Robert Cohen's 205 day hungerstrike Diary 11-07-1999 DAY 1 - In the beginning... I have gained inspiration from the exploits of those men and women who have climbed Mount Everest. These past two weeks, I have read three books dealing with the subject of the 1996 ascent in which nine climbers died. Many people have asked why I wish to continue the hunger strike and what this protest means to me. One man who climbed Everest, Tom Whittaker, said, "Everest for me, and I believe for the world, is the physical and symbolic manifestation of overcoming odds to achieve a dream." Others have added their words of wisdom, which parallel the journey that many of us have chosen to take. "Everest is a matter of universal human endeavor, a cause from which there is no withdrawal, whatever loses it may demand" -G.O. Dyrenfurth "Technique and ability alone do not get you to the top; it is the willpower that is the most important. This willpower you cannot buy with money or be given by others...it rises from your heart." -Junko Tabei, after becoming the first woman to climb Everest. My wife, children, family, and friends have called me "crazy," and look to a time in the future when this hunger strike may very well take its toll on my health and safety. One of the greatest climbers who lived and died on that mountain, Rob Hall, uttered his last words via satellite radio phone to his pregnant wife in New Zealand as he lay dying: "Hey, look, don't worry too much about me." The great Austrian climber, Reinhold Messner, said, "I am nothing more than a single narrow gasping lung, floating over the mists and summits." Substitute the word "voice" for "lung" and Messner's words aptly describe the spiritual feeling that overtakes one after a week of having no food in his body. The most famous of quotes associated with the great mountain was made by George Mallory, a man who died in his attempt to scale the summit. His body remains on the mountain. Mallory was asked, "Why do you want to climb Mount Everest?" We have been asked, "What purpose is served in continuing a hunger strike when Monsanto's hormone will never be taken off the market?" We believe that FDA will revoke the use of Posilac. We climb our mountain for the same reason that Mallory climbed his: "Because it is there." ******* Diary Entries *********** 11-08-1999 DAY 2 - Wheat grass juice and enemas. 11-09-1999 DAY 3 - Doctor's visit and learning about fasting 11-10-1999 DAY 4 - I welcome your support! 11-11-1999 DAY 5 - Fasting is a healing process. 11-12-1999 DAY 6 - Hungerstrike.com bumper stickers 11-13-1999 DAY 7 - The price of milk falls 11-14-1999 DAY 8 - Potassium broth added to my fast 11-15-1999 DAY 9 - Climbing Mount Everest 11-16-1999 DAY 10 - Newspaper covers NOTMILK 11-17-1999 DAY 11 - New York Television appearance 11-18-1999 DAY 12 - My FDA appearance in Chicago 11-19-1999 DAY 13 - FDA insults Americans 11-20-1999 DAY 14 - My Cincinnati lecture 11-21-1999 DAY 15 - My Lexington, Kentucky Earthsave lecture 11-22-1999 DAY 16 - A "Jewish mother's" advice to her son 11-23-1999 DAY 17 - Center for Veterinary Medicine, FDA 11-24-1999 DAY 18 - Details of yesterday's meeting 11-25-1999 DAY 19 - Thanksgiving day; Here's to the Pilgrims! 