Strike to Cut War $200B Day #35/2: St. Thomas with God Now

Saint Diane Wilson continues her Hunger Strike to CUT WAR FUND PEACE FAST $200B , God bless her, in Texas as she cares for biological family in need; as she cares for her Human Family in need.

To me she is and has been probably the greatest activist alive today. We must be eternally grateful to her. Somehow she has found the mercy to work with me, despite how many decades "thick (behind)" her I've been regarding the environment. Her kindness and humanity knows no bounds. She is my greatest living inspiration. Her partnership in this campaign is an honor, privilege and gift I'll never understand, and it will ever be one of my greatest treasures; one of God's great kindnesses, and mysteries to me.

Our brother Saint Thomas (http://prop1.org/thomas.htm) was released from Service yesterday, a mercy by God, having paid an awesome price this last year or so in suffering. I can see him up arguing with God now, protesting something, and occasionally scooting down to do some mischief to interfere with Empire here on earth.

Once Connie finalizes the design, something along the following lines will permanently honor Thomas' service at the White House:
.

.
The photos are from covering Thomas' 28 year vigil at the White House yesterday so his beloved vigil Partner Connie could collect herself; photos thanks to a kind passer-by named Messay (http://flickr.com/photos/34532875@N06/ ).


This 2nd day of the Adjusted Campaign (NewsBlaze: Hunger Strike to Cut War $200B Adjusts Campaign Day #35) for me started out pretty rough. My kidneys (?) ached pretty bad all night trying to deal with significant calories for the first time in a long time; and there is some swelling in my legs; and of course fatigue. But I think there is little permanent damage going on.

God willing I'll be back on Hunger Strike / Occupation Monday through Thursday on the Hill to do my part to cut the Heart out of American IMPERIAL WARMAKING - THE $1 TRILLION WAR BUDGET - before Empire bleeds the little remaining life out of America and global Civilization.

Hunger Strike Day #35: NEWS - Too good to continue; Too bad to stop

CUT WAR FUND PEACE $200B FAST - Campaign significantly altered tonight. I returned tonight to refuge, lugging the 50 lbs of my stuff the 30 blocks to refuge where I expect to be until Congress returns early next week.

I expect to hold at Day #35: I'll accept food and shelter the 3-4 days Congress is off the Hill; and will Fast and Occupy the Hill 24 hr/day the 3-4 days Congress is ON the Hill. I expect. My energy level is extremely low and my mind is not clear, but I suspect that this is how I will proceed.

Why altering the campaign now?

EXTREMELY ENCOURAGING NEWS / CONDITIONS TOWARD THE GOAL OF THIS CAMPAIGN - CUT WAR FUND PEACE:

• The impact on the Congress folks that pass me on the Hill has been far more rapid than I would have expected. Yes, this is just my subjective view but with the News featuring $ Trillion bleeding as far as the eye can see, HIGHLIGHTING the need for FUNDS - the combination of MLK blaring - "A nation that spends more on military than social uplift is facing spiritual death;" the signage highlighting that fact (below), and my intoning it into their ears as they pass - I judge that the issue "framing" - cut MILITARY Entitlements $200B - is penetrating much faster than I'd anticipated. Hence, I see diminishing returns from continuing the 7 day per week Occupation / Hunger Strike. Overkill right now.
  
• Last two days emphasis on State Department signals a dramatic shift from War to PeaceMaking. Hillary Clinton: "Robust diplomacy and effective development are the best long term tools for securing America's future."
• Immediate calls to all relevant Israel/Gaza parties in the Mideast placed by Barack further signals shift from War to PeaceBuilding.
• Obama's Speech comment that extreme might does not permit ABUSE was targeted at Israel!!!! and the US.
  
• Immediate designation of George Mitchell, hero of No. Ireland PeaceMaking fame to solve Israel / Palestine FURTHER signals shift from WarMaking to PeaceBuilding.
• Barack declaration in Inaugural Address committing to clean water, food, education for the poor in poor countries. (central to Plan B 3.0).
  
• Ditto order to shut Guantanamo.
• Ditto order to end Torture.
• Substantial emphasis on Greening America / Slowing Global warming in the Stimulus Plan. Although details not yet sufficient.
• No mention of Nuclear power yet in Barack's plans.
• Al Gore addresses Senate next Wednesday on urgency of addressing Climate Change!!!
  
• And other good news I'm too depleted to recall.

BAD NEWS:

• No sign of a wartime speed campaign to halt Global Warming - Plan B 3.0
• WhiteHouse.gov says cap and trade for carbon. NOOOOO!!!!! TAX SHIFT from Income Tax to Carbon Tax is what is needed!!!!
  
• "Clean" coal figures prominently in Barack's energy plan. NO!!!! There is no such thing, and never will be. VERY BAD NEWS.
• Plan on the new WhiteHouse.gov site calls for 80% reduction in greenhouse gasses by 2050. 30 YEARS TOO LATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Far to frequent allusions to "Entitlements" (Soc Security and Medicare) as the place to cut; NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MILITARY ENTITLEMENTS are the place to cut!!!!!!!!!! WE MUST MAKE THIS PART OF THE DEBATE - IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  

Too good to continue the full Strike / Occupation. I need to get my head clear and digest current and upcoming developments to recalibrate my actions.

Too BAD to stop. Nothing has changed in the need for $200B DOD Budget shift to Plan B 3.0 at WARTIME SPEED, and this is FAR from certain at this moment.

By adjusting the campaign as outlined above I can do my part to keep pressure on Congress, to do my part to ENCOURAGE congress to do the right thing - but for much longer than the 15 days or so I'd otherwise have left. And by holding at Day 35, if I need to ESCALATE the pressure from there I can revert to the full Hunger Strike and Occupation!

(Sorry for all the typos but I'm pretty tired.)

Grandchildren Of Holocaust Survivors Do To Palestinians What Was Done By Nazi Germany.

4 minute video (click here)

1930 GERMANY ALL OVER AGAIN TODAY; ONLY WORSE.

Has a civilization ever saved itself? Not the Sumerians. Not the Jews of Jesus time. Not the Romans. Not the Greeks. Not the Mayans. Not the 1930 Germans, not the pre-Nazi Jews (a pretty freeking smart group, at that).... Apparently the Icelanders (their cows) were grazing themselves out of existence, and reversed course hundreds of years ago, and did save themselves; but that is about it.

If, as I do, you believe in Science, the science is clear - we have weeks or months to mount a wartime speed Marshall Plan to stave off Global Warming sufficiently to save the Greenland and West Antarctic Ice Sheets, which if they go will drown/displace 600 million people, setting in motion unstoppable dominoes of global civilization collapse.

The 1930 Germans were nice people. The had "activists." But they didn't stop Hitter - the bottom line. They didn't get the job done.

What will History write of 2009 Americans? What will history write of 2009 "activists?" What will your offspring say of you?

• We need to cut DOD back $200B, NOW. Who says? Lester Brown, Medea Benjamin, Howard Zinn, Barney Frank.
• We need to shift tax from Income to Carbon by $20/ton / year until 202o, and increase Gas Tax $.40 / yr until 2020. Who says? 1000's of the world's best scientists as summarized in Brown's "Plan B 3.0."

Obama's energy plan is profoundly disappointing in these regards. (see http://whitehouse.gov).

Will we escape the failure of 1930 Germans?

I HAVE A DREAM. AND I, START, HAVE NEVER HAD A DREAM.

It has been amazing to me that never in my life, never in my adult life have I had a dream. Now, I'm not talking about the nighttime type. Sure I have those. I mean the MLK type.

I feel like I've been in the grip of huge dreams my entire adult life, but I've never posessed them- THEY have POSSESSED ME.

Well, on Day #32 or so of the Hunger Strike, as I was lugging my 5o lbs of stuff the 50 or so blocks to the Capitol - bing, there it was - I HAVE A DREAM.

