Beyond Extreme Energy will be conducting a fast at FERC that will run from Tuesday September 8 until Friday the 25th, which is the day after the Pope's speech to Congress. Those fasting in DC will spend the day in front of FERC at 888 1^st St. NE. On September 25^th we are calling upon people to join us at FERC as we end our fast and try to deliver copies of Laudato Si’ to the five FERC Commissioners.

Our rationale for undertaking this action can be found at http://beyondextremeenergy.org. As we say there, “Beyond Extreme Energy has decided to organize a long-term, water-only “Fast for No New Permits” this September in front of FERC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. We also encourage people to fast individually where they live and/or to organize local solidarity fasts during this same time period. We are undertaking this action in support of the call in Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’, for action on the climate crisis commensurate with its seriousness.”

We are coordinating our activities in Washington with various other groups and organizations who will be sponsoring activities. These include the Grandparents Climate Action Day, September 9-10; the Franciscan Action Network/Global Catholic Climate Movement, which is fasting at McPherson Square in DC from September 14-23; Yom Kippur Services at the Lincoln Memorial, September 22-3; a FAN/GCCM interfaith service on the evening of September 23^rd; Moral Action for Climate Justice, which is organizing a large rally at the mall on September 24 during the Pope's speech to Congress; and Rising Tide’s Flood the System Campaign, which will be ongoing in the fall and lead up to the COP21 UN Climate talks in Paris in December.

Most days, including the two weekends we are there, we will be a constant presence at FERC from about 7 am to 6 pm, but some of us will participate in other activities in DC.

We may spend some nights on the sidewalk at FERC, and will also secure an inside space for sleeping. While it is our goal to keep the fasters together, people who are not comfortable sleeping on a sidewalk can choose to sleep inside.