Transcripts For CSPAN Cindy 20240705 : vimarsana.com

Scan the qr code or visit our website. Cspan now, your front row seat to washington anytime, anywhere. Democratic senator chris coons and nonprofit leaders took part in a discussion on how the war in ukraine is impacting world hunger and Food Insecurity. Cindy mccain is the executive director of the you and world food row graham. She made the opening remarks. This is part of the annual Halifax International Security Forum held in nova scotia. Good afternoon. For those of you who dont know, im cindy mccain, im the executive director of the world food row graham and im very happy to be here today. Thank you for moderating this today. Thank you to the house ask International Security forum for hosting this incrediblevent. We know all too well Food Security is a fundamenta requirement for political and national security. This minds us of anoth truth. Conflict drives hunger. And hunger guys confli. Instability and violence combin with Economic Crises to destroy systems which produce, manage, and distribute food to civilian populations. This vicious cycle is present in many countries. I have seen the heabreaking impact for myself in the democratic republic of congo, south sudan, and many other places. Ive met children who are starving because they were caught in the crossfire of conflict. I went to somalia earlier this year. I was horrified at what i found. Vience, fear, is the daily reality in somalia. I met a woman who had fled 200 kilometers from her house with her familyo protect her young son. She said armed groups have been taking boys from their families to force them to join their ranks. Telling anybody who refused. Every day is a fight for survival for her family. There is anecdotal evidence from west africa our people have heard from men who signed up not because of ideology but because they were desperate to feed their families. These pces are not contained within national borders. People do not know if they will eat again. We must respond this crisis. We need shortterm and longterm lutions to hunger. To address the immediate threat of starvation and tackle these causes. This is an investment in our collective security. We have been working since 2018 to ruce hunr andupport longterm Food Security. In addition to providing food aid, we are teaching irrigation and land rehabilitation techniques so communities can grow food despite the changing climate we help them earn a living by selling the produce they grow. We also run school meal programs. To encourage families to keep their children, especially their daughters, in education. This program has reached nearly 3 Million People. In more th 2700 villages. We aim to support 5 Million People in the next five years. As a result, many young people now have access to economic opportunities. That helps reduce migration. We are doing similar work some more than 80 countries. We work with farmers cooperatives, helping them access the latest tools and techniques so they can grow and sell feud them up independently. This helps photo communities build local infrastructure. As well as pporting local livelihoods. This has to be the futurof poverty alleviation. Not just treating sympto but addressing root causes. It is critical that finally we break the cycle of poverty and a dependency wch trapped so many vulnerable communities. We know we cannot feed the world on our own. But if we all come together and collaborate, i believe we can and will succeed in laying the fodation for stable and prosperous societies and strengthening our collective national security. Thank you for having me. [applause] it is not often that people laugh at the films here. But that raises a few smirks. Thank you very much for that introduction. E laid out very clearly the Global Nature of the issue we are about to talk about for the next hour. Thank you for inviting us back to halifax. He gave me a little bit of advice before this. He saido not do your job. What he was getting at is we want as many of you to participate in this session as possible. I will try to keep my questions to the panelists brief. I would like you all to think about questions you want to pose. I will try to moderate between you. Rather than take up all your time posing the questions. Let me introduced our panelists who will talk about Food Security and what the war in ukraine has meant for the world broadly. And hoto address those issues. She is a former ukrainian in p mp. She is the cofounder of the International Center for ukrainian victory. She is probably the only member of the sandal that has a panel that has a foodstuff named after her. She did an interview with npr and when she talked about her own experience under families experience, a sausage shop in buffalo, new york has named a sausage after that. She needs no introduction to the halifax family. E has been in Food Security for a long time. Weill talk a lot about that. She is founder of the women without walls itiative. They have been trying to foster Cross Community peace and reconciliation between ethnic and religious divides in nigeria. We talked about the impact that Food Insecurity has had in stering terror. He is the seni Vice President of the World Wildlife fund. You have aong experience in dealing with these experiences. We will dabble ny wildlife is in why wildlife is on the agenda a little bit later. I know you have a historic view of this area food in the way it has been used to be punished your country. I want you to t into context how you view food and how it has become a weapon agnst your country. Thank you for this important question. I am thankful for this conference. And being dedicated to the victory of ukraine. Talkg about food. And hunger. Stalin made famine against ukraine. People were dying because