE
KINGSVILLE (Oct. 13, 1998) -- The public is invited to the 15th annual World Food Day Teleconference at from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, on the third floor of the Jernigan Library at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. The right to food is the subject of the worldwide program aired from George Washington University.
It is conducted as part of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Food Systems Professions grant for the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences. The live interactive teleconference may be used as continuing education units.
The first hour of the teleconference features a panel of experts discussing the topic Food for All: Right or Goal. The panel will consist of international experts from Africa, India, Norway and the United States. Ray Suarez, host of "Talk of the Nation" produced by National Public Radio, will host the program.
"During the second hour of the program, we will focus on the local situation in Kleberg County," said Dr. Doreen Kinkel, professor in the animal and wildlife sciences department. "Recent statistics reported that 27 percent of the population is at or below poverty level showing that food security is an issue right here in our community."
The changes in the welfare system have impacted citizens in Kingsville and the surrounding area, she said. "Children are especially vulnerable because as recent research has
shown, nutrition and brain development during the first few years of life has lifelong implications on a child's ability to learn and become educated."
Kinkel said the third hour of the teleconference will feature questions for panelists phoned in live from campuses, including Texas A&M-Kingsville.
This is the 50th year of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, an anniversary that has given rise to increased discussion of food security for all. Despite great agricultural and economic progress made in the post World War II period, more than 800 million people worldwide are chronically undernourished and lead stunted lives. Many are children.
The general theme for World Food Day is Women Feed the World. In the developing world, women are the principal food producers, involved in every stage of food production, preparation and processing, in addition to their role as nurturer of the family. Feminist groups claim that there never will be food for all until women in developing countries are educated, have access to credit, own land and receive agricultural training and have the same rights as men.
The teleconference is sponsored by the U.S. National Committee for World Food Day, a coalition of 450 private voluntary organizations. It also is sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S. Information Agency.
In addition to the teleconference, observances of World Food Day include food collections, fundraising events, policy advocacy, release of research reports and books and a great range of educational and service projects.
-TAMUK-