I HAVE A DREAM

I have a dream that -

• Congress will cut $200B from defense and re-allocate it to PeaceBuilding internationally;
• We will rise up to cut carbon emissions 80% by 2020 thereby saving the Glaciers and staving off the 39' sea level rise and displacement / drowning of 600 million people;
• We will replace our value of things, and replace it with a valuing of people;
• We will embrace the poor of the world and eliminate poverty by 2020;
• We will heal the earth planing many millions of new trees and fully protecting existing forests - rain and otherwise;
• We will stabilize world population at 8 billion or less through humane pre-emptive measures;
• We will restore the world's fisheries;
• We will aggressively de-charter or re-charter corporations so as to eliminate their murderious sociopathic destruction;
• And so on.
  

LETTER TO 3 OF OUR GREATEST SHEROES

My beloved sheroes,

I never have expectations of others, for decades now; only of myself. So feel no obligation here. But have I ever sent a more consequential correspondence than this that I send to you three? I don't think so. And I don't know how much longer I'll have the lucidity to correspond on such a grave matter to you three. I pray that you DO find the time to ponder this email deeply. DEEPLY. DEEPLY. Whether you choose to respond is secondary, very secondary.

Yes, I've been drinking water ever since the pot luck evening last wednesday. Why? Because a third sat down and deeply "heard" what I had to say. That, not "agreement," was my condition for ending the Water Strike, from the beginning, to be heard enough by at least three of my Sr. sisters - one had, another did, and then a third. But yes too, this Hunger Strike out in the elements is taking its toll on me pretty rapidly now.

You three have been for over a year now, and remain the only folks I know that could lead the beginning of the end of the cancer that is in final stage of ending Civilization (all of the science as summarized in Plan B 3.0). Do you believe in science? I do.

YOU THREE are the only hope I see for the the beginning of the MIRACLE IT WILL TAKE. Miracle? Has a civilization ever saved itself? Not the Sumerians. Not the Jews of Jesus time. Not the Romans. Not the Greeks. Not the Mayans. Not the pre-Nazi Germans, not the pre-Nazi Jews (a pretty freeking smart group, at that).... Apparently the Icelanders (their cows) were grazing themselves out of existence, and reversed course hundreds of years ago, and did save themselves; but that is about it.

MIRACLE is what it will take to save civilization, including the U.S. - your nieces, nephews, kids world; their kid's world - from the environmental "life support collapse" we are in the final stages of unleashing.... BUT PEOPLE MAKE MIRACLES HAPPEN, OR AT LEAST, THEY MAKE MIRACLES INFINITELY MORE LIKELY. BUT IT COSTS EVERYTHING. HARRIETT TUBMAN, MANDELA, KING, GANDHI, OSCAR ROMERO, JOAN OF ARC, ELEANOR ROOSEVELT, STEVE BIKO, RACHEL CORRIE.... Always has, always will. King, Gandhi, Jesus... didn't kill themselves for us so we wouldn't have to. They died to show us how we too had to live. We are dying from ignoring them.

HERE IS MY REAL POINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One of you asked, 'Start, will you end your Strike with us tomorrow?" If your dearest were in a burning building, and objectively it would take a Miracle to save them, you are working on the miracle with all of your life, right? What could get you to stop? ONLY A BETTER PLAN, right?

Sisters, DO YOU BELIEVE WE CAN WIN, WHICH MEANS,
DO YOU THINK WE CAN WORK THE MIRACLE OF $200B OUT OF THE BUDGET THIS YEAR,
WHICH MEANS WINNING THE PSYCHOLOGICAL/CONSCIENCE/EMOTIONAL BATTLE ON THE HILL NOW, DURING THIS TIME OF JAN/FEB/STIMULUS BILL CRISIS?

"A crisis is a terrible thing to waste." Obama. Why does he get it, and we refuse to?

I, START, TOTALLY BELIEVE WE CAN WIN. I REFUSE TO APPROACH THE IMPENDING GLOBAL HOLOCAUST ANY OTHER WAY.

I am not interested in activity, an "action." What Army unit goes to battle just to fight - do to an activity? What successful business spends resource just cuz it seems like a good idea - activity? NONE THAT SURVIVE, OR THAT AMOUNT TO ANYTHING OF HOPE. THEY WORK WITH COURAGE TO CRAFT A VISION FOR SUCCESS, AND THEN THEY FIGHT FOR AND TO THAT VISION WITH THEIR VERY LIVES. I am not interested in straightening the deck chairs on the Titanic - Guantanimo, Gaza cease - fire, arrest Bush.... I WANT TO FIX THEM ALL!!!!

Getting the DOD budget is the beginning of the end. And without the DOD budget WE WILL NOT STOP GAZA, WILL NOT STOP GUANTANIMOS.... With a $1 TRILLION BUDGET DOD WILL CONTINUALLY CREATE $1 TRILLION HELL!!! Everything else is straightening the deck chairs on the Titanic. LET'S GO FOR THE WHOLE THING! WE NEED TO GO FOR THE WHEELHOUSE, NOW, BEFORE THE "ICEBERG" KILLS US.

Will I end the Hunger Strike? Can you show me a better plan for having a prayer of sparking the Miracle of getting $200B now?

I pray that the answer is "yes!!!!"

!!!!! BUT DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME, START. I'M DEAD IF YOU DO. MY ONLY HOPE IS FOR FOLKS TO REALLY, REALLY, REALLY FOCUS ON THEIR DEAREST LOVED ONES - NIECES, NEPHEWS, GRAND NIECES.... ONLY THEN MIGHT THEY FIND THE COURAGE TO FACE THE REAL QUESTIONS:
* CAN WE WIN? "Yes" is the INDISPUTABLE answer.
* HOW MUCH TIME DO WE HAVE? Glacial melting, alone, says - WEEKS, to start leading the wartime speed, global "Marshall Plan."
* WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FROM "ME," FROM "ME," FROM "ME," TO MAYBE, MAYBE, MAYBE, MAYBE SPARK THE MIRACLE?

The best current answer to these questions I, Start, have found so far is Hunger Strike to the Death, or to the Life - demanding Cut War Fund Peace $200B Fast with the posters and audio tracks from King and Lester Brown in Hill Occupation as my weapons to penetrate the latent Humanity and Sanity of my brothers and sisters in Congress, and within the hearts and mind of the few, the very few folks with enough humanity left to respond.

Every second that I take a breath I am open to, and searching myself for a better plan.

Got one? I'm all ears.

"ENTITLEMENTS:" HOW THE FINAL BATTLE IS SHAPING UP

However, will the opposition, we, show up? In time? Willing to do whatever it takes?

"A country that year after year
spends more money on military programs
than on programs of social uplift
is facing ... death"
Martin Luther King, Jr.

VERSUS

OUR OPINION: Kudos for pledge to reform entitlements Grand Forks Herald, ND - Jan 16, 2009

Don’t Forget About Entitlements Cornell University The Cornell Daily Sun, NY

Obama Pledges Entitlement Reform CBS News, NY - Jan 16, 2009

Obama pledges to reshape Social Security and Medicare programs? Online Journal, FL

Entitlement Reform? A “Must Do” for Obama Heritage.org, DC

ETC, ETC, ETC, ETC, ETC....

Day #32: Too depleted to handle the crowds. Off the HIll until Wednesday A.M.

I've lost too much strength to be able to physically or mentally manage the enormous crowds that were in the Hill by mid day today.

Plus, they are all there just to celebrate MLK and Obama killing themselves for we-the-people, so WE don't have to do shit. Got some good impacts by late morning but then it was SRO and party atmosphere - everyone decked out in clothes that equal roughly one years income for 1/3 of our planetary brothers and sisters.

I expect to be back on the Hill with MLK and Lester Brown Wednesday, sleeping, resting and writing in the meantime.

We are all fools,. The question is: Are you a fool for Life, or are you a fool for Death?

