World Vision advocates launch global campaign urging world leaders to 'Build #HungerFree World'

Washington, DC (May 1, 2012) — As leaders of the eight largest economies gather on May 18-19 for their annual G8 Summit, nearly 1 billion people will spend the day hungry. To address this ongoing but often invisible crisis, advocates around the world are joining World Vision to launch a global campaign urging G8 leaders to support policies tackling issues of hunger and food security. Starting today, advocates will take action to address leaders by sharing their vision for a “Hunger Free” world through art and activism at hungerfree.org.

“A child dies from hunger-related causes every 12 seconds, and we want G8 leaders to recognize the need to act now to stop this,” said James Pedrick of World Vision’s ACT:S activism network. “We’ve seen how this generation of activists is able to use technology as a powerful tool to influence global leaders, and we are challenging them to use their power to help eliminate global hunger and malnutrition.”

Designed by the same creators of the KONY2012 website, 5ifty-5ifty, the Hunger Free website, is an open web platform where people can take action by:

• Adding their support through Facebook. Advocates can link their Facebook profile picture to display on a wall of “Faces for a HungerFree World,” which will be compiled into a book delivered to representatives of the G8 nations.
• Creatively sharing their actions. Advocates can interactively use the website to share ideas and resources, as well as contribute creatively through uploading artwork. Contributions will be showcased in an art and activism installation that will be displayed publicly at Union Station in Washington D.C. May 17-19, before and during the G8 Summit.
• Addressing global leaders on Twitter. In the eight days leading up the G8, advocates will be equipped to take one key action each day through Tweets that call on global leaders to renew and strengthen the 2009 L’Aquila Food Security Initiative. The Initiative, in which historic food security investments were pledged by leaders at the 2009 G8 Summit, is set to expire at the end of the year.

“The G8 leaders have already agreed to do something about global hunger. Now is the time to renew and fulfill those commitments, making life-saving investments in solutions that will improve food security and reduce child malnutrition,” said Adam Taylor, World Vision’s vice president of advocacy. “Together we have an opportunity to move many of the world’s most powerful leaders into stronger leadership for the world’s most vulnerable children.”

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About World Vision:

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. We serve the world's poor — regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information on their efforts, visit WorldVision.org/press or follow them on Twitter at @WorldVisionNews