Food, water, and shelter are the basic needs of humanity. These necessities are essential for human survival, and every individual has the right to access them. Sadly, the world we live in today is rife with injustices related to access to these basic necessities, and many people are being slowly deprived of them while others go wasting them. I would like to analyze how the injustice of food, water, and shelter is affecting humanity, and furnish examples to illustrate this fact so that maybe something can be done about it, instead of just talking.
11 April 2023 | Imran Siddiqui | Justice News | Washington D.C.
Food
Food is one of the most basic needs of human beings, and access to it is a fundamental human right. However, despite the abundance of food in many parts of the world, hunger and malnutrition are widespread and long-standing problems that so many rich or poor countries can't seem to fix despite all their advancements in science and technology.
According to the World Food Programme, more than 820 million people around the world suffer from chronic hunger, and 2 billion people lack access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food. What a shameful situation to be in for the caretakers of the world.
Many factors contribute to this injustice, including government and corporate-run financial systems that only enrich the poor while others transition to poverty, conflict, climate disasters, and inequality.
In Yemen, a country that has been ravaged by war for years, more than 20 million people are facing a humanitarian crisis, with many of them suffering from severe hunger. The war has disrupted food production and distribution, and the cost of food has skyrocketed, making it unaffordable for many Yemenis. As a result, many people are resorting to eating leaves, wild plants, and even garbage to survive. Imagine if this happened in America or Canada.
Water
Water is another essential need of human beings, and access to clean and safe drinking water is a basic human right. However, more than 2 billion people around the world lack access to safe drinking water, and water scarcity is becoming an increasingly pressing issue. This injustice is often linked to poverty, climate, wars, lack of sanitation, and poor governance.
For instance, in India, a country that is home to more than 1.3 billion people, many rural communities do not have access to clean drinking water. In some cases, people have to walk several kilometers to fetch water from a distant source, which is often contaminated and unsafe. This puts a huge burden on women and girls, who are often responsible for collecting water for their families. In addition, the demand for water is increasing as the population grows, leading to conflicts over water resources.
Shelter
Shelter is another basic need of human beings, and access to safe and adequate housing is a human right. Yet, many people around the world are deprived of this right, and homelessness is a widespread problem in many countries. Factors such as poverty, conflict, natural disasters, government policies, and discrimination contribute to this injustice.
In the United States, one of the wealthiest countries in the world, homelessness is a major problem. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, more than 580,000 people were homeless on a single night in 2020. Many of these people are families with children, and they face a range of challenges, including a lack of access to basic services, poor health outcomes, and social isolation. In addition, homelessness is often linked to systemic inequalities, such as racism and discrimination against marginalized groups.
The injustice of food, water, and shelter is a pressing problem that affects millions of people around the world. This injustice is often connected to poverty, conflict, wars, climate, natural disasters, harmful government policies, and inequality, and it requires a concerted effort from governments, organizations, and individuals to address. It is essential to recognize that access to these basic necessities is a fundamental human right and that everyone has the freedom to live with dignity and security. Only by working together, people can ensure that these rights are upheld and that all people have access to the basic necessities they need simply to exist on this earth.
How can food water, and shelter be made easily available and accessible to all human beings?
Providing access to food, water, and shelter for all human beings is a monumental task that requires the cooperation of all governments, organizations, and individuals around the world. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, there are a number of initiatives that can be implemented to make these basic necessities easily available and accessible to all.
Let’s examine some examples of how to achieve these goals.
Food:
Implementing policies to reduce poverty and inequality, such as higher minimum wage laws, zero taxation on people, higher taxes on corporations, and social safety nets, can help to ensure that everyone has the means to access food.
Promoting endurable agriculture and food systems can help to ensure that there is enough nutritious food available for everyone while minimizing the impact on the environment and resources. This can be achieved through initiatives such as agroforestry, free natural seed distribution, crop diversification, local regenerative agriculture, and the de-corporatization of food.
Supporting farm-to-home programs, food banks, community gardens, rooftop gardens, desert gardens, city gardens, control over food price hikes, and sudden spikes in the costs to transport goods, and other local and national initiatives to not allow food to be used as a weapon can help to provide access to fresh and healthy food for people who are struggling to afford it.
Water:
Investing in water infrastructure, such as pipelines, pumps, and treatment plants, can help to ensure that everyone has access to safe and clean drinking water. Implementation of new technology that improves the methods by which we use natural water systems to benefit the people and families, not just the corporations.
Promoting water conservation and efficiency, such as through the use of low-flow advanced toilets and showerheads, reduction in the overall wastage of water, and diverging water resources to the poorer areas can help to reduce the monopoly over water and ensure that it is available for everyone to use.
Encouraging the development of alternative sources of water, such as rainwater and stormwater harvesting, captured condensate, and desalination of seawater, can help to ensure that water is available even in areas where it is scarce.
Shelter:
Building eco-friendly affordable housing and ensuring that it is accessible to all can provide everyone with safe and adequate shelter. This can be achieved through initiatives such as Tiny House initiatives, rent-to-own home programs, rent control, subsidies for low-income housing, and zoning regulations that require all developers to include affordable housing in all their projects.
Addressing the root causes of homelessness, such as poverty, mental illness, and addiction, can help to reduce the number of people who are without shelter. This can be achieved through initiatives such as providing access to free mental health and addiction treatment, as well as increasing funding for affordable housing, zero-interest home loans, and social services.
