How to Organize a Hunger Strike

A hunger strike can be an effective way to bring about change. Fasts have been staged by prisoners all over the world throughout history to protest inhumane or unfair treatment. A hunger strike can also work when protesting destructive political actions. The consequences can be serious however so it's important to organize the strike carefully to ensure success with a minimum of casualties.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Study history to learn from great leaders like Gandhi. He didn't fast for more than a few weeks but knew how to use the tactic to make an impression. In 1981 prisoners in Ireland staged a long hunger strike from which ten of them died.
2. Get people together who are as passionate about the cause as you are. It's imperative they be willing to endure hardship and danger to speak out against injustice. A hunger strike has little influence if all strikers give up after a few days.
3. Set rules that everyone agrees with. Plan for a 60 day strike, if necessary. This is considered the maximum time a healthy adult can survive hunger, though you may be able to last longer by using the strategies in Step Five.
4. Create an environment that allows you to carry out your fast. Share a place with other strikers where you have no access to food. Send non-strikers to run errands around town when you feel the hunger is too much to bear.
5. Drink fluids during your hunger strike. A human being can survive without food much longer than without water. Ingest salt, unprocessed sugar and vitamins to minimize weight loss.
6. Contact the media and make it clear why you're fasting. You may not generate much interest in the beginning of your strike, but the longer it goes on the more interest the press will have. This is another reason it's crucial you involve people who are as dedicated to it as you are.
7. Decide in conjunction with others when to call an end to your hunger strike. Realize that whatever the issue, you're more valuable to the cause alive than dead.

Tips & Warnings

• Get someone not involved in the issue to shadow you and report the progress of your hunger strike on their website to help you stay on track.
• Start a blog and share your experiences to ease your distress and get encouraging feedback.