My hopes for this fast are simply that many conversations will be sparked and that people will stop and think for a moment about how their actions affect such crucial elements of Iraqis' daily life. When I tell friends, family and acquaintances that I will be participating in an electricity fast they are often dumbfounded as to how that is possible. This is exactly the response that I hope to challenge; to show others that what we see as difficult or nearly impossible is the reality for many people.

Laura Gardiner