My Hunger Strike for Darfur

On April 27th I will begin a fast of water only in solidarity with the people of Darfur and as a personal expression of outrage at a world that is somehow able to stand by and watch innocent men, women and children needlessly die of starvation, thirst and disease.

The Darfur crisis deepened on March 4th when the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese president President Omar al-Bashir for his essential role in the murder, rape, torture and displacement of millions. Al-Bashir retaliated immediately by expelling thirteen key international aid agencies from Sudan, including Save the Children, Doctors Without Borders, CARE, Oxfam and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) along with three highly respected Sudanese agencies.

Sudanese U.N. Ambassador Abdalhaleem claimed his government would have no problem filling in any gaps created by the expulsions. But U.N. humanitarian affairs chief John Holmes spoke honestly about the desperate realities: "We do not, as the U.N. system, the NGOs do not, and the Sudanese government does not have the capacity to replace all the activities that have been going on. This is a decision which is likely to have a major impact on millions of people in Darfur who are in need on a daily basis, of life-saving humanitarian assistance." According to the UN, as of this May more than a million people will be without food aid, medical assistance, and drinkable water.

The United Nations humanitarian agencies issued their joint plea; "The suspended NGOs account for more than half of the capacity for the aid operation in Darfur. If the life-saving assistance these agencies were providing is not restored shortly, it will have immediate, lasting and profound impacts on the well being of millions of Sudanese citizens. These organizations provide a lifeline to 4.7 million people."

I undertake this fast in the heartfelt hope that world leaders who know what is just and right will call upon the Government of Sudan to urgently readmit all of the expelled agencies or otherwise insure that the gap is filled, giving aid workers unimpeded access to the populations before they begin to die in numbers that could dwarf the Rwandan genocide. I also call upon President Obama and other leaders with influence to help build a credible peace process that can end the suffering in Darfur.

I hope human rights advocates and citizens of conscience around the world will join me in some form of fasting, even if for one day. And when I can no longer continue, I pray another will take my place, and another-- until finally there is justice and peace for Darfur's people.

Comments

[Jeff Antebi]

I blogged today on Huffpost about our Darfur benefit album. Hope you have a second to see what it's about:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-antebi/iwaxploitation-presents-c_b_201051.html

Thank you.

[SunroseSonrose]

This is a wonderful thing that Mia Farrow is doing. In a world mostly ruled by selfishness and greed, she is standing against it. as an example. Never underestimate the power of the love that motivates this.

Since I am already fasting (juice) for a minimum of six days a week for our country (America) and world, I'm happy to support your fast. too.

Sincerely and with Love,
Sun~Rose

[AbrahamSadegh]

Dear Mia,

May God bless you and keep you safe.

I have begun my Sunset to Sunset total fast "in solidarity with the people of Darfur and as a personal expression of outrage at a world that is somehow able to stand by and watch innocent men, women and children needlessly die of starvation, thirst and disease."

I urge Hoffington Post to keep us informed of how you are doing on a daily basis as well as any meaningful reaction on the part of those who are aware of your sacrifice to further focus attention on the plight of the innocent human being suffering in Darfur.

I dream of a day when humanity would realize its awesome potential to direct its total energy in the same direction as in a beam of laser and utilize as an effective CEO all the material and human resources toward solving the problems we face - hunger, disease, greed, poverty, illiteracy, undue power, dictatorship, militarism, war, etcetera - as guardians of our Spaceship Earth.

"When I was child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways."

I dream of a day when we become adults and raise this magnificent and unique planet to the level where it belongs hopefully for our own sake as well as the sake of millions of generations to come.

[StartLoving]

God bless you Mia. Over the last four years I've undertaken numerous hunger strikes for Darfur here in DC, the longest lasting almost 50 days. You will be ok. Take electrolytes (EmergenC - Whole Foods has it), Potassium suplement, and make certain that your sodium does not get low.)

