您現(xiàn)在的位置: Language Tips> Audio & Video> Normal Speed News  
       
     





     
    More Americans than ever experiencing food insecurity
    [ 2009-11-19 15:17 ]

     

    With world leaders meeting in Rome to discuss ways to tackle global hunger, a new report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture finds more Americans than ever before are experiencing food insecurity.

    The USDA report estimates that 49 million Americans had trouble getting enough to eat in 2008. That's the largest figure since the annual survey of food security began in 1995. It represents nearly one in seven U.S. households, and it's a sharp increase from 2007, before the global recession began, when about one in 10 households were food-insecure.

    More Americans than ever experiencing food insecurity

    Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack described the report as a wake-up call.

    "I think this report suggests that it is time for America to get very serious about food security and hunger, about nutrition, and about food safety," said Secretary Vilsack.

    The figures come from a representative sample of about 44,000 U.S. households. Participants were asked questions about their access to adequate food. Of those who had difficulty affording enough food, one-third of them - or nearly 7 million households - had to cut back on meals because of it. Many of the others turned to federal programs or local food banks to make up the difference.

    But the increased demand is putting strain on food banks across the country. For example, Shamia Holloway is a spokeswoman for the Capital Area Food Bank, which serves more than 700 organizations around Washington, DC. Holloway says demand is up by 30 to 100 percent.

    More Americans than ever experiencing food insecurity

    "They're seeing longer lines," said Shamia Holloway. "They're not turning people away, but they are giving away fewer food items to accommodate the increase in requests for food."

    The survey found African Americans, Latinos, and single-parent families were most likely to have trouble getting enough food. But Holloway and others say one of the most striking trends is the change in who is seeking help.

    "First-time visitors are coming seeking food assistance," she said. "Middle-class individuals who would never think they would have to come to the food bank are now coming to us for food. And I've even heard of a case of a former donor who used to support the food bank is now coming to us for food assistance."

    David Beckmann, president of the anti-hunger organization Bread for the World, says while the recession is driving the increase in hunger in the United States, the problem is growing worldwide.

    "We've had a huge setback in the world's progress against hunger and poverty, driven by high food prices in developing countries, also by the global recession," said David Beckmann. "So, it's a global event."

    And things may get worse before they get better. U.S. unemployment has now topped 10 percent, the highest level in two decades, notes Paula Thornton Greear with the hunger-relief charity Feeding America.

    "The numbers from the USDA report were extremely alarming," said Paula Thornton Greear. "But the numbers reflect 2008. So, as we know, we've been continuing as a country to go through this recession through 2009. So, we are even more alarmed by the fact that, once we look back at the 2009 numbers, they may be even higher."

    Even with the economy turning around, experts say record levels of food insecurity in the United States will likely continue until unemployment begins to decline.

    Related stories:

    Two efforts seek to increase food security in Africa

    New drive to fight world hunger with GM crops

    G8 ministers conclude summit on food stability

    Europe plays soccer to combat hunger

    100 million people worldwide going hungry

    (Source: VOA 英語點津編輯)

     

     

    英語點津版權(quán)說明:凡注明來源為“英語點津:XXX(署名)”的原創(chuàng)作品,除與中國日報網(wǎng)簽署英語點津內(nèi)容授權(quán)協(xié)議的網(wǎng)站外,其他任何網(wǎng)站或單位未經(jīng)允許不得非法盜鏈、轉(zhuǎn)載和使用,違者必究。如需使用,請與010-84883631聯(lián)系;凡本網(wǎng)注明“來源:XXX(非英語點津)”的作品,均轉(zhuǎn)載自其它媒體,目的在于傳播更多信息,其他媒體如需轉(zhuǎn)載,請與稿件來源方聯(lián)系,如產(chǎn)生任何問題與本網(wǎng)無關(guān);本網(wǎng)所發(fā)布的歌曲、電影片段,版權(quán)歸原作者所有,僅供學(xué)習(xí)與研究,如果侵權(quán),請?zhí)峁┌鏅?quán)證明,以便盡快刪除。
    相關(guān)文章 Related Story
     
     
     
    本頻道最新推薦
     
    廣告招標、標王怎么說?
    強尼?戴普再度當(dāng)選《人物》最性感男士
    奧巴馬白宮第一年:體重略降頭發(fā)變白
    上網(wǎng)本 netbook
    病毒變異 mutation of the virus
    翻吧推薦
     
    論壇熱貼
     
    萬圣節(jié)問題火熱征集!
    翻譯達人評選,快來投票!
    經(jīng)典英語口語,不得不看(推薦)
    I chocolate you!怎么翻譯?
    請教obama演講里的一句話
     

     

    人妻无码中文字幕免费视频蜜桃 | 暴力强奷在线播放无码| 久久久久亚洲AV无码专区网站| 中文字幕在线无码一区| 久久亚洲中文字幕精品一区| 人妻丰满AV无码久久不卡| 中文字幕在线视频第一页| 亚洲国产精品无码中文字 | 国产亚洲精久久久久久无码AV| 精品国产V无码大片在线看| 人妻丝袜中文无码av影音先锋专区 | 播放亚洲男人永久无码天堂| 亚洲精品无码av人在线观看 | 亚洲av中文无码乱人伦在线r▽ | 亚洲国产午夜中文字幕精品黄网站| 亚洲AV无码资源在线观看| 少妇人妻无码精品视频| 中文字幕无码免费久久| 人妻无码精品久久亚瑟影视| 最近2018中文字幕免费视频| 久久精品aⅴ无码中文字字幕重口| 黑人无码精品又粗又大又长 | 国产在线无码视频一区二区三区| 一本加勒比hezyo无码专区| 亚洲日韩VA无码中文字幕| AV色欲无码人妻中文字幕| 亚洲伊人成无码综合网| 午夜精品久久久久久久无码| 精品无码人妻一区二区三区不卡| 国产AV巨作情欲放纵无码| 国产亚洲AV无码AV男人的天堂| 少妇精品无码一区二区三区| 无码精品人妻一区二区三区人妻斩 | 国产精品免费无遮挡无码永久视频 | 人妻无码αv中文字幕久久琪琪布 人妻无码第一区二区三区 | 久久久无码精品亚洲日韩京东传媒 | 蜜桃视频无码区在线观看| 日韩精品无码免费视频| 永久无码精品三区在线4| 亚洲 欧美 中文 在线 视频| 亚洲中文字幕无码久久2017|