{"id":2931,"date":"2021-10-12T15:09:55","date_gmt":"2021-10-12T15:09:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/messenger\/?p=2931"},"modified":"2021-10-12T15:09:56","modified_gmt":"2021-10-12T15:09:56","slug":"el-hambre-en-ecuador-hunger-in-ecuador","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/messenger\/uncategorized\/el-hambre-en-ecuador-hunger-in-ecuador\/","title":{"rendered":"El hambre en Ecuador &#8211; Hunger in Ecuador"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Global Food Initiative manager Jeff Boshart posed a series of questions to Alfredo Merino, Fundaci\u00f3n Brethren y Unida, Ecuador. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Soy un abogado de 55 a\u00f1os, con trayectoria de trabajo como juez especial en el sector p\u00fablico, abogado de organizaciones ind\u00edgenas y de mujeres, miembro del Directorio de la Comisi\u00f3n Ecum\u00e9nica del Derechos Humanos del Ecuador y actualmente el Director Ejecutivo de la <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fbuecuador.org\/en\/fbu-home\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Fundaci\u00f3n Brethren y Unida<\/a> en el Ecuador. Creo que mi vocaci\u00f3n y trabajo en favor de los m\u00e1s pobres en este pa\u00eds siempre han estado relacionados con mi profunda fe cristiana, y mi manera de encontrarme con nuestro Se\u00f1or sirviendo a los dem\u00e1s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u00bfCu\u00e1l es la situaci\u00f3n del hambre en Ecuador y por qu\u00e9 hay gente hambrienta en su pa\u00eds? \u00bfCu\u00e1les son algunas de las causas del hambre?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Actualmente tenemos \u00edndices hist\u00f3ricamente altos de pobreza extrema, desempleo y desnutrici\u00f3n infantil en el Ecuador. Esto es consecuencia de la serie de gobiernos populistas que no han establecido pol\u00edticas de estado para combatir estos flagelos; el derroche de recursos donde la principal intenci\u00f3n ha sido la acumulaci\u00f3n de riqueza para unos pocos a trav\u00e9s de corrupci\u00f3n con dineros del estado y la inhumanidad manifiesta al no considerar las enormes necesidades de la gran mayor\u00eda de la poblaci\u00f3n. Tambi\u00e9n se han disminuido los presupuestos de educaci\u00f3n y salud, e incluso los paup\u00e9rrimos desayunos escolares que antes se otorgaban a una parte de los ni\u00f1os de escuelas p\u00fablicas. Un 30 % de la poblaci\u00f3n tiene menos de un d\u00f3lar diario para alimentaci\u00f3n cuando la canasta b\u00e1sica de alimentos bordea los 400 d\u00f3lares mensuales<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u00bfC\u00f3mo es que hay familias campesinas que no tienen suficiente comida para comer?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dir\u00eda que por varios factores: Hay much\u00edsimas familias campesinas que no son due\u00f1as de la tierra. Hay otras que cultivan su tierra en muy peque\u00f1os espacios lo que no les permite la suficiente diversidad de alimentos ni la posibilidad de comercializar excedentes para tener un ingreso familiar adicional. Tambi\u00e9n hay factores como el cambio clim\u00e1tico que afectan los ciclos de cultivos y adem\u00e1s much\u00edsimas familias sin acceso a agua de riego ni servicios b\u00e1sicos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u00bfCu\u00e1les son algunas de las barreras que impiden que las personas salgan de la pobreza?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">La principal es la falta de acceso a igualdad de oportunidades en educaci\u00f3n, salud, servicios b\u00e1sicos, vivienda y alimentaci\u00f3n. La desigualdad extrema entre los que tienen y los que no tienen. La ausencia de pol\u00edticas de estado para acceso a fuentes de trabajo y vida digna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Durante la pandemia un 35% de estudiantes de los sectores rurales abandonaron sus estudios para trabajar en apoyo a su n\u00facleo familiar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tambi\u00e9n es un factor que un alto porcentaje de los pobres no completan su educaci\u00f3n y se insertan en el grupo de iletrados y personas que desde muy j\u00f3venes trabajan en situaci\u00f3n de informalidad y peligro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u00bfCu\u00e1l es la conexi\u00f3n entre la degradaci\u00f3n ambiental y \/ o el cambio clim\u00e1tico y el hambre?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Es absolutamente directa esta conexi\u00f3n, pues a nivel de todo el planeta siguen avanzando las tierras des\u00e9rticas que no sirven para la producci\u00f3n de alimentos y tambi\u00e9n sigue disminuyendo el acceso al agua dulce con todas las consecuencias en t\u00e9rminos de salud y de producci\u00f3n de la tierra. Tambi\u00e9n ha contribuido el abuso en la utilizaci\u00f3n de qu\u00edmicos, semillas alteradas y apropiaci\u00f3n de tierras agr\u00edcolas de grandes compa\u00f1\u00edas, que han determinado que muchas familias migren a las ciudades en busca de supervivencia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u00bfExiste alguna conexi\u00f3n entre el gobierno ecuatoriano o las pol\u00edticas internacionales y el hambre en su pa\u00eds?