The Darfur movement has been one big Circle Jerk - except for you - you and Reeve. God bless you.

http://youtube.com/StartLovng1

[LaurenLK]

I think this is a really compassionate thing she is doing. She is not comparing herself to the people who are suffering, or Gandhi for that matter. She is just made sick by what she sees and is using her celebrity to draw attention to the world's complete failure to deal with Darfur. I commend her and will be following her strike on my blog: http://thepeoplesrepublicofblogistan.blogspot.com/

[Ruth Gonzalez]

Mia, whatever you decide to do I will support you all the way!! Your passion and love for the people of Darfur ripples across the blog. I haven't been as active as I should but I will DO something right now while I can! Take care, Mia :-)

[MJ Stark]

A couple of things here. I don't think Ms. Farrow said she was going to fast until she was dead, but rather, until she couldn't. Maybe she meant death, but I didn't get that sense of it until reading so many comments saying, basically, "Don't die, Mia!!" Re-read her words, or maybe Ms. Farrow will comment and clear this up (or maybe she has and I haven't seen it).

The other thing is...a comparison with Gandhi and Ms. Farrow re fasting. I'm sorry, but this is apples and oranges. They are both fruits but from very different trees. Read Ms. Farrow's story. Then read Gandhi's. Here's the wiki version, Gandhi light http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandhi . So please. In comparing the effectiveness of fasting for political reasons, consider the myriad of facets involved before suggesting they have anything in common.

Anything any individual does for positive is a drop in a bucket. Buckets get filled by drops. So in my thinking, Ms. Farrow could best use her celebrity to organize, influence and activate more than most for relief actions that, having been there, she knows would best serve the people of Darfur.

[poorman]

Wait a minute, guys.....what right do yo have to tell Mia whether or not to fast ? That's her decision.

Why don't you try fasting for a few days and see how your entire mindset changes in that time. You will become an entirely different person, I guarantee....and you will understand a lot more about humanity at the end of it.

For Americans, it is probably the easiest and quickest path to maturity.

[mummbleswers]

Why Americans? I got a Canadian cousin I keep telling to grow up I want to tell him this but I'm afraid it wont work. What should I do?

[poorman]

Because Americans rule the earth. Canadians do not rule the earth. And Americans keep telling the rest of the world how to be and behave, Canadians don't. And Americans actually have the power to manipulate worldwide events, including the prevalence of hunger (1/1000th of the bailout money can resolve world hunger, no other country can do that).
If a Canadian is mature, and thinks well, it will only help the Canadian and no one else. If Americans mature and think, it helps the whole world, or at least the world will hurt significantly less.
I am not qualified to give family advice, but common sense tells me to leave your cousin alone. Mind your own business.

[mikefina]

"for Americans, it is probably the easiest and quickest path to maturity"

Why only for Americans? Are other nationalities already more mature? Really? Which ones? HUNGRY ONES??
Is fasting a way to enlightenment?? Must be why we see so much economic, social, educational and technological progress from the various famine plagued countries of the world.
Oh, but you say, they aren't "fasting", they are just starving. So then I ask, if simulated deprivation is the key to maturity, wouldn't Ms. Farrow do better to give ALL her money and possesions away, put on sackcloth and follow the food strike to its inevitable conclusion.
Man-o-man, she'd be the most mature actress nobody under 50 had never heard of.

[poorman]

Great questions, Mike.....I will answer to the best of my ability.
Other nationalities are not telling Mia not to fast. Americans are.... not respecting her decision. I have no idea if fasting is way to enlightenment. I have no idea what enlightenment is. You seem to think it is "educational and technological progress". Very well.
Look a little deeper and you will find that "famine plagued countries" are not suffering because of lack of education and technology. Their famine is due to war, in every case. Look a little deeper, and you will find your beloved USA behind the war.
I don't say they are starving....I don't actually even understand what you are getting at. As for Mia, again, you are telling her what to do with her life......a sign of immaturity, if ever there is one. Go ahead, fast for 2 days.....there is not much of a downside. There might even be an upside if you end up feeding your superiority complex by not eating for an extended period.
Finally, it is a scientific fact that the average age at which American males become mature is 31. 31 years old ! Average, not maximum! No, there is no nation in which males are not mature on average by 31.
I agree it is not useful to fast in a cave and nobody knows about it. Mia is a known figure and will be in the news because of this.

