Former Young Australian of the Year Hugh Evans is a passionate advocate and activist for campaigning for an end to poverty. Delivering the 2009 Keith Murdoch Oration at the State Library of Victoria, he explored Australia's growth as a knowledge-based economy, and how the audacity of youth can help overcome extreme poverty.
Hugh Evans started his humanitarian work at age 14, traveling to Philippines as an ambassador for World Vision. He founded Australia's first youth-run aid organization, the Oaktree Foundation. He was actively involved in leading the Australian Make Poverty History campaign. In 2004 he was awarded Young Australian of the Year. He is currently the Director of the Global Poverty Project, as well as undertaking a Masters in International Relations at Cambridge University.
Bio
Hugh Evans
Hugh Evans, Director of The Global Poverty Project, is an internationally renowned development advocate. He founded the Oaktree Foundation and was a leader in the Australian Make Poverty History campaign.
Evans was named 2004 Young Australian of the Year and 2005 Junior Chambers Young Person of the World. Hugh holds a law and science degree and is undertaking a Masters in International Relations at the University of Cambridge, UK.
Extreme and protracted shortage of food, resulting in widespread hunger and a substantial increase in the death rate. General famines affect all classes or groups in the region of food shortage; class famines affect some classes or groups much more severely than others; regional famines affect only a particular region of a country. Causes may be natural or human. Natural causes include drought, flooding, unfavourable weather conditions, plant disease, and insect infestation. Human causes include war, overpopulation, faulty distribution systems, and high food prices. Several severe famines occurred in the 20th century, including those in China (192829, at least 3 million dead; 195961, 1530 million), the U.S.S.R. (1921, more than 5 million; 193233, 68 million), India (194344, 1.5 million), Cambodia (197579, 1 million), and North Korea (199599, 2.5 million), and continued into the 21st century, as in sub-Saharan Africa.