Living Below The Line

I’ve taken part in the Live Below the Line campaign over the past week because I think that to really tackle extreme poverty, we've got to try to understand it - and what better way than by spending just a few days living below the poverty line. Live Below the Line is an initiative of the Global Poverty Project, an education and campaigning organisation whose mission is to increase the number and effectiveness of people taking action against extreme poverty.





Breaking the cycle of extreme poverty is not easy. In 2000 world leaders agreed to eight Millennium Development Goals -

1. Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger
2. Achieve Universal Education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Improve maternal health
6. Combat HIV/Aids
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
8. Develop a global partnership for development

Of course my time limited and supported effort is only a token gesture. I’ve got body reserves to draw on and I know it is going to be over in a few days. For people living in extreme poverty there is not such expectation. The support I’ve had from friends and colleges has made it that much easier, although a few people have tempted me with bacon sandwiches! It is such a serious issue and unless we all do a part in addressing the millennium development goals they will remain just that goals.

Hunger kills more people than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. Two million children die each year because of malnutrition. The food system is broken.

The world produces enough food for everyone, but not everyone has enough food.

Nearly one billion people go to bed hungry every night. We've made progress in other areas, but hunger is the great scandal of our age. All around the world, including in the UK, people are struggling to feed their families.

The past week has made me realise just how much we spend on unnecessary or luxury foods. I have not eaten well, I’ve relied on carbohydrates to keep me full, but I have eaten. I have not had to budget for shelter, clothing, or any of the other essentials but I have felt marginalised as I walk around town or watch the adverts on the TV. All those “Cheep” offers are way out of my budget and I felt that this made me even less part of society. What must it be like to be in that position all the time?

Thank you to all who have supported me ( it is not too late to make a donation just click HERE )  and through that support made a difference to the people who most need it. Together we can score a win for each of the millennium development goals.