Introduction
This essay explores hunger and the reasons why hunger is a social injustice. Research was conducted by using a variety of methods such as online, books and newspaper clippings. This essay will explore hunger
Summary
In order for a society to claim that it is a society who honours social justice it must match their words with the actions. A social justice society must offer, provide, believe and follow through on treating all humans the same regardless of their sex, race, ethnicity, religion and/or status. A social justice society provides everyone access to basic human rights, access to an equal distribution of wealth and property, access to health care and safety from harm. A social injustice occurs when a person …show more content…
People become very sick from hunger and suffer from major illness that could otherwise be prevented if they had proper nourishment. “Each year, almost seven million children die before reaching the age of five; malnutrition is a key factor in over a third of these deaths” (source: Levels and Trends in Child Mortality, IGME, 2012) (Wfp.org, 2015).
Hunger encompasses much more than an empty stomach. When people do not get the proper amount of nourishment their body begins to break down. Their physical, mental and emotional functions begin to collapse which prevents them from functioning on a proper level. “Hunger affects every part of the body. And these effects can be permanent. Hunger starves the brain. Malnourished kids fall behind in school — or drop out — because they can’t concentrate (or because they have to help put food on the table). An undernourished heart literally shrinks. So it has to work harder to pump blood — which your body can’t make enough of. Toxins build up as the liver and kidneys fail. A weakened immune system crumbles in the face of disease. Your skin cracks, becoming a gateway for infection. Bones stop growing — making many malnourished kids small for their age” (30 Hour …show more content…
Single mothers, Aboriginal people and people who do not own their home are often susceptible to hunger. Children, adults, families, single mothers, people on social assistance, unemployment and people with a lower household income can suffer from hunger. Anyone can suffer from hunger.
“The people who are affected by hunger are often families with children, people who are employed however their low wages do not cover basic living essentials, individuals on social assistance, and Canadians living on a fixed income, including seniors and people with disabilities” (FOODBANKS).
The extent of hunger is quite significant. “It has been reported that more than a quarter of Canadians have been worried about how they will afford to buy food for themselves and/or their families at some point during the last year” (FOODBANKS).
People are more and more worried about how they will afford to buy food for themselves and their families. Parents often skip meals to ensure there is enough food for their children and families are often buying less expensive food due to financial