風蕭蕭_Frank
以文會友
“英國人吃不飽 法國人吃不飽 美國人吃不飽”
來源：京港台：2023-7-2 10:24| 來源：玖奌雜貨鋪
西方發達國家，終於要麵臨吃不飽飯這個嚴重問題了。
One in seven Britons faced hunger in 2022, says food bank charity
By James Davey
Summary
11.3 mln Britons faced hunger in 2022
3 mln food parcels provided by Trussell Trust in 2022/23 year
Ineffective social security system blamed
LONDON, June 28 (Reuters) - One in seven people in the United Kingdom faced hunger last year because they did not have enough money, according to a report published on Wednesday by food bank charity the Trussell Trust.
It said this equates to 11.3 million people, more than double the population of Scotland, and blamed a dysfunctional social security system, as well as a cost of living crisis that is showing little sign of easing.
Britain is the world's sixth-biggest economy but its citizens have been pressured for more than a year by high inflation which has outstripped pay growth for almost all workers.
Government forecasters estimate UK households are in the midst of the biggest two-year squeeze in living standards since comparable records started in the 1950s.
The Trussell Trust's network of 1,300 food bank centres across the UK provided a record 3 million food parcels in the year to March, up 37% and more than double the amount provided five years ago.
"This consistent upward trajectory exposes that it is weaknesses in the social security system that are driving food bank need, rather than just the pandemic or cost of living crisis," it said.
The charity said that 7% of the UK population was supported by charitable food support, including food banks, yet 71% of people facing hunger had not yet accessed any form of charitable food support.
It also noted that one in five people forced to turn to food banks in its network are in a working household and called on the UK government to ensure the benefits system covers essential costs.
“We know people are struggling, which is why we’re providing record financial support worth an average 3,300 pounds ($4,206) per household," said a spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions in response to the report.
The government has also raised benefits and the state pension in line with inflation, increased the minimum wage and supported families with food, energy and other essential costs, said the spokesperson.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's key economic pledge to halve overall inflation in 2023 before a probable 2024 election has been undermined by persistently high food inflation, outpacing the broader inflation rate across the whole economy and adding strain to household budgets already stretched by higher taxes and mortgage rates.
Food and drink inflation was running at 18.3% in May according to the most recent official data, and 14.6% in June according to the most recent industry data.
On Tuesday, British supermarket executives rejected allegations they were profiteering at the expense of consumers through the cost of living crisis.
Soaring food prices have contributed to the biggest squeeze on living standards in Britain since records began in the 1950s, and prompted questions about who is responsible. Trade unions and politicians have accused the supermarkets of "greedflation", saying they've been too slow in passing on lower producer prices to consumers.
($1 = 0.7846 pounds)
Reporting by James Davey; Editing by Aurora Ellis
16% of French people do not have enough to eat, according to Credoc
https://newsinfrance.com/16-of-french-people-do-not-have-enough-to-eat-according-to-credoc/
By Emma Confrere May 17, 2023
In 2016, half of consumers still bought all the food they wanted, they are now only a third today. stock.adobe.com
This figure even climbs to 24% for those under 40. In question, prices that continue to increase on the shelves of supermarkets.
If thefood inflation continues to climb, to 15.9% over one year in March, some French people can no longer eat properly. This is the alarming finding drawn by the Research Center for the Study and Observation of Living Conditions (Credoc) in its latest study. At the end of last year, 16% of French people said they could not eat enough. In just five months, this share has jumped by four points.
The French no longer have enough to eat, and are restricting themselves more and more. In 2016, half of consumers still bought all the food they wanted, they are now only a third today. For the Credoc, there is no secret, “high inflation, particularly for food products, explains at least in part the increase in this form of precariousness. Three quarters of the people concerned cite the lack of money as the reason for their situation.“. The increase in other expenditure items, such as fuel, also led to a restriction in the food item.
