Starvation party sends a message

Others were handed portions of rice and beans. But there were strained smiles among those who drew the 8216;8216;poorest8217;8217; tickets. They found themselves shut out of Hall8217;s spacious residence in the elite suburb of Caracalla and left in the darkness to pace the garden. These diplomats were then presented with their meal 8212;8212; a few handfuls of cold rice. A helpful leaflet informed them that they were representing the 60 per cent of the world8217;s six billion people who struggle to find each meal.

The meagre portion of rice would, added the leaflet, fail to supply the 8216;8216;minimum calories you require8217;8217;. Confronted with this meal, many diplomats simply refused to eat. They were eventually allowed inside for the traditional feast.

Hall, a former Democratic Congressman, recently returned from a three day tour of Sudan8217;s war-torn region of Darfur. 8216;8216;It8217;s fair to say that some of the people in the audience were disturbed by the experience,8217;8217; said his spokesman.

8216;8216;Overall, the tone was exactly right. It was respectful of the reality of world hunger without being overbearing. There were some people who said that it was very effective.8217;8217; 8216;8216;I think they thought it was very interesting,8217;8217; Hall said afterwards.