I think, that now that we, especially those of us who are homeless, are under attack by the passing of the bill, that we should organize a fast. This could be a rolling fast with people pledging a 24 hour fast by day, a sunrise to sunset fast like Ramadan, juice/vitamin only fast, water only fast, and total fast until a goal is reached. Total fast is the most effective.
Here is an example of a present fast that is causing concern in the circles of power and as it grows, will become more effective. For information about how to help go to freehana.org
Hungering for Justice on International Women’s Day: IPSC calls for the release of hunger striker Hana’ Shalabi and salutes Palestinian women’s resistance
To mark International Women’s Day 2012, the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign wishes to highlight the case of Palestinian political prisoner and hunger striker Hana’ Shalabi. 29-year-old Hana’ has been on hunger strike for 22 days. She is protesting against her internment without trial, and brutal and degrading treatment at the hands of the Israeli state. After two weeks on hunger strike, decomposition of muscle tissue (including the heart muscle) commences, leaving the faster in a vulnerable position.
Who is Hana’ Shalabi?
Prior to her current imprisonment, Hana had been detained by Israel for a two year period without charge or trial. She was released in October 2011 as part of the Palestinian-Israeli prisoner exchange. On 16 February 2012, she was taken from her home in Jenin by the Israeli military. It was reported that both herself and members of her family were beaten, and she was again interned without trial. Upon arrival at Salem Detention Center, Hana’ was forcibly strip searched by a male soldier and again assaulted. Hana’ described her treatment as “utterly degrading” and “not acceptable in all customs of the world”. She subsequently began a hunger strike and was placed in solitary confinement as punishment. On 27 February she was eventually transferred to a cell with other detainees. Hana’s family have not been allowed to visit her.
Hungering for Justice
However, Hana’s hunger strike, like that of her compatriot Khader Adnan before her, is not about herself. It is about justice.
Hana’ is hunger striking to end, once and for all, the Israeli policy of interment without trial - euphemistically called ‘Administrative Detention’ – which Amnesty International says Israel uses “to lock up Palestinian activists without charge or trial”. As Amnesty notes, these detention orders can be repeatedly renewed, “so in effect detainees can be held indefinitely. The process violates their right to a fair trial which is guaranteed by international law”....
Women have continued to play an important role in Palestinian resistance to Israeli Apartheid in the years since the 1948 Nakba, and especially since the occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem in 1967. Palestinian women display remarkable qualities of endurance; Living under stress in poverty, their homes destroyed, lands razed or expropriated, children sick, husbands imprisoned, fathers killed, and more, they plant seeds of hope, fulfil daily social roles, and participate in political and everyday resistance. Palestinian women are mothers, carers, fighters, activists, workers, teachers and parliamentarians.
