It is now after 8 PM, which means that it has officially been over 24 hours since I last ate.
As someone who normally struggles to get from one meal to the next without snacking, the past 24 hours have not been easy.
So, you probably wonder, why I am depriving myself of my oh-so-beloved food?
The answer is simple -- it's Darfur.
It all began during a first block class like any other... (pardon my theatrics here, but I'm going to attribute it to the hunger)
Then, my friend Kieran announced, "Mia Farrow is going on a 30-day fast for Darfur."
My interest was piqued.
After finding out the Mia is being joined by human rights activists and concerned citizens from all over the world in an organized movement called the Darfur Fast for Life, here I am.
The fast is intended to draw attention to the recent expulsion of aid organizations like Doctors Without Borders and Oxfam by the Sudanese government, which has significantly worsened the circumstances surrounding the genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan. It is a means of expressing solidarity with the 4.7 million people dependent upon the help of such non-profit organizations who are now suffering from increased malnourishment and lack of medical attention.
Fasting began on April 27th, led by Mia. Although she had to stop after 12 days due to health problems, others will continue until at least May 30th.
Initially, my friend Brittany and I were to take in part in water-only fasting from sundown May 8 to sundown May 15, with other friends and family joining in for a few days, as well. However, we realized today that we have to change our plans.
Brittany has been told by her doctor that it is not safe for her to continue for medical reasons, so she had to stop. And as for me, I am starting to truly understand how difficult it would be to function at school without eating. Because I can't afford to stay home for a week, I am going to switch to refugee rations fasting tomorrow. This means that I will only be allowed to eat a diet of food that mirrors the rations refugees receive, composed of cracked wheat, Farina wheat cereal, yellow split peas, and small amounts of oil, sugar, and salt. It amounts to 1,017 calories per day.
I will be blogging each day during this week to discuss both my experiences and, more importantly, the tragic experiences of the Darfuri people.
For more information on the Fast for Life, please visit fastdarfur.org. To learn more about the genocide in general, check out savedarfur.org.
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