G20: Lula Builds Alliance Against Hunger

Brazilian President Lula da Silva succeeded in creating the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty with 148 votes and the endorsement of 82 nations, including Argentina, which initially opposed him. Buenos Aires notes that joining the Alliance “will not imply the adoption of specific programs and policies” and that in any case it will follow “a market approach.” And more: “Attempting to use this multilateral agenda as a tool to advance specific policies conflicts with the freedom of nations, with the individual rights of their members, and even with the agenda itself, which should be understood in a way that respects national policies and priorities.”

According to Lula, “those who sit around this table have a responsibility to fight this scourge that shames humanity. This is why we have made building the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty a central goal of Brazil’s G20 presidency. This will be our greatest legacy. This is not just about restoring justice, but also a prerequisite for building a more prosperous society and world peace.”

Pope Francis, in a message sent to the G20 through Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, insisted that “a long-term vision and strategy are needed to effectively fight malnutrition.” The alliance could begin by implementing the Holy See’s long-standing proposal to redirect funds currently allocated for arms and other military spending to a global fund designed to fight hunger and promote development in the poorest countries.” Parolin went on to say, bringing the voice of the pontiff: “When financial speculation manipulates the price of food, treating it like any other commodity, millions of people suffer and die of hunger. Tons of food are thrown away in the process. It’s a real scandal. Hunger is criminal; food is an inalienable right.”