SOLIDARITY FAST FOR ZIMBABWE

[TheIr0nMike]

http://www.avaaz.org/en/fast_for_zimbabwe/?cl=179562330&v=2785


From the page:

The movement for democracy in Zimbabwe has just raised the stakes: hundreds of activists in Southern Africa, including Desmond Tutu, have begun a rolling hunger strike to press for justice. This regional demonstration of commitment is putting real and growing pressure on leaders to demand a fair settlement in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe has descended to an almost unimaginable state of desperation. Most of Zimbabwe's 11 million people eat one meal a day?or less. But as pressure rises at home, in the region, and around the world, Mugabe's grip on power may be slipping. Click below and join the one day global solidarity fast -(from sun up to sun down)- the more of us that fast the stronger the call for justice and democracy. Watch Kumi Naidoo's video appeal - he will deliver our global message of solidarity to African heads of state gathering in Ethiopia on Sunday, 1 February!


If you wish to join, click n the link and follow the instructions

 

[ZeroMachine]

OK, I may sound like a dick for asking this, but I don't mean to come off as one- I'm legitimately curious. Has a hunger strike ever really worked in a significant way?

Personally, I believe that protest through action is MUCH more effective then protest through inaction.

EDIT: As long as that action isn't insane, like throwing red paint on people's fur coats. It gets there attention, but more or less just pisses them off =P

 

[Tattaglia]

OK, I may sound like a dick for asking this, but I don't mean to come off as one- I'm legitimately curious. Has a hunger strike ever really worked in a significant way?

Personally, I believe that protest through action is MUCH more effective then protest through inaction.

Gandhi? I'm not too sure about the success of his fasting though.

 

[TheIr0nMike]

OK, I may sound like a dick for asking this, but I don't mean to come off as one- I'm legitimately curious. Has a hunger strike ever really worked in a significant way?

Personally, I believe that protest through action is MUCH more effective then protest through inaction.

It's usually more of a publicity stunt to get your views across. The participants in Zimbabwe are just trying to get more people to pay attention so others with the power to can bring down Robert Mugabe (the person that won a faux election and... well, you know how Africa is usually shown in the media). So really, its just a way to get this across.

 

[Scolar Visari]

Sure I'll support the cause but first I want it to officially be Rhodesia. Long live Rhodesia!

 

[super_smash_jesus]

I haven't heard much about this deal, but it sounds like a decent thing to put your name behind. I will give a bit more of a look see before though.

 

[super_smash_jesus]

double post, apologies.

 

[Scolar Visari]

Starving yourself doesn't actually do anything directly. It just attracts the attention of people who can do something i.e. the West.

 

[Puppeteer Putin]

OK, I may sound like a dick for asking this, but I don't mean to come off as one- I'm legitimately curious. Has a hunger strike ever really worked in a significant way?

Personally, I believe that protest through action is MUCH more effective then protest through inaction.

It's usually more of a publicity stunt to get your views across. The participants in Zimbabwe are just trying to get more people to pay attention so others with the power to can bring down Robert Mugabe (the person that won a faux election and... well, you know how Africa is usually shown in the media). So really, its just a way to get this across.

Mugabe will just claim that the British put everyone up to it and say it's not his fault everythings gone down the toilet, but because everyone else is starving.... Did he mention it was the Pom's fault?

Sounds like a good cause though. A better way of attracting attention would be sending in mass appeals to your parlimentary representative. To make any serious effort a large chunk of people would have to go on a long famine, as the government will think "Sun up Sun down? The papers will forget about by the day after tomorrow".

 

[TheIr0nMike]

OK, I may sound like a dick for asking this, but I don't mean to come off as one- I'm legitimately curious. Has a hunger strike ever really worked in a significant way?

Personally, I believe that protest through action is MUCH more effective then protest through inaction.

It's usually more of a publicity stunt to get your views across. The participants in Zimbabwe are just trying to get more people to pay attention so others with the power to can bring down Robert Mugabe (the person that won a faux election and... well, you know how Africa is usually shown in the media). So really, its just a way to get this across.

Mugabe will just claim that the British put everyone up to it and say it's not his fault everythings gone down the toilet, but because everyone else is starving.... Did he mention it was the Pom's fault?

Sounds like a good cause though. A better way of attracting attention would be sending in mass appeals to your parlimentary representative. To make any serious effort a large chunk of people would have to go on a long famine, as the government will think "Sun up Sun down? The papers will forget about by the day after tomorrow".

The main group is doing this for 21 days. We (people participating in this) are just bringing attention to them by doing it where we live.

 

[TheBluesader]

The UN says upwards of 70% of the people of Zimbabwe will need food aid just to survive the coming season, 3,000 have died of disease, and inflation is at 2 million per cent.

I'm all for solidarity movements, but I really have to ask...

When are the people of Zimbabwe going to put fear of personal risk aside, storm the presidential palace en masse, and finally overthrow these people who don't even reasonably count as legal authorities anymore?

Even if the Western powers intervene militarily (which I think we should), that isn't going to change the fact that the people of Zimbabwe themselves are simply not acting to protect themselves or their families. And following the rules of social contract, what good will any help do until they're willing to accept the responsibilities of self-ownership?

I know this is probably going to get me in trouble, but I'm really shocked that it's actually gotten this bad for them, and I ask naively - what's it going to take to get these people to stand up?