Day #31 Re-Occupying the Hill

PLEASE NOTE: 01/21/09

"Be the change you want to see." Gandhi. If we want courageous actions from our elected representatives, WE have to demonstrate courageous action. "Example is not the major thing in influencing people. Example is the ONLY thing in influencing people." Albert Schweitzer.

Returned to the Hill Occupation - CUT WAR FUND PEACE $200B FAST. Remaining there until "in the bag" is heard from Dennis Kucinich, because I trust him, until severe weather drives me to shelter temporarily, or things give out.

http://jesusgodgoodetcnjay.blogspot.com

Being there, isolated, in the elements requires all of my resources be focused, in order to do the work, to do it effectively, and to extend my survival.

There is no energy for personal correspondence. Only emails explicitly doing the work of this campaign will be viewed or responded to.

Your Loving brother,

Start

TRUTH-AUDIO ON THE HILL

Even higher impact versions of these, audio only, blares as staffers, etc walk to work in the morning, and as the Congress folks walk to and from their troughs at the Capitol and their Office Buildings:

Posters on the Hill 24 hr/day

=

We were given, and we responded:

Jesus - IGNORED, KILLED, IGNORED
Gandhi - IGNORED, KILLED, IGNORED
King - IGNORED, KILLED, IGNORED.
Obama? _____?_____, _____?_____, _____?_______

WATCH THIS. FOLLOW THROUGH:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/invite/thefuture

!!!! POLLS, SCIENCE CONCLUSIVE: "RESISTANCE" IS FUTILE. ACTIVISTS, STAND DOWN, OR ESCALATE !!!!

"Start, you remind me a lot of John the Baptist." I cite this comment in my defense regarding this post. It was emailed to me in seriousness yesterday by one who many consider the world's greatest living activist, "Not the first time I've been told this by someone of your stature in my adulthood," was my basic response.

"Resistance," anything less now than life-on-the-line, all out nonviolent war is futile against the forces that are dooming America and terminating civilization on earth. Photo ops, die in's, banner drops, traditional lobbying, peace marches, fliers, ribbon campaigns, rallies, retreats, peace "happy hours"... will kill time, will kill our constituents, will kill... civilization. Period. Why?

This horrible, yet hopeful, instructive revelation hits me as never before, as three separate sources collide in my mind -

1. Plan B 3.0, Mobilizing to Save Civilization (as of its 2008, January publication), from the world's pre-eminent environmental/economist guru Lester Brown;
   
   Nothing less than an immediate, "war time" mobilization to save civilization will succeed, including immediate shift of $200B/yr from War to Peace.
   
   
2. Polls showing that Americans back Israel's slaughter of Palestinians;
   
   AMERICANS ARE NOT WITHIN YEARS OF BEING APPROPRIATELY INFORMED. WE'RE TALKING "GERMANS OF 1934!" Americans sided with Israel over the Palestinians by a 57%-8% margin.
   
   
3. Col. Ann Wright's personal, informal polling of Progressives as I understood it from our meeting Wednesday.
   
   AMERICANS WILL TOTALLY OPPOSE SHIFTING FUNDS AWAY FROM WAR-MAKING (DOD). 'EVEN AMONG PROGRESSIVES THEY SUPPORT FULL FUNDING OF U.S. WAR-MAKING; JUST NOT IN IRAQ' - this is what I understood from Col. Wright, who travels the country each week visiting PROGRESSIVE groups to end the war.

But Start, , you nasty SOB, there is a place for these "resistance" actions!!!!!!!!! Maybe so. But their current "place" is 100% of the effort! THERE IS ZERO HOPE IN THIS. Yes, for example, the "French Resistance" was important to winning WWII, evil war though it was as we can see now. BUT "RESISTANCE" DID NOT WIN THE WAR; THERE WAS AN ALL-OUT-WAR MACHINE THAT DID THAT. WE "ACTIVISTS" HAVE NO SUCH FORCE. Nor was this "resistance" safe. These folks were Life on the Line!

Activism today, with desperately few exceptions is "STRAIGHTENING THE DECK CHAIRS ON THE TITANIC." Unless you want to avoid facing the facts - science, polls, historical precedence....

Is that really what you want to do? If so, I will leave you to it.

I'll be on the Hill. "I regret that I have but one life to give [our human family.]"

The above is a shocking, stunning, deeply alarming revelation this morning for me, though you may hear it as yet another in a stream of nasty shrieks from Start. I write it to you despite my expectation that, for a time at least, it may cost the campaign I am enlisted in what little support it has had.

Cut War Fund Peace $200B Fast Day #30.

I expect to resume Hill Occupation 24 hr/day tomorrow morning as the killer cold passes.

Thoughts upon speaking with Barney Frank's office, and Col. Ann Wright Recently

The following thoughts are my own and to be attributed to no one else.
Hunger Strike Day #29, off the Hill till the murderous cold passes.

"A person is not equipped to live
until she knows what she would die for."
Martin Luther King, Jr.

1. MAJOR DOD BUDGET CUT CANNOT AND WILL NOT NOW, OR EVER COME FROM INSIDE CONGRESS OR THE WHITE HOUSE. PERIOD. EVER. WHY? FOR THE SAINTS - POLITICAL SUICIDE TO NO PURPOSE, HENCE IT WILL NOT BE DONE. FOR THE SINNERS, the vast majority - THEY ARE OWNED LOCK, STOCK AND BARREL.

2. The forced transfusion from the poor/middle class to $ TRILLION/YR Military Industrial Corporate Elite (MICE) complex will end at one of two times:

A. NOW, February 09, while the US CITIZENRY is in an unprecedented spurt of health / public mobilization associated with Obama and with a rare, sobering look at its own excesses. The half-life of this health spurt is measured in weeks, and the decline began November 4, 2008. At a frenetic pace we are returning to passive observer, arm chair quarterback status.

B. Or, the fatal transfusion will end three - five years from now when there is so little blood left that the MICE complex has little reason to fight - they already own it all, the environmental and civilization collapse are irreversible and advancing rapidly, and it is time to retreat to their walled and/or island communities; security courtesy of Blackwater. This race to get the last drops of blood is exactly what has been at the forefront of the Neocon / Bush / Oil industry Rule for the last 8 years - PEAK OIL. Rape and plunder while the bodies are still warm and some little plunder still exists.

3. The fate of civilization, and the fate of your children and grandchildren entirely depends on cutting the war budget now, $200B as a start. Does that mean we see a bill signed February 2009? It means we take over the emotional, conscience, psychological territory on the Hill and in the White House in February 2009 that makes it a certainty that the Bill is signed within 2009.

4. [To restate,] the potential mobilization, heroism, activism of US Citizenry reached its height 11/4/08 and IS DECLINING AT A GEOMETRIC RATE. IF THERE IS TO BE A MOBILIZATION, NOW IS THE TIME... OR 2-5 YEARS FROM NOW WHEN MOTHER NATURE AND THE ECONOMY HAVE MADE IT TOO LATE.

5. Rock throwing is NOT the sane or appropriate weaponry for the soldiers in Iraq. 2 hour marches, banner drops, 1 day arrests, photo ops... are not the sane, appropriate or hopeful tactics to get $200B out of DOD. And exactly the same dynamic holds for recruiting. 90 pound weaklings are not going to recruit 200 pound Marines. Banner drops and photo ops are not gong to recruit, inspire and spawn the Life-On-The-Line Nonviolent Army that will save America and Save Civilization, now. WE NEED THE HEAVY NONVIOLENT WEAPONRY NOW - LIVES HEROICALLY, UNMISTAKABLY, TOTALLY ON THE LINE NOW...

OR THE MICE HAVE ALREADY WON, WHICH IS CERTAINLY THE STATUS QUO CASE.

I'm not going to concede to the MICE. Not as long as I can take a breath. You?

Failure is not an option. Civilization is entirely at stake.

"This is no day to pay lip service... we must pay life service."