of hunger. It was one of the most painful pages and our history. They died because of genocide. Unfortunately the u. S. , instead of punishing the soviet union, they recognize diplomatically the soviet union. The price they paid for this at that time for future generations, ukrainians were killed. They lost a chance to build a strong nation. The league of nations at that timeept silent instead of acting. Only 90 years after, i am really very thankful. He is a canadian legislator. He intduced legistion in canada that regnized this genocide. There was a new genocide they recognized that ethnic gecide. Im talking about the weaponization of hunger against ukraine. There are some linkages. From stalin to hitler. This unpublished people is now creating another genocide. They are using food and hunger. Against ukraine. This wasn act of destroying the ukrainian nation. Now this means millions of people suffering in africa, asia. Why is this happening . The nato presence in the black sea will stay and defend freedom. That is what we see. The Strongest Military alliance in the world. Now ukraines potential declines. They destroyed with missile attacks on ports. 300,000 tons of grain. Canou imagine how many people could receive this food . I ink the lessons we should learn, the liberation of all the territories. We produced food for 13 Million People worldwide. Ukrainian farmers are able to feed people. This is why liberation is key for ukraine. To keep feeding the world. The video that started this features our soldiers. That was a famous researcher that helps the u. S. Congress. He wrote a book. The most important is to plant the seed of truth. And punish people. I want to express a sense of urgency. There has been 10 years of russian aggression. Inuding genocide. War crimes. Crimes against humanity. Forceful displacement of ukrainian children. It is all a genoci. I believe the world will not need another 90 years to recognize and punish. We demand punishment. And reparations in the future. Otherwise, people will prevail in the next generation. Thank you very much. So much of the debate is about military health. What more can america do to help with . . These issues of Food Security the very practical help. Making sure the world and ukrainian agriculture gets back on its feet . We need to continue our support of not just military equipmen being sent to the front lines. To the brave ukrainians are facing russian aggression every day. The restorationf the huge economic potenti. Reopening the black sea. This will have enormous consequenc for ukraines ability to win and for dozens of countries around the world to have access to sustainable food. As we heardn the opening remarks. We are on the verge of one of the biggest global hger events in modern history. It is recognized in a memorial in capitolill. It should be recognized in the hearts of every naon here. If we are to for all of these countries. We are in the middle of a real struggle in congress. It is hoped that my colleagues will hear this urgent need for us to lead the Global Alliance of 50 nations that President Biden and other leaders have pulled together in response to the urgent needs of ukraine. Invest not just a military equipment but in revitalizing the ukrainian economy. That will be when ukraine is fully back to its potential to feeding the world. You referred to that grain initiave. It is probably the only deal that has been done with russia during the war of any consequence. It lastea year. It helps feed many countries. A number of african countries. The grain was shipped to those countries. What lessons would you take from that experience . Do not trust the russians to keep their words for anything. Ukrainians continue to show remarkable tactical innovation. But i would take fm that is russia continues to do that without regard for consequences. We need to sustain our support for ukraine. For their innovation and the solutions they have. That brings us to you. How are you seeing the effects of the war ukraine and specifically the limited exports of grain. What impact is i having . Thank you so much. I would like to thank your team for inviting me. I would like to start with something that is said in africa. Especially in nigeria. That is to discuss a situation that is worsening. I glad that in your introductory speech you highlighted the effects in africa. Children and youth account for 23 of tt. Extreme poverty is concentrated in subsaharan africa. We all know that. A hundred and one developing countries live in property. That is the situation on my confiden. Before the russian aggression in ukraine. You can imagine what is going on now. Unfortunately for me, nigeria is regarded as the World Capital of poverty. Not because of lack of resources but because of mismanagement. Unaccountability. A flawed democratic system. It encourages corruption. How does that translate to the common man i will give you some examples. In africa you can stand by th roadside and eat. It is usually about . 