Sara’s Press Conference Speech 8 December
My name is Sara Svensson, I'm 25 years old and I'm from Sweden. Today is my 33rd day of Climate Justice Fast.
For over a month I've been eating no food at all, drinking only water. It has certainly not been easy. I get colder than usual, my body is physically weaker, and every day requires a lot of self-discipline to keep going.
Can the West be ‘taxed’ on climate?
This is an opinion piece just published online in 'The Punch' about the famed 'hip-pocket reflex' of Australian voters and the danger it entails for us all in the face of climate change and political jostling.
theory and practice…
theory and practice...
Since first hearing about CJF I have wanted to make some level of fasting commitment in support of this courageous action.
From the outset I realised that existing commitments to my family and other environmental projects would place certain limits upon my level of participation, so I decided to fast for the duration of the COP15 rather than considering a longer spell.
In the meantime I joined the UK rolling fast, immersed myself in two sustainable community projects, attended and gave workshops, took part in a couple of demo's and continued to enjoy my family's high-energy, low-carbon existence.
But all the time I've been watching Paul, Anna, Michael, Sara, Diane and Chuck, awestruck.
I had always considered that I was doing just about everything I could do with regard to sustainability (vegan, no car etc.) but these guys were showing an altogether different level of commitment.
I've been working ridiculously hard to ensure that I would have space to join the fast and have been very excited as this has approached...
...so, here we are; COP15, I'm fasting and it's not all that exciting after all. I'm feeling weird and light-headed and can't seem to concentrate on the conference.
I'm a fairly determined chap and I'm sure I'll put in a good effort but it really makes you appreciate the levels of commitment, respect, love and energy that those six have cultivated.
Massive respect to the CJF Six!
Here's what I've been thinking about today:
Climate Justice Fast: One Small College’s Efforts
After a week of fasting, Sasha Macko, a junior at Williams College reflects upon her fast and looks expectantly forward at the progress of the international climate talks in Copenhagen. She is joined by four other students in her week-long fast, and around fifty other students and faculty accompany them for 24 hour fasts from November 6th to the December 18th. 
COP15 - it begins! And they’re saying all the right things…
Right now, I am sitting in the 'Plenary 2' room of the COP15, which started just a few hours ago. I'm sitting on the carpet on the floor in fact, because it is packed out and there are no chairs left. And the 'Plenary 1' room is totally full as well (only people with tickets could enter, no laptops, jackets or bags allowed), so here in Plenary 2 we're just watching the talks on video.
So what have they been saying? And does it matter?
Michael Morphett
I was born and raised in Sydney, Australia. I have been very aware of and concerned about climate change for 25 years. I have involved myself in the science and psychology of this issues throughout this time. I have been growing more and more anxious about where we are heading and what role I can play in making the necessary changes happen. When I learnt about Climate Justice Fast! I welcomed the opportunity to make the strongest possible statement that I could. I immediately signed up to be a long term faster.
Fasting for Justice on Climate Change
Who knows what it feels like to go hungry for a meal, a day, or a few days? Probably most of us. But who knows what it feels like to go hungry for a week, two weeks, three weeks, four weeks?
Day 30!
Today marks day 30 of CJF, one month exactly since 6 people, myself, Anna Keenan, Diane Wilson, Sara Svensson, Michael Morphett and Chuck Cain last took in any nourishment other than water. It's also the eve of the great Copenhagen climate summit, where CJF will be in force (albeit without yours truly), delivering our message of the absolute urgency and moral importance of climate action. I thought I would take this opportunity, then, to offer some brief thoughts about our campaign so far.
Interfaith Climate Prayer
Today, the Conference of Youth (COY) started in Copenhagen. COY is a preparation conference for youth from all over the world who have come together to participate in COP15. The energy I got from meeting all of them made day 30 of Climate Justice Fast one of my best days ever!
In the opening session of COY, Climate Justice Fast participants gave an interfaith climate prayer on stage to give all youth the strength to do our best during the two coming weeks and believe in real change. Here is the text of the prayer:
A Change of Pace
I’ve been notably absent from the blogging scene, but not absent from the hunger strike. Thanksgiving break rolled around and gave me a chance to sleep ten hours a day, watch endless episodes of CSI, and beat New Super Mario World for the Wii on cooperative mode with my friends. It also brought me into close contact with an adopted second-mother who insisted I drink juice and/or broth.