MLK Jr

"Tomorrow, may be too late."

MLK Jr, April 4, 1967,
1 year to the day before we killed him.

Day #28. Another day of planning, physical healing, and refuge off the Hill

Among the worlds greatest activists are involved now with this Cut War Fund Peace Fast Campaign now. Hence I've been off the Hill to support their planning, coaching, and direct efforts and to be available to them.

I find that when I relax a little, off the Hill, I begin to discover the toll this is taking on me physically, and psychologically. I'm in no danger yet, but I am extremely tired, and will stay out of the cold tomorrow for more quite computer work and rest.

I expect to be back on the Hill by this weekend, but as always, like my Hero Gandhi, every second,

"I will admit but one tyrant in my life,
the still small voice within."

Your very loving, and joyful brother, Start

StartL taking liquids, off Hill for planning and out of extremel cold for several days

A good soldier is not reckless - I'll accept shelter in the face of the extreme cold approaching, from angels Ellen and Thomas.

The planning that was desperately needed - hence my abstinence from water - transpired these last 2 days - hence I'm back on water! Praise God (whoever She is).

More planning and meetings may occur these next 2 days so for reasons of preparation and availability I'll be off the Hill Thursday and Friday, and maybe the weekend as well. We'll see.

Hunger Striker Visited by Kucinich Last Night; Day #26 Hunger Strike / Occupation

Ellen Thomas has been after Dennis Kucinich for weeks regarding the Hunger Strike and I know this afternoon Liz and Leslie went to his office to exhort him to come talk to me. About 7:30pm he came and spent a few minutes with me on his way to a session in the Capitol, holding my hand warmly most of the time.

I am sure he was with me tonight, sent on a mission to look out for my health. But it was much more than that too. He said, "I am the man inside Loving; you are the man outside. I need you, and whoever else you can get, to keep standing out here on these corners. Do not stop. And, stay healthy so you can do it."

Among the reasons I suspect that his interest is sincere is the visit I received on a prior Hill Occupation / Hunger strike. He and his wife Elizabeth regularly visited me, making special trips. But on one occasion Dennis sent out his chief of staff to come and thank me for my campaign. I immediately said to her, "Please tell Dennis how inspiring I find him." She instantly replied, "You need to know that Dennis finds YOU extremely inspiring."

"Be the change you want to see." Gandhi. If we want courageous actions from our elected representatives, WE have to demonstrate courageous action. "Example is not the major thing in influencing people. Example is the ONLY thing in influencing people." Albert Schweitzer.

I'll paraphrase the rest of our conversation, but I believe I do not take liberties beyond that:

• "Yes this is the time to go after $200b of the war budget."
• "I already know where to get $75 billion of it."
• "Yes Lester Brown, Plan B 3.0 is correct - WE DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY OF CUTTING THE $200B LATER. IT MUST BE NOW. MOTHER NATURE / GLOBAL WARMING IS SETTING THE TIMETABLE, AND THE TIMETABLE IS NOW."
• "But again, I need you, and whoever else you can get, to keep standing out here for this War Budget Cut. Do not stop."

Now, I know my abstention from water has been tough on not only me, but Diane Wilson. Ellen... my sisters at Code Pink, Ann Wright and others too. Leslie, Liz and I had very meaningful conversation about that this afternoon. I will not allow hurt to these folks. I will stress myself, and maybe them too, but I will not hurt them. At the point I judge I am moving from doing my obligation to them of encouraging them strongly to focus your attention on the Cut War Fund Peace $200B Fast Campaign Outline (here http://jesusgodgoodetcnjay.blogspot.com/2009/01/campaign-on-one-page.html ), to risking hurting them by really allowing hurt to myself now, I'll stop, but not before. It is not a matter of quid quo pro but I DID come away this afternoon when Liz, Leslie and I parted, with the sense that Liz and Leslie were DEFINITELY going to read the Campaign Outline AND Chap 13 Plan B 3.0 tonight, and try REALLY, REALLY, REALLY HARD to get at least Gael and Ann to do so.

I cannot face any of you in Heaven, when we all know everything, without doing my part to the max - to encourage you to read these deeply, now.

But beyond that, I will absolutely never attempt to FORCE anyone, ever, to do anything, and I will not hurt my self irreparably at this juncture. I promise. But PLEASE read these deeply, NOW.

I have agreed to attend the Pot Luck at the Pink House tomorrow night, and I'm praying we may have some brief discussion about these then. I expect to resume liquids as early as at the Pot Luck, and no later than this weekend. I desperately do not want to hurt them.

PRESS RELEASE: ACKNOWLEDGING FAILURE DAY #25, HUNGER STRIKER ESCALATES CAMPAIGN BY ENDING FLUID INTAKE

January 12, 2009
Washington, DC, corner Independence and NJ Ave, NW Corner Cannon House Office Building
Press Contact: start_loving@yahoo.com

""A nation that year after year spends more money on the military than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death," said Dr. King and they killed him one year later to the day", said Start Loving. "That was 41 years ago. We are not "approaching" Spiritual Death anymore - we're facing actual death - global civilization collapse."

"Yes, I've done my best so far in this Hunger Strike but I've failed my human family. We've only got until the finalization of the Stimulus Package 20 days or so from now to end the terminal threat to America, and the world - the $1 trillion annual Entitlement Program paid out to the Military Industrial complex in the U.S.," says Start Loving from his 24 hour per day Occupation on the Hill. "Despite the miracle of international activist Diane Wilson ( http://www.chelseagreen.com/bookstore/item/unreasonablewoman) joining the Hunger Strike on Saturday, I've failed to mobilize our few, sheroic activists within the likes of Code Pink, Proposition One, the Washington Peace Center and WILPF to a take-no-prisoners lobby campaign on the Hill demanding nothing less than an immediate $200 billion dollar shift from WarMaking to non-DOD PeaceBuilding as called for in Lester Brown's "Plan B 3.0" ( http://www.earth-policy.org/Books/PB3/index.htm ).

Loving acknowledges some heart wrenching choices his demand calls for among the great activists, and the Progressive community more broadly. "I too have yearned, for example, for years to give my life to help save our Palestine family, and to save Israel and the world from the Zionists. I've joyfully gone to jail protesting Guantanamo. But these are symptoms of a cause - a $1 trillion U.S. military budget - and the symptoms will never ever be stopped or healed as long as the cause, that $1 trillion budget remains." Loving contends that as laid out in detail in the Cut War Fund Peace $200B Fast Campaign Outline (here http://jesusgodgoodetcnjay.blogspot.com/2009/01/campaign-on-one-page.html ) and as irrefutably laid out in "Plan B 3.0" Mother Nature, not we, dictate that it is now or never, January 2009 or never, to reallocate funds from death and destruction to life and construction. The 39' rise in sea level and continued doubling of failed states / terrorist hotbeds will simply overwhelm civilization leading to worldwide collapse, Loving contends. "Or do we continue to ignore our scientists, the CIA, British Military Intelligence, and Martin Luther King, Jr?" Loving asks?

"Who, if they saw this clearly, would not happily sacrifice their life attempting to get the attention, and I pray, the sheroic response of their fellows to such a calamity?" Loving asks. Loving will stay off of all fluids until either he is convinced of the folly of the Cut War Fund Peace $200B Fast Campaign Outline (here http://jesusgodgoodetcnjay.blogspot.com/2009/01/campaign-on-one-page.html ) or he sees a core of sheroic activists executing along the lines for which it calls.

Loving acknowledges that few people will understand or support or agree with his action. "We have never well understood nonviolence (putting your own life on the line to protect the other, refusing to threaten the life of another in doing so) in this country, and certainly not since the 1960's. We admire the likes of King and Gandhi, Phil Berrigan, Barbara Demming and David Dellinger, but we don't follow them. But we still have a hand full of true activists, and they might understand, and respond constructively to my action. Did you know that the cause of Dr. King finally speaking out against the war in Vietnam was the self immolation of Buddhist priests in Vietnam?"

