When Mia Farrow ended her 12-day hunger strike to draw attention to the plight of refugees from the Darfur region of Sudan, Virgin music and airline entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson agreed to step in and continue the fast for three days. On the first day of his endeavor, Branson spoke with EW exclusively about the value of peaceful protest and his strategies for surviving on an empty stomach.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Why did you decide to make such a personal commitment to this cause?
RICHARD BRANSON: I’ve been to Darfur and spent a lot of time with Darfurians and I know first hand what they’ve been through and what they’re going through. So I think that anything that can be done should be done. If you look at the history of conflict resolutions around the world, the best ones are peaceful ways of resolving conflicts. So every method should be tried. Mia Farrow’s been unbelievably brave. And when she asked me to step into her shoes for three days, I must admit I thought I got off lightly. Although this is the first evening and I certainly could do with a decent meal already. I just had a couple games of chess with somebody who doesn’t normally beat me, and he beat me both times.
When did you make the decision to do this?
Mia contacted me through a mutual friend about a week ago, and I said the moment she needs help I’d be happy to step into her shoes.
Why you? Had you already put it out there that you were willing to participate?
No, no. It was just a call out of the blue. But it was a call from someone who is one of the supporters of The Elders, a group of 12 international leaders I’ve set up with Peter Gabriel, headed up by Nelson Mandela and
Archbishop Tutu. They go into conflict regions and try to resolve
conflict. They’ve done some magnificent work. Sometimes that kind of
intervention can work. Sometimes the United Nations can work. On other
occasions other forms of peaceful protest, like this one, can and may
work. It’s by no means guaranteed. So, based on my involvement with that, she knew it was likely that I’d say yes.
I’m sure you’ve contributed money to charities throughout your career. But is this the most personal thing you’ve done to create political change?
This is the first time I’ve deprived my stomach to get political change. I’m a great believer in doing everything once in life. So it’ll be interesting to see how one can cope. She said that if they haven’t found anybody else to take over after three days they might extend it, so I’m hoping they get somebody else.
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Do you know if anyone else has raised their hand to do it next?
I
know Peter Gabriel said he’s willing to put his hand up as well. But I
think you’ll find that there are a lot of people around the world
willing.
Do you think this fast will keep being handed off from person to person until you see the change you’re seeking?
I’m
sure it will. And in fact, just yesterday, there was a bit of a
breakthrough: The Darfurian government said that they’re now willing to
let some aid agencies into the country. They won’t let the ones they
kicked out back in, but they’ve indicated they might let some other
organizations in. It may well have been due to the publicity around
Mia’s hunger strike to date. So I think they’ll keep it up until
they’re absolutely sure that’s going to happen and it’s not just a
public relations move on the Darfur government’s side.
So the main goal with the fast is to pressure the Darfur
government to allow international aid groups back into the refugee
camps?
Exactly. And it’s going to be up to a group like The Elders
to work out a long-term peace agreement to insure fair elections and a
long term resolution of the Darfurian issue. But the immediate thing is
to make sure people don’t die unnecessarily.
Did Mia give you any tips on surviving a hunger strike?
I
haven’t spoken to her directly. I’ve been walking around and expending
lots of energy -– all the things I shouldn’t be doing. I’m trying not to
be grumpy with friends. That’s the key thing. And remembering what
we’re doing it for: There are people starving as a result of the
government’s decision to expel the aid agencies. And in four-day’s time,
I’ll have a big meal whereas people in Darfur won’t.
Do you know if anyone else has raised their hand to do it next?
Iknow Peter Gabriel said he’s willing to put his hand up as well. But Ithink you’ll find that there are a lot of people around the worldwilling.
Do you think this fast will keep being handed off from person to person until you see the change you’re seeking?
I’msure it will. And in fact, just yesterday, there was a bit of abreakthrough: The Darfurian government said that they’re now willing tolet some aid agencies into the country. They won’t let the ones theykicked out back in, but they’ve indicated they might let some otherorganizations in. It may well have been due to the publicity aroundMia’s hunger strike to date. So I think they’ll keep it up untilthey’re absolutely sure that’s going to happen and it’s not just apublic relations move on the Darfur government’s side.
