The Climate Emergency Fast
On September 4th, an organization called the U.S. Climate Emergency Council is holding a 24-hour fast meant to further raise awareness about global warming. As such gestures go, it seems like quite an appropriate one. The burdens of climate change are likely to fall most heavily on the poorest people and there is good reason to believe that agriculture will be seriously affected. (See this post on C3 photosynthesis, for instance.) Participating in the fast could provide a visceral approximation of what a changing climate will mean for many people, while highlighting the moral importance of the issue.
As of now, about 800 people have signed up for the fast. It is being discussed - along with the broader context of climate change protest - over at Grist.
[Update: 10:47am] I think I am going to do this. As far as I know, it will be the first time I have ever gone 24 hours without eating anything. I will permit myself water only, though climate change may leave that in short supply also.
August 30th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
While I like the idea, and will likely take part, at least for the day, I am somewhat leery of claims made by this page. Speaking of the “health benefits” of fasting and the ubiquitous yet elusive “toxins” that seem to be the focus of so much alternative medicine really puts a damper on my enthusiasm. This fast shouldn’t be about the health of the faster. Furthermore, magical thinking is not something that needs to be associated with climate change.
August 30th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
Are you going to do this?
It is a unique way to end the Labour Day Weekend.
August 31st, 2007 at 9:21 am
OK, I’m in but I don’t know whether I’m supposed to do this on UK or US time… what do you reckon?
August 31st, 2007 at 10:44 am
I posted about this on Metafilter (not linking my own site, of course).
Antonia,
I am going to do it on my own time. It is not particularly important to me that other people are also doing it. This is more about comtemplation than solidarity, for me. I will probably go midnight to midnight, Ottawa local time.
September 1st, 2007 at 4:36 am
I’ve scheduled my going-away dinner this day. I suppose I could begin a fast at 7pm the preceding evening and break it at the Foundation.
September 4th, 2007 at 6:08 am
[...] I am participating in a 24-hour fast in response to climate change. My primary motivation is to gain a more immediate understanding of [...]