We take too much for granted here in the UK. Transport, technology, family, friends and perhaps, most importantly... food.

I for one, am shamefully wasteful with the littlest of things; chips, bread, rice which at the time doesn't seem like a big deal. What I don't think about at the precise moment in time where the grain hits the bin, is how many people out in the world would benefit from those scraps as a matter of life or death.

Ethiopia is currently suffering from the lack of rain this year mixed with a bad harvest, leaving around 11 million people left hungry. In the Question of Port interviews I do each week for Ctrl.Alt.Shift, I always ask the question "If you had to live on a pound a day (which the majority of the world live on under), what would you spend it on?" I receive the same answer from 90% of the people I've interviewed; they'd buy food, because it's a survival thing. When I ask if they feel bad seeing people living in poverty, they also seem to answer 'yes', but they also believe you deal with what you're dealt in life. Admittedly you can't walk around feeling sorry for everyone who's worse off than you, but you can try and make a difference within yourself.

When you're dishing up your food (although this may seem obvious), only give yourself a potion you can handle, then go back for seconds if you're still not satisfied. Statistics prove that restaurants produce 275 pounds of trash daily, this can be reduced by composting and recycling. If you're ordering a takeout make sure you put the paper plates, napkins and packaging in a recycling bin. The simple things in life to us, make a very big difference to life for people without; in Kenya 1.2 million people are in need of food as the prices of food continues to rise.

If you don't donate to these countries, at least spare a thought to those who are without when going about your daily routine, and if you do want to donate, visit www.christianaid.org.uk/give and make a difference to the lives or thousands.

Words: Sian Anderson
 

Photo: Flickr user jakerome