[poorman]

One example http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161466168

[regularmess]

It may seem mean, but I'll tell you how people from the outside read this. This is the height-of-style in dieting. Is it? No. But that is how this will be perceived, if at all.

A more effective method? Raise money to send in documentarians under armed guard. Interview, depict, publish. Narrate the story with a Hollywood contact that cares for stuff like this...try Liev Schreiber. That's how you use your place in the world for change.

Your calorie intake is just too much of a glass house in this fat-thin obsessed culture. It's just too easy to miscontrue. So I would urge you to organize and spend and network to unify for Darfur. Not internaize, save and isolate yourself. Don't take the battle out on your own body. People in Darfur wouldn't understand this because it makes no sense, and neither do I.

[RobinL]

I love Mia---she has real depth and compassion. But hunger-striking has never been an effective way to bring about change. Not only that, but it hurts the body. Mia, don't get unbalanced, please. You've been effective at delivering messages precisely because you seem balanced and reasonable. Please don't ruin your credibility by becoming an extremist.

[JohnCochtosten]

Gandhi begs to differ.

[rhomea]

The best (and saddest) commentary I can make is that there are 30 pages of posts about Simon Cowell's latest marketing coup (aka Susan Boyle) and it has been featured on every major news channel on the planet ad nauseum.

Meanwhile, Mia Farrow's willingness to put herself in harm's way for the tragedy in Darfur has 3 pages of posts (half of those derogatory) - and I had to come here to learn of it as I have not seen it on ANY major news broadcast in the 4 countries I regularly monitor.

Could there be any better reason for Ms Farrow to stop this now?

Ms. Farrow - Please don't waste your life away on a world where 30 million people want to feel better about themselves while wasting time watching youtube but ignore this. You can do so much more for the people of Darfur alive than dead and the millions you hope to enlighten are far more worried about who will win their favorite TV show.

Best wishes, good luck and please don't harm yourself irrevocably Ms Farrow.
The world is a better place with you in it.

[Ellen Kagan]

Mia Farrow is something very special. She truly lights up the world. I pray our government listens to her before she starts her fast. She is too precious to lose.

[JoshSN]

Mia,

The tragedy in the Democratic Republic of Congo is far worse. There more than 5 million people have died since Bush took office (compared to perhaps a half million in the Sudan). In the Sudan, we have Christians in America against the Arab Muslim government in Khartoum.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the aggressor nations, principally Rwanda, but traditionally also Uganda, are Christians backed by the United States.

The nightmare in the DRC is far, far worse, and America is in part responsible.

[RoadCrossingChicken]

So, since Ms. Farrow's heart is drawn to the people of Darfur and yours is drawn to the people of the DRC. Does this mean you will be fasting for the people of the DRC?

[mombabytiger]

I'm a huge fan of Mia Farrow's work. Amazing actress. Wish she'd do more of it.

I've never understood why someone deliberately going hungry has anything to do with anything. I can stop eating right now (after this one last bagel), but atrocities are still going to be happening all over the world.

i also find it ironic that millions of us would be involuntarily going hungry if it weren't for food stamps.

I can't remember the name of it right now, but if you get the chance, read Mia's autobiography. It's fascinating!

[VictorLudorum]

Mia! Mia! I wish you all the best and once for my sake read it from 'balance of power' point of view of either The World Government or Nature itself! in my cities Multan Lahore Mianwali Dera Ismail Khan Etc., The Human Rights Groups have long attacked the prosperous families after the 60some years of written constitutions hurting them like 1956 holiness,1958 Imperial Properties and valuables ..1964 lands 1973 wealth 1980 good Families,1999 Fair Skinned ...Health? Kindly call Mr S.M. Zafar the Former Law Minister and kindly inquire about why are 'Human Rights being ignored to senior families?

I pushed my platter to Africa ,
Out of kindness maybe but the TV showed the Somalian Rebels recieved a nice meaty meal,
now that seems true but to pull a dinner from Italy or wash a plate by myself ,struck a town 100 miles north of Rome!

Balance ! Balance! I say!

Rome! Rome! Glory!

[maiforpeace]

Power to you Mia, you are a brave and courageous woman. Good luck and peace to you.