President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva promised this Saturday (16) that, until the end of his term, no Brazilian will go hungry in the country. The statement was made on the last day of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty Festival, in the central region of Rio de Janeiro.
“I want to say to the millions of inhabitants who are hungry in the world, to the children who don’t know if they will have food. I want to say that today there isn’t, but tomorrow there will be. It takes courage to change this perverse story”, said the president . “What is missing is not food production. The world has the technology and genetics to produce enough food. There is a lack of responsibility to put the poor in the public budget and guarantee food. We have lifted 24 million people out of hunger so far. And in 2026, we will not have no Brazilian going hungry”.
The event concluded the G20 Social program, which brought together representatives from the federal government, social movements and non-governmental institutions for three days. On Monday (18) and Tuesday (19), the G20 Summit will take place, with the leaders of the main countries in the world. The discussion of initiatives against hunger and poverty are flagships of the Brazilian presidency of the G20.
“When we brought up hunger to discuss at the G20, it was to turn it into a political issue. It is treated as a social issue, just a statistical number for the election period and then it is forgotten. Those who are hungry are treated as invisible in the country”, said the president. “Hunger is not a natural issue. It is not an issue beyond human control. It is treated as if it did not exist. But it is the responsibility of all of us who rule the planet.”
The closing of the festival had the participation of artists Ney Matogrosso, Maria Gadú, Alceu Valença, Fafá de Belém, Jaloo Kleber Lucas, Jovem Dionísio, Tássia Reis, Jota.Pê and Lukinhas.
The President of the Republic, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, at the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty Festival show, at G20 Social, in Praça Mauá, with Gilberto Gil, the First Lady Janja and the Minister of Culture, Margareth Menezes. Photo: Fernando Frazão/Agência Brasil