Read alsoHave the prices of the anti-inflation basket really fallen by 13%, as the government claims?
A statement shared by distributors, such as Michel-Edouard Leclerc, president of the Leclerc centers, on May 10 on BFM TV: “Good meat today is not sold, it is considered too expensive, fish too.In addition to food insecurity, there are also other forms of fragility: 52% of people lacking food also impose restrictions on medical care. The Crédoc also highlights that it is the French under 40 who are the most affected, at 24%, against 7% of 60-69 year olds.
More Than One in Five US Adults Experienced Food Insecurity in the Early Weeks of the Pandemic
New data from a nationally representative survey of nonelderly adults conducted between March 25 and April 10 show the COVID-19 pandemic has already taken a significant toll on families’ abilities to meet basic needs, especially their ability to afford an adequate diet.
- Just over two in five nonelderly adults (41.5 percent) reported their families lost jobs, work hours, or work-related income because of the pandemic. Job and income losses are widespread but more prevalent among the families of low-income and Hispanic adults.
- In response to the crisis, 30.6 percent of adults reported their families reduced spending on food; 46.5 percent of those who lost work or income reported doing so.
- Food insecurity, defined as limited or uncertain availability of a nutritionally adequate diet, was the most commonly reported hardship among all adults and among adults in families who lost work or income. More than one in five (21.9 percent) report their household has experienced food insecurity in the previous 30 days; the proportion increases to nearly one in three (29.6 percent) among families who lost work or income.
Even in better times, food insecurity disproportionately affects low-income Hispanic and black adults, and these disparities are pronounced in the survey results.
Adults in households reporting income below the federal poverty level (FPL) and those with incomes between 100 and 250 percent of the FPL report food insecurity rates at 57.5 percent and 31.0 percent, respectively. Non-Hispanic black and Hispanic adults were more than twice as likely to report food insecurity in the past 30 days as white adults (33.9 percent and 33.3 percent, versus 16.3 percent).
Although survey data are not available for American Indian/Native American households, many in these communities already struggle with food insecurity. Emerging evidence suggests some are also at high risk of being hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
These data are particularly concerning in light of increasing evidence that the pandemic is disproportionately affecting the health of communities of color.
How can we keep families fed?
Federal and state policymakers have taken action to ramp up the federal nutrition program response to the pandemic. But the extent of material hardship suggests a very robust response will be needed for a very long time—well beyond the official end of the public health emergency.
Potential policy solutions include:
- Further boosting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for all households—including the maximum benefit, given that research shows the maximum per meal benefit doesn’t cover the cost of a low-income meal in 99 percent of US counties. Many proposals have called for a 15 percent increase of the maximum monthly SNAP benefit until the economy shows signs of sufficient recovery, as well as a boost in the minimum benefit from $16 to $30 per month. These proposals build on evidence from the boost in SNAP benefits during the Great Recession, which helped buffer food insecurity during a period of prolonged hardship.
- Extending nationwide waivers permitting schools and other organizations to provide flexible assistance to families with children through existing child nutrition programs. Currently, these waivers are set to expire on June 30. But need is expected to persist throughout the summer, and thus, waivers will need to be extended until the fall.
- Supporting broader implementation of Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT), which enables states to disperse monthly benefits equal to the value of school meals to families with children via an existing EBT card (such as SNAP) or a newly issued EBT card for the many families not enrolled in SNAP who would still qualify for free or reduced price lunch. But as states struggle to manage the rapid increase in SNAP applications and uncertain availability of EBT cards, there may be delays in issuing new cards, so multiple strategies to support households with kids may be necessary.
- Waiving SNAP work requirements for college students. Students enrolled at least part time in college and who don't meet other exceptions (such as having a disability or a child who requires care) must be enrolled in the Federal Work-Study Program or work a minimum of 20 hours a week to receive SNAP benefits. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act waived work requirements for SNAP participants subject to these requirements, but the same consideration was not put forward for students who lost employment. Students may be more vulnerable to food insecurity than other adults in the wake of a recession, and although some students may receive emergency aid through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, this support varies by the institution they attend, both in amount and timing.