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Todos los \u00faltimos gobiernos en Ecuador han propiciado la agricultura convencional, es decir el uso de agroqu\u00edmicos, los latifundios y apropiaci\u00f3n privada de la tierra, la miner\u00eda que ha desvastado tierras comunitarias y contaminado el agua, el ingreso de semillas transg\u00e9nicas que han alterado el uso de semillas hist\u00f3ricamente conservadas, as\u00ed como han descuidado absolutamente a los peque\u00f1os productores campesinos con conocimiento ancestrales, no les han otorgado cr\u00e9ditos de producci\u00f3n , capacitaci\u00f3n ni acceso a ning\u00fan tipo de subsidio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u00bfHay m\u00e1s o menos hambre ahora que hace 20-30 a\u00f1os?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sin duda hay m\u00e1s hambre que hace treinta a\u00f1os, eso lo muestran todas las estad\u00edsticas serias y esto est\u00e1 directamente relacionado con los niveles de violencia interna que son alarmantes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u00bfTiene alguna historia inspiradora o esperanzadora de personas que han salido de la pobreza y ahora est\u00e1n prosperando?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yo creo que la comunidad m\u00e1s cercana a la Fundaci\u00f3n que es la de Picalqu\u00ed es parte de una historia que inspira, pues en base a mucha uni\u00f3n, trabajo coordinado y sacrificios han ido avanzando en la lucha contra la pobreza. Un buen porcentaje de los j\u00f3venes de la comunidad han logrado terminar sus estudios universitarios y actualmente apoyan a sus respectivas familias y comunidad. Adicionalmente han construido con apoyo de organizaciones ind\u00edgenas y ONGs buenos sistemas de provisi\u00f3n de agua de riego y practican la agroecolog\u00eda como sistema de producci\u00f3n y de vida.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u00bfCu\u00e1les son algunas soluciones para acabar con el hambre en Ecuador?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Es una pregunta muy dif\u00edcil. Personalmente creo que en la educaci\u00f3n est\u00e1 la base fundamental para salir de la pobreza, pero ser\u00e1n las pol\u00edticas p\u00fablicas serias que determinen leyes buenas para la gente, que se cumplan, sin distingos y se invierta m\u00e1s del presupuesto estatal en trabajo, vivienda, salud y educaci\u00f3n.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Adem\u00e1s se hace muy necesaria la lucha contra la corrupci\u00f3n a todo nivel, que me parece debe incluir la formaci\u00f3n \u00e9tica desde temprana edad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tambi\u00e9n es fundamental el compromiso de fe y la convicci\u00f3n de que no puede existir tranquilidad espiritual si no hacemos algo por los m\u00e1s necesitados invirtiendo nuestro esfuerzo permanente en esa misi\u00f3n.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I am a 55-year-old lawyer with a track record of working as a special judge in the public sector, a lawyer for indigenous and women\u2019s organizations, a member of the board of directors of the Ecumenical Commission on Human Rights of Ecuador, and currently the executive director of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fbuecuador.org\/en\/fbu-home\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Brethren y Unida Foundation<\/a> in Ecuador.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I believe that my vocation and work on behalf of the poorest in this country have always been related to my deep Christian faith, and my way of meeting our Lord serving others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>What is the hunger situation in Ecuador and why are there hungry people in your country? What are some of the causes of hunger?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We currently have historically high rates of extreme poverty, unemployment, and child malnutrition in Ecuador. This is a consequence of the series of populist governments that have not established state policies to combat these scourges, the waste of resources where the main intention has been the accumulation of wealth for a few through corruption with state money, and the manifest inhumanity of not considering the enormous needs of the vast majority of the population. Education and health budgets have also been reduced, including the inadequate school breakfasts previously given to a portion of public-school children. Thirty percent of the population has less than a dollar a day for food, whereas the basic food basket is around 400 dollars per month<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>How come there are peasant families who don\u2019t have enough food to eat?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I would say there are several factors: Many peasant families do not own their land. Others cultivate very small plots, which does not allow them enough diversity of food or the possibility of marketing surpluses to have additional family income. There are also factors such as climate change that affect crop cycles and many families without access to irrigation water or basic services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>What are some of the barriers that prevent people from getting out of poverty?