11-26-1999 DAY 20 - My senses are heightened 11-27-1999 DAY 21 - Contact the FDA 11-28-1999 DAY 22 - Juicing apples 11-29-1999 DAY 23 - FDA invites me to be on a biotechnology panel 11-30-1999 DAY 24 - I appear in Washington and on C-SPAN 12-01-1999 DAY 25 - Behind the scenes in the nation's capitol 12-02-1999 DAY 26 - Transcript of my testimony 12-03-1999 DAY 27 - Price of milk falls again, and crashes 12-04-1999 DAY 28 - Genetic Engineering destroys farmers 12-05-1999 DAY 29 - Three hundredth person joins the fast 12-06-1999 DAY 30 - One month hunger strike review 12-07-1999 DAY 31 - Critics blast the hunger strike 12-08-1999 DAY 32 - Obesity in America. Got Milk? 12-09-1999 DAY 33 - Riots in the streets. WTO and Biotechnology 12-10-1999 DAY 34 - Washington - USDA hearing 12-11-1999 DAY 35 - New Monsanto errors revealed 12-12-1999 DAY 36 - Message to FDA: We are watching you! 12-13-1999 DAY 37 - Somebody must be watching.... 12-14-1999 DAY 38 - Oakland biotechnology protest 12-15-1999 DAY 39 - We possess the truth supported by real science 12-16-1999 DAY 40 - A long list of people who do not like Raymond 12-17-1999 DAY 41 - The real cure for cancer: PREVENTION 12-18-1999 DAY 42 - How goes the fast? 12-19-1999 DAY 43 - Fantastic! Important help from the MILKweed 12-20-1999 DAY 44 - Biotech Testimony now at the FDA 12-21-1999 DAY 45 - Protein Science: a smoking gun 12-22-1999 DAY 46 - The news... they bury the important stuff! 12-23-1999 DAY 47 - Monsanto and EPCOT's Mickey Mouse act! 12-24-1999 DAY 48 - Kimberly: a people-rights activist 12-25-1999 DAY 49 - "Substantial Equivalence" = insider trading. 12-26-1999 DAY 50 - "SUBSTANTIAL DIVERGENCE" There MUST be a law! 12-27-1999 DAY 51 - Touted "need" for biotechnology is flawed! 12-28-1999 DAY 52 - Message from within... or what? 12-29-1999 DAY 53 - Simple (and natural) cure 12-30-1999 DAY 54 - New inspiration 12-31-1999 DAY 55 - Facing the extreme 01-01-2000 DAY 56 - "Colors of Freedom" 01-02-2000 DAY 57 - Grains of salt 01-03-2000 DAY 58 - Food for the soul 01-04-2000 DAY 59 - Tell USDA your opinion of DIOXINS in milk 01-05-2000 DAY 60 - Diet and exercise... a family thing... 01-06-2000 DAY 61 - The true cost of milk 01-07-2000 DAY 62 - Y2K'S last laugh 01-08-2000 DAY 63 - Past, present and future... 01-09-2000 DAY 64 - Conquering breast cancer in three days 01-10-2000 DAY 65 - A day off... to celebrate life 01-11-2000 DAY 66 - Angry letters concerning breast cancer 01-12-2000 DAY 67 - Radio Days... 01-13-2000 DAY 68 - Daycare "staples" 01-14-2000 DAY 69 - Animals and research: there's a better investment! 01-15-2000 DAY 70 - Join me for a walk... 01-16-2000 DAY 71 - Breast cancer book 01-17-2000 DAY 72 - Variety of "dreams" 01-18-2000 DAY 73 - Temporary cure for the flu (not recommended) 01-19-2000 DAY 74 - One in six billion 01-20-2000 DAY 75 - Busy, busy, busy... treading water 01-21-2000 DAY 76 - Can't see the forest... the trees are in the way 01-22-2000 DAY 77 - The flu...a tenacious attack 01-23-2000 DAY 78 - Programming the human 01-24-2000 DAY 79 - The good news and the bad news 01-25-2000 DAY 80 - Monsanto and FDA Be Warned 01-26-2000 DAY 81 - The "good guys" and the "bad guys" 01-27-2000 DAY 82 - Darwin and goofs 01-28-2000 DAY 83 - Money, influence, and inaction (stonewalling) 01-29-2000 DAY 84 - Hey... FDA! Anybody minding the "store"? 