Providing emergency shelters, such as protection for victims of domestic violence, abuse, neglect, or people who have been displaced by natural disasters, can also help to ensure that everyone has a safe place to stay in periods of crisis or in times of peace. Protection against illegal evictions and encroachment can also play a big role.
Ensuring access to food, water, and shelter for all human beings requires a multifaceted approach that addresses the root causes of poverty, government neglect, the corporate takeover of natural resources such as land, agriculture, and water distribution, the deep-rooted issue of inequality, bias, wars, and manmade environmental degradation, which are all collectively responsible for creating this mess. It will require the sincere cooperation of governments, organizations, and individuals around the world, with a strong commitment to upholding the fundamental human rights of all people for these basic necessities to be easily available. By implementing policies and initiatives that promote sustainability, equity, and social justice, you can work towards a future where everyone has access to the basic necessities they need to survive and thrive.
Real-life scenarios that can be implemented across the world
New mechanisms need to be built in order to make food water and shelter easily available to all. Here and some real-life strategies that are currently being implemented across the world, and can be replicated, if anyone is serious.
Food Distribution:
In Brazil, the government has implemented a program called "Zero Hunger" Fome Zero, that provides cash transfers and food subsidies to low-income families, as well as promotes sustainable agriculture and local food production.
In Kenya, a program called "Feed the Future" works with local and small farmers to improve their agricultural practices and increase food production and security, while also providing nutrition education and support to vulnerable populations.
In the United States, community gardens, local food pantries, and urban farms have been established in many cities to provide fresh and healthy food to low-income communities but according to USDA more than 30 million people in America are food insecure and over 9 million of those are children.
Water Distribution:
In India, the government has implemented a program called "Swachh Bharat Abhiyan" Clean India Mission, which aims to improve sanitation and access to clean water, through initiatives such as building better toilets and improving water infrastructure.
In Jordan, a project called "Water Wise Women" provides training and resources to women in rural communities on water use to help them conserve water and improve water management practices.
In South Africa, a program called "Operation Hydrate" delivers water to communities that are experiencing water shortages, particularly during times of drought.
Shelter Distribution:
In Finland, a program called "Housing First" provides homeless individuals with permanent housing and support services, such as mental health and addiction treatment, to help them maintain stable housing and improve their quality of life.
In Canada, the government has implemented a "Rapid Housing Initiative" to provide funding for the construction of affordable housing for vulnerable populations, such as Indigenous peoples and those experiencing homelessness.
In Thailand, the government has implemented a program called "Baan Mankong" a Secure Housing initiative that provides free housing to low-income families, while also providing education and work training to help them improve their economic situation.
These are just a few examples of programs and initiatives that have been implemented around the world to improve access to food, water, and shelter. While each program is tailored to the specific needs and circumstances of the local population, they all share a common goal of promoting sustainability, food equity, and social justice ensuring that everyone has access to the basic necessities they need to live their lives.
If so much is being done then why is there still lack of food water and shelter for people and what can be done about it?
Despite the various efforts to improve access to food, water, and shelter, there is still a significant lack of these basic necessities for many people around the world. There are a number of reasons for this.
Inequality and poverty: In many parts of the world, there is significant inequality and poverty that makes it difficult for people to access these basic necessities. Wealthy individuals and communities often have easier access to food, water, and shelter, while low-income and marginalized populations are left behind.
Environmental degradation: Environmental degradation through wars, pollution, and water contamination is causing disruption in the global food systems. Natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and droughts have decimated food and water supplies and damaged homes and infrastructure.
Political instability and conflict: In areas with political instability and conflict, access to food, water, and shelter can be disrupted, as resources are diverted to military efforts, the population is displaced nationally and the poor are forgotten.
Lack of investment and infrastructure: Many governments and organizations do not invest enough in infrastructure and development, which can lead to a lack of access to clean water, adequate housing, and healthy food.
To improve access to food, water, and shelter, there are many actions that can be taken
Investing in social programs: Governments and organizations must invest in social programs that help to reduce poverty, inequality, and vulnerability, and provide support to vulnerable populations.
Implementing sustainable practices: Sustainable practices can help to protect the environment and ensure that resources are used efficiently, promoting access to food and water for all in the long term.
Building resilient infrastructure: Investing in infrastructure, such as water treatment plants, irrigation systems, and affordable housing, can improve access to these basic necessities and make communities more resilient to natural disasters and other manmade disruptions.
Addressing political instability and conflict: Sincere efforts to resolve conflicts and promote political stability can help to ensure that resources are distributed fairly and that vulnerable populations are protected.
Advocating for change: Individuals can advocate for change by supporting organizations that work to improve access to food, water, and shelter, and by raising awareness about these issues in their communities, their governments, and among policymakers, to bring a collective change.
While progress has been made in improving access to food, water, and shelter, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done. Addressing issues such as inequality in the distribution of resources, poverty, food wastage, environmental degradation, and political instability will require a concerted effort from all governments, organizations, and individuals around the world. By investing in social programs, implementing sustainable practices, building resilient infrastructure, addressing conflicts, and advocating for change, a future can be crafted where everyone has access to the basic necessities they need to live a healthy and decent life.
| Imran Siddiqui is the managing editor at Justice News and the author of The JBlog. Imran's podcast FairPlay Challenging Wrongful Convictions airs on J107Justice Radio