- Avoiding implementation of rules that would restrict access to SNAP, including reinstating work requirements while unemployment is high (currently, requirements are only suspended until the end of the public health emergency) or proposed changes to SNAP eligibility rules and expense deductions.
These new data show levels of food insecurity among nonelderly adults were already high early in the pandemic response, especially among those who reported losing jobs or income.
As people are encouraged to stock up on food and limit trips to grocery stores, food insecurity is a critical aspect of the current public health crisis. If more families are unable to afford enough food and meet other basic needs during the pandemic, they and their communities may face adverse health consequences in both the short and long term.
New Food Banks Canada Research Shows 7 Million Canadians Report Going Hungry
BY Food Banks Canada 06 Jun, 2022
23% of Canadians Report Eating "Less than They Should" Due to Rising Inflation
61% Believe the Cost of Housing is Now the Biggest Contributor to Food Insecurity in Canada
TORONTO, June 6, 2022 /CNW/ - More Canadians report they are facing hunger and food insecurity due to rising inflation and housing costs, according to newly released data from Food Banks Canada.
The nation's leading charitable organization that's focused on relieving hunger today and preventing hunger tomorrow, Food Banks Canada's data shows that one-in-five (an estimated 7 million) Canadians now report going hungry — with 23% reporting that they are eating less "than they think they should" because there isn't enough money for food.
"This summer will be the toughest Canada's food banks have ever experienced in our 41 year history," explains Food Banks Canada's newly-appointed CEO Kirstin Beardsley, "The majority of food banks in every region of Canada are already stretched to their limits, with demand expected to remain high throughout the summer months as more and more Canadians struggle to cope with rising inflation," says Beardsley. According to Beardsley, 61% of Canadians now believe that rising housing costs are the biggest barrier that is preventing Canadians from being able to afford food, a sentiment that has doubled in the past year alone.
- 1-in-5 Canadians (7 million people) report going hungry at least once between March 2020 - March 20221
- 1-in-3 Canadians who earn less than 50,000 a year; report instances of not having enough money for food between March 2020 – March 20221
- 43% of Indigenous individuals
- 23% report eating less than they believe they should because there wasn't enough money for food1
-
- 40% for those earning under $50,000 a year
- 45% for Indigenous households
- 43% for Black households
- 61% of Canadians see the "cost of housing" to be the largest financial obstacle preventing Canadians from being able to afford food; a number that has almost doubled (46%) in the past year alone2
Typically, food banks across Canada see an easing of demand during the summer months, but according to Beardsley, food bankers on the frontlines are reporting no signs of slow-downs.
"Food banks in most regions of Canada are experiencing an influx of Canadians visiting food banks for the first time — a number that's increased by up to 25% in some regions, which we haven't seen since the first few months of the pandemic," explains Beardsley, adding that food banks are also reporting that they are seeing former food bank clients forced to return, after 5 or more years of not having to rely on food banks to get by.
"The biggest sign that inflation is seriously impacting hunger and food insecurity in Canada, is that the reasons why people say they are coming to food banks is changing," says Beardsley. "In the past, people would turn to food banks during times of job loss, or due to lower wages — but over the past six months, Canadians are telling us that they are running out of money for food because of rising housing, gas, energy and food costs. That's an indication that we need to find new longer-term solutions to fight hunger and food insecurity."
"Canada's outdated social reforms are failing to keep pace with the new pressures of inflation and dramatically rising housing costs that are affecting every region of the country. Food Banks Canada research shows that Canadians believe hunger and food insecurity is unacceptable in Canada. It's time to tackle hunger at its root causes by improving access to affordable housing and piloting innovative, long-term income supports," says Beardsley, adding that Food Banks Canada encourages concerned Canadians to support their local food banks who are stretched to the limit.
