Contemplations of a Complex Universe

Just viewing these photographs makes my heart cry out for these people suffering from extreme hunger. It really churns my stomach and gives me the desire to help in any way possible.

Contrast these pictures with the first ones, and you can see how much so many people have compared to how little so many others have. If we were to just make a few sacrifices and give some of what we have to people in need, that could make a huge difference.

Again, just looking at these pictures makes me realize the impact that I could have as a future architect on this world. It really inspires me to get out of my comfort zone and actually do something about this extreme poverty.

These photographs contrast with the earlier ones. It almost makes me sad that there is such a great contrast of wealth in our world today. That some people can have so much and some can have so little saddens me.

This video is equally inspiring... It also has some unbelievable statistics about poverty and hunger.

Quotes on Hunger:

There are genuinely sufficient resources in the world to ensure that no one, nowhere, at no time, should go hungry. 
-- Ed Asner

"It is important for people to realize that we can make progress against world hunger, that world hunger is not hopeless. The worst enemy is apathy." 
-- Reverend David Beckmann

We are a country that prides itself on power and weatlh, yet there are millions of children who go hungry every day. It is our responsibility, not only as a nation, but also as individuals, to get involved. So, next time you pass someone on the street who is in need, remember how lucky you are, and don't turn away.
-- Lesley Boone

What is needed is a marriage of two impulses, a coupling of the urge to do something positive with the willingness to constantly re-evaluate how effectively our actions lead to our goal - that of ending world hunger … 
-- Harry Chapin

To think that one child would go to bed hungry somewhere in this country is heartbreaking... to know how many do is virtually incomprehensible. This is not only a problem that exists in the far reaches of the globe. It happens right here in our own backyard. Together, as concerned citizens, we must do more to make sure every child's needs are met.
-- Katie Couric

"There is enough for everybody's need, but not for everybody's greed." – Mohandas K. Gandhi

Never before has man had such capacity to control his own environment, to end thirst and hunger, to conquer poverty and disease, to banish illiteracy and massive human misery. We have the power to make this the best generation of mankind in the history of the world -- or to make it the last. 
-- John F. Kennedy

"Because the suffering of any human being diminishes all of us, it’s our responsibility to try to ease that suffering. It is not a matter of titles, but of responsibilities.� 
-- Khaled

(quotes are from http://www.betterworld.net/quotes/endhunger-quotes.htm)

Quotes on Poverty:

"Wars against nations are fought to change maps; wars against poverty are fought to map change."
-- Muhammad Ali

Whether our task is fighting poverty, stemming the spread of disease or saving innocent lives from mass murder, we have seen that we cannot succeed without the leadership of the strong and the engagement of all. 
-- Kofi Annan

Anyone who has ever struggled with poverty knows how extremely expensive it is to be poor.
-- James A. Baldwin

We, who have so much, must do more to help those in need. And most of all, we must live simply, so that others may simply live.
-- Ed Begley, Jr.

Poverty is everyone's problem. It cuts across any line you can name: age, race, social, geographic or religious. Whether you are black or white; rich, middle-class or poor, we are ALL touched by poverty. 
-- Kathleen Blanco

(Quotes are from http://www.betterworld.net/quotes/endpoverty-quotes.htm)

All these quotes are pretty self explanatory in that they are encouraging us to DO SOMETHING about world hunger and poverty, encouraging us by saying that we CAN make a difference if we just take the initiative!

I don't know of many songs on hunger and poverty, but here are a few that somewhat relate:
1. "But A Breath" by The Wedding: This song is talking about the shortness of life and the importance of not wasting it. This applies to the issues of world hunger and poverty in that we shouldn't be wasting our lives doing nothing about it, but rather we should go out into the world and volunteer, take a stand against it. DO SOMETHING!!
2. Shindler's List Theme Song: I have this song on my iTunes library, and when I came across it, I had to put it on this list. Although the movie doesn't have to do with poverty and hunger necessarily, it does have to do with reaching out and helping others, about becoming selfless and willing to put your life on the line to give other people a chance to live. This is inspiring when it comes to the topic of helping those who suffer from extreme poverty and hunger.
3. ??? I'll try looking for more...

The inspiration that initially got me interested in poverty and how I can use architecture to help those in need was when I learned about Samuel Mockbee's Rural Studio in Alabama. To see and hear what he did to help people in the poorest county of the US was amazing. It was also really inspiring to see that he was able to build some beautiful, unique buildings at a decent price, using everyday items to create a masterpiece. Here are a couple of the houses that the rural studio has designed: