Mia Farrow Goes on Darfur Hunger Strike, Posts Daily on YouTube
Actress, activist and former Woody Allen flame Mia Farrow is in the ninth day of her hunger strike for Darfur, which she has been chronicling on her own YouTube channel, the L.A. Times reports.
According to the Times, the 64-year-old, noticeably gaunt Farrow has committed to a three-week hunger strike, during which she will consume only water, in order to raise the public's awareness of the estimated 2.7 million refugees in Darfur (a cause she has long championed in her well-known blog). Late last month, according to the AP, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir banished 16 humanitarian aid groups, 13 of which had come from the international community to aid the impoverished, sickly and malnourished refugee communities. On April 21st, the AP reported that the U.N. estimated 300,000 had died since 2003. To put that in perspective, these tragic numbers are tantamount to the entire population of Chicago being left homeless and dying, or the entire city of Pittsburgh being put to death.
In a YouTube video posted on April 24th, Farrow discussed her preparation for and intentions with the then-forthcoming hunger strike.In the video, Farrow -- who apparently spent time in Darfur this February -- vowed to support "the 16 aid agencies that are sustaining more than 4 million people." Although she humbly and realistically admitted that her hunger strike couldn't do much on its own, Farrow did say, "If it provides a news hook for a newspaper so that they can talk about what's really important, then it would be worth it."
Well, we're talking about it, Ms. Farrow. Now there's nobody but ourselves to blame if we don't do something about it. [From: AP and L.A. Times]
Anti-Corporate Protests and Boycotts
Motrin Ad Pulled Due to Online Protests
In November of last year, mothers took to the Twitter-streets in protest of a Motrin video advertisement that, they claimed, belittled young mothers. In no time, Johnson and Johnson took down the ad, posting a letter of apology.
Apple Pulls "You Can't Be Too Thin" Ads
In 2007, after airing an ill-advised ad campaign for their new line of iMacs that featured the tag line "You Can't Be Too Thin," Apple received innumerable complaints, including one from the Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness. The ads were promptly pulled.
Boycotting Sellers Dent eBay's Business
In February of last year, eBay sellers banded in a boycott after the Web site laid claim to higher commissions on sold goods and eliminated sellers' ability to give negative feedback to buyers. In just one week, eBay's listings dropped by 13 percent.
Students Stage Virtual Protest on Facebook
Disturbed by HSBC's suspension of their free overdraft protection, collegiate customers of the bank launched a Facebook protest in 2007. Backed by the National Union of Students, the online protest won out as HSBC decided to maintain the policy.
Facebook Lactivists Take Protests to the Street Over Breastfeeding Pictures
Last month, self-described "lactivists" set up shop outside Facebook's headquarters to protest the site's removal of all images containing breastfeeding mothers.



Reader Comments (Page 1 of 9)
KAREN said 1:12PM on 5-05-2009
She looks like she's been on a hunger strike for years. Who cares about her--she is trying to jump start her career!
Reply
bujinkan said 2:58PM on 5-05-2009
What career?
bpomerlo said 11:06PM on 5-05-2009
How about what's happening here in the USA? Mia never went on a "hunger strike" for OUR children, OUR homeless. Give me a break!! What a self serving B***H!
Live for your own and not for all of those that have their own problems. Can't you see that this country is going to hell in a hand basket? All of these friggin' celebrities that have nothing better to do than crap for a cause. How about your own country that you have been priviledged to live in and who paid you your millions to be who you are today. You are disrepectful Mia!!!! Go live in Darfur then if you want to help. Get your bleeding heart ass out of my country which you think needs no help.
You haven't been to the homeless corridor in my state you ignorant ass!!!
yakami11 said 1:54PM on 5-05-2009
With the mentality today. Most people wouldnlt mind that she starve to death. She ought to try something different.
Reply
CRelic said 2:14PM on 5-05-2009
She'll accomplish nothing, except ruining her health, or possibly her own death....
