Other people's food

I have a real post in draft form but I wanted to ask people to do two things:

1. Click at the Hunger Site

2. Look into the H.R. 1410: Newborn, Child, and Mother Survival Act of 2009

3/10/2009--Introduced.

Newborn, Child, and Mother Survival Act of 2009 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President to furnish assistance to improve the health of newborns, children, and mothers in developing countries.

Directs the President to develop a comprehensive U.S. government strategy to reduce mortality and improve the health of newborns, children, and mothers in developing countries.

Establishes the Interagency Task Force on Child Survival and Maternal Health in Developing Countries.

I know that there are two sides (or more) to The Hunger Site. Some people feel that it is just a bandaid to make people who spend too much time on the internet feel good about themselves and that the amount of time spent clicking would be better spent elsewhere.

Personally, I waste a lot of time each day so I have no problem wasting it somewhere that might mean food for people living in poverty. I'm also not convinced by the argument that giving people food undermines their ability to produce food. People are not animals, there is no simple "If you feed me I"ll stop hunting" response lime in zoo animals. I believe that most people want to be self-sufficient and will work towards that goal if they see it as attainable. I also think that when you are starving, you don't really have time to worry about the finer politics of food.
Now, I admit that I need to do more research on the relationship between giving people food and food security. I know it isn't simple and that there are a million other variables including public health programs, education, culture, geography, etc.

But, until I have done enough research, I'll probably keep clicking.

In any event, you can still always click on the breast cancer site, child health, literacy, rain forest, and animal rescue.