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I am trying to begin practicing the idea of "boycotting the self" eg reducing demand for products and materials that will bring suppliers to destroy the environment or enslave third-world citizens just to deliver at competitive prices, by destroying my own desires for such unnecessary things. I don't know what I specifically want to do in the long term future for this but I want to start something as soon as I can just to get me on a path ideologically, however small and unproductive it is.

The idea is to go on a hunger strike/fast this summer, I'm thinking 20 days. I would also voluntarily go homeless for that period of time walking through a predetermined path in the city. I would donate the money that I would normally use for meals, and I would also panhandle what I can, communicating the destination of the donations. I haven't picked a specific charity yet, I currently care a lot about the rape and violence in Africa so I could save it all up for something in that area at the end or I might stop by a few different organizations during the trip if the money gets too heavy to carry. I'm an art student and would spend the time drawing what I please with minimal supplies, and I might try selling them and donating all proceeds. I would bring just a few extra things in a light bag; a pair of jeans, poncho, sweater, pocket knife, little or no cash, water can, shades, cap, and hand sanitizer. I would get water from water fountains, and use store restrooms.

I think this plan would serve more to reducing my selfishness than actual giving but I do want to give as much as possible in the future and I think getting some perspective first would make that more productive in the end. And I am looking for any kind of response/reactions at all.

I dont think that a hunger strike make you a better person, or a better "shopper"
that only buys the thing that you really need to survive in the long run.

But you might save a few bucks to be able to share to any good cause out there.

But i think that a better solution need to be found for this.
Perhaps make a cleanout of the basement/garage etc and sell some on ebay rtc and share all or some of the income from that.

_________________
Im Leon, The one and only
http://www.volunteerforum.se -

Thanks for sharing.



I may have miscommunicated, I'm not hoping to suddenly desire less through this experience, I want this to be an exercise of my newly found lack of desires.

I can do your suggestion too sometime though.