Living Darfur

Oh wow, folks....I've been blogging about a place I didn't even know how to spell properly. It's not 'Dafur', it's 'Darfur'.

Well, then.

My sincere apologies; nice having my ignorance laid out for all to see. And yet, this isn't going to stop me from writing about it as I learn you know.

I'm still planning on fasting for solidarity with the people of Darfur (okay, at least it will make me feel better if not them because sometimes, you can't just sit still and accept things as they are or you'd just go a little looney tunes). And I'm still hoping that as awareness is created around the suffering of others in our world family--help will come.

Here's a youtube video on the Dafur Genocide: A Present Reality
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXdWDM4fmRY

This is how I first became aware of the situation in Darfur: http://miafarrow.org/

Former actress and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Mia Farrow, was fasting for 12 days and it was posted on msn.com. She stopped for health reasons (she was doing water only) but billionaire Richard Branson picked up the fast and others joined in, and of course we still can: http://www.FastDarfur.org/contact/

I liked Victoria's insights which she blogged about during her 21-day fast here:
http://www.victoriatrabosh.com/blog//

She posted this game: 'Darfur is Dying' – "a viral video game for change that provides a window into the experience of the 2.5 million refugees in the Darfur region of Sudan. Players must keep their refugee camp functioning in the face of possible attach by Janjaweed militias. You will learn from this simple game how next to impossible it is to stay alive." >Play the game.

If you are not interested in fasting but feel inspired to do something, Victoria says you can call the White House and protest at 1-800-GENOCIDE or (1-800-436-6243). When you call you’ll be given information to connect to your representative or senator (based on your zip code). Call between 9-5 PM EST.

You can reach the White House at (202)-456-1111.

As always,

Credit: photo courtesy of Mia Farrow's photo gallery on miafarrow.org on her trip to Dafur. The women in the photo are waiting for food.

I Don't Know

So I wanted to update on my Dafur fast and here it is...

It hasn't happened, yet.

I knew I was in trouble Wednesday morning when I found myself in the shower, water running, groping for the shampoo in the dark. Turns out I'd forgotten to switch the lights on after stumbling into the bathroom.

It might have been hump day but it had been an exceptionally draining week already and I wasn't feeling well at all. In that moment, I was not up to the challenge of working and parenting while fasting.

Although I have fasted while carrying heavy schedules in the past, I've only water-fasted twice -- both times in my teens; once for seven days and once for five. I have fasted for a month juicing though, and over the years for weeks at a time while on juices. Because I wanted to make this a water fast, and still do, I am aiming to do it when it feels right rather than setting a date beforehand. You know, wake up and say this-is-the-day type of thing.

But what about raising awareness for Dafur? And what about the people who are starving, do they get to choose when it is good for them? No comparison, no comparison at all. I have the luxury of choosing when to fast, they don't. So I don't know what I can do, if I can't even sacrifice for one day!

Maybe it's the sugar and caffeine addiction. Maybe it's just plain tiredness. But in the spirit of compassion, I'm going to exercise unconditional self-acceptance and remember what American Zen teacher, Cheri Huber, said; "There is the ideal, and there is the actual. And they are often not the same".

I've read her books and teachings on unconditional self-acceptance and found her a treasured friend, although we have never met. But her compassion for all beings shines through her work to you -- her reader and listener -- so I feel like she's given me a good talking to. And it is kind.

So please don't think I've forgotten Dafur. I'm not giving up on either of us. Meanwhile, I'm sending love. As a Facebook comment from Global Coherence Initiative said, "We are connected and what we do individually does count".

See Rollin McCraty Science of The Heart on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/

'Til the fast,



Credit: photo courtesy of Cheri Huber's website, http://www.cherihuber.com/

A Cookie And A Cup of Tea

I'm sitting here enjoying a rare treat; nibbling a white chocolate macadamia nut cookie with my usual cup of green tea for breakfast while reading about how the situation in Dafur is getting worse. http://www.fastdarfur.org./?cat=3

So on Wednesday I'm going to do something I have not done in a long while; fasting on water for 24 hours -- on behalf of the situation in Dafur.

Some of you may be scratching your heads wondering how my hunger will help the people starving in camps in Dafur, well...

It's about creating awareness about something that is happening on our planet to our extended family. I'm one of those people that believes that our attention/awareness can in itself actually help change something. Like the hundredth monkey, or the tipping point. Like at some level there is an action, even a seemingly small one, that can influence and change the direction something is going in. So my little one day fast, will be just one more drop of awareness in the consciousness bucket that the world can use.

I also left my voice with the White House, and hope that if enough of us contact them and left a message that this does matter, they may use their influence to call attention to the plight of Dafur to help change her current situation of starvation.

I know we have our own problems as individuals and a country, but we still have access to food and basic necessities. Because of circumstances out of their control, these people do not. And they are our neighbors!

It's just a phone call or e-mail, but your voice may make a difference. If you feel inspired to call or write, here's the link: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/



Credit: photo courtesy of Tessa at www.thatsonetoughcookie.wordpress.com.