So the main goal with the fast is to pressure the Darfurgovernment to allow international aid groups back into the refugeecamps?
Exactly. And it’s going to be up to a group like The Eldersto work out a long-term peace agreement to insure fair elections and along term resolution of the Darfurian issue. But the immediate thing isto make sure people don’t die unnecessarily.
Did Mia give you any tips on surviving a hunger strike?
Ihaven’t spoken to her directly. I’ve been walking around and expendinglots of energy -– all the things I shouldn’t be doing. I’m trying not tobe grumpy with friends. That’s the key thing. And remembering whatwe’re doing it for: There are people starving as a result of thegovernment’s decision to expel the aid agencies. And in four-day’s time,I’ll have a big meal whereas people in Darfur won’t.
*sighs* Another rich person doing a hunger strike…for what? Why not just donate money to the cause instead. I’ve never got the concept of a hunger strike.
By the way, Colbert better be covering this Monday lol
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To the idiot who can’t conceive of a rich person’s hunger strike to further a cause: It’s easy to see that you are not familiar with the word “empathy”. Look it up. It might do you some good. Do what Branson will do for three days but multiply it by 100.
Well, though I definitely understand the concept of empathy, and his intentions are noble, it would do much better if he ALSO donated a big chunk of his VAST multi-billion dollar fortune to the cause.
With all the resources at his hand, Branson could make huge strides as far as creating visibility for the cause…
Hunger-strike? Meh.
But is it really gonna change anyone’s mind?
Will people that can actually change lives in Darfur go “Look, a pampered celebrity is on hunger strike, we better create a change!”???
They should recruit Lindsay, Nicole, and the female cast members of 90210 for the hunger strike. They’d be able to hold out for months!
Who’s saying he isn’t also making a monetary commitment? Did you read about The Elders? He’s trying to help and draw public attention to the problem. Good for him!
I am disappointed by the reaction of other comments. Surely someone like Richard Branson’s willingness to go hungry for a cause will make people sit up and at least check out the situation in Dafur. That is the key. We all need to think about the suffering that is taking place and then maybe we will feel that we all need to take action to put an end to the suffering out there. It is not about who Richard is but that he wants attention drawn to the plight of these abandoned people.
Richard Branson is so frickin’ hot! My Gawd. I’ve thought so forfrickin’ever! If I had the money, I would neck him on Necker Island.
The epitomie of hotness!
Can you imagine how much his breath must stink? Yuk!
If someone is going to go on a hunger strike, it should be someone who needs to, like Roseanne Barr or Kirstie Alley or Jack Black or people like that.
How pointless. So a billionaire skips a few meals, how does that draw anyone’s interest in the ongoing tragedies in the Sudan? Does it motivate anyone to actually do something? And since when does a three-day fast become a “hunger strike”?
pffffft
this filthly rich man is going hungry for 3 days? He should donate 3 days of his income every month, not this type of nonsense.
Oh, that’d too much of a sacrifice for this daring man
i don’t know how these rich people can sit there and say they are going on a hunger strike. They have baths, showers, admin’s, telephones, tv and computers to remind them how special their little stomachs are – and do they do anything except go hungry for a few days? this is pathetic inaction by people who probably make more in 3 hours than the people they proclaim to be protesting for make in 10 years.
I am not a huge Branson fan or anything. However, did any of you Google Richard Branson and donations before you started commenting he should donate money first and foremost? Looks like he has, A LOT of money to A LOT of different causes. Maybe, it was nice for him to do something personal for a change, rather than just write a check.
His actions, instead of just putting money into a cause he believes in, says a lot about his character. Giving away money is easy for one as rich as he is. But he feels the need to make a more personal statement, to show true commitment. I applaud Sir Richard Branson for putting more than just money where his mouth is.
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