A humanitarian leader with over two decades of experience at the United Nations addresses the global food crisis, emphasizing that hunger anywhere impacts lives everywhere and outlining actionable steps for change. At the start of the twenty-first century, over 150 countries committed to eradicating hunger by 2030, yet we are far from that goal, with rising hunger levels, including unprecedented food insecurity in America. Jean-Martin Bauer, an aid worker and activist whose family fled Haiti during the Duvalier dictatorship, explores this paradox. His experiences in Haiti, now facing mass starvation, fueled his dedication to food justice. Throughout his UN career, Bauer recognized that hunger is inherently political and can be addressed through collective action. He travels to the world's most hunger-prone regions—from Haiti, where elites hoard luxury foods, to Madagascar, where foreign corporations seize land from local farmers, and to the growing lines at American food banks. Bauer combines personal insights with an analysis of the structural racism, classism, and sexism that hinder progress against hunger. This work serves as an inspiring call to action, envisioning a future where everyone can access food, highlighting the urgent need to combat one of society's greatest threats.
