TERRE HAUTE —
In a world of plenty, people still go hungry, and the Christian response is to help.
Dozens gathered inside the Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church South Campus on Sunday evening for a presentation by retired Indiana State University professor Dr. Bill Dando, titled “Food, Famine and the Christian Responsibility.”
In addition to parishioners, local growers joined with members of the Wabash Valley Master Gardeners, invited by Senior Pastor Aaron Wheaton, who recalled first hearing Dando speak to the issue in March.
“I didn’t know about the drought back in March,” Wheaton said. “But I thought it would be a good topic to talk about, so I scheduled him for August.”
And those months in between have provided much to consider in light of a drought many feel to be the worst in recent history, he noted. But whether it’s here or elsewhere on Earth, the Christian response to hunger is universal.
“Sharing. I think it involves sharing our blessings with other parts of the world,” Wheaton said before the speech.
And for the most part, Dando — who has more than 22 books, 72 articles and two atlases to his publishing credit — agreed.
“The Christian response is to help,” he said.
True famine, he explained, is a much more complex issue than simple lack of food and is never caused by drought alone.
“We’ve never had a famine in the U.S., by the way,” he said, pointing out the rarity of that fact. Few countries can claim that, he said, adding the drought of 2012 will certainly produce a food crisis in 2013, and this will impact the poor.
But not in the extreme manner seen in other nations.
Three true famines are under way at present, he said, citing Ethiopia, Mongolia and parts of the Andes Mountains as current examples. And even though global production of food is ample to provide for all of its 7 billion inhabitants, more than 40 percent is wasted, resulting in nearly 6.5 billion people being “food insecure.”
And though situated in the middle of the U.S., Terre Haute is among those areas suffering food insecurity, he said. Despite being home to five institutions of higher education, the state’s wealthiest bankers and the owners of the Indianapolis 500, the town has numerous hungry people, all lacking adequate food supply, he said.
But in his study spanning 6,000 years of famine and food shortages, Dando said it’s become apparent that much can be done to remedy the situation.
Droughts, he said, do not cause famine. Human policies and actions are to blame.
The good news, he pointed out, is that humans can likewise reverse those decisions at will, making the Christian response to help all the more important.
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Related Photos
-
Tribune-Star/Bob Poynter Author: Dr. Bill Dando talks about his most recent book before speaking at Mount Pleasant Church on Sunday evening.
Discussion
World’s famines pose critical issues for religious, scholar says
- Local & Bistate
-
-
I-5 bridge collapses in Northwest Washington.; people in water
The Washington State Patrol says the Interstate 5 bridge over the Skagit River at Mount Vernon has collapsed, dumping vehicles and people into the water.
-
UPDATE: I-70 lanes in Putnam County now open
The west-bound lanes of Interstate 70 re-opened Thursday evening after being temporarily closed due to a crash near the Greencastle/Cloverdale exit.
-
22-hospital St. Vincent Health cutting jobs
INDIANAPOLIS — One of Indiana’s largest health systems says it’s cutting an undisclosed number of jobs by June 30 because of increasing economic and competitive pressure on the health care industry.
-
Update: Cleanup from overturned truck in Greene County continues
Fuel spillage from the dump truck hauling gravel that overturned this morning in Greene County at Indiana 54 and County Road 725 East near Ridgeport continues to restrict traffic to one lane.
-
17-pound bone found during Vigo flood cleanup
TERRE HAUTE — Crews cleaning up from Wabash River flooding in Vigo County came across a 17-pound bone that they believe might have come from an ancient mastodon.
-
Duke Energy gives $10K to Wabash Valley Red Cross for Vigo flood relief
Duke Energy is giving $10,000 to the Wabash Valley Red Cross chapter for flood relief from this spring’s heavy rains.
-
I-70 Frye Road overpass contract awarded; construction to begin May 28
The Indiana Department of Transportation has announced the Interstate-70 Frye Road overpass contract was awarded to Halverson Construction Co. Inc. from Springfield, Ill., for $317,166.
-
Banks of the Wabash Festival is more than just yearly entertainment
Pioneers think counterintuitively. Where others see widespread apathy, they focus on the possibility for progress. In a way, the 2013 Year of the River celebration began in the 1970s.
-
Planning session aims to better Terre Haute
It’s not yet clear what will come of it, but dozens of community leaders spent the whole day Wednesday trying to develop a plan – or collection of plans – to make Terre Haute “a better community.”
