Pact Against Hunger seeks unity to fight waste – 05/24/2023 – Folha Social+

Ministers, politicians, businessmen and civil society leaders met this Tuesday (23) to launch the Pact Against Hunger. The initiative’s goal is to zero the number of Brazilians going hungry in the country by 2030, with the strategy of combating food waste.

Currently, more than 33 million Brazilians have nothing to eat. If other levels of food insecurity are considered, the number reaches 125 million.

Economist Geyze Diniz, who created the initiative, stated that the Pact intends to improve initiatives that already exist, supporting public policies to combat poverty, through social technologies that integrate data and academic research.

By inviting businessmen to participate in the project, Abílio Diniz’s wife recalled Brazil’s return to the UN Hunger Map (United Nations) and the social responsibility in combating waste.

Attending the event, held at Teatro Santander, were representatives of the Lula government (PT), such as ministers Wellington Dias (Development and Social Assistance) and Simone Tebet (Planning and Budget); the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), and the mayor of São Paulo, Ricardo Nunes (MDB).

The governor stated that all political efforts to combat hunger have been in vain. “If we don’t join efforts, we won’t be able to advance”, said Tarcísio.

“Today, we have 107 Bom Prato restaurants. By the end of the year there will be 132, with more than 5 million meals delivered, but even so, we cannot fight hunger. We cannot eradicate this evil”, he said.

Wellington Dias made a speech in a personal tone, claiming to be an example that it is possible to overcome hunger. “If I could win, if my family could win, so can many others.”

For the minister, the country needs to guarantee the qualification of those who are in poverty and extreme poverty and ensure the increase in the minimum wage above inflation to raise income at the base of the social pyramid.

“In 2003, hunger had to do with low schooling,” he said. “It’s very different now. There are 12 million with high school and even higher education who are on CadÚnico and are hungry.”

The minister defended the approval of the fiscal framework and the tax reform to combat poverty and sharply criticized the current interest rate imposed by the Central Bank. “It is not possible to take care of the poor with interest rates of this size,” he said, to applause from the audience.

Tebet, in his speech, followed his colleague and said that the approval of the reform was “fundamental” to reduce the tax burden on the productive sector, enabling job creation and reducing hunger in Brazil.

The minister pointed out that Brazil lacks planning when making public policies. “We put R$ 170 billion in the Ministry of Social Development for Bolsa Família. It is not possible that, even so, we have people in line for the single registration.”

Tebet also highlighted the predominant profile among the most needy. “The poorest face in Brazil is a black woman,” she said. “Only those who live, eat and have leisure on the weekends are citizens. Count on the federal government so that together we can combat Brazil’s greatest shame.”

award as an incentive

The movement also announced the Pact Against Hunger Award, in cooperation with the UN and FAO, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

The goal is to give visibility and recognize initiatives that help fight hunger and food waste.

There will be six prizes worth R$ 100,000 each. This year, registrations are open only for the third sector and must be made by July 10th. Winners will be announced in October this year.

The event also had the participation of civil society leaders who are also co-founders of the movement, such as Kiko Afonso, from Ação da Cidadania; David Hertz, from Gastromotiva; Luciana Quintão, from the Food Bank; Preto Zezé and Celso Athayde, from Cufa; and Carola Matarazzo, from Movimento Bem Maior, among others.