Day 3

Day 3, the final day, of my fast was much like I expected. I was super tired and mentally disconnected but I was functioning.

I learned a lot about myself and a lot about how good we have it. Its one thing to go without by your choosing, knowing that in the end you would easily obtain that which you obtained from. Its something totally different to go without simply because there is none. I did not fast as some type of representation of the starvation going on in the refugee camps in Chad and Sudan, I did it as a representation at my outrage at the governments of the world, the international community, and even myself. They, we, us and yes, me have either done nothing or not nearly enough.

When then Senator Obama was campaign in Nevada for my vote I got the chance to attend a town hall meeting at Del Sol High School. I wore I bright orange shirt that simply stated "I vote for Darfur", matter of fact you can see me in far right of the photo above. After his stump speech, he took questions and I was chosen to ask. I could have asked about the economy, immigration, or a million other things but my topic was obvious, I asked Senator Obama about using divestment at a state and federal level as a way to influence or pressure the Government of Sudan. His answer was straight and to the point, his voice unfaltering. In a nutshell his answer was yes. He said that he would do something to help the people of Darfur. To date, other then sending over a special envoy to Sudan to view the situation, we are still waiting for the Obama administration to do something. Everyday that this administration waits, studies the situation, analysis options, is another day that people die.

What is there to study about starvation? Its pretty simply really...people are not eating so they die. I can not think of one single justifiable reason for our government or any other governments undeniable failure to help these people.

Politically there are road blocks and fears about pressuring Sudan but until you decide what to do what is stopping our government and others from supporting the refugee camps in Chad? We have to take the politics out of the equation, because once you do the answer is simple...we can't let these people starve to death, we can't.

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• Questions About Darfur? Ask Nick. (kristof.blogs.nytimes.com)

Day 3

Day 2

Well day 2 of the Darfur Fast is coming to an end and things are getting both better and worse. Physically, I feel a little weak but all in all I am ok but mentally.... I am ready to crumble.

Image via Wikipedia

I never really realized how much food we have here in the states until now. Everywhere I looked there were bags of chips, pretzels, soda, candy, and the like. Sure they are just snack food items but they are food none the less. Tempting me, calling out to me, they were everywhere I looked. I didn't bother going down to the EDR (Employee Dinning Room) for break or lunch because I knew the smell and sight of all that food would probably break me.

I can't imagine living with this type of hunger. I was talking to someone at work today about my fast and about Darfur and mentioned that living with type of hunger has got to be horrible. Apparently they missed my point all together as the response I got was "for us yes, but they are use to it so its no big deal to them". Being use to being hungry does not make it OK or right. Its is almost like they figured that since the people of Darfur have been living on so little for so long that some how these people were able to change their bodies physical need for nutrients. Like they are fine on the 1,017 calories A DAY that most refugees are getting. 1,017 calories is less then half of the normal daily recommended amount.

Just looking around today and thinking of all the times during the day that I normally ate, not just at normal meal times but all the snacks in between, I can't begin to imagine how many calories I was putting away.

I want to stress that I am not making a value judgment about myself or anyone else, I don't feel guilty for living in a place where food is readily available. I do feel a bit guilty for taking it for granted for so long. Only when you see how good we have it here can we start to understand how bad the situation is there.

I am 48 hours into my 3 day fast. I have lost 7 pounds. I feel weak and mentally disconnected. I am tired. I can't imagine living like this for years on end with no immediate hope in sight. We have to do something.

Day 2

Day 1

Well today was the first day of my fast for Darfur. It started off with the typical rush around the house to get ready for work. Since I live with three females this means that there is a ton of hair to be done, shoes to be decided on, and of course breakfasts to be made. I just powered through and filled my super sized massive water jug as I got ready for the day.

Of course as the day continued things got harder. I found myself feeling sluggish and a lingering headache set in. Those that have done this before say that this is pretty common as your body detoxes. By lunchtime I was focusing on staying busy so that I did not think about the hunger.

I made it through the rest of the work day by staying busy and much like when I quit smoking, I realized it has a lot to do with mind over matter. Still this is far more difficult then I expected.

During the course of my day a few people, including my wife, expressed some concern over my plan to fast for 13 days. She has fasted twice before and she expressed some concern because my work is fairly physical so I burn a lot of calories every day. That coupled with the fact that my wife is having major ACL surgery on Thursday has lead me to rethink the 13 day goal. I don't think that she wants to have a grumpy, hungry husband taking care of her after her surgery and I don't blame her.

It is looking more like a 3 day fast but we will see.

Regardless, I am glad I am doing this. To put myself through this, to test my limits a little, and to make a personal statement as to how important and how desperate this situation in Darfur has gotten.

To think that millions of refugees from Darfur deal with hunger like this on a daily basis is shocking. No one should live like this.

As the headache seems to be growing I am going to call it a night with day 1 complete.

Day 1

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