During the first part of the 20th century, Mahatma Gandhi abstained from eating for long periods, using fasting as a form of political protest. A pioneer of Satyagraha — the resistance of tyranny through mass civil disobedience, firmly founded upon total non-violence– Gandhi defied the largest most powerful empire of his time by integrating dedicated self-sacrifice with the organizing of mass direct action.
Today’s struggles are no less dire as we are in need of new movements to challenge corporate climate change and it’s subsequent environmental and social effects. Ted Glick and our friends at the Climate Emergency Council have initiated the Climate Emergency Fast to bring new pressure on Congress as they return to DC on September 4th.
Over three hundred and seventy people are now signed up, from 38 states and scores of localities, as well as from the provinces of Quebec and British Columbia in Canada. New participants include author Ross Gelbspan, Rev. Bob Edgar, former General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, Rabbis Michael Lerner and Steven Jacobs, Ilyse Hogue of MoveOn, Kathy Kelly of Voices for Creative Nonviolence, and author and activist Adrienne Maree Brown. They’ll be joining with Bill McKibben, Sally Bingham, Van Jones, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Medea Benjamin, Eban Goodstein, Billy Parish, Mike Tidwell, Jared Duval and many others.
Gandhi once said that, “Fasting is the sincerest form of prayer.”
“There is no excuse for further delays. Business as usual cannot continue yet one more day.”
We need to bring as much attention as possible on this issue. I signed up today, please join us by signing up here.
Twitter Updates
In addition to fasting for one day to express symbolic concern about climate change, why not eat vegan every day to actually reduce the methane and CO2 for which we are directly responsible?
I’m signed up and will be fasting on the 4th. I can only hope that when Congress reconvenes in September that the climate will take receive the attention it deserves.
Yeah, SuperWeed is right – go vegan!
You can remove your support for the oppression of animals, reduce your ecological footprint, and protect your health.
Vegan Starter Guide:
http://www.friendsofanimals.org/img/Vegan_Starter_Guide.pdf