Distinguished diplomats ate handfuls of cold rice when Tony Hall threw a Thanksgiving reception designed to remind the diplomatic corps of the scale of world hunger.



Distinguished diplomats ate handfuls of cold rice when Tony Hall threw a Thanksgiving reception designed to remind the diplomatic corps of the scale of world hunger.

Ambassador's cold rice stuns guests
By David Blair
London
November 27, 2004

Distinguished diplomats ate handfuls of cold rice when a United States envoy in Rome threw a Thanksgiving reception designed to remind the diplomatic corps of the scale of world hunger.

Guests of Tony Hall, the US ambassador to the United Nations food agencies in Rome, were confronted with the reality of living off cups of rice. When they arrived for his party on Thursday they were asked to draw tickets that placed them in three categories of wealth.

The richest were served the customary gourmet meal. Others were handed rice and beans. But the smiles were strained among those who drew the "poorest" tickets.

They found themselves shut out of Mr Hall's spacious residence, left in the dark to pace the garden. These diplomats were then presented with their meal - a few handfuls of cold rice.

A leaflet told them they represented the 60 per cent of the world's 6 billion people who struggle to find each meal.

The meagre rice meal would, the leaflet added, fail to supply the "minimum calories you require". Confronted with this meal, many diplomats simply refused to eat. They were eventually allowed inside for the traditional feast.
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Mr Hall, a former Democratic congressman, recently returned from a three-day tour of Sudan's war-torn Darfur region.

"It's fair to say that some of the people in the audience were disturbed by the experience," his spokesman said. "Overall, the tone was exactly right. It was respectful of the reality of world hunger without being overbearing.

"There were some people who said it was very effective."

Mr Hall has created a stir in diplomatic circles since his appointment two years ago with his unique approach to his job. "He's someone who does really feel a passion for the job of helping hungry people," his spokesman said.

- Telegraph

When this story was posted in November 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

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