Langley doctor Brendan Martin ended his two-week fast a few minutes after midnight on Saturday, April 24, with a bowl of chick pea and leek soup and some vegetables run through a juicer.
鈥淚 just had a very small serving,鈥� Martin told Black Press Media.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 all I could take.鈥�
By then, the Brookswood resident was 21 pounds lighter and very tired.
He was part of a Canada-wide protest against federal government plans to buy 88 new fighter jets for up to $19 billion, organized by the 鈥淣o Fighter Jets Coalition鈥� of peace, justice, and faith groups across Canada.
They argue buying new fighter jets is fiscally irresponsible when the federal government is running a $268-billion deficit during the pandemic, and the fighter jet money would be better spent on other things.
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Martin spent six hours a day during the first week of his fast under the shelter of the bandstand at Langley City鈥檚 Douglas Park, with signs explaining the protest.
Day 5 water-only fast to stop purchase of 88 fighter jets by federal govt. Asking all to write 2 lines to their MP:
鈥� Brendan Martin (@BrendanNoFJets)
鈥淒o not purchase Fighter jets. Speak up in parliament against this purchase鈥�.
He said only a small percentage of people passing through the park opted to investigate and speak with him.
鈥淚 think that鈥檚 a reflection that people are not aware of the fighter jets issue,鈥� Martin suggested.
Those who spoke to him were supportive, with a single exception.
鈥淥ne shook his head and said he didn鈥檛 support it, and walked away,鈥� Martin related.
He said another man went on a one-day fast to show support.
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A street ministry that usually conducts services in the same bandstand proved willing to share the space and even included some words of support with their scriptures, Martin said.
It was his first protest fast, and he believes it did have an impact.
鈥淚t certainly has created awareness across Canada,鈥� he commented.
鈥淚t has kind of turbo-charged our coalition.鈥�
Martin urged supporters to write two-sentence letters to their federal politicians and the prime minister saying 鈥渄o not purchase fighter jets. Speak up in parliament against this purchase.鈥�
More information can be found at .
The federal government is looking for a new fighter aircraft to , keeping them in the air by buying second-hand jets and parts from Australia.
Three replacements are currently under consideration: the Boeing Super Hornet, an updated version of the CF-18, the Swedish-engineered Saab Gripen, and the Lockheed Martin F-35, which was developed by a consortium of countries including Canada.
Is there more to the story? Email: dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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