01-30-2000 DAY 85 - One Peaceful World 01-31-2000 DAY 86 - The rock... and the hard place 02-01-2000 DAY 87 - Too late to close the barn door 02-02-2000 DAY 88 - More (unintentional) help from the dairy folks 02-03-2000 DAY 89 - Something nasty is encroaching into YOUR space 02-04-2000 DAY 90 - I WISH I SAID THAT... 02-05-2000 DAY 91 - The proper method to consume cow's milk 02-06-2000 DAY 92 - *Bio*Technology* - 21st Century "Tower of Babble" 02-07-2000 DAY 93 - Crimes against the soil = crimes against everything 02-08-2000 DAY 94 - Dairy nutfaq 02-09-2000 DAY 95 - Welcomed CARE package from down south 02-10-2000 DAY 96 - I'll never eat another hamburger! 02-11-2000 DAY 97 - Howard Lyman begins a water fast... 02-12-2000 DAY 98 - H.R. 3377... right to know what's in food 02-13-2000 DAY 99 - Is there a "MILKGATE" in OUR future? 02 14-2000 DAY 100 - On the "cutting edge" of bio-devastation! 02-15-2000 DAY 101 - The General Accounting Office... a 02-16-2000 DAY 102 - GE Labeling... and 02-17-2000 DAY 103 - Ain't Life a ditch? End Biotech's threat! 02-18-2000 DAY 104 - Dr. Williams calle me a a "lifestyle Nazi." 02-19-2000 DAY 105 - I'm getting thin... and with a new beard... 02-20-2000 DAY 106 - Educational ivory tower 02-21-2000 DAY 107 - Nourishing Body, Mind, and Spirit 02-22-2000 DAY 108 - FREEDOM OF NON-INFORMATION (FDA Version) 02-23-2000 DAY 109 - New York Times and Breast Cancer: still clueless! 02-24-2000 DAY 110 - Lopsided Food Pyramid: Is it correctable? 02-25-2000 DAY 111 - This planet needs our help: Earthsave 02-26-2000 DAY 112 - Senator Boxer champions meaningful food labels 02-27-2000 DAY 113 - CODEX Alimentarius: Don't let that name fool you 02-28-2000 DAY 114 - CODEX: To go, or not to go. 02-29-2000 DAY 115 - Learn who is tweaking YOUR "food pyramid" 03-01-2000 DAY 116 - Threats... and digital trails 03-02-2000 DAY 117 - The garden of eden; then and now 03-03-2000 DAY 118 - No more "Frankenfish" 03-04-2000 DAY 119 - Organic Consumers Association 03-05-2000 DAY 120 - A presidential candidate worth supporting 03-06-2000 DAY 121 - The CODEX DELEGATES 03-07-2000 DAY 122 - W.H.O.'s In Control?! 03-08-2000 DAY 123 - The Secret CODE-X 03-09-2000 DAY 124 - Mr. Cohen goes to congress 03-10-2000 DAY 125 - Coming Home 03-11-2000 DAY 126 - Sugar, spice, and everything nice... 03-12-2000 DAY 127 - Guest editorial 03-13-2000 DAY 128 - A scarlet letter to the CODEX delegates 03-14-2000 DAY 129 - When the corn hits the fan 03-15-2000 DAY 130 - Who created the fruit of the vine 03-16-2000 DAY 131 - These cornballs have got your ear 03-17-2000 DAY 132 - A return to the age of aquarius 03-18-2000 DAY 133 - Grand slam home run! 03-19-2000 DAY 134 - The CLOCK is running... FDA 03-20-2000 DAY 135 - Three letters 03-21-2000 DAY 136 - Truth or Consequences 03-22-2000 DAY 137 - "CATCH 22" 03-23-2000 DAY 138 - Anecdote? NOT FUNNY! 03-24-2000 DAY 139 - The NOTMILK story according to HEALTHGATE 03-25-2000 DAY 140 - It's been a busy week 03-26-2000 DAY 141 - Suppose they held a meeting, and everybody came! 03-27-2000 DAY 142 - Top ten reasons why I can't get life insurance 03-28-2000 DAY 143 - The view from above 03-29-2000 DAY 144 - Top ten future biotechnology errors 03-30-2000 DAY 145 - The "domino letter" from FDA to Monsanto 03-31-2000 DAY 146 - Solidarity 04-01-2000 DAY 147 - The funniest milk mustache ad 04-02-2000 DAY 148 - Biotecnology conference and protest 04-03-2000 