G-8 Ate; Hunger on the Menu (Not)
July 9, 2008
How does this news article strike you?
WORLD leaders sparked fury yesterday [Tuesday] as they discussed a growing global famine – while enjoying a lavish eight-course banquet.
They were served 19 dishes during the sumptuous meal served up at the G8 Summit at the luxury Windsor Hotel overlooking Lake Toya, Japan.
Sixty of Japan’s top chefs were flown in to prepare the feast, which included one starter that contained nine different foods.
For the main course, they tucked in to milk-fed lamb, flavoured with aromatic herbs and mustard and accompanied by black truffles.
It was all washed down with fine wine, Le Reve Grand Cru Brut champagne and the finest sake.
Save the Children’s Dominic Nutt said: “It is deeply hypocritical they should be lavishing course after course on world leaders when there is a food crisis and millions cannot afford to eat.
“If the G8 want to betray the hopes of a generation of children, they are going the right way about it. The food crisis is an emergency and the G8 must treat it as that.”
Reminds me of AlGore and his massive energy consumption while preaching for us all to cut back. Hypocrites.
July 9, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Interesting observation. My immediate reaction was to apply this same criteria to myself and those in my community. Is it hypocritical for me to enjoy fine cuisine when there are people who rely on the food shelf and Angel Food Ministry in our community?
On the one hand, I don’t think the problem of poverty and hunger requires those who can afford food to eat only beans and rice. We can support legitimate enjoyment of food seen as a lavish gift of God.
On the other hand, our greatest extravagance should be in service to sharing our food with others. We can both enjoy the gift of food and be radical in our generosity and hospitality.
And maybe another perspective is: there is a time for feasting and a time for fasting. Maybe in the case of a G8 conferences like the one mentioned here, the time was right for fasting.
July 9, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Wes, of course I was not implying that since there are the hungry all around all of us that we should make ourselves hungry as well. No, it is not hypocritical to enjoy a good meal even when people rely on the food shelf, etc.
I think you understood my point. Their meeting was about world hunger. Feed the Hungry got it right.
Eat, yes. Eat a nice meal. Fine. But eat the way they did, at a summit on hunger? Hmmmm.
July 9, 2008 at 3:01 pm
By the way, I like your creative title! I am really interesting about the intersection of faith and food, and I’m working on a few articles for publication. I would love your feedback when those get in more finished form. I justed posted a few quotes from Eugene Peterson on my blog that great food for thought…
http://wesvanderlugt.wordpress.com/
Thanks again for the post.
July 9, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Hey, I try for a bit of levity. BTW, “feedback” on articles on “faith and food?” And, “great food for thought?” Puns abound.