It is estimated that supermarkets have a vast surplus of food which equates to approximately more than four million tons of food going to waste. To me, this is not only ridiculous but hard to comprehend, knowing there is enough supply for high demand, yet the number of homeless people and families experiencing severe poverty is increasing.
Although London is arguably one of the richest cities in Europe, it is ironic that in this very city, we have families skipping meals because they cannot afford to eat a balanced diet of the basic three meals a day. But yet I have family back home who yes, are poor, but in some ways better off than us here to some degree. The bustling atmosphere of high earning individuals and sky-rocketing buildings in Central London are causing a fog over people's eyes, allowing people to really bathe in what amounts to ignorance being bliss. Away from Central London, if you visit inner-city areas within the city such as Hackney, Brixton and Tottenham. the levels of poverty and deprivation are concerning. These areas host some of the richest cultural facilities and raw talent, but are victim to drugs, homelessness, crime and mental health issues, which have a direct relation to their upbringing and opportunities or lack of.
Our European cousin France however have used their initiative to introduce a law that prevents supermarkets ditching left over stock and unsold food in landfills. This, by the way, is impacting the climate of our very Earth by producing big amounts of carbon emissions into our air. We should be recycling food just the way we recycle paper and clothes (not that enough of us do this enough anyways). What I mean by recycling food is sharing food, making use of left-over food and donating food to food banks or the homeless.
What I have seen over here recently, in a Sainsbury's, is a poster saying that the store will happily donate to local charities. I was very shocked and at the same time relieved when I saw this, it felt heart-warming knowing that supermarkets were finally seeing the light and paving a way for a better future. But it isn't just supermarkets who should bear the responsibility of attempting to eradicate poverty, but it is our responsibility too. We shape the world we live in. Which is why now, I have decided I will be donating food from home or what I buy from my daily/weekly shop to a local food-bank. I am also thinking of running my own too.
We have got a long way to go in ending London poverty, let alone world poverty, but we have a way. Lets help feed our brothers and sisters and lets grow the nation to be healthy and plump. *Intended Humour- might be subject to scrutiny*
Although London is arguably one of the richest cities in Europe, it is ironic that in this very city, we have families skipping meals because they cannot afford to eat a balanced diet of the basic three meals a day. But yet I have family back home who yes, are poor, but in some ways better off than us here to some degree. The bustling atmosphere of high earning individuals and sky-rocketing buildings in Central London are causing a fog over people's eyes, allowing people to really bathe in what amounts to ignorance being bliss. Away from Central London, if you visit inner-city areas within the city such as Hackney, Brixton and Tottenham. the levels of poverty and deprivation are concerning. These areas host some of the richest cultural facilities and raw talent, but are victim to drugs, homelessness, crime and mental health issues, which have a direct relation to their upbringing and opportunities or lack of.
Our European cousin France however have used their initiative to introduce a law that prevents supermarkets ditching left over stock and unsold food in landfills. This, by the way, is impacting the climate of our very Earth by producing big amounts of carbon emissions into our air. We should be recycling food just the way we recycle paper and clothes (not that enough of us do this enough anyways). What I mean by recycling food is sharing food, making use of left-over food and donating food to food banks or the homeless.
What I have seen over here recently, in a Sainsbury's, is a poster saying that the store will happily donate to local charities. I was very shocked and at the same time relieved when I saw this, it felt heart-warming knowing that supermarkets were finally seeing the light and paving a way for a better future. But it isn't just supermarkets who should bear the responsibility of attempting to eradicate poverty, but it is our responsibility too. We shape the world we live in. Which is why now, I have decided I will be donating food from home or what I buy from my daily/weekly shop to a local food-bank. I am also thinking of running my own too.
We have got a long way to go in ending London poverty, let alone world poverty, but we have a way. Lets help feed our brothers and sisters and lets grow the nation to be healthy and plump. *Intended Humour- might be subject to scrutiny*