Climate Justice Fast

Humanity is Hungry for Survival

Submitted by Anna Keenan on Tue, 15/12/2009
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Dear Friends,

This week an unprecedented 115 world leaders will converge in Copenhagen to forge a global agreement on climate change. It is thanks to the efforts everyone concerned about climate change that these decision makers will all be in the same room. However we, together as a global community, need to ensure they make the right decisions.

The bad news is that with only one week left, the international climate negotiations are still deadlocked. The good news is that this is our opportunity to step things up.

The science is clear, and the technological and social tools to reduce carbon pollution are ready and waiting.  Our movement has the moral high ground.  Now, we must unite and make the moral declaration that nothing short of an equitable science-based treaty is acceptable. Humanity is hungry for survival.

We are therefore calling for all people across the world, to join a single global day of fasting - voluntarily going without food, drinking only water - on Thursday 17th December.

Commit to join Hunger for Survival, the global day of fasting for climate justice, here.

You can also help to promote the day of fasting on Facebook!

We are calling for moral leadership, which can be achieved if our following calls for climate justice are met:

• Reduce the concentration of carbon in the atmosphere to well below 350ppm as rapidly as possible

• Commit to end both fossil fuel use and deforestation, beginning with elimination of subsidies for these industries, to be wholly redirected into renewable energy, reforestation and sustainable agriculture.

• Ensure protection for the world's most vulnerable people by making adequate provisions for climate finance, for developing countries to deal with the effects of climate change and to promote sustainable energy development that is economically sound and consistent with science

But we aren't just demanding that our governments act.  We are also committing to examining our own lifestyles and priorities.  We want to break our habit of over-consumption, challenge the idea that excess is virtuous, and use our daily economic and political choices to reward those who promote nourishing and life-sustaining policies, rather than those who abuse the planet and its people.

As we grow hungry together this Thursday, our collective expression of devotion and self-sacrifice will send a strong signal to our leaders that we are united and ready to overcome these global challenges as one people, sharing a common humanity.  We will stand in solidarity with the millions who have and will lose their lives due to the preventable and involuntary hunger, disease and conflict resulting from climate change.  Copenhagen is the moment that we all will need to show leadership and courage.

 

Commit to join Hunger for Survival, the global day of fasting for climate justice, here.

You can also help to promote the day of fasting on Facebook.

History has shown the power of fasting. Gandhi used it as a tool to unseat the British Empire's powerful grip over India. The American, English and Irish women suffragists used it to gain the right to vote.  On the day of our fast, world leaders will be presented with the names and images of all the fasters who participate. Images and articles about your fasting will flood the international media. Your actions will drive home that the time for political compromise is over.  It is time to do what is simply, morally, right. 

 

Commit to join Hunger for Survival, the global day of fasting for climate justice, here.

You can also help to promote the day of fasting on Facebook! 

With Love,

The 'Hunger for Survival' team - Anna, Sara and Paul, Deepa, Marcie, Madeline, Shadia and many others - supported by members of the International Youth Climate Movement present in Copenhagen.

 

P.S. Together we will be joining 3 courageous individuals who have been fasting for 42 days – supported by hundreds of others – in the lead up to these negotiations as part of the Climate Justice Fast! Their dedication and sacrifice is the inspiration for this ambitious project.  

 

P.P.S. Many notable leaders in the climate justice movements, including author and activist Vandana Shiva, Former Prime Minister of Ireland Mary Robinson, Head of the UN World Food Programme Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of Greenpeace Kumi Naidoo, and President of the Maldives Mohammed Nasheet will also be joining in this fast and moral call. Click here to see the list of participating leaders.

Don't forget to promote the event on Facebook by joining our event page.