Loving notes that the risk of arrest for him goes up dramatically now because he no longer has the strength to move his Occupation on the Hill to the slightly out of the way corner where he sits up all night. "I'll have to remain on the totally visible Capitol side of Independence and there is a Hispanic Captain that is visibly fearful of taking heat for how that might appear," says Loving. Loving says he will remain abstaining from food and water whether in jail or out.

Hi my beloved sister M,

Oh, I can imagine this has been tough on you, unless you've arrived at your senses and just sort of cut me out of your life. Seriously, not a bad idea, if you haven't. I would never think less of you if and when you do. It is not my desire to bring misery to your life. Quite the opposite.

If you've been following along on the blogs below you can tell that this is the biggest, most consequential campaign I've been consumed within. I will not turn a blind eye to the reality that if not yet, we are within months of setting in motion the cascading dominoes that WILL extinguish civilization on Planet Earth by destroying life support. Oh, your son would survive it ok, but his kids, and theirs, not so much. No, even in fortress Empire America with oceans rising 39' and climate going to Hell, Katrina's etc will become too much for even our filthy rich environment and Civilization here too will end.. Unless all the world's scientists are wrong, a bet no one with a shred of humanity can take.

Although I expect to take this to the end, here on Capitol Hill there is some chance that will not mean my life, and maybe not even permanent health damage. Depends on when I konk out, if I do. If pulse stopped, or whatever when I'm sitting up, completely covered in my sleeping bag, well, that would be a problem because it would be many hours before they discovered the problem.

But facing the collapse of all civilization that is the least of our worries.

If and when you want to know what this is all about, it would be impossible for me to lay it out more clearly than I have on the two sites below. In 10 minutes you would know quite a bit. In several hours you would know everything. Up to you.

Know that I will always love you, and know that I know you will always love me. Give my love to the boys, and new girl!

Day before yesterday, out of the blue I got an email from the greatest human rights activist in the world today, Diane Wilson, saying she was joining the Hunger Strike. Next to Dad, and he is not available, Diane is who I would most want to stand with me on this. It is overwhelmingly wonderful. She said yesterday, Start, I'm a loner like you. True. But she is a much beloved, widely recognized, much revered loner, and in joining this it increases by a factor of 1000 that others too will perk up, pay attention and weigh in.

Wealth of Meaning - THAT is the sunum bonum in life. Few, extremely few arrive at the level of Wealth I've achieved. I am so blessed I can't absorb it all. And I want to much for others to have their share.

My health is shockingly good, and I suspect that will continue for another 3 weeks or so. I've lost about 17 pounds so far and have body fat still.

A sister, guardian angel, really, and fellow fighter, brings me water every day without fail, checks up on me, nags me to come in.

Zero problem from the police. They always cut me a lot of slack. They respect courage and sacrifice. Although one bad apple could have me in jail in a heartbeat.

Your loving brother forever, no matter what,

Start Loving ... WAGE LOVE OR DIE (NO 3RD OPTION ANY LONGER EXISTS).

Http://JesusGodGoodEtcnjay.blogspot.com

Http://youtube.com/StartLoving1

HUNGER STRIKE DAY #23 - Diane Wilson in Texas, Start Loving in DC

In DC Hunger Strike / Hill Occupation Start Loving resumes on Day 23 after a 2 day pause for planning, communication and healing.

In Texas, international Human Rights activist Diane Wilson (An Unreasonable Woman www.chelseagreen.com/bookstore/item/unreasonablewoman ) joins the Hunger Strike in Texas.

Inquiries are best directed to Ellen Thomas (et@nucnews.net).

Regarding the Campaign:

****** THE CAMPAIGN ON ONE PAGE ******

CAMPAIGN AND TEAM / COMPREHENSION PREREQUISITE:

Read and fully digest Plan B 3.0 Chapter 13.
Available pdf: The Great Mobilization (pdf) http://www.earth-policy.org/Books/PB3/pb3ch13.pdf
Available Video (1 hr): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XkbuhLFIX8
THE SKIPPING OF THIS STEP IS OUR STRAGIC THREAT - IT WILL KILL US. PLEASE MASTER IT NOW. I BEG YOU NOT TO DELAY, NOT TO MISS THIS STEP.

PURPOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN:

By mid February 2009, before the finalization of the Stimulus package achieve a $200 billion shift from Defense to PeaceMaking that we will-

1. Prevent the imminent and wholly avoidable planetary life support collapse from continued unbridled global warming whose first manifestation would be the drowning out of 600 million worldwide in low coastal areas that will otherwise submerge under the certain rise of 39 feet of water when the ice sheets go in Greenland and the West Antarctic. (Plan B 3.0 Chapter 13)

2. Forever cut out the heart of the monster of U.S. empire whose ever-present swath of death and destruction is currently manifest in Iraq, Gaza, Afghanistan, Iran, failed international states doubling every year, civilization-threatening climate change, New Orleans, Inner City Schools, hemoraging US economy, crumbling infrastructure, decimated US world image, cancerous health care system, .... (Plan B 3.0 Chapter 13, and common sense. "A nation that year after year spends more on military defense than it spends on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death." MLK exactly 1 year to the day before they killed him for saying these words. )

DESCRIPTION OF THE CAMPAIGN:

World-class nonviolent action (participants lay their own lives on the line) with two distinct, self-reinforcing aspects:

1. Hunger Strike with a Hill 24 hr/day Occupation component as an unmistakable statement of the life and death urgency;

2. Sheroic, informed, disciplined and relentless "organizing (recruiting, deployment, PR, collateral materials, blogs, web sites...)," and Hill lobbying starting with the "good guys" like Kucinich and under their guidance spreading out to a sufficient number of congressfolks to assure the $200 Billion shift, before the stimulus package is finalized in mid February. Note: Although Start is the birth mother of this whole thing, this "baby" will be immediately "adopted" by the core team. Start will quickly move to the background on all but the Hunger Strike / Occupation; although he will remain in the loop.

CAMPAIGN COMPLETION:

When the highly trusted Dennis Kucinich presents clearly to the campaign team that the $200 Billion Shift is a certainty.

EXTREMELY FAVORABLE BUT CONSTRAINED POLITICAL REALITY:

1. Obama can be expected at minimum to be personally in favor of this campaign, and probably extremely desirous. The same can be expected not only of the "good guys" but by up to 2/3's of Congress, the Senate and the public at large. But this will remain entirely hidden, until our work is well underway. Although anecdotal, Start, with many months experience with the dynamic of Congress on the Hill passing him outdoors, has detected a readiness that is surprising to all, including Congress, among up to 2/3's of those he encounters. This is the time. If not now, when? If not, here, where? If not us, who?

2. Prospective "campaign members" from Code Pink, WILPF, and others known to us - we expect that from 2 to 20 people of an extremely sheroic and humane nature may well join as our sheroic commitment becomes more manifest. However, as the nature of this being a particularly extreme version of nonviolence, until the last days, this campaign will be of and for the most extremely courageous, mature, self-starting, high initiative type of "activist." It will neither be for, nor accepting of those not so far along, as this would be a disservice and actually highly dangerous to these relatively unprepared folks, and to the campaign itself.

2. We perceive that it is political suicide for even the "good guys" to propose or initially champion a $200 billion shift, and we want NOT to place either Obama or the other "good guys" in such a dangerous position. Hence WE are the force, the 4th branch of government who through this campaign will give the political cover in reality on this issue. But we expect that after we place our lives on the line for this issue there will quickly, but with some pregnant pause, unfold a catalytic reaction of passionate and courageous action from even some within Congress, and maybe from within the Senate (Who? Ted Kennedy?)