About 5.6 Million People in Absolute Poverty in Italy
Poverty has increased more in the north of the country, where the cost of living is higher
ISTAT said Wednesday that 5.6 million people in Italy were living in conditions of absolute poverty in 2021, adding that this meant the scale of the problem remained at the record level registered the previous year.
The national statistics agency said 9.4% of the population was in absolute poverty, the same level as in 2020. It said 1.4 million minors, 14.2% of the population under 18, were living in conditions of poverty. It said 1.9 million households in Italy were in absolute poverty.
Although the number of poor families have grown, according to Istat, the measures introduced by the government to counter the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic – benefits, emergency income, layoffs – have helped limit the crisis’ impact on them.
Poverty has increased more in the north of the country, where the cost of living is higher, although in absolute terms the south remains more affected.
According to Maurizio Landini, the secretary of Italy’s main trade union, the left-wing CGIL, “poverty increases because one is poor even when working.” In Italy “there is too much precarious work,” he added.
饑餓的滋味，我是嚐過的。小時候，還曾經餓暈過一次，把家裏人嚇的夠嗆，以為得了啥大病。碰巧有一鄰居是學醫的，說這是餓的，給喂點米湯後醒過來了。
英國、法國總人口均超過6千萬，美國總人口超過3億。無論是七分之一還是六分之一，或者25%的成年人，這吃不飽飯的人，都不是一個小數字。
看到上麵的這些數字，我有些吃驚。沒想到啊，這些西方發達國家，如今都窘迫到這種地步了。
有哪些國家會挨餓呢，網上有人是這樣說的：“誰惹我們，誰就吃不飽飯。”
英國、法國、美國有很多人吃不飽飯，其他發達國家也好不到哪裏去，意大利有約560萬國民生活在絕對貧困條件下，五分之一的瑞士家庭處於貧困。
瑞士的貧困線標準線是年收入3.8萬瑞郎，約合人民幣(專題)26萬元。
三年前，知乎上有個話題，假如美帝崩潰了，中國普通人如何才能最大獲益？
當時我還寫過一篇文章，勸這些網友不要這麽心急，好好過自己的日子，別急不可耐地想著美國崩潰的事。現在看來，是我膚淺了。照媒體報道的這個情況，美國25%的成年人連飯都吃不飽，崩潰看來是指日可待的事了。
數千年來，老百姓吃得飽都是一種奢望，“人類的曆史就是饑餓者尋覓食物的曆史”（房龍《人類的故事》）。
饑餓是一件很可怕的事情，“衣食足而知榮辱，倉廩足則知禮節”，饑餓的年代，很容易使人性喪失。在清朝人撰寫的《晉災淚盡圖》中，有講述一個“客居新喪，噤不敢哭”的恐怖故事：
一位商人因為妻子死了而哭泣，這時有路人過來勸說：不要哭了，別人聽到會過來搶著吃掉的。商人不相信，第二天將妻子的墳墓挖開後，果然隻剩下了一堆骨頭。
中國人能敞開了肚皮的吃飽飯，也就是這近幾十年的事。在上世紀八十年代以前，實行糧食統購統銷政策，吃飯要糧票，買糖得有糖票，每家每戶冬天能買多少煤，也都是定量供給的。
隨著改革開放，發展市場經濟，物資慢慢豐富起來。到1993年取消糧食票供應，糧油不再是“緊俏”商品，實現敞開供應，隻要你用錢去買，想吃多少就吃多少。
從1993年到今天，也才30年。現在的好日子來之不易。有一些人沒有嚐過苦日子，不願意好好珍惜。
以前我一直以為金燦榮胡錫進胡鞍剛陳平這些名人滿嘴跑火車，現在看來，我小看了他們，他們其實才是聰明人，或者說，滿嘴跑火車又豈止他們。