10. Currently right now most people cannot even afford that. It has to be broken into three pieces. An portis for the common man to eat. Between the docratic republic of congo and gabon, there is a village that exists. Where they actually take their children. They cannot feed them anymore. Coming home to me personally, that is what we buy in our family. That is the equivalent of three dollars. Right now it sells for 12. We have to look at other options. It is the middle class that has options. What about the average people who have no options . Right now the cliche in nigeria is that the poor breeze. And they are not breathing. Ukraine has to do that for the benefit of the world. When ukraine wins, africa wins. The whole world is winning. Except of course for russia. [laughter] [applaus you are very clear on that. But many African Leaders are not. Pull seem to suggest that the majority of people in african countries see with moral clarity who is responsible. But they are reluctant for their government to take sides. Why is that . What are the consequences . Unfortunately, in africa, we have to separate leaders from people. The leaders in most african countries are only interested in themselves. They know what iwrong. They have two keep the importation lines open. For grain and wheat. As it is right now, russia is only exporting to friendly countries. Ey think if anfrican country is not friendly, they are not going to do that. African leaders are yet to carry the burden f their people. Maybe we ll come back to that. Lets go to you. The World Wildlife fund, many people have asked me this question, why is the World Wildlife fund have a security and defee conference . What is your role. I think the previous speakers did a complete job. Conservation and natur Resource Management is absolutely consequential to Food Security. That is the first case. There is his notion that even democracies fight over food. Many people in this review not know that 25 of that during the cold war was overfished. That is a remarkable data point that we need to be careful about. You had russia and china to conflicting engagements about this invaluable commodity. The risks e increasing. Getting to the left of this problem. We are very excited to have today a new platform that gives audiences around the world the potential to understand global hotspots. So we can start having preventive, conversatns. I was really glad to hear them talking about using the nature of the mility for preventive action. That will lead to Food Insecurity. That is why they suggested that i join this panel. Thank you very much. I wanted to followup with you on what she was sing abo the public in africacountries seeing what is happening and seeing russia invading ukraine. But at the same time depending on russia. How do you deal with that . A couple of concerns. One is that russia and china have invested heavily in misinformation. Wagner is a significant presence in many countries. It has spread broadly on the continent. If your food prices have gone up in your fertilizer prices have gone up, it is because of western sanctions against russia, not russian aggression. The problem is the u. S. And its European Partners are making your life harder. We need to do a better job at pushing back on that. We need to change the end result. To be blunt, there is tension when africans look at millions of ukrainian refugees being welcomed with open ours across europe. Being given housing and education and health care and they say, the are millions of african refugees who have sat in the desert for decades and are not welcomed with op arms. There is a racial distinction made beten different types of conflict and refugees that i have heard repeatedly. They say you are not treating us justly. I went to a refugee camp. It has been there 25 years. It was started by the lost boys in sudan. Now there is a flood of new refugees. Very few people ever get out of the camp. The World Food Program because of the increase in the cost of food and fuel has had to cut back support. To sit in that camp with a circle of mothers who we being told that their rations were cut , and see in concrete terms what that means every week, that was truly heartrending. In partnership with african countries, we can invest in food securi. In modernizing and changing food systems across the continent and the world. That is part of the legislation yomentioned. Not to supplant but to complement the work of the World Food Program and the. S. Initiative to feed the future. To bring privatesector innovation and investment in. To try to transform it so hunger is a thing of the past. As someone who is out there advocating for ukraine, when you hear that story from africa that people understand russia is was constable but they depend on russia, how do you answer that . What is your narrative . We were invited to be a representative of countries from latin america, africa, asia. The global south platfor i think this was a goo opportunity to discuss sustainable peace. With responsibility for aggression. And punishment. To discuss what needs to be done. It is about delonization of russian history. Talking to african representatives. About the weaponization of energy. Of food. Colonization and how to fight this i think ukraine in the future will become t best country in the world for bridging communicions. They also have difficult pages in the history. My colleue mentioned your story. People are sharing bread and trying to survive. I was honestly about to cry. For us in ukraine, there were the facts of cannibalism. There are many historical stories. Molly told me to eat her when she died. To survive. Can you imagine . It happed. In the breadbaet of europe. A country that was able to feed thworld. We do not know the exact number. Millions of ukrainians who died because of lack of food. I dont reallynderstand why we are not seeing this. Why germanis not supporting us withongrange missiles. We are talking about the ukraine initiative. It is only part of the solutio demilitarization of the black sea. It is the lake of russian monopoly. I do not understand why countries, countries with nuclear power, are not behaving in the way that russiaould respect but would withdraw all of their troops from ukrainian terrory. They never mention russia. That was mentioned as an unaffordable situation. I believe next year in brazil we will find solutions. Ukrainians will be present there. We can export the grain. But we need more to happen. I readingn the American Press about containment. Some people say we have to redefine victory. That ukraine should seek to netiate. Eight years i speak of peaceful selement. Of political and diplomatic ways of solvingussian aggression. That resulted in war. When finally we leard the lessons. Since i visited taiwan, i see this connection. When the republic of china was betrayed. Somebody wanted a commist regime in beijing. Ukraine, middle east, we are talking about taiwan. The same. The same. Ukraine sacrificed at that time. Now they are sacrificing their lives. Can you imagine . 