REASON FOR SUCCESS:

1. With the Emperor's / Empire's clothes totally gone ($1 trillion on Defense is ridiculously absurd in the context of the Truth of US today), all that is left is for this to be ruthlessly and inescapably pointed out. America is bleeding to death from its trillion dollar per year "Entitlement" to Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrup Grumman, Blackwater... and their Corporate Sponsors - Exxon, Texaco, Halliburton, the revolving door military....

2. The "meteor" twin of CO2 global warming and consequent failed state terrorism as the #1 national security threat, about to destroy life support on earth, is now visible to the naked eye through the telescope of Plan B 3.0, currently in the hands of virtually every member of congress.

3. The campaign team now assembling consists of vision and proven courage and commitment not seen since the 1960's when so much good was generated in America - a time of miracles then, the stuff of miracles now.

TACTICAL ELEMENTS OF THE CAMPAIGN:

1. Hunger Strike Hill Occupation 24 hours per day to resume by Sunday conducted by Start Loving. This has been and will remain the central reactor, the central Soul Force driving the urgency and courage infusing the entire campaign. Additional Hunger Strikers may or may not join in DC or nation-wide. This is probably NOT the area where quantity of force is required. Sunday will be approaching day 25 for Loving, leaving an estimated 25 days of life-support left - exactly the right amount of time to drive urgent achievement of victory.

2. Sheroic, Ferocious, Tenacious, Informed, LIFE-ON-THE-LINE Lobbying of Congress to be organized by Diane Wilson, Liz Hourican, Gael Murphy with the support and growing cooperation of Code Pink, Prop 1. and WILPF. A. Descend on, ENLIST, and EMPOWER the "good guys:" Kucinich - the champion of US Peace Force; Norton - 13 year sponsor of Military Conversion Act; Woolsey - sponsor of Economic Conversion Act; Barney Frank who in October called for 25% cut in Defense.... With this virtual planning team identify and execute a Hill Takeover plan.

THE ULTIMATE DRIVER AND SUCCESS FACTOR OF THIS CAMPAIGN:

Failure is not an option. This is a "military," 'take no prisoners' campaign (we activists are the "prisoners" :-) . Failure means the collapse of global civilization as the political tipping points will have been irreversibly eclipsed by the environmental tipping points leading ultimately planetary life-support collapse - civilization collapse. (Plan B 3.0 Chapter 13). This is the indisputable conclusion of 1000's of the world's greatest scientists. Our guiding ethos is "Live as though the entire world depends on what we do here, and realize that what we do will probably make no difference at all. The fate of humanity does in fact depend on what we do here. We are willing to fail, but we are, with our very lives, unwilling not to give it the "last measure of our devotion."

DAY #22 AND HOLDING. RETURN TO HILL / OCCUPATION SUNDAY MORNING.

Hi.

At the request of some of our country's, some of the world's great sheroes I came off the Hill for several days.

They were exactly right. This has allowed for some extraordinary planning and communication culminating in the following which enables me to share the Vision that possesses me, for anyone that wants to see:

****** THE CAMPAIGN ON ONE PAGE ******

...and for anyone that can see it, and mobilize, too.

In addition, I am more depleted than I'd realized. For the first 24 hours off the Hill I was too exhausted to really sleep.

Now I can sleep and I expect to spend the next 36 hours doing so.

Sunday morning I expect to return to the Hill.

The only role that I am equipped to fill of the two outlined on the "One Page" is the Hunger Strike to the end. And I can do that well.

By being off the Hill now, I can only distract those that could, if they too become possessed,if I cann avoid obscuring the "vision" that is there not to see, can execute the 2nd portion of the "One Page" plan. (see"SIGHT" IS WITH THE EYES. "VISION" IS WITH THE HEART and you may understand what I mean.)

Returning to my cave, now....

"SIGHT" IS WITH THE EYES. "VISION" IS WITH THE HEART.

THE ANNOYING BACKGROUND IMAGE:
SORRY, BUT IT WAS NECESSARY.

Try this first:



If not, this:

Cut War Fund Peace $200B Fast Campaign Outline

***a work in progress***

CAMPAIGN AND TEAM / COMPREHENSION PREREQUISITE:

Read and fully digest Plan B 3.0 Chapter 13.
Available pdf: The Great Mobilization (pdf) http://www.earth-policy.org/Books/PB3/pb3ch13.pdf
Available Video (1 hr): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XkbuhLFIX8
THE SKIPPING OF THIS STEP IS OUR STRAGIC THREAT - IT WILL KILL US. PLEASE MASTER IT NOW. I BEG YOU NOT TO DELAY, NOT TO MISS THIS STEP.

PURPOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN:

By mid February 2009, before the finalization of the Stimulus package achieve a $200 billion shift from Defense to PeaceMaking that we will-

1. Prevent the imminent and wholly avoidable planetary life support collapse from continued unbridled global warming whose first manifestation would be the drowning out of 600 million worldwide in low coastal areas that will otherwise submerge under the certain rise of 39 feet of water when the ice sheets go in Greenland and the West Antarctic. (Plan B 3.0 Chapter 13)

2. Forever cut out the heart of the monster of U.S. empire whose ever-present swath of death and destruction is currently manifest in Iraq, Gaza, Afghanistan, Iran, failed international states doubling every year, civilization-threatening climate change, New Orleans, Inner City Schools, hemoraging US economy, crumbling infrastructure, decimated US world image, cancerous health care system, .... (Plan B 3.0 Chapter 13, and common sense. "A nation that year after year spends more on military defense than it spends on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death." MLK exactly 1 year to the day before they killed him for saying these words. )

DESCRIPTION OF THE CAMPAIGN:

World-class nonviolent action (participants lay their own lives on the line) with two distinct, self-reinforcing aspects:

1. Hunger Strike with a Hill 24 hr/day Occupation component as an unmistakable statement of the life and death urgency;

2. Sheroic, informed, disciplined and relentless "organizing (recruiting, deployment, PR, collateral materials, blogs, web sites...)," and Hill lobbying starting with the "good guys" like Kucinich and under their guidance spreading out to a sufficient number of congressfolks to assure the $200 Billion shift, before the stimulus package is finalized in mid February. Note: Although Start is the birth mother of this whole thing, this "baby" will be immediately "adopted" by the core team. Start will quickly move to the background on all but the Hunger Strike / Occupation; although he will remain in the loop.

CAMPAIGN COMPLETION:

When the highly trusted Dennis Kucinich presents clearly to the campaign team that the $200 Billion Shift is a certainty.

EXTREMELY FAVORABLE BUT CONSTRAINED POLITICAL REALITY:

1. Obama can be expected at minimum to be personally in favor of this campaign, and probably extremely desirous. The same can be expected not only of the "good guys" but by up to 2/3's of Congress, the Senate and the public at large. But this will remain entirely hidden, until our work is well underway. Although anecdotal, Start, with many months experience with the dynamic of Congress on the Hill passing him outdoors, has detected a readiness that is surprising to all, including Congress, among up to 2/3's of those he encounters. This is the time. If not now, when? If not, here, where? If not us, who?

2. Prospective "campaign members" from Code Pink, WILPF, and others known to us - we expect that from 2 to 20 people of an extremely sheroic and humane nature may well join as our sheroic commitment becomes more manifest. However, as the nature of this being a particularly extreme version of nonviolence, until the last days, this campaign will be of and for the most extremely courageous, mature, self-starting, high initiative type of "activist." It will neither be for, nor accepting of those not so far along, as this would be a disservice and actually highly dangerous to these relatively unprepared folks, and to the campaign itself.

2. We perceive that it is political suicide for even the "good guys" to propose or initially champion a $200 billion shift, and we want NOT to place either Obama or the other "good guys" in such a dangerous position. Hence WE are the force, the 4th branch of government who through this campaign will give the political cover in reality on this issue. But we expect that after we place our lives on the line for this issue there will quickly, but with some pregnant pause, unfold a catalytic reaction of passionate and courageous action from even some within Congress, and maybe from within the Senate (Who? Ted Kennedy?)

