By Kathryn Nelson, April 21, 2009, and used by the Associated Press and Reuters. (PDF)
Activist-actress kicks off world-wide Darfur Fast for Life for starving innocents in Sudan
Washington, DC-- Activist-actress Mia Farrow announced the Darfur Fast for Life today—a hunger strike in
solidarity with the people of Darfur, Sudan. Farrow begins her 21 day water-only fast in solidarity with those starving in Darfur and for lasting peace in Sudan as a personal expression of outrage for the world’s inaction to the genocide.
Farrow begins the Darfur Fast for Life as she joins U.S. Members of Congress, Enough Co-Founder John
Prendergast, Save Darfur President Jerry Fowler, and other prominent activists to protest the ongoing genocide and lack of aid at the Sudanese Embassy in Washington, D.C, where they plan to engage in acts of civil disobedience.
Farrow and other activists are calling for the immediate restoration of all aid services and unimpeded
access for aid workers to the refugee population, which provide a lifeline to 4.7 million people in the
area. In addition, Farrow is calling for a credible process to bring lasting peace and justice to Sudan
and a world in which the human rights of all humans are respected.
Said Farrow, “I hope human rights advocates and citizens of conscience around the world will join me in some form of fasting, even if for one day. And when I can no longer continue, I pray another will take my place, and another, until finally there is justice and peace for Darfur’s people.”
Since 2003, over 400,000 families and children have died and over 2.5 million displaced as a result of the
genocide. Over the last month, the genocide in Darfur has grown exponentially dire. Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir expelled 16 aid agencies from the region after he was indicted for crimes against humanity and war crimes. Food, water, medicine, and shelter supplies, which were already alarmingly scarce, are beginning to run out in the camps for the internally displaced. Still, the world continues to watch as more innocents die as a result of inaction.
Said Farrow, “I undertake this fast in the heartfelt hope that world leaders who know what is just and right will act immediately to end the suffering in Darfur and Sudan. I also call upon President Obama and other leaders with influence to help build a credible peace process before our Darfuri brothers, sisters and children begin to die in numbers that could dwarf the Rwandan genocide.”
Other fast participants include: Gloria White-Hammond, chairwoman of the Save Darfur Coalition, John
Prendergast, co-founder of the ENOUGH Project, Pam Omidyar, founder of the Humanity United, Shannon
Sedgwick Davis of Bridgeway Foundation, Ruth Messinger, President of American Jewish World Service,
Tzivia Schwartz Getzug of Jewish World Services, Ellen Kennedy of Genocide Intervention Network—
Minnesota, and Gabriel Stauring, Director, Stop Genocide Now.
Mia and others will provide video and blog posts throughout the Darfur Fast for Life at www.fastdarfur.org. For more information, please contact Gabriel Stauring 310.415.2863 or gabriel@stopgenocidenow.org or visit www.fastdarfur.org for up-to-date information.