Strength in diversity

We’ve joined forces with the ‘Enough Food for Everyone IF’ campaign – a powerful and diverse group of over 100 organisations working together to combat hunger. Raw is a part of IF because ending factory farming goes hand in hand with ending the global hunger crisis.

The latest target of the IF campaign is the UK Budget statement on 20th March. IF is calling on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to hold firm on the country’s long-standing commitment to international aid.

If spending on international aid supports sustainable, small-scale farming there is a chance it can fight both hunger and factory farming.

Factory farming and hunger

Some argue that factory farming is the answer to the food crisis. But most animals that are kept confined rather than allowed to graze and forage on the land are fed large quantities of grain. This means that there is less for people to eat and what’s left is often more expensive. We're literally taking high-quality, nutrient-rich foods that people could eat and feeding them to our farm animals. In short, factory farming will only deepen the hunger crisis.

A unique chance to tackle hunger

We must ensure that factory farming isn’t pushed as the solution to hunger, and there’s a unique chance to do this right now – the UK Budget 2013.

The IF coalition is calling on the UK government to:

• Stick to a 43-year-old commitment to reach a 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) target for spending on international aid;
• Announce that the Finance Bill will make UK companies operating in poor countries spill the beans on any tax dodging, to help developing countries collect the money they’re owed and help them fight hunger; and
• Use an additional US$661.7m per year [£425m] of UK aid to boost sustainable small-scale farming, which would achieve food security for over 418,500 people every year.

The last of these three demands is where Raw comes in: It is vital that international aid is not only adequate, but that this money is invested effectively. And if the government takes the right action, the UK Budget 2013 can be a landmark moment – in the fight against hunger and also in the fight against factory farming.

Take the 'IF' campaign action now

• Complete the simple form below to let your MP know that you want the UK Budget 2013 to support better food and farming
• And please use the box at the bottom of the form to explain that you care about the global hunger crisis for the sake of people AND animals. You want crops to feed people, not intensively farmed animals – and you want to see international aid that not only hits 0.7% of GNI, but also supports sustainable small-scale farming.

Please note: a UK postcode is currently required.