Dear friends,
Our fast has nearly begun. From sunrise to sunset on Sunday, February 1, more than 33,000 of us, from 190 countries, will eat no food as a demonstration of solidarity for the people of Zimbabwe. Thanks for pledging to be a part of this moment!
Here is a message from Kumi Naidoo, the South African activist who recorded the video appeal for the fast:
We are stunned by the response of Avaaz members around the world. I have not eaten a bite of food for eleven days, but when I speak to the African Union summit tomorrow, I will be fortified by your hope and energy. The press and leaders I address will know that they are contending with a serious global movement that will not settle for anything less than bold action. You are making a difference for millions of Zimbabweans. Thank you.Yesterday, Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change signed on to a unity government with Mugabe in order to help resolve the crisis-with monitoring and safeguards from both sides and other Southern African governments. It was a risky and difficult decision. Now, other African and international leaders must commit to ensuring that Mugabe follows through on sharing power, releasing prisoners, and ending political violence. If this happens, and the unity government holds, then the urgent work of restoring Zimbabwe can begin. Our fast could not come at a more critical moment.
During the fast, we all can read messages from Avaaz members around the world and post them ourselves--as well as see a global map—at this link:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/zimbabwe_fast_map
Here are a few comments previously posted there by Avaaz members who have pledged to fast:
- Ghandi used fasting as a peaceful way to win us our freedom. I do hope that our Zimbabwe brethren are able to overthrow a despot using the same method. This Sunday, I will join you in your protest. – Piu Lahiri, an Indian living in Cairo
- With the hope that this will represent one of the steps to breathe truthful change into Zimbabwe. I pledge to fast as a peaceful way of protesting to the injustice that it is done to the people. – Teodora, Romania
- This is a crusade of people around the world to condemn inequality and the neglect of governments to their people, we will turn it around! much strength Kumi Naidoo, you are not alone. – Féliz Rosales, Peru
http://www.avaaz.org/en/zimbabwe_fast_map
In Zimbabwe, hope can be as hard to find as food and medicine. But today, through a simple action, each of us around the world is showing that the people of Zimbabwe are not alone.
With hope,
Ben, Alice, Iain, Paula, Ricken, Graziela, Pascal, Paul, Luis, Brett, Milena, Veronique, and the whole Avaaz.org team
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