17 September 1996 FAO/3636
MARATHONERS SUPPORT SUMMIT TO END WORLD HUNGER 19960917MONTREAL, 17 September (FAO) -- Calling for a united stand against hunger, marathon runners around the world are signing up to support the goals of the World Food Summit to be convened by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) at its headquarters in Rome, Italy from 13 to 17 November 1996. Twenty-one marathons have announced support for the Summit, the latest being those of Montreal, Berlin, Amsterdam, New York, Bangkok and Cancun. Earlier in the year, 11 marathons, among them those of Rome, Durban and Machu Picchu in Peru came out in support of the Summit, which will focus the world's attention ways to ensure the most fundamental of human rights -- freedom from hunger.This year, thousands of runners around the world have joined the race against hunger and malnutrition, signing the "Marathoners' Appeal for a United Stand Against Hunger". The Appeal states: "We believe that the objectives of the Summit...can and should be promoted by everyone. Only by working together to find solutions can we ensure adequate access to food for all." Meeting under the slogan "Food for All", the World Food Summit will be the first attempt ever to tackle the problem of food security at the level of heads of State and government. The Summit is expected to adopt a policy statement and a plan of action aimed at ultimately eradicating hunger. One in seven people in the world go hungry every day, according to the FAO, or more than 800 million people. At least one-quarter of those are believed to be small children, robbed of a productive future because of an insufficient and often poor quality diet. Thus, the number of people affected by chronic hunger is equal to the number of people living in Europe and the United States. * *** *
United Nations
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