Rio, February 17, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Minister of Social Assistance and Promotion, Benedita da Silva, and the Minister of Culture, Gilberto Gil, announced on Saturday (15) that in October the world "Telefood" concert will be held in Brazil. The event will unite national and international music stars to raise funds to combat hunger in the country.

The two Ministers received the Director-General of the FAO, Ambassador Jackes Diouf, who referred to the Zero Hunger Program as an example to be followed by leaders of other countries where hunger constitutes a scourge. According to Jackes Diouf, this is the first time in history that an administration has assumed a commitment to provide every citizen three daily meals, by the end of its term.

Diouf recalled that the FAO Program Against World Hunger plans to expand the Brazilian project to give the right to life to 840 million people, the most vulnerable segment of the world population, who live and go to bed without anything to eat.

"Telefood," which is expected to be denominated "Telefome" in Brazil, will begin on October 18, in Bahia. (DAS)