Lies, Lies, And More Lies

When setting out to take part in Climate Justice Fast!, I steeled myself for a lot of negativity. After all, hunger striking is controversial- that’s part of the reason it can be so effective in focusing attention on issues and spurring debate. However, I have to admit that while preparing for a barrage of criticism, I completely forgot to prepare myself for being completely, and blatantly, lied about.

Was I naïve?

I guess so.

But I just did not expect to see bare-faced lies printed about myself. Perhaps I figured that there would be enough ammunition for people opposed to CJF to use if they wanted to criticize me, without having to resort to untruth. But how wrong I was.

Here is Malcolm Farr of the Daily Telegraph, reporting that “Connor isn’t going to give up all food; he’s just not going to have as much as he usually would.”

A lie. I have drunk water only since November 6th.

We have contacted Malcolm and asked him, in the name of journalistic integrity, to retract his report. But he hasn’t responded.

And here is a fellow called ‘Jack the Insider”, who surprised me today with the news that I am no longer on hungerstrike!

Also a lie. (Unless I have missed something rather pertinent!)

So, it’s not very pleasant, being lied about. But I suppose that I should not be surprised. After all, given that there are people in this world who are willing to spread lies about something as important as climate change (see video below), it’s hardly surprising that there would be some folks willing to lie about me.

All I hope is that maybe these writers will eventually feel a pang of conscience for misrepresenting me and Climate Justice Fast!, and that just as Gandhi taught us, “Truth alone will endure, all the rest will be swept away before the tide of time’.

(Note: this is one video out of many in the series ‘Climate Denial Crock Of The Week’. I strongly recommend watching more,if not all, of these videos, and sharing them as widely as possible)