Diversity Event - Norman Borlaug Lecture with Guests David Beckmann and Jo Luck

I attended the Norman Borlaug Lecture on October 11, in which David Beckmann and Jo Luck were the guest lecturers.  David Beckmann and Jo Luck are co-recipients of the 2010 World Food Price, and discussed the role of organizations in combating hunger and poverty around the world.  Beckmann is president of Bread for the World, which is an organization that seeks to influence leaders in Washington to end hunger at home and abroad.  Luck is president of Heifer International, an organization that teaches the world’s resource-poor and hungry how to become self-sustaining.

Beckmann argued during his presentation that the US should provide more monetary aid to less fortunate countries, rather than provide food.  He also asserted that we shouldn’t only focus on countries that have unfortunate events such as enormous natural disasters with a surge of assistance following immediately afterwards, but always extending a helping hand whether they’ve had a sudden natural disaster or not.

Luck and her organization is more in support of teaching resource-poor countries and the hungry how to become self-sustaining.  She contended that giving these extremely poor families food and income-producing animals would lead towards better community development, and in return improved human nutrition and management of animal and natural resources with training in business development, leadership, gender equity, and environmental conservation practices. 

It was a mutual agreement and conclusion between the two that the US is in a great position to extend a helping hand to countries that are less fortunate, even if we are in a down economy.  They both encouraged giving whatever your lifestyle could afford, whether that is a monetary or time donation.  I found Luck to be more convincing than Beckmann, as I believe in private individuals supporting those in need, rather than having government just out right say they are going to spend “the People’s” money to support foreign countries.  Also, Luck was in support asset donations, while Beckmann was specific in monetary donations to those in need.  Although Beckmann had his reasons for strictly monetary donations, it’s wary as a donator to know that your full donation is going towards what you intended it to, while an individual can feel safer with the stance of Luck and her organization on the topic.