REASON FOR SUCCESS:

1. With the Emperor's / Empire's clothes totally gone ($1 trillion on Defense is ridiculously absurd in the context of the Truth of US today), all that is left is for this to be ruthlessly and inescapably pointed out. America is bleeding to death from its trillion dollar per year "Entitlement" to Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrup Grumman, Blackwater... and their Corporate Sponsors - Exxon, Texaco, Halliburton, the revolving door military....

2. The "meteor" twin of CO2 global warming and consequent failed state terrorism as the #1 national security threat, about to destroy life support on earth, is now visible to the naked eye through the telescope of Plan B 3.0, currently in the hands of virtually every member of congress.

3. The campaign team now assembling consists of vision and proven courage and commitment not seen since the 1960's when so much good was generated in America - a time of miracles then, the stuff of miracles now.

TACTICAL ELEMENTS OF THE CAMPAIGN:

1. Hunger Strike Hill Occupation 24 hours per day to resume by Sunday conducted by Start Loving. This has been and will remain the central reactor, the central Soul Force driving the urgency and courage infusing the entire campaign. Additional Hunger Strikers may or may not join in DC or nation-wide. This is probably NOT the area where quantity of force is required. Sunday will be approaching day 25 for Loving, leaving an estimated 25 days of life-support left - exactly the right amount of time to drive urgent achievement of victory.

2. Sheroic, Ferocious, Tenacious, Informed, LIFE-ON-THE-LINE Lobbying of Congress to be organized by Diane Wilson, Liz Hourican, Gael Murphy with the support and growing cooperation of Code Pink, Prop 1. and WILPF. A. Descend on, ENLIST, and EMPOWER the "good guys:" Kucinich - the champion of US Peace Force; Norton - 13 year sponsor of Military Conversion Act; Woolsey - sponsor of Economic Conversion Act; Barney Frank who in October called for 25% cut in Defense.... With this virtual planning team identify and execute a Hill Takeover plan.

THE ULTIMATE DRIVER AND SUCCESS FACTOR OF THIS CAMPAIGN:

Failure is not an option. This is a "military," 'take no prisoners' campaign (we activists are the "prisoners" :-) . Failure means the collapse of global civilization as the political tipping points will have been irreversibly eclipsed by the environmental tipping points leading ultimately planetary life-support collapse - civilization collapse. (Plan B 3.0 Chapter 13). This is the indisputable conclusion of 1000's of the world's greatest scientists. Our guiding ethos is "Live as though the entire world depends on what we do here, and realize that what we do will probably make no difference at all." The fate of humanity does in fact depend on what we do here. We are willing to fail, but we are, with our very lives, unwilling not to give it the "last measure of our devotion."

How many more will progressives kill to avoid making a stand?

What do you mean "how many more will progressives kill to avoid making a stand?!" Two examples: Progressives, peace activists, Catholic Workers... "know," that -

• "Knowledge is power." Sir Francis Bacon
  
• "With power comes great responsibilities." Common
• 600 million people are soon to be drowned off their land because we do not make a stand for an immediate and escalating carbon tax.
• 500 people more are now dead in Palestine because we will not make a stand against the $1 trillion U.S. defense budget.

"False" you say! Progressives, etc. DO make a stand. Hmmm. Not by any historical measure:

• Making a stand were elementary students in Soweto.
• Making a stand were activists in Seattle to stop the WTO.
• Making a stand were Americans walking to work for a year in Montgomery during the bus boycott.
  
• Making a stand, as mistaken as it is, are young Americans in uniform in Iraq and Afghanistan.
  

"…the great stumbling block …[is the] moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to the positive peace which is the presence of justice." Martin Luther King, Jr.

There are three ways to respond to the need to "make a stand," to participate in life and death struggle, such as the two mentioned above:

1. Cowardice - By-standing, on-looking including talking, blogging, writing, criticizing, tepid, low risk, "symbolic," "sacramental," activism (banner drops, 1 day arrests, etc., 2 hour marches, candle light vigils....)
2. Violence - Putting the other guy's life on the line - terrorism as practiced by the U.S., Israel and Hamas.
3. Nonviolence - Putting your OWN life on the line (see examples above, Soweto, etc.).
4. There is no 4th way. We've all read Zinn's People's History, etc. All significant change comes when, and only when people make a stand - putting their very lives on the line.

Why are these the only options? Because the forces of destruction DO put their lives on the line. They are NOT fighting "symbolic," or "sacramental" fights. The Military - Corporate - Industrial complex fights smart, to win. They DO put your life AND thier lives on the line. Cowards always lose. Cowards always lose.

"More and more I feel that people of ill will have used time much more effectively than have the people of good will." Martin Luther King, Jr.

"The question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate of for love? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice or for the extension of justice?" Martin Luther King, Jr.

It is past time, and in 4 more weeks it will be too late for Progressives, peace activists, Catholic Workers... to make a stand.

And there is one and only one strategic place to focus for any all of your goals to be won (Palestine, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Environment..). The place of strategic focus is the defense budget. This is the root cause for which Palestine, Iraq, Iran... are the symptoms. Lester Brown says so. Howard Zinn says so. Barney Frank said so. Medea Benjamin said so.

Sanity, humanity, common knowledge says so. Now, January 2o09 is the time to make a stand:

1. Headlines today - U.S. faces trillion dollar deficits for years to come.
2. Headlines today - U.S. needs a trillion dollar stimulus.
3. Russia spends $45 billion on Defense.
4. China spends $60 billion on Defense.
5. "A nation that year after year spends more money on the military than it does on social uplift, is facing spiritual death." Martin Luther King, Jr., April 4, 1967, the Truth of which Dr. King was shot for exactly one year later to the day.
   
6. The U.S. is bleeding to death from $1 trillion in defense spending.
7. If we immediately shift $200 billion from Defense (death and destruction) to PeaceBuilding (Life and construction) we WILL head off the drowning of 600 million by global warming and head off the #1 threat to U.S. security - failing states - Lester Brown, Plan B 3.o. And we can achieve all of the other Progressive agenda items.
   

Today I spoke to 40 or so congress folks about the need to cut Defense, as they streamed out of the Capitol.

• 1/3 said "I agree."
  
• 1/3 made no response, but clearly they "heard" the truth of this.
  
• 1/3 tried hard not to hear, but obviously could not avoid hearing it. "The truth crushed to earth will rise again!" Marin Luther King, Jr.
  
• Although they could avoid eye contact with me, not one was able to avoid the issue hitting their conscience !
  

The Defense Budget is the elephant in the room that no one is talking about. The Defense Budget is totally indefensible today if we will only make heroic, life on the line stand against it!

Progressives, now is the time to make a stand, in D.C., with your lives, demanding the shifting of $2oo billion from Defense to PeaceBuilding as called for by "Plan B 3.o," Lester Brown.

Progressives, take a leave of absence from work, risk your personal connections and relations, lay down your lives for your children and grand-children, nieces and nephews. A few of you should join me on Hunger Strike / 24 hr per day Occupation of the Hill. But most of you should mount the most sheroic, unflinching lobbying / sitting in of strategic, "good guy" Hill offices ever seen in DC - Barney Frank, Dennis Kucinich, Bernie Sanders, Eleanor Holmes Norton (Prop 1 Economic Conversion Act sponsor every year since 1993) until they join us and help guide us to victory. Ellen Thomas, http://prop1.org can give you good guidance here. AND, also lobby everyone and every group you know to join you.

Progressives, if forces overt, covert, conscious and unconscious can keep you sidelined, distracted, diverted (what Obama does, the Inauguration, etc.), cowardly by-standing for just 4 more weeks, until after the stimulus package is set, you will have been defeated in all of your causes, forever. Why? The tipping points - political and environmental to do with global life support collapse and failed state proliferation will be beyond reversal! Scientific fact. Your enemies, the corporate - military - industrial complex will have won for time immemorial. Is that OK with you?

