Volume #12 January 2005 by Stephen M. Maciel, Director, End Hunger Foundation, Inc.
1-888-HUNGER-0 ENDHUNGER@aol.com Http://members.aol.com/hungerzero
175 Hazard Rd. W. Greenwich, RI 02817
Hi and welcome to our 12th newsletter.
In our newsletter Volume #10, the first newsletter that followed the 9/11 terrorist attacks, I wrote:
"The world continues to be an unstable place where each news report is more shocking than the last. Infinitely various needs cause a myriad of daily diversions. I am eternally grateful for those of you who spring to those needs, yet manage to continually pay attention to those which you've previously committed."
Writing this newsletter, I am awe-struck by the enormity of our current global human challenges both man and nature made. The world does indeed continue to be an unstable place. In our last newsletter (#11 posted on our website), I wrote of both bad news (once again), and of good news. The theme of this volume is Hope. Because in spite of, and perhaps because of, our current bad news of tragedy in Africa, Iraq and now in Asia, good news does continue to get better! (BTW: Many of you know that the motto of our model state and my home state Rhode Island is Hope!)
There's major Hope on the hunger front. Bringing your attention again to the National Anti-Hunger Organizations (NAHO) release of "A Blueprint to End Hunger", which is offered as a roadmap to solve the problem of hunger in the United States (http://www.hungercenter.org), we are now answering their call to action to help: 'mobilize every segment of our society to make the vision of a Hunger Free America a reality by taking responsibility to help move forward these solutions (outlined in the Blueprint)'.
The '1 of 52' concept is expanding rapidly in answer to this call to action. The NAHO has the plan to end hunger, we have a plan to help make their plan happen by bringing them an enormous groundswell of awareness, participation and support. For the many who may be reading this and learning of our network for the first time; we've been 'mobilizing' artists at a grassroots level through our unique, simple - and most importantly - proven, '1 of 52' method of organization for 17 years now. We commit a minimum of 52 artists in each state, each representing one week of the year, who agree to take at least one action annually to help end hunger. Artists who already take annul action, and artists who would like to be involved, have been joining our network in droves. We have hundreds of participants forming '1 of 52' chapters in 19 states to date plus Washington DC - and now begun internationally in Europe! Through this method we have organized continual, ever-building actions to bring about the solutions of ending hunger. The NAHO Blueprint to end Hunger now provides the ultimate rally point to focus our attention.
In the Blueprint to End Hunger, they cite the fact that the United States Government has pledged to cut US hunger in halve by the year 2010 and to totally eliminate it by 2015. How's that going to happen? By instituting the principles set forth in the Blueprint. How's that going to happen? The Blueprint states this (paraphrased): "We know how to end hunger now is the time to act we must work together to muster the political will."
We, collectively as a network, posses what they need and are calling for. To 'mobilize society' and to 'muster the political will', we bring to the table our ability for widespread mass participation and attention through '1 of 52' method of organizing and motivating artists and consequently the public into action. And now, with the introduction of our new '1 of 52' category the '1 of 52' Coalition for Hunger Free Communities, we are establishing chapters of 52 in each community with participants from all walks of life joined with artists toward the same goal of ending hunger. Visualize the impact these intertwining '1 of 52' chapters will have as they continue to grow exponentially community to community, state to state and country to country! Its not hard for me to image the Blueprint to End Hunger becoming reality with the kind of attention and action we are capable of mustering.
Yes folks, for as much bad news that comes our way every day, there is an equal, if not greater amount of good news. Take Heart! Take Action! Have Hope!
Peace in the New Year to You and Yours,
Steve Maciel,
'1 of 52' Director
PS: More great news! The End Hunger Foundation, Inc., our
corporation that facilitates the '1 of 52' concept, has been granted final
IRS status as a 501 (c) (3) Non-Profit Charity # 05-0511490.