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The main one is the lack of access to equal opportunities in education, health, basic services, housing, and food. Extreme inequality between the haves and the have-nots. The absence of state policies for access to sources of work and a dignified life. During the pandemic, 35 percent of students in rural areas abandoned their studies to work in support of their families. A high percentage of the poor do not complete their education and become part of those who are illiterate and who from a very young age do informal, dangerous work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>What is the connection between environmental degradation and\/or climate change and hunger?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This connection is absolutely direct. On a planetary level, desert lands that cannot be used for food production continue to advance; access to fresh water continues to decrease, with all the consequences in terms of health and land productivity. Abuse [of the environment] has also contributed through the use of chemicals, altered seeds, and appropriation of agricultural land by large companies, which has led many families to migrate to cities in search of survival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Is there a connection between the Ecuadorian government or international policies and hunger in your country?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All the recent Ecuadorian governments have promoted conventional agriculture, that is, the use of agrochemicals, <em>latifundia<\/em> (large, private estates) and private appropriation of land, mining that has devastated community lands and polluted water, the introduction of genetically modified seeds replacing heirloom seeds, as well as complete neglect of small peasant producers with ancestral knowledge, not granting them production credits, training, or access to any type of subsidy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Is there more or less hunger now than there was 20-30 years ago?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No doubt there is more hunger than 30 years ago, as shown by all the serious statistics, and this is directly related to alarming levels of internal violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Do you have any inspiring or hopeful stories of people who have come out of poverty and are now thriving?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I believe that Picalqu\u00ed, the community closest to our foundation, is part of an inspiring story because, based on a lot of unity, coordinated work, and sacrifices, they have been making progress in the fight against poverty. A good percentage of the young people in the community have managed to finish their university studies and currently support their respective families and community. Additionally, with the support of local organizations and NGOs, they have built good irrigation water supply systems and practice agro-ecology as a system of production and life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>What are some solutions to end hunger in Ecuador?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s a very difficult question. Personally, I believe that education is the fundamental basis for getting out of poverty, but serious public policies will determine good laws for the people, that are applied without distinctions, and more of the state budget should be invested in employment, housing, health, and education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, the fight against corruption at all levels is very necessary, which should include ethical training from an early age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also fundamental is the commitment of faith and the conviction that there can be no spiritual tranquility if we do not do something for those most in need by investing our permanent effort in that mission.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Actualmente tenemos \u00edndices hist\u00f3ricamente altos de pobreza extrema, desempleo y desnutrici\u00f3n infantil en el Ecuador. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":2882,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[362,361,363,364,365,350,352],"class_list":["post-2931","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-alfredo-merino","tag-ecuador","tag-fundacion-brethren-y-unida","tag-global-food-initiative","tag-hambre","tag-hunger","tag-jeff-boshart"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2931","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2931"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2931\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2935,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2931\/revisions\/2935"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2882"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2931"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2931"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2931"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}