-
Education funding boost won’t benefit all schools
In the budget bill passed by the General Assembly last month, there is more money allocated for K-12 education over the next two years, but that doesn’t mean every school will get more dollars.
- Day of Action job options open
-
Park Board renames land around Memorial Stadium
Land surrounding Indiana State University’s Memorial Stadium on Terre Haute’s east side has been designated as Veterans Memorial Park, following a unanimous vote Wednesday from the Terre Haute Park Board.
-
Deputy suffers minor injury during incident
A Vigo County Sheriff’s deputy received a minor injury to his hand Tuesday night while subduing a drunken driving suspect who fled behind a North Terre Haute business.
-
Man accused of child neglect gets new trial date
An Oct. 15 trial date has been set for a Terre Haute man arrested in November for child neglect after he and his wife allegedly tied up and confined their adopted children in the family home.
-
Police find meth labs, arrest Pierson Township man
Police uncovered two active methamphetamine labs in southeastern Vigo County on Monday, leading to the arrest of a Pierson Township man.
-
New date set for attempted murder trial
A new trial date has been set for a Terre Haute woman charged with attempted murder.
-
Illinois Senate approves sex education bill
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A proposal that revamps sex education in Illinois public schools to include information about contraception and sexually transmitted diseases has cleared the state Senate.
-
Gregg pondering 2nd run for Indiana governor
INDIANAPOLIS — Former Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Gregg is pondering another run at the state's top job, but has yet to make a decision.
-
Illinois senator apologizes for Nazi remark
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois Sen. Donne Trotter has apologized for remarks that compared a member of Gov. Pat Quinn’s cabinet to a Nazi.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: May 22, 2013
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Tuesday and Wednesday, based on jail records.
-
Rose-Hulman professor researching ways to make homes storm safe
Tornadoes produce greater uplift forces than hurricanes, which can flatten homes such as in Moore Okla., south of Oklahoma City.
-
Group wants to connect downtown Terre Haute with the Wabash River
Fairbanks Park is underutilized.
The Wabash River is peaceful and inviting, but there is some concern about its cleanliness as well as pollution levels. Also, people can’t get on the river unless they have a boat. -
New conservancy district appoints first directors
Members of the first board of directors of a new lake conservancy district were appointed Tuesday by the Vigo County Board of Commissioners.
-
Vigo law enforcement signs Triad charter to protect seniors
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller joined Vigo County law enforcement and community activists Tuesday to sign the county’s first Triad charter, becoming the 22nd Triad in Indiana.
-
Wabash Valley Red Cross wraps up Save the Day Campaign
The American Red Cross Wabash Valley Chapter’s 2013 annual meeting concluded the 17th annual Save the Day Campaign, and the results lifted the spirits of all who were involved.
-
Some Vigo roads washed out
Spring storms resulted in $250,000 in damages to roads in southern Vigo County, with costs including sand and labor to save homes near river bottoms, said county highway Assistant Superintendent Dan Bennett.
-
County Council votes $78K toward rail spur
County officials voted Tuesday night to make good on a 2011 promise to help improve a railroad spur just north of Terre Haute for Menard Inc.
-
Spring flooding damages future CSO holding lagoon
Flood waters from the Wabash River have done costly damage to one of the city-owned “lagoons” on former International Paper property.
-
Vigo tops state average for IREAD-3 scores
The Vigo County School Corp. exceeded the state average in the percentage of students passing the state’s mandatory Grade 3 reading test, IREAD-3.
-
Storms cause minor damage in Valley
Tuesday morning storms in the Wabash Valley caused thousands of Duke Energy customers to lose power.
- More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
I-5 bridge collapses in Northwest Washington.; people in water
Johnson: Don't Blame Islam or UK Policy
Raw: Scuffles in London After Hacking Death
Chain-Reaction School Bus Crash Injures About 50
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
Raw: 80-Year-Old Climbs Mount Everest
Texas Students Coach Teachers on Fitness
Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam
Wash. State Man Arrested Following Ricin Scare
Obama Offers Drone Strike Defense
Raw: Heckler Interrupts Obama on Guantanamo
Meet MJ, the Bike Riding Tabby Cat
New Forecasting Tool Eyed for Hurricane Season
Oklahoma Family Reflects on Lost Son
A Slice of Apple History Up for Grabs
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
Today in History May 23
Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Shakira's Shocking Talent
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape
Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public
Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls
Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
