GOD WILLING, HUNGER STRIKE RESUMES

I pray it is time. I think so.

God willing Monday I will resume water only Hunger Strike and daily vigil at the Cannon Office Building from early morning to late afternoon. My sister Ellen needs to support her mom and dad down south through an important time and I want to support Ellen a bit longer by covering things here at the Peace House. By week's end I pray that I'll commence 6/24 Hunger Strike and vigil on Capitol Hill in front of the Cannon Office building that I suspect will go throughout the winter. Oops. I keep forgetting. Almost certainly there will be days or months of prison time for my two August arrests and my anticipated refusal to cooperate with the Empire Court's abuse of me, that will take me away from the Hill. Oh well.

We are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO out if time to save Life and future on this dying planet.

HUNGER STRIKE POSTPONED

Hmmmm. Per PLANS IN FLUX I've continued at the Peace House in support of the team of the 26 year White House Vigil. My absence from Capitol Hill is likely to continue this week due to yet a new need that has arisen here. I'm extremely eager to return to the Hill, but my opportunity here at the House takes precedence.

I've returned to normal eating patterns.

I find that the insight / post that is most meaningful to me is:

EMPYRE EMPIRE.
I pray that you spend time with it.

PLANS IN FLUX

Early this year a community reached out to support my work - the Washington Peace House / Center - Thomas, Ellen and then Connie of the 26 year Vigil in Lafayette Park. They have been wonderful - lodging, water, food, computer, daily support when I am 24hr vigil someplace - whatever. And I give back too, in addition to my activist work - as I can.

All three I have just discovered have important, but non-critical medical needs coming up this week and possibly next. I can help them and I will.

The early part of this week I will NOT as intended begin 24 hour vigil at Cannon. When I return depends on how today's outpatient procedure goes. Nothing to be alarmed about for my friend.

Friend two is expecting to go in for a procedure (also not to worry about) later in the week.

Friend three is waiting for an appointment for diagnosis.

I'm not sure the best way to adjust. Some of this will involve me covering shifts at the Park for an unknown number of days.

Currently I remain on the Hunger Strike, Day 7. I might restart. Might continue the Strike and restart locating at Cannon after a week. Might go the days interrupted to Cannon if I can. I'll let you know.

Your Loving brother, Start
ps: Although I was pleased with the spirit of Saturday's marchers in DC I am finding myself alarmed that after all that the Bush Thugs have done that 20,000 marching folks is all we could produce. We've got to figure out how to start a fire. Yes?

"START, HOW IS IT GOING?"

"How is it going?" Well, as might say the extremely compassionate, 150% committed, statistically typical father of 10 in Iraq...

• 7 of whom are chronically stressed (stuttering, bed wetting),
• 1 of whom is US Prison for 3 years now incommunicado,
• 1 of whom is kidnapped for ransom,
• 1 of whom is dying from sectarian violence,
• 3 of whom died from US food sanctions (forced starvation) in the 1990's,
• all of whom are "starved" for housing (they are among the 2-4 million displaced from their homes by sectarian violence now that Sadam is gone),
• all of whom are starved now of electricity (2 hours per day in these 120 degreed days),
• all of whom are starved now of clean water,
• all of whom are starved now of education,
• all of whom are starved now of future opportunities,
• all of whom are starved now of safety,
• all of whom are starved now of human rights and dignity...

... I'm doing everything I can think to do in the face of Hellish emergency. Therefore, I'm good."

More specific to Start (photo and story at my beloved sister Patricia's blog Sept 11th):

• Monday I ceased all intake but water and vitamin, opting to cast my vote to Congress with my body for as long as it lasts to not-bomb Iran and to End the War to steal Middle East Oil.
• Monday - Thursday I vigilled11 hours per day at the Cannon House-of-Congress Office Building on Independence Ave.
• Friday - Saturday the vigil moved to Lafayette Park / White House in encouragement of the demonstrators descending from all over the country for Saturday's march.

Beginning Monday I will attempt M-F round the clock at the Cannon Office Building. My body is not as strong as it used to be and I'm not sure how the police will respond. From moment to moment I'll have to try and chart how I can best serve our world-family. NOTE: This Monday and maybe Tuesday I'll be helping my sister that is going in for an outpatient procedure.

I've never felt more joyful, or better used. I'll guess that I deliver maybe 10 heart-bunker-buster images (mine) per day: some to pedestrians - average joes, some to Congress. The location has terrific drive by morning, night and lunch, and people much closer to the "Bomb Iran," and "Don't Extort Iraq / Meat-grinder US Forces" launch buttons than I can personally reach. I am also through my witness encouraging already heroic activists that need to jump (Col. Ann Wright, Code Pink, The Critical Voice, Artists Against the War, Laurie Arbeiter, and so many others) to an even more heroic level in the hopes of then each igniting 10's or 1000's of people around us to a sane level of action in these days where everything humane is on the line.

Well, that's all I have the energy for right now.

Thanks for asking.

With much Loving, Start

HUNGER STRIKE PARTICULARS. Q&A

From an email exchange with one of the world's great activists that has been mercifully counseling me.

"Hey Start,

Cannon Office Building on the Hill sounds like a good spot."
LOCATION: Unless I get input from Ann to the contrary I'm going with her suggestion of the steps at Cannon.