10 years of my life. To defeat russia. I believe in victory. I cannot explain to my daughter. My daughter was forced to leave ukraine. She asked me a question at the border. You are very proud. You show me pictures with President Biden. With chancellor merk. Why all of this cannot help ukraine . I was crying at that time. I was talking to my daughter and did not know if i would survive. For some countries like the United States. This is not just ukrainians asking to help us. What is the Strategic Value of ukraine . It is people. Russia will destroy all terminals. The country will be destroyed. This will not be victory anymore. Im so thankful to peter. Making ukraine the victor as the main issue of this conference. No settlement would be a key piece. Give hope to my daughter. Not to be disappointed in western democracies. It iyour [applause] that powerful testimony is a spot to pivot and take questions from the audience. Im going to shut up straightaway. The microphones are arriving. Thank you. Harvard university. I want to echo and underscore your words. Peter, its brilliant you make the theme of this haley fax victory and tied every single panel and discussion to that. Because there are many of us who want to see that victory in ukraine and has to be repeated and repeated. Thank you. My question is to hanna and to the senator and that is about china. China interestingly enough a sizeable amount of imports on ukraine. It is an odd. Zelensky called xi and he raised the question of the abduction of the children and asked for chinas help in that case. The china said they would review, but theres been nothing. But do you think there is any leverage in this case relative to food and Food Security because their own imports a High Percentage of their own imports impacted actually by the blockade and the diminishment of grain coming out of ukraine. Keeping china of providing weapons to russia has been one of our Strategic Priorities that we have used a whole range of countries to give the message to china, stay out of this war. They have come up against the edge of it. And i hope zelenskyy can pull back china from engaging in the war. The cruelty of abducting thousands of ukranian children is one of many ways that putin is trying to erase ukranian identities. We called it out as a genocide. Do i think that particular appeal will be the one that will make putin stop this aggression . I dont, frankly. But i tnk providing more weapons that are more sophiscated is what we need to provide ukraine with a forceful message to allow them to move forward. Thanks so much. For me personally, china is part ofussian aggression against ukrai. China supportin russia not just with humanitarian aid [indiscernible] technologies with iran. This is important and really about mafia style club supporting each other and io believe with victory of ukine we will not see chinese investments because i think china is an enemy of democracy communism regime and what they are doing. And i think ukraine, we should also what happenedn china a its really important t mention. The same thing what is happening in the execution of indigenous pele in russia. Ukraines role is not just the bread basket of the world. We have to become spiritual basket. Freedomor everyone. This is the value of ukraine victory. This isnt just restoring integrity and getting crima. It is muchider. And mutual language. This is in russia. [indiscernible] this is why ukrne mission in 21st cenry is much wider and much bigger and we cannot voice what is just happening in china and keep silent. I think it is relevant to your work in china. Yeah. And how difficult it is to speak about anything on this Panel Hearing the stories from hanna, but well try. The weaponization and the investments that go into making food in dpeeo politics and strategys someing we have t take seriously. And there is a concerted efft of legislatively with economic subsidies, proction of military, hard and soft to lay claim, dominate and to access food for use, very powerful way now and into the future and we need to understand better the challenges that we are going to face in the indopacific region in the arctic, where there is governance and indigenous and local communities they have suffered unless we get to the problem as far as foreign incursions. Another major challges of foreign actors coming in and pillaging thes areas without much governance. We see it in ukraine today. We are going to see this type of warfare over and over again. And bring you about the impact that the starvation that you talked to us about is having in terms of security and what is fueling terrorism and criminal gangs. What impact is that having . That is a situation already we had a insecurity with boko haram, isis over in nigeria and now with the war from ukraine, theres a higher risk of Food Insecurity and higher risk of young people joining criminal gangs in order to provide that has already been mentioned. I think more attention nds to be given to given to africa what chris said about the imbalance in the way immigrants are treated from africa against ukraine. The hostage situation tt happened with the yaleies. And here we are in nigeria, nine years ago, 276 young girls were kidnapped from schools, that was nine years ago. There are still eight of them in captivity. Nobody talks about that anymore. 