If there is enough food for all, why don't all have enough?
     I sit in a chair in a circle with about 18 other volunteers ranging in age from 19 to 74.  In the large open space at our feet is a very large world map painted on heavy canvas and showing signs of much-used wear.  This map is the focus for our training this morning.
     So begins another session being held for volunteers at Heifer Ranch Learning Center in Perryville, Arkansas.  Questions are asked, suggestions are proffered; volunteers walking, sitting; discussions growing deeper and connections being made.  (Our floor map comes in handy.)  This is all part of the experiential learning process that is taking place. 
     What is the world population?  How is it dispersed among continents/regions?  Where are the greater percentages of people located?  Where are the lesser percentages?  Are your guesses correct?  If not, where do you think we should make the changes?  Correct answers emerge:  Asia has 60% of the world population; Africa, 16%; Europe, 10%; Latin America, 9%; North America, 5%; and Oceania, 0.5%
     Next question:  If these are the population numbers, is there a match between that and the percentage representing private consumption of goods and services?  In other words, do continents/regions with the largest populations also privately consume the greatest percentage of goods and services?  For example, Asia has the highest percentage of population in the world.  Does Asia then privately consume the highest percentage of goods and services?  North America represents 5% of the world populations, near the bottom of the list.  Does that mean North America also represents a small percentage of private consumption of goods and services compared to other continents/regions?
     Discussions ensue, educated guesses are offered.  The results?  You may have guessed that North America, although representing a low percentage of world population at 5%, has the greatest percentage of private consumption of goods and services at 32%.  Europe is also a mismatch:  With 10% of the world population, Europe privately consumes 31% of goods and services.  Asia, with 60% of the world population, privately consumes only 25% of goods and services; and Africa with 16% of world population privately consumes only 2% of goods and services.  The most balanced continent/region is Latin America which has 9% of the world population and privately consumes 8% of goods and services.  Oceania brings up the rear with 0.5% of population and 2% private consumption of goods and services.
     So what does this exercise suggest when we compare world population to private consumption of goods and services among various continents and regions?  Could this be part of the answer to our question above:  If there is enough food for all, why don't all have enough? (my italics)
     This is only one training session that illustrates "the purpose of Heifer Learning Centers is to provide experiential education that inspires, challenges, and engages people to end hunger and poverty and care for the earth".  It's effective -- it works.