"anyhow, what's your fast diet???"
DIET: I plan to hold nothing back in this campaign. We have no more time to start a "fire." Water only diet unless you count vitamin (which I have) and electrolytes when I can afford them. I expect to stay this course until I can't hold out any longer - 40 to 50 days is my guess. I'll probably then go to 800 cal per day if anyone wants to make that available to try to stay at death's door as many months as possible. Who knows what will be called of me by then.

"are you gonna be in the sun, not good not good. shade i hope. and not too much activity. that will run you down fast. things you already know, start."
SUN/SHADE: I expect it will be sun at least during the morning and afternoon rush hour. And marching for the first week or so during rush hour. This was extremely powerful at the Sudan Embassy.

"also did you put out a press release. holding a press conrference. may not get lmuch at first but the longevity of the strike is what counts"
PRESS RELEASE/PRESS CONFERENCE: Necessary of course. But I'm out of time and energy. I don't even remember the numbers any more but today is well over my 100th day of water only Hunger Striking in the last 14 months on top of another 60 plus days severely calorie reduced Fast and hundreds of days vigiling round the clock. AND I want to get on site at Cannon TOMORROW while Petraeus is still around. I just don't have the wherewithal to get it done.

"and sleeping there? 24 hour vigil. you could try it but personally youve got!! to get some sleep or else you wont last..."
24 HOUR / SLEEP: IF they let me sleep sitting up as I did at the White House and Sudan Embassy for many months, that's what I want to do. A MUCH more powerful action I think. If necessary I'll take a day or two off per week if I have someplace to go.

Note: I may not have enough wrapped up in the next few days to allow the start of round-the-clock until late this week. May need to take Wed or Thurs off site too. But I'm really trying to be at Cannon first thing tomorrow morning - and all day, per you all's suggestion.

Note: I was arrested at the Pentagon recently for leaf-letting, 2nd time, and if I get Judge Buchanan (yup, THAT Buchanan family) I'm likely to get 30 days or more. Court date Oct 12th.

HUNGER STRIKE 9/10 for US FORCES, IRANIANS, IRAQIS

Water Only Hunger Strike begun as a Prayer to Deflate our Spirit of US Empire before:

• More US FORCES are destroyed.


• Millions of Iraqis destroyed by US bombs and sanctions.


• Millions of Iranians bombed.

During the course of this week my time will be divided between The Cannon House Office Building and the Washington Peace House where I have been housed and need to wrap up some other projects, create posters, help out....

I FULLY INTEND TO BE AT CANNON ALL DAY TUESDAY FOR 2nd DAY OF PETRAEUS MEETINGS.

Why this Hunger Strike? Outline below. Why move off of Darfur, the cause that has possessed me for 4 years now? See DARFUR VIGIL TERMINATED. EMPIRE DEFLATION BEGUN.

Empire has slaughtered:

• Millions of Iraqis, mostly children.


• 20-30,000 US Forces severely damaged or killed in Iraq.


• 10's of Thousands or Iranians if we don't stop Bush / Cheney from launching the attack.

Empire has tortured and Starved millions more for its Lust for Iraq / Middle East Oil:

• 100's of millions in 3rd world countries scheduled for extermination through our Global Warming.


• 2 million poor US Blacks and Hispanics we've starved into prison by withholding the Education, Love, and other resources that every child needs to grow healthy.


• Millions of poor destroyed through our Starving since Katrina.


• Darfur...


• Congo...


• Palestine...


• South America...


• Haiti...


• Cuba...


• Etc...


• Etc............................

When will it end? Yes indeed, when will it end. The Hunger Strike is likely to end when congress clearly stands for:

1. Bringing our boys and girls home


2. Ending the war on Iraq


3. Preventing the bombing of Iran


4. Restoring Iraqis to their lives

DARFUR CAMPAIGN TERMINATED. EMPIRE DEFLATION BEGUN.

There is no Rescue and Restore of Darfur (my campaign of the last 3 years) unless the spirit of Empire that madly possesses us is deflated. The madness of Empire has us on the verge of bombing Iran, exterminating more Iraqis, destroying the planet.... We are out if time to stop this madness, to Deflate EMPIRE, within ourselves and within all humankind.

This week I expect to begin a Hunger Strike / Vigil round the clock most or all days a week on Capitol Hill.

START LOVING IRANIANS HUNGER STRIKE, sign #1.

START LOVING IRAQIS HUNGER STRIKE, sign #2.

To terminate when? When I see this happening, that we start loving Iranians and Iraqis, or at such time as Love, Life, Truth (Jehovah, the Almighty Powers we will never be able to name more precisely) show me a better way to serve you all.

Start Loving
9.9.07

Poster Ideas

"HEY START, I'M JUST NOT THERE YET."

Hmmmmm. How convenient for you. Just as convenient as it has been for me for most of the last 56 years. I'm sure that pleased for us both are:

• 18,000 children starving to death per day,
• US Soldiers being destroyed daily,
• 4 million Iraquis in prison-like conditions,
• Millions of Iranians about to be carpet bombed,
• The soul of the US going to Empire beyond the point of redemption,
• 3 million Darfuries dying of your neglect in Concentration camps....

Let's take our time. Let's take our time. Let's act with huge courage and compassion when it is COMFORTABLE FOR US.

Truly, I love you anyway, with all of my heart; and I love and forgive me too.

Your brother,

Start Loving (blog)