In response to inaction from the world in addressing increasingly desperate conditions in Darfur, Activist-Actress Mia Farrow began a water-only hunger strike on April 27, 2009. Her doctor ordered her to stop after 12 days, seeing that she was in grave risk of irreparable damage to health. When Mia began her fast, a community formed around her, and thus Darfur Fast for Life.

Sir Richard Branson immediately took over for Mia, and a continuous, uninterrupted fasting chain is now shinning a light on Darfur. Darfur Fast for Life has allowed for individual and collective expressions of solidarity with the survivors and for increasing pressure to create the political will necessary for our leaders to actively work towards a lasting solution for peace, protection, and justice in Sudan.

Others that have joined Darfur Fast for Life include Peter Gabriel, Jon Foreman, Pam Omidyar, Shannon Sedwick-Davis, John Prendergast, Gabriel Stauring, Josh Davis, Jane Wales, Abigail Disney, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, David Hodges, Michael Ditchfield, along with hundreds of regular citizens from over 30 countries across the world.

Congressman Donald M Payne joined and extended his three-day water-only fast to four days. Being so moved by the experience and from feeling a close connection to the survivors, having traveled to Darfur refugee camps, he asked the Congressional Black Caucus to participate, and thus a fasting chain of congressmen and women has started, including Maxine Waters, Barbara Lee, John Lewis, and more to come.

Be a part of this growing Ecosystem of Change, as Peter Gabriel called it during his fast. Fasting alone will not bring the change, of course. Everyone is called to ACT- tell others about Darfur and to contact the media and their own leaders demanding action. We cannot wait for governments and institutions to act on their own.

To join and act, go to www.fastdarfur.org