13 Day Fast

Image by Genocide Intervention Network via Flickr

Not to long ago, I met with two of Senate Leader Harry Reid's foreign affairs advisers at his office here in Las Vegas to discuss what was happening in Darfur, Sudan and the ways that we thought that the great state of Nevada could help.

It was a great experience and I really enjoyed it. Honesty, it was EXTREMELY nice to have a conversation with people who not only know about Darfur but all the politics behind it. It was nice to geek out about foreign affairs.

We discussed the aspects of this conflict, the fall out from al-Bashir's decision to expell the 13 aid organizations, the potential effects to the country of Chad as refugees flood the camps and how the divestment of pension funds in the state of Nevada can help.

Well yesterday, I received a letter from Harry Reid thanking me for meeting with his advisers ad I thought that was pretty cool, not just because it was a nice thing to do but because I was about to embark on form of activism that I have never tried before, fasting.

Starting on Monday, I am going on a 13 day water only fast, one day for each aid organization expelled from Darfur by

Image by openDemocracy via Flickr

Sudans President Omar al-Bashir. I am joining the thousands of people who are fasting right now with fastdarfur.org, people who want to express their personal outrage at the lack of action taken by the governments of the world and U.N. as millions suffer in Darfur. Mia Farrow recently ended her fast because of her doctors orders and Sir Richard Brason, the guy who started Virgin, picked up the torch for her. Recently Congressman Donald M. Payne, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health, also joined the fast. Thousands have joined and I felt the need to as well.

I don't think that whether or not I scarf down a plate full of orange chicken is going to save lives in Darfur, at least not directly, but I do think that through this fast we can raise awareness. For me, that is most important thing that I can do to help bring peace in Darfur. I take this very personally.

As a father of three amazing children, as a husband to the most supportive wife alive, and as a human being on this earth I am outraged that the "civilized" countries of the world can sit ideally by while hundreds of thousands for people are butchered, while little girls are raped, while some of the worst human rights atrocities this world has seen continue.

I will post a daily report of my fast starting tomorrow so please check back.

13 Day Fast