One of my best friends, Lis, sent me an email a few days ago that completely stopped me in my tracks. To say that it's one of those eye-openers would be a serious understatement. It's basically a summary, or grocery list of what different families around the world consume in a week, along with the cost of those groceries in USD. To think that I was stomping around the mall a few days ago, miserable over the fact that I couldn't find any avo's for my salad, and actually considered paying TWENTY SEVEN RAND A PAIR at a leading SA food retail chain (WHAT??!!) when there are families out there surviving on less than that for the week! I don't CARE if these avo's were grown in Spain! Isn't it just the height of arrogance / greed / ignorance that we are cheeky enough to spend and consume the way we do, with no thought / care at all to where our food even comes from? Maybe it's because I've already made it to 2 weeks before the end of Lent that I realise how precious a piece of chicken would be to me right now. I've cut out meat for the forty days. It's amazing how a steady diet of nothing but fish, fruit and veg has made me sharply aware of everything on my plate. I feel empowered. Strong. Healthier. More energetic. More alive. And eternally blessed for everything that God has given me that I take for granted everyday. So here it is. The email from Lis that made me think...
Take a good look at the diet of each country and the cost of what is eaten in one week.
Germany: The Melander family of Bargteheide
Food expenditure for one week: 375.39 Euros or $500.07
United States: The Revis family of North Carolina
Food expenditure for one week $341.98
Italy: The Manzo family of Sicily
Food expenditure for one week: 214.36 Euros or $260.11
Mexico: The Casales family of Cuernavaca
Food expenditure for one week: 1,862.78 Mexican Pesos or $189.09
Poland: The Sobczynscy family of Konstancin-Jeziorna
Food expenditure for one week: 582.48 Zlotys or $151.27
Egypt: The Ahmed family of Cairo
Food expenditure for one week: 387.85 Egyptian Pounds or $68.53
Ecuador: The Ayme family of Tingo
Food expenditure for one week: $31.55
Bhutan: The Namgay family of Shingkhey Village
Food expenditure for one week: 224.93 ngultrum or $5.03
Chad: The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp
Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23
I have no idea where this research comes from or why it was done, but I'd love to know more...
