Mia Farrow Sets 21-Day Hunger Strike Limit: "I Don't Want To Die"

NEW YORK — Mia Farrow is so determined to embark on a potentially dangerous hunger strike, not even her doctor can talk her out of it.

The 64-year-old actress and humanitarian plans to begin fasting on Monday, and she has set a limit of 21 days _ or until her health worsens. Farrow, who will drink water only, says she approached her doctor for advice, asserting, "Please don't even try to talk me out of this."

Farrow's hunger strike is a show of solidarity with the people of Darfur. She was inspired to do it after the Sudanese government expelled international aid agencies from the country last month.

Farrow says her doctor will be on call. In preparation, she's taking vitamins and eating fruits and vegetables, and she's gained 9 pounds.

"I'm just an actress," Farrow said Wednesday by phone from her home in rural Connecticut. "I'm not presuming anybody will care whether I starve to death or whether I go on a long hunger strike or what. But it's a personal matter. I can't be among those that watch _ and I honestly couldn't think of anything else to do."

Farrow said her doctor wants to conduct a blood test two weeks after she begins the protest.

"I don't know what will happen _ I have no idea," she said. "I looked it up online just to see kind of what to expect, and the reason I'm gonna try to go for three weeks is because you do permanent, irreversible damage, possibly to your organs. ... But it is a punishment to the body for sure."

Farrow is willing to take the risk. She's been to the Darfur region 11 times and feels compelled to return repeatedly on the peoples' behalf to "try to tell a world that seems not to care at all what's happening to them."

Last year, Farrow became a vocal opponent of the Beijing Olympics, calling on China to use its close ties to the Sudanese Arab-dominated government to end the conflict in Darfur. As an alternative to the Olympics, Farrow aired a series of webcasts showing the poor living conditions of ethnic African refugees displaced by the fighting.

The war in Darfur began in early 2003 when rebel groups rose up against the government complaining of discrimination and neglect. U.N. officials say up to 300,000 people have died and 2.7 million have fled their homes.

"My goal is to one day build a museum for Darfur's people _ in Darfur," Farrow said. "Where the young people who've grown up in the midst of violence and in deplorable conditions in camps will be able to go to that museum and reclaim what's theirs."

Farrow, who has collected 40 hours of video footage of traditional ceremonies and other rites that are rarely performed in dark times, expects to return to camps on the Sudan-Chad border sometime this year.

But first, she has to get through her fast.

"I'm going to spend time with each of my children between now and Monday and try to, you know, really alleviate whatever worries they might have or concerns. ... I'm still a parent and I don't want to die."

Comments

[lmvd3]

This is emotionally destructive to her many children. There are many other ways to create change and offer help other than simply starving yourself, which does nothing.

[Promise]

I don't doubt her sincerity and I think it's great that she cares enough for others to take action. But I do doubt the wisdom of the fast. At 64 a fast for 21 days doesn't sound smart to me. It is a dramatic act and that plays into her personality....but I have to wonder what good this will really do for the people in Darfur.

[JumpingCholla]

I don't know if you read the whole story. I know it's easy to ridicule her, but at least she's doing SOMETHING. She admits she doesn't know if it will do any good. Fasting even for 10 days is a huge effort. I don't doubt her sincerity.

[twokidsonecat]

As a mother of a zillion kids, shouldn't she be taking care of herself?

[nowarrantforbeing]

"and I honestly couldn't think of anything else to do"... how about going out and feeding the hungry for 21 days? Just a thought.

[Hemkit]

If Ms. Farrow calls this a personal matter and doesn't think any cares about her fast, then why is it in the news and what does she hope to gain? And having a doctor on-call is a nice touch. I don't get it.

[Felicty]

I say we compromise.

Why not just feed her to the people of Darfur?

[MarkEbner59]

BEST...COM­MENT...EVE­R.

[happycat]

I second that! Felicty ALWAYS has the best one liners in this joint.

[Writerchick]

Mia,
You are already too thin to begin with. How is your dying or being made extremely ill going to help ANYONE? Can't you talk to people, write news stories, or do something more constructive than abusing your body? You have children who depend on you to be there for them.Please rethink this foolish and dangerous idea. Do something POSITIVE to bring attention to Darfur's problems instead. Educate, don't "emaciate." A hunger strike, in this situation, is totally meaningless, as will be your death if you sicken and die as a result of witholding food. RETHINK THIS...PLEASE!