14 of these girls were rescued from the knapsers and returned with 24 children. And they have to stay with their parents. Stigma now on the children, children of knappers or terrorists and not assimilated back into society. Who is the father of my grandchild hes aerrorist. So i think more attention needs to be given to africa like there is an outrage on the israeli hostage ting that just happened. That kind of outrage needs to be exprsed what is happening in africa otherwise we are going to hold the governance structure of africa to nonstate actors and i see nothing done about that. Lots of hands going up. Gentleman in the back. I think my question is from the u. S. One thing to talk about how ukraine or the Vision Security in the world and the opportunity that this presents to Food Production in places like nigeria. I wonder if you have any thoughts of what the u. S. Could be doing . For example, in nigeria, nonoil exports last year in 2022 [indiscernible] work with African Community leaders to find an innovative path. I didnt realize that the fertilizer crisis was from nigerian exports. We dont want to supplant ukranian exports and we need to make sure there is opportunity for ukraine fordible oils and grainoing forward as they come out of this hrible period of russian adpretion. But th is one of the few ways that we have real promise to feed a hungry climate. This ismpacting where y can grow food. The foundation that senator graham and i are trying to crea would deliver new hybrids, new styles of prodtion and to innovate in terms of where and how food is being produced and exported around the world. Thank u for the question. Going to go in theack. Thank you very much. Im from tokyo, japan. Question for james, very curious as to how this information was collaborated [indiscernible] do you want me to take that on i think i understood, what does the data say and how can we use it and what is the holistic approach to this problem look like . We have w. W. F. Put together a team not only on the environmental scientists but social sciensts and ocean scientists and innovation we are bringing to the world is integration. Its been very, very siloed. And what we wanted to do is visualize a global map where global threats. Chris coons has been a champion of this. We need all 535 members of ngress to understand the threat this poses to american interests. Secondly, we need to give appropriators and those who can build capacity around the world a little bit more time to put the resources where they are needed in both defense and conservaon forces and respond from deterrence and natural Resource Management. And finally there are better players and worst playersnd we need to shine a light on both of those players and bring together a coalition around this space and whats better to have a coalition around than food. Everyone is impacted and has tremendous human and geo political consequences and this conversation today has helped and im thankful. Tnk you. I have an observation and happy to hear your thoughts. My mind, victory in ukraine goes through africa many more ways than just food. Africa has the potential to feed itself androvide food to the other parts of the world but it needs to be looked at as an asset and not as a liability. In many ways, russia is abusing its powers in africa to gold and circumvent sanctions and use ways to achieving that victory. I would like to hear your thoughts about that. I totally agree with you there are opportunities. But i also think that one of the major issues that we contend th in africa, i speak for my country is governance. If we can get governance right, i think those opportunities will have an enaing environment to be more productive. I think one of the most important initiatives is combatting corruption. Russia uses plate ant corruption to influce elites in country where they facilitate a coupe or engage in extracting industries. Your average person on the street knows they are not benefiting from the nationn which they live and when the United States talks about democracy, that doesnt move peop as much as saying we are ing to promote transrency and ensure you get the benefit ofhe country which you le. Those are two sides of the coin but russia uses corruption, violence and force and africa is a pernicious force because of it. We need to have Good Development partners from the west and United States. Over here. Sorry. Are we there . My question was we hear about Food Security. Since we grew up, its every day, everywhere,hat would you tell us aboutositions of power in the future . What would you tell the queught about Food Security . If i look yng. Only in the u. S senate am i considered that . My occasional visits to the senators home. I would say be insistent on not forgetting the sense of compassion and concern you have for billions of pele around the world who go to bed hungry who are on the move or suffering because of Climate Change and conflict and when young people raise their voices to address Climate Change and injustice they are addressing Food Insecurity. Keep at it and keep making great videos. [applause] we have run out of time, but im sure the panel will answer your questions personally. I thank everyone for this fascinating panel. Than you very much. Cspans washington journal, we discussed the latt issues in government, politics, and public policy. From washington to across the country. Coming up tuesday morning, cbs news Congressional Correspondent Scott Mcfarlane talks about former president trumps legal challenges. In university of virnia center for politics director on campaign 2024 and other political leaders of the debt news of the day. Csps washington journal. 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