Reflecting Redemption

Humanity has almost eradicated famine. We’ve invented — in ways that would astound our ancestors — gadgets and machines to make our lives easier. Yet, why has there been no significant improvement or evolution in human character?

In August of last year, it was reported that except in war zones, famines have all but disappeared worldwide.

The claim is spelled out in the article, “How humanity won the war on famine,” published on a website called HumanProgress (HP). The article says that food security increased significantly during the second half of the 20th century. “The global average population-weighted food supply per person rose from 2,225 calories in 1961 to 2,882 calories in 2013,” according to the article. Even in sub-Saharan Africa, “food supply rose from 2,004 calories in 1961 to 2,465 calories in 2013,” the article said, adding that “the world’s poorest region enjoys access to food that is roughly equivalent to that of the Portuguese in the early 1960s.”

Assuming the news about famine is accurate, it must be described as both good news and progress.

The trouble is, however, we still know about hungry people.

A United Nations report from 2018...