DAY 149 - Why FDA will NOT revoke rbGH 04-04-2000 DAY 150 - To the end 04-05-2000 DAY 151 - Hunger Strike reported in 120 newspapers 04-06-2000 DAY 152 - Pus in milk... and other realities 04-07-2000 DAY 153 - King kong versus the giant snake 04-08-2000 DAY 154 - Howard Stern interview of Robert Cohen 04-09-2000 DAY 155 - A little girl needs your help 04-10-2000 DAY 156 - A letter to the FDA 04-11-2000 DAY 157 - Good karma 04-12-2000 DAY 158 - The FDA Commissioner comments 04-13-2000 DAY 159 - Zapped on the ZIP with a mere slip 04-14-2000 DAY 160 - Monsanto's letter to thousands of dairy farmers 04-15-2000 DAY 161 - How FDA arbitrarily assesses safety 04-16-2000 DAY 162 - FDA DECEIT -- Sick animals make for sick humans 04-17-2000 DAY 163 - King of Siam 04-18-2000 DAY 164 - Dietary guidelines 04-19-2000 DAY 165 - Just for the record 04-20-2000 DAY 166 - Decision day: The legacy 04-21-2000 DAY 167 - Let my people go 04-22-2000 DAY 168 - The vicious cycle 04-23-2000 DAY 169 - FDA denies petition 04-24-2000 DAY 170 - Scientific Deceit: Colon cancer 04-25-2000 DAY 171 - Battling demons 04-26-2000 DAY 172 - Frustration and disappointment 04-27-2000 DAY 173 - Beautiful people 04-28-2000 DAY 174 - I feel great 04-29-2000 DAY 175 - Never cry wolf 04-30-2000 DAY 176 - Whistle blowing 05-01-2000 DAY 177 - Messengers 05-02-2000 DAY 178 - If it moos, it's a drug factory 05-03-2000 DAY 179 - Will tidal waves drown us? 05-04-2000 DAY 180 - But is it kosher? 05-05-2000 DAY 181 - Genetic engineering causes human illness 05-06-2000 DAY 182 - Biotech gives me a headache 05-07-2000 DAY 183 - Bought and paid for 05-08-2000 DAY 184 - Come to Washington on June 17th 05-09-2000 DAY 185 - Happy asthma day 05-10-2000 DAY 186 - The big gulp 05-11-2000 DAY 187 - USDA promotes biotechnology on the internet 05-12-2000 DAY 188 - Winds of war 05-13-2000 DAY 189 - Mad cows at the FDA 05-14-2000 DAY 190 - Got zits? 05-15-2000 DAY 191 - Evolution of revolutionaries 05-16-2000 DAY 191 - Down under milk cartons 05-17-2000 DAY 193 - Something stinks 05-18-2000 DAY 194 - Away from home 05-19-2000 DAY 195 - Quakers quake and roll over in their graves 05-20-2000 DAY 196 - Dave's cancer 05-21-2000 DAY 197 - Increased uterine cancer rates. Got milk? 05-22-2000 DAY 198 - FDA commissioner meets the NOTMILKMAN 05-23-2000 DAY 199 - Got Milk? Not in India. 05-24-2000 DAY 200 - Transitioning 05-25-2000 DAY 201 - Poetry in motion 05-26-2000 DAY 202 - Defying the Odds 05-27-2000 DAY 203 - Error in Judgement 05-28-2000 DAY 204 - Held in contempt 05-29-2000 DAY 205 - FINAL day of my hunger strike The only hope is to bring the truth about genetically engineered foods to the American people. I end my hunger strike, and will continue to spread the word of truth. The next time you hear a whistle blowing inside of a supermarket or outdoors, look for me. That will be my statement. One whistle. One thousand whistles. Millions of whistles. Let us join together and become whistle blowers. Let us send a piercing cry to the hearts and psyches of those who betray. We can no longer permit ourselves to blindly place the health of our children in the hands of those with conflicts of interest. This healing must now be taken directly to the people. Please visit http://www.notmilk.com/deb/squirts.html for 400+ daily "Squirts of NOTMILK wisdom."