Budget Hunger Fast Goes Viral

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"These critical funds enable millions around the world to have access to food and clean water, the very basics needed for human survival. I am proud to join my colleague, friends, and over 30,000 Americans in this fast to call attention to the drastic cuts being proposed by House Republicans to critical programs and services."
- Rep. Rosa DeLauro on why she and other members of Congress are joining the hunger fast for a moral budget. (Source: CNN)

Join the fast: http://blog.sojo.net/2011/04/07/updated-the-hunger-fast-resource-post/#

The hunger fast for a moral budget has gone spiritually viral. Ten days ago, we announced at the National Press Club that the budget debate had become a moral crisis. Prayer, fasting, and radical action are now required. Sojourners, the Alliance to End Hunger, and Bread for the World spearheaded this effort, but many more organizations, churches, and individuals have joined each day. We now have more than 30,000 participants and are still growing.

From large Christian groups such as World Vision and Opportunity International, to secular groups such as Women Thrive Worldwide and the ONE campaign; from labor unions such as the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), that represents the poorest workers in the country, to MoveOn.org, involvement in this fast is amazingly broad. 25 members of Congress will join the fast, and this work is now referenced constantly on the House floor. More Members continue to join, and they plan to have at least one member fasting every day until Easter by “passing the baton” on to their colleagues.

We are keeping the pressure on Congress through emails and phone calls as well as media coverage. CNN, Fox News, PBS, NPR, and many print and online outlets have highlighted the hunger fast. Every story is another opportunity to raise awareness about what is happening in Washington, D.C., and how it will affect the poor across our country and the world. Others are spreading the word by connecting with us on Facebook and Twitter.

My favorite thing about these first 10 days of the fast has been the stories. For example, a doctor friend, calling with concerns about my health, said, “Well, I walked into church today and our youth group announced a 30-hour fast for the poor and a moral budget, and said they were inspired by your fast.” Also, a Jewish activist joining our water fast told me he was re-reading the biblical story of Esther, who called the people to a public fast to change the king’s mind. He spoke about the emotions he felt when he imagined his 2-year-old daughter having the hunger pangs he was now experiencing. Low-income workers from my hometown of Detroit, Michigan came to one of our Congressional events to thank us for fasting, and to say they were joining us.

http://blog.sojo.net/2011/04/07/the-spiritually-viral-hunger-fast/#

Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jim-Wallis/207206302440
Twitter:http://twitter.com/jimwallis

[Beam Me Up]

1. They don't care if we starve ourselves to death. You know that, right?

Now, I'm not saying anything about fasting. Fasting can be good for us on a lot of levels. However, as a political strategy, it is not going to do diddly squat.

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3. You're absolutely right. Gandhi didn't "do diddly squat".

:rofl:

[Beam Me Up]

5. you haven't noticed times have changed a bit since his day?

perhaps you didn't take part in the massive antiwar demonstrations BEFORE the invasion of Iraq?

i did. unlike the demonstrations of the 60s it had no affect what so ever. the establishment media has learned to downplay such demonstrations.

the point being it takes a LOT more now than it did even a half century ago. maybe if you get a few people to immolate themselves in front of goldmen sachs or on the steps of the federal reserve that might make one news cycle. maybe. still won't change shit.

[bobbolink]

6. Martin Luther King fasted...he didn't accomplish anything. Mitch Snyder fasted, so I guess he

didn't succeed in getting the shelter established in D.C.

Making disparaging comments to me isn't going to change anything, will it?

From the way you are talking, it sounds like your solution is that its all hopeless, so give up and do nothing.

Given that LIBERALS and PROGRESSIVES refuse to do anything about poverty, I am damned thankful to these groups for what they are doing.

Sorry you don't like it.

[Beam Me Up]

7. Let me know when fasting makes a significant difference

in the structures of power and wealth which dictate who shall and who shall not be poor; who shall and who shall not have shelter or adequate, clean and healthy food and water. Let me know when any form of protest or demonstration or even civil disobedience brings conscience to the enterprises of global corporate capital.

If you want to end poverty, and not only in America, you must radically alter the value systems of global society. Without a fundamental change at the very core of what constitutes "value" every small step forward in one area will be matched by 100 steps backward in other areas. Every family saved from poverty will be matched by a 100 families thrown into poverty. I'm 63 years old. The world is not a better place now than when I came into it. In fact, it is far, far worse and getting more so by the minute. Unimaginable wealth and power is being consolidated in fewer and fewer hands as we speak. The consequence of this is an approaching tsunami of poverty and suffering unlike anything you and I have ever seen -- and it is going to take far more than fasting to even dampen much less thwart its destructive force.

[bobbolink]

12. Again, since Gandhi, many people have used this technique to great advantage.

You don't like it? Fine. Nobody is holding a gun to your head. But accept that others DO like it and want to participate. It is, still, a semi-free country.

"If you want to end poverty, and not only in America, you must radically alter the value systems of global society."

Please share with us what you are doing in this regard.

Thank you.

[uppityperson]

10. Some people who accomplish great things fast. Ok. Not everyone who fasts accomplishes much.

[bobbolink]

4. No reply?

[CreekDog]

9. people who post dumb things are often smarter than their posts indicate

because when they don't come back, it's pretty obvious they know they don't have a credible argument to make in response.

[CreekDog]

8. that's true...the fasts that Cesar Chavez and Gandhi did had no political effect

:sarcasm:

[bobbolink]

13. Really? I could swear I remember celebrating when we finally got UNION GRAPES in the grocery stores

I guess I must have been dreaming that.

:hi: :yourock:

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. KnR

[Starry Messenger]

11. k&r