Having food is a right, not a luxury
IT SHOULD be a given in a so-called civilised society that its citizens have enough to eat.
This most basic of human needs should be considered a fundamental right, not a luxury. But in a highly-developed nation like ours, in a bustling 21st century city like Plymouth, for people to be in danger of going hungry because they cannot afford food is nothing short of shameful. Yet the reality is that today, in households across our city, men, women and children are depending on handouts from Plymouth Foodbank. The scale of how many people are in this situation was highlighted in the Commons by city MP Alison Seabeck – who hammered home the message directly to the Prime Minister himself. The Plymouth Moor View Labour MP told David Cameron: "The Plymouth Foodbank does a fantastic job supporting families in difficult situations to ensure that people are able to feed themselves. But it is truly shocking that in the United Kingdom, in 2012, that over 4,000 families now depend on the generosity of their fellow Plymouth residents to be able to eat." We echo her sentiments. That should concern all of us, but what is equally worrying is that the project coordinator of Plymouth Foodbank has highlighted that one of the problems facing many people is that a change in the benefits system means some are not receiving financial help for four to six weeks. If this is so, it is a disgrace. In a country like ours, for people to be relying on food handouts should give all of us pause for thought. Each of us needs to do what we can to help, and if the State is not able to provide adequate help then we should. We, as individuals, should examine what we can do to alleviate this situation in any way possible. No one should go hungry in Plymouth – let's make sure they don't.
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Comments
by Peter20113
Thursday, June 14 2012, 4:57PM
“I am afraid it is down to some peoples priorities.
An interesting statistic from todays news.
There are now less children in poverty because the median wage has fallen in the UK this year!”
by northernchimp
Thursday, June 14 2012, 1:47PM
“Having been to Wetherspoons during the day, I suspect I'm not the only one to think that not every one of the 4,000 actually needs the food bank handouts. I suspect they are using the food bank to free up money for other stuff. And that is very different.
Maybe I'm ignorant and people are budgeting properly and are still close to starving but I doubt it. The 4-6 week gap in benefits is the real scandal in all of this. There is no real safety net when a part time workers hours are suddenly cut, lost job etc.. and that is ridiculous.”
by itar5127
Thursday, June 14 2012, 12:38PM
“Food is a right? - Not according to the CSA, likewise where to live or reasonable living (and I do not own a blackberry/apple/other piece of fruiting body). Try paying a mortgage and living in the South West - at 30% gross taken net, the CSA mugging its enough to make you cry.”
by whinger7643
Thursday, June 14 2012, 10:54AM
“Spot on josdave.”
by josdave
Thursday, June 14 2012, 9:42AM
“While it is true that many people are struggling to feed themselves and their families (and these should be helped) there are far too many who spend a disproportionate amount of their benefit money on lifestyle to the extent that their children are not fed properly. Cars, holidays,Blackberrys etc are not essential when money is tight and parents who can't see that should be told that children are a priority.”