It is time to put up, or it is time for us to shut up. Let's put up.

Start Loving,
Day #22 Hunger Strike 24 hour per day Occupation, Capitol Hill, outside Cannon House Office building, Making a Stand for $200 Billion shift from WarMaking to PeaceBuilding - Plan B 3.o.

http://www.YouTube.com/StartLoving1
http://www.earth-policy.org/Books/PB3/pb3book.pdf

If anything happens to me

The laptop I use belongs to Dave and Mary Rachel along with the Tosheba drive in my backpack and the LaCie drive on the desk in the room I use; and the DVD drives both under the desk and one in the drawer in a case that goes into the Laptop itself.

The solar panel Prop1/Ellen got me - Ellen the packaging is carefully in the room I use - check to see if it is within 30 days of delivery (Jan 7). If so return it to them for 100% refund minus shipping. Otherwise please sell it.

Duracell 600 watt battery - please give it to Liz Hourican with Code Pink.

Warm clothing, other clothing - please give it to whomever needs it.

My books - please give to Dave and Mary Rachel.

"SAVED..." FROM A MEANINGLESS LIFE. THIS IS THE ENTIERETY OF THE MEANING; THE ENTIRETY OF WHAT JESUS DIED FOR.

Is There Anything the Individual Can Still Do? Franz Jagerstatter

Note: Hunger Strike / Hill Occupation Day #21. Washed off the Hill for some of the next 2 days. Resting and writing. Hunger Strike continues although some liquid nourishment will be consumed to counteract the all day marching, exposure to the elements and lack of reclined sleep. My goal in this is NOT to delay the ultimate climax by even an hour, but to remain functional longer than otherwise.

{{NOTE: A NON "DEISTIC" JESUS, JESUS THE NON-VIOLENT WARRIOR WAS GANDHI'S #1 HERO, HIS #1 MODEL, ICON, IDOL. ARE YOU WISER, BETTER THAN GANDHI? I AM NOT.

"I like your Christ.
I do NOT like your Christians.
Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
Gandhi}}

Bio: An Austrian peasant, Franz Jägerstätter refused to serve in the Nazi army following Germany’s invasion of Austria. His courageous and singular refusal was based in a deeply pietistic Catholicism. His story, and his reflections, are a moving testimony to the moral responsibility of the individual as opposed to the obligations of the state. The excerpt that follows is from a letter written during his imprisonment.

Quotations from this essay:

"One really has no cause to be astonished that there are those who can no longer find their way in the great confusion of our day. People we think we can trust, who ought to be leading the way and setting a good example, are running along with the crowd. No one gives enlightenment, whether in word or in writing. Or, to be more exact, it may not be given. And the thoughtless race goes on, always closer to eternity. As long as conditions are still half-good, we don’t see things quite right, or that we could or should do otherwise."

"I realize, too, that today many words would accomplish little more than make one highly eligible for prison. Yet, in spite of this, it is not good if ... leaders remain silent year after year. By “words” I mean, of course, instruction; but example gives direction. Do we no longer want to see [activists] who are able to take a stand in the darkness around us in deliberate clarity, calmness, and confidence—who, in the midst of tension, gloom, selfishness, and hate, stand fast in perfect peace and cheerfulness— who are not like the floating reed which is driven here and there by every breeze—who do not merely watch to see what their friends will do but, instead, ask themselves, “What does our faith teach us about this?” or “Can my conscience bear this so easily that I will never have to repent?”

If road signs were ever stuck so loosely in the earth that every wind could break them off or blow them about, would anyone who did not know the road be able to find his way? And how much worse it is if those to whom one turns for information refuse to give him an answer or, at most, give him the wrong direction just to be rid of him as quickly as possible!"

More like this at the single greatest repository of nonviolent essays: http://peaceandnonviolence.blogspot.com

Hunger Stike / Hill Occupation Terminated Day #18

...almost. I am so sorry.

Several times yesterday I came within seconds of terminating the Hunger Strike. I am so exhausted, depleted, hungry, isolated, in pain, cold....

But I can't. I can't face your child if I do. I can't face you, when you come to your senses if I do. I can't face your niece over the destruction of her planet, and her civilization; I can't face the 600 million we are about to drown with our murderous, totally unnecessary addiction to fossil fuel; I can't face the Palestinians being murdered and imprisoned by your addiction to Imperial Power ($1 trillion per year on military; China spends $60 billion.) I can't face the 40 million aids victims and their millions of orphans in Sub-Sahara Africa that our military addiction precludes us from helping; I can't face your grandchildren who scream at me, "Why didn't you put it all on the line to change the Spirit, the Nature, the very Core Values of America in January 2009 that you KNEW to be our last chance to do so; our only chance...."

I pray, I PRAY I find the strength to leave here the only way a Human Being, someone of Conscience, Courage and Humanity CAN leave this issue at this time - in victory ($200B shift from Death and Destruction to Life and Construction achieved), in an Ambulance or in a hearse.

I don't know if I have the Strength, Courage, Humanity, Sanity, Compassion or Wisdom. Sorry if I do not. I pray that I do.

PRESS RELEASE

IF YOU KNOW OF A PUBLICATION THAT SHOULD CARY THIS - DO IT.

Hunger Strike Continues 7/24 on Capitol Hill Day #16 Demanding $200B Budget Shift from Pentagon to Plan B 3.0 Awaits Notification from Dennis Kucinich

NW corner of Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC, January 1, 2009. In order to understand this action, "Imagine that you've seen a meteor just days from striking earth and congress is doing nothing but talk. What do you do," asks Start Loving, when asked to explain this campaign.

"Plan B 3.0, by Earth Policy Institute's Lester Brown, authoritatively, unmistakably shows us the national and global security 'meteor.' -- the soon to be irreversible destruction of life support on planet earth -- 'civilization collapse,' as manifest in the sharp rise in failing states around the world," Loving continues. "Driven by global warming, population explosion, and millions moving toward western style consumption, and with tipping point just months away, the Marshall Plan funding Brown calls for occurs now, January 2009, or it is too late for U.S. National security."

Loving adds, "Despite this impending catastrophe, Barney Frank (Democrat MA) is the lone voice in Congress calling for action, in October demanding a 25% shift in budget from the Pentagon. I will not remain silent in the face of this obvious threat. I expect to remain on Capitol Hill, NW corner of the Cannon House Office building 24/7 consuming only water, vitamins, and electrolytes until Dennis Kucinich, the congressman I most trust, comes out to tell me that the funding shift is a certainty."

Most of his adult life a turn-around expert in the computer industry, Loving came to DC over 3 years ago to fight the genocide in Darfur (Wash. Post, A Hunger For Justice - washingtonpost.com), conducting a 46 day hunger strike, 7/24 occupation outside the Sudan Embassy. He moved to direct confrontation of U.S. self destructive acts of Empire last October with a 7/24 occupation on Capitol Hill against the bombing of Iran (<http://startlovingusforcesiraniraq.blogspot.com/>http://StartLovingUSForcesIranIraq.blogspot.com) .

Most recently Loving has been supporting the 27+ year Peace Vigil in Lafayette Park (<http://prop1.org/>http://prop1.org) in for the furtherance of Proposition One (HRxxxx) as proposed by Eleanor Holmes Norton each year since 1993. First passed in DC in DC election 1991 (prop1.org for details).

------------------------------

Note: Plan B 3.0, Lester Brown is online, free at http://www.earth-policy.org/Books/PB3/index.htm

Additional Detail at Mr. Loving's YouTube site: <http://youtube.com/StartLoving1>http://youtube.com/StartLoving1 and <http://jesusgodgoodetcnjay.blogspot.com/>http://jesusgodgoodetcnjay.blogspot.com .

Addional press contact: Ellen Thomas, 202-682-4282 Proposition One <http://prop1.org/>http://prop1.org

Start Loving email: Start_Loving@yahoo.com