[tillkan]

Darfur is a tragic situation but this is cheap protest. Where was she when her own country invaded and wrecked Iraq? What is she doing for the 5 million Iraqis displaced by our stupid war? Where does she mourn the hundreds of thousands Iraqis who died because of the invasion and destruction of Iraq's infrastructure?

[schemeofthings]

Have those of you who are criticizing her - throwing out words like: narcissism and egotistical, taken the time to actually read the article above!? My guess is that your self-righteous fervor and reactionary arrogance has blinded you from being able to see what is on the page... A re-cap for the repugnant:
She's been to the Darfur region 11 times and feels compelled to return repeatedly on the peoples' behalf to "try to tell a world that seems not to care at all what's happening to them."

[kappa08]

When has Africa NOT had Darfur....When I was a kid Bob Geldoff had huge events to "save" Africa. Bill Gates is spending all of his dollars there. People have been trying to help that continent for a long long time. I don't pretend to be an expert on the details of their plight. However I do empathize with the fatigue the world has for the blight of that region.
What do we do?!!! send MORE money, all of us hold hunger strikes or completely rebuild their society? EVERYBODY is aware. But not EVERYBODY can dedicate themselves to a region that will always have problems. It's like trying to hold water with your arms.
I understand your disgust with this board...But you have to admit Mia Farrow is a professional martyr. Born to worry. God bless her. But don't be surprised if people don't "feel" her anxiety. It will always be something with her. Sorry if we are all numb to her 1000th cause....
If you want to get angry get angry at the POPE for his absolutely irresponsible stance on birth control which in my opinion should be a daily vitamin in Africa.

[Angry23]

Kappa08, you've clearly bought into the media narrative that Africa is just messed up, everything in it is, money is wasted there. I'm an actual Ph.D. who teaches actual college level classes in Africa and am here to tell you that you're just unconsciously repeating tired old racist discourse. Every continent has problems and all of us humans are responsible for the rest of ours. If you have "suffering" fatigue, it's because you're lucky enough to be well fed and typing on a board right now. I think at least Mia is doing something. While I agree with those who, out of compassion, plead with her to rethink her method, hunger striking is a time tested way to bring attention to a cause and not t he silliest idea I've ever heard of. But I suppose to you anything smacking of compassion is trite and tiresome.

[coastalcarla]

Guess she thinks she's Ghandi.

[SuperBucky]

Isn't this just a CELEB DIET? Isn't that the same diet as Lindsey Lohan and Tori Spelling and angelina jolie and a host of other celeb diets. She'll look great in the end..

[Joye]

I don't understand why she can';t just give more money for them..

[Aabby]

at least she's doing something. Bless you, Mia.

[BosMomE]

her activism should be continued... but not like this
who will benefit? she's sending the message that this is the end of the rope

[jmundstuk]

She's doing nothing but satisfying narcissistic compulsions.

[BosMomE]

you won't die but you might take years off of your life? do you and your family think it's worth it? are hunger strikes effective? i always felt that hunger strikes were an insult to those who are starving the ultimate affront being the point at which you "choose" not to die...

[pkafin]

If one was protesting world hunger by embarking on a hunger fast, I might agree with you.

Short of that, I don't think the tragic fact that some people really are starving should be a reason not to protest something in this manner. It's a pretty dramatic and effective way to show how much you care about an issue.

I still remember the name Bobby Sands and the reason he did what he did.

Do you think that protesters who engage in civil disobedience by lying down in the street (thus blocking either specific vehicles or blocking traffic in general) are insulting quadriplegics?

[Anastasia]

We know Mia cares, God bless her. The question is, will it change anything?

If the rulers of Sudan don't care whether hundreds of thousands in their own country are starving, they won't care if Mia does, either. And since the rightly or wrongly, Western world has already written off intervening in Darfur, there is nothing she or anyone can do to change the situation.

For Mia to endanger her health, with no possible positive outcome seems a pity. The world needs her passion and compassion for the poor. As painful as it may be, Mia may want to begin the process of letting go and finding another cause that could use her considerable energies.