The Allium Collective is organizing an electricity fast during the week of September 21-28 to highlight the underlying cause of the Iraq war - namely U.S. oil demand. We are calling concerned citizens across the country to support the Declaration of Peace by joining in a week long electricity fast in conjunction with the Declaration’s week of peaceful actions. We hope to have participants in many cities across the country, as this is a relatively easy way for people to take action with fewer risks than civil disobedience, and thus accessable to a wide range of people.
From February 15 to March 19, 2006, a group of Chicago activists including the members of the Allium Collective went without electricity to raise awareness of the lack of reliable electricity, clean water, and other resources in Iraq. This fast, called Lights Out Chicago, was undertaken in conjunction with the Winter of our Discontent, a 33-day food fast and lobby effort that took place in Washington DC and was organized by Voices for Creative Nonviolence (VCNV). The February fast recieved excellent media coverage including a full story on WTTW Channel 11 (Chicago's local television network). Our hope is that a second fast will show a prolonged committment, increased number of participants and be equally as appealling to the media.
If you are interested in fasting the week or just a day, please contact us at alliumcollective@gmail.com for more information.