Ending The Year How I Want The Next To Begin — My 72 Hour Fast
**Originally posted on 27th Dec, 31st Dec, 1st Jan and 2nd Jan.***
27th December 2019 — What Am I Doing & Why Does It Matter?
For most people, the prospect of a New Year ahead brings an opportunity to change for the better. For me, it’s usually a celebration of being together with friends and family on New Year’s Eve, looking ahead for a fresh start, and celebrating my Birthday on 2nd January.
But there is so much that needs to change in 2020. This year I won’t be celebrating NYE, NYD or my Birthday in my usual way. This year I will be taking part in a 3 day (72 hour) fast in conjunction with my 24 hour fast for AFOTS #animalsfirstonthesecond from the start of 31st December to the end of 2nd January.
I will be doing this to highlight that for up to 72 hours every single one of the 1 billion land animals killed for food in the UK will be denied food and for a lot of the time water so that slaughterhouses have less waste to clean up, almost all slaughterhouses will have a minimum requirement for time since last nourishment. I’ll be hungry, but I’ll have the support and comfort of my family — the chickens, pigs, cows, ducks, turkeys, lambs and other animals will be in a crowded slaughterhouse truck being carted around the uk or even as far as Africa covered in faeces, terrified about for what horror may come next. My action will never compare to their suffering.
This happens to every single animal raised for meat, dairy and eggs. When you buy these products you fund immense suffering and cause untold harm to the environment, your own health, but most importantly to that individual who you decided a sandwich or a yoghurt was more important than their freedom and right to not be harmed.
31st December 2019– 00:00 — New Years Eve (0 Hours)
My 72 hour fast has officially begun.
For those of you who may not know, I am fasting for 72 hours, from New Years Eve to the end of my Birthday (2nd Jan) to highlight the time billions of non-human animals are transported without food and sometimes water on their way to the slaughterhouse.
This is done to minimise the waste that needs to be cleaned up — for convenience and profit.
Whether this is news to you or a grounding reminder, this apathetic way of living happens systemically, where the most vulnerable individuals of both our society and nature, are exploited for everything they have. Because in the society we buy into, they just don’t have any purpose if they aren’t profitable.
Animals that love, feel pain, are playful and communicate in so many different ways, are left confused, alone, deprived of the most basic needs in the cruelly short lives that they lead.
Animals, minorities, those trapped in poverty, the disabled community and so many more groups of individuals are robbed of life’s beautiful experiences by a fierce, profit-hungry agenda built on exploitation for eternal economic growth, which decides that a life’s only purpose is realised through its economic worth.
Remember this going into 2020. Do you really want to live in a society plagued with such apathy?
The New Year doesn’t change anything for these innocent animals. On January 1st, the vulnerable will continue to be systematically exploited. Pigs will be gassed alive, chickens de-beaked, calves torn from their mothers, and fish will suffocate.
Those in poverty will continue to struggle. The homeless will still die in the streets.
You can actually contribute to changing this though.
Just stop contributing to the problem.
The world may well be fucked and past the point of being stabilised, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t look to find compassion in ourselves in such a cold world whilst we’re still here.
Let 2020 be the year you find love — the year you give love, and the year you start to build the loving future you want to see.
Take back your identity. Because you aren’t the apathetic person that this society has tried and will fail to wear you down into.
1st January 2020–00:03 — New Years Day (24 Hours)
I want everyone who has decided to take the Veganuary challenge in 2020 to know how much it actually means. You are literally saving lives by making this decision and you should be proud of yourselves.
Any big lifestyle change is going to be tough at first. For anyone that took part in Veganuary last year, think back to how you found it. Offer support and encouragement for those taking part this year.
2020 could be such a beautiful year for every being on this planet. Those going plant-based or embracing veganism in 2020, you now have the opportunity to be a part of a loving community that will support you every step of the way. Reach out to each other. Drop me a message. If you’re struggling or you mess up, that’s totally fine. You’re still making a difference and it will make all the sense as time goes on.
Animal rights activists — remember the sadness, anger and hopelessness you often find yourself facing and look to channel this into positive actions of compassion for human and non-human animals in 2020.
There’s no us and them — we must come together in 2020. We all share the imperfect human condition, and have more in common than we realise if we allow space to show the love and empathy we’re capable of.
Peace, love and power for all species in 2020. Start the decade with action and compassion.
2nd January 2020–00:00 — My Birthday (48 Hours)
I want to thank all of the other animal rights activists who will be taking part in #animalsfirstonthesecond today. Knowing that more people will be joining today has kept me going over the past 48 hours.
I have the privilege to celebrate my Birthday with family at this time of year, like many others. The fact that we have this privilege because of this country’s oppressive history and that I have the freedom to voice this is enough for me. Whilst I’m grateful for all of the Birthday messages that will follow today, I’d like us to take a moment to remember that billions of innocent animals will be born into a cruel system and will live miserable and very limited lives, a process for profit and maintained every time we buy a chicken’s egg, a pint of cow’s milk, or whichever dismembered body part of an individual we have been led to believe we are allowed to exploit to meet the wants of our taste. Whilst I celebrate my Birthday, another individual’s life ends on the same day they are born. 2020 can be so much kinder — it’s never been easier.
This year for my Birthday I will be asking friends, family, or anyone that would like to see a kinder 2020 to donate to my Veganuary fundraiser instead of receiving presents. My target is to raise £1,000 by 31st Jan — I’m about a third of the way there! Any donations I receive in that time I will double. You can support me here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/b12-bike-Packer
Lastly, for anyone who is doing a fast and wants some encouragement, feel free to drop me a message 😇
3rd January 2020–00:02 — End Of Fast! (72 Hours)
What have I taken from this?
It’s been an incredibly humbling experience. On a personal level, I’ve had valuable insight into my relationship with food. I’ve also been pleasantly surprised at how the body has such a wide variety of ways to adapt to scarcity.
The 1st day was easy going. The 2nd day was definitely the hardest. Today has been a very calm experience. I’ve found solace in being around family and the wonders of the Cornish coast, as well as the motivation from all of the other animal rights activists taking part in #AFOTS today. Never stop trying to create a kinder future.
Luckily, I have the choice to do this, and the knowledge that at any point I can stop.
I took part in this fast to highlight that for up to 72 hours every single one of the 1 billion land animals killed for food in the UK will be denied food and for a lot of the time water so that slaughterhouses have less waste to clean up, almost all slaughterhouses will have a minimum requirement for time since last nourishment.
I want to point out that I am grateful for those who have shown me support during my fast who aren’t quite plant-based yet. It means a lot that this action has been understood and appreciated instead of being ridiculed or scrutinised — it’s one step closer to kindness.
If anyone wants to have a chat this January — whether you’re an aspiring vegan looking for some wicked plant-based recipes, or an animal rights activist who’s feeling overwhelmed by the huge task we have ahead of us — I’m all ears. We can all build a kinder 2020 together.
Let’s find understanding, compassion and a willingness to help each other on our journeys in 2020.
Peace, love and power for all species ✌️🙏❤️
Support my Veganuary fundraiser or even better, give Veganuary a try — there’s never been a better time to try. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/b12-bike-Packer
