Day 26- The Fast Begins

Good Morning,

Awoke at 4 am this Friday after my best sleep in 5 days...I've been fighting a nasty bug that has kept me down and out most of the week....but not today!!!!

The slumbering activist awakes to start my 3 day fast with partners from all over the world....more than 100 of us are starting the Climate Justice Fast (www.climatejusticefast.org)It's been an incredibly connecting experience getting at least 20 emails every day from fasters and supporters in Austrailia (where it started), UK, India, Denmark, Spain, Canada,South Africa, HJonduras, France, Germany, Bhutan, New Zealand, the Philippines and the US. It's growing fast (no pun intended) and yesterday in Barcelona where the last negotiations leading up to COP 15 are ending today....the reason for the start of the fast, the news conference was well attended and stimulated a lot of buzz.

A number of the fasters are doing a water only fast through COP 15 or 42 days!! Not something I'm willing to do but I will be joining them for these first 3 days, the first 3 days of COP 15 (Dec 6-8) and the last 3 days of COP 15. I will also be a spokeperson for the fast and it reminds me of my younger days with Skiers Ending Hunger and my 10 and 11 days fasts on Peavey Plaza in downtown Mpls MN to raise awareness about ending hunger and creating the political will to get the job done.

What is it about political will and it never being there on the tough issues that cause massive suffering and poverty (and now climate refugees in places like Tuvalu, Kirabati and soon the Maldives). The Africans walked out of the negotiations yesterday stating that the rich countries need to show up and do their part for the damage caused by our over consumption and inaction on the issue of Climate Change.

From the Climate Justice Fast news release; "Our Governments inaction could well go down as the greastest crime against humanity in history, allowing the world's most vulnerable people, and even our own children, to suffer at the hands of an irreversible catastrophe they played no part in causing"

Strong words but part of what drives me with my missionary zeal is this sense that: "my life has been entirely fueled by the blissful ignorance I had about the lifestyle that I have been given to me because of the luck of my birthplace"

when I first heard the quote "there but for the grace of God go I" rang true to me and lead me on this exciting jopurney that has been my life.

Check out this video and tell me if it moves you to action
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jMXJ7jsj-4&NR=1

I invite you to join me in the Climate Justice Fast on Dec 7 and Dec 18 the first and last day of COP 15 and send prayers to our world leaders and negotiators that they open their hearts in listening for the greatest good for all people.

Time for a walk to the Co-op and one last piece of fruit before my fast begins.

May we all know peace and carry that peace into action to reshape our world.