Reply
shadowxflight said 5:15PM on 5-05-2009
You are exactly right. She will accomplish nothing. 1st off, when one goes on strike the goal isnt to make the person your striking against sorry for you. A strike is meant to put a person or organization (that has shown neglect, disrespect, etc. to its workers who have filed comlpaints or confronted the situation in less extreme measures) in a position as to were the organization must succomb to the demands of its striking workers or have its employees quit which would damage the organization. This "strike" is absolutely rediculous. It really wont accomplish anything at all! The first reason: the leader of Darfur doesnt care one bit about some American celebrity. The second, to be able to effecively strike a country YOU WOULD NEED A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF ITS POPULATION IN THE STRIKE AND SEVERAL LEADERS IN THE GOVERNEMT. Also know as a Coup, look it up, thats what happened with the Soviet Union in 1992.
Gep said 2:22PM on 5-05-2009
Hurry it up Mia! You're useless as an entertainer (you're NOT an artist) - you have value as a human being but not more than anyone else. Go Ahead and starve yourself - who really cares.
Reply
thunderrroad said 3:51PM on 5-05-2009
Someday...will anyone think of the children here?
Reply
Tammy said 2:28PM on 5-05-2009
I understand the concern for hungry children in other Countries. But what about the hungry children here in America???? I know we need and should help all the hungry children in the World, but shouldn't we make sure that the children of America is taken care of too??? What about her going on a hunger strike for all children, everywhere???
I feel bad for the children in Darfur, but I am taking care of the children here in America first.
Reply
Lee said 2:56PM on 5-05-2009
Tammy:
I'm just curious as to what you are doing that is "taking care of the children here in America first."
Also, I can't think of 1 state in America that doesn't have a public assistance system to help the needy and I can't think of any major cities in America that don't have soup kitchens where hungry people can go to eat. Can you?
Jeepgirlnh said 5:51PM on 5-05-2009
Very well said Tammy.
Many children in America go with out food because their parents make just pennies to much to recieve state help. Soup kitchens are mostly in major cities, people living in extremely rulral areas do not have access to soup kitchens mostly because they do not have the means to get to them.
A huge example is the area my family and I live in, we are to far away from the nearest soup kitchen and make pennies to much for help. And there is no public transpotration availible to get people to soup kitchens in other cities.
Sally said 4:59AM on 5-06-2009
Amen Tammy!!! Lets worry about our own back yard first. Some third world country doesn't care about some has been actress. These are not actions that should be viewed by any children residing in her home. Sounds to me as if she has a screw loose
Just Me said 5:10AM on 5-06-2009
Lee: You obviously do not deal with state/public assistance that much. I work in retail and watch over-weight and over dressed females comes in with a ton of gold on their necks and hands with wallets full of credit card and produce EBT cards. My neighbor who's husband left a wife high and dry with 3 small children cannot get assistance, she has no car to go find a job because he took it. She now lives with family but too much income coming in for her to get assistance to feed her children. Have you stood in soup kitchen lines latetly? Have you ever had to live on the streets? State aid is t the barest minimum and health care for children is an abomination. Better yet, come on down to Florida and after you have lived here for a few months then you will eat crow.
Wendy said 2:40PM on 5-05-2009
There are homeless starving people right here in our own country so if she feels the need to crusade outside of this country....knock yourself out. Just don't expect us to send money there when it is needed right here!
Reply
knarf said 8:31PM on 5-05-2009
If there are starving people in this country it's their own fault. Ther are too many agencies to mention and billions of dollars spent each year to help the homeless and to provide food for people...where does it all go? The most common health problem amongst the "poor" in this country is obesity.
Why should I care abouit the peolpe of Darfur? They don't care enough about themselves to do something about their situation.
mitchell said 11:32PM on 5-05-2009
I agree Wendy
gary munton said 2:39PM on 5-05-2009
Theres not many calories in stupid
Reply
hmaronik said 2:39PM on 5-05-2009
OMG, its the crypt keeper!!!
Reply
MadMike said 2:40PM on 5-05-2009
Not to be a jerk, because starving children anywhere is tragic at least, but Mia Farrow is a washed-up moron. Not to get too political - but shes on my sh*tlist right next to Jane Fonda.
Reply
Carol said 3:25PM on 5-05-2009
why so much hate here? she is just trying to do good and be helpful. she cannot do everything, but she has the guts to do something.
how about before you b*tch her out, you do something yourself.