Fasting For Darfur

McGill’s Students Taking Action Now on Darfur organization participated in a broader global initiative to raise awareness about the Darfur crisis on Thursday. STAND members fasted for 24 hours and encouraged other students to give up a luxury for the day.

“We are fasting to show our solidarity with the people of Darfur, to show we know what they go through,” said STAND member Gordon Nelson, U2 Political Science and Anthropology.

Students on campuses all over North America fasted to gain political attention.

“We are trying to get people to lobby and speak out to change Canadian policy with regard to the issue,” said Jordan Benadiba, U2 Political Science and Anthropology. “It’s such a big issue and should be much bigger in the media. From a humanitarian view, it’s scary that people don’t seem to care that thousands are being slaughtered.”

Participant Severine Koen, U1 International Development Studies and Political Science, received an outpouring of support from student sponsors.

“I managed to raise $120.74 dollars. I’m really proud of how generous and genuinely interested the people from my residence were,” Koen said.

Current estimates indicate that 400,000 lives have been lost and an additional 2 million people have been displaced from their homes since the onset of the crisis in 2003. STAND hopes to promote global awareness and provoke student action throughout North America.

-Kelly Daly