Successful Garden, Successful Copenhagen
I didn’t go for a run today. I love running. It’s how I start my days. But today will be a bit different from my normal days, because I won’t be eating at all. I’m fasting in solidarity with the Climate Justice Fast. Putting on the black t-shirt that declares this, I pump myself up to face the day with a bit of discomfort.
I have class from 9:35 until 16:55. Yup, it’s a long day at university, but hopefully that will be beneficial. The more I have to focus on learning (if that’s what you want to call it) the less I will focus on my hungry tummy.
Math class and things are going well. Normally by now I would have had a small breakfast, but I don’t notice it much that I’ve skipped this. I head to my Plant and Soil Science lab. Four hours of playing in the dirt. It’s becoming difficult to focus, but we’re designing our own farms and what crops are best to grow in what types of soil on our small patch of land. It’s interesting, and I don’t have trouble immersing myself in the project. That is until we get to leave the classroom to do research and two girls start talking about going to the campus center for food.
“I’m like sooooooo hungry. I only had a cup of noodles and an apple today. Wow, I’m soooo hungry. We need to go to the Davis Center.” –Girl #1
“Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Definitely time for some food. I haven’t even really had lunch yet” –Girl #2
My stomach grumbles a bit and the thought of noodle salad makes me squirm. “FOCUS. FOCUS!” I tell myself. “You did this on Friday. You can do it again.”
Thinking of fasting makes me think of the rest of the Greenpeace Organizing Term alumni who have agreed to take on a day of solidarity fasting. How would it look if the person who came up with this idea of getting all of us together to fast couldn’t even stick to her one day? Why wouldn’t I be able to stick to one day? My friends from around the world haven’t eaten since last Friday, and here I am a bit annoyed because I’ve gone 14 hours without nourishment.
I’m making a statement, individually and with the rest of the Climate Justice Fast participants. The leaders of the world’s nations don’t seem to get it. My belief is that when they see people, and people of all ages for that matter, putting their lives and health on the line for a solution to this cause, they’ll finally wake up. That’s my hope anyways.
I look back down at the map I’m working on with my patch of land for my farm. “Okay, the most organic matter is here, so this is where we’ll plant most things,” I think.
A key factor for a successful garden. Just like Climate Justice Fast will be a key factor in getting a successful treaty out of Copenhagen.
-April Hillman
Greenpeace Organizing Term Alum, Spring 2009
Written Wednesday, November 11th, 2009.
