HOW TO FAST AS A MEANS OF PROTEST AND SURVIVE

OUR EXPERT: POLITICAL ACTIVIST AND FIVE- TIME FASTER (40+ DAYS EACH)

BEFORE: Fasting is dangerous. I learned early on that the wrong way to go into a fast is to eat a lot beforehand. The less you've eaten in the previous week the better, because your body gets used to not eating. I was 79 during my last fast in 2007, so it was a little touchy. My first fast was in 1987 to protest military aid to the Contras in Nicaragua, but my last three have been very specific with regard to Third World debt forgiveness. Fasting is very appropriate because when I put myself into a state of starvation, I'm symbolizing people who are starving to death every day. Their countries are in such a state of poverty they'll never get out if they are mired in debt repayment.

DURING: I drink about a gallon of water a day, and I see a doctor once a week to have blood work done. The first week you're very hungry, but that passes. Then I go into starvation about three weeks in. It can be dangerous, but if you risk your life in' order to save other peoples lives that's a pretty good deal as far as I can see. The whole time I'm fasting I'm visiting with congressmen and talking to them about passing the Jubilee bill to forgive Third World debt. I put a face to the statistics because they see me get weaker and weaker each time I visit them. I'll drop in on the same congressmen every seven to 10 days. They become concerned about me as a person and get closer to the issue. Starving is a funny feeling. You talk slower and walk slower. Your blood pressure drops to about 80/60, your temperature drops to 94 or 95 and you sleep only about two or three hours a night. You feel about 100 years old. Of course I'm getting toward 100 anyway.

AFTER: I'll usually break my fast in a ceremonial way. There was a congressional prayer breakfast ending my last fast. I broke the bread, and that was my first taste of anything. But you have to be very careful about overeating. I'll usually just have spoonfuls of rice and miso soup for the first week because my digestive system is unequipped to take in any nutrients for a while. It's a little early to see if my last fast was effective because the bill hasn't been passed by Congress yet. Oh boy, I hope I'm done. I'm getting old and I really don't want to do it anymore.

Duncombe is a retired minister fromWhite Salmon, Washington. Hisfasts in 1999 and2ooo helpedthe passage of a bill that eliminateds43s million in Third World debt.His currentfoeus—the Jubilee Actfor Responsible Lending and Ex-panded Debt Cancellation of 2008(H.R.2634)—would do the samefor other impoverished countries. Hemajored in government.