The fast is organized by Community Roots of Asheville with support from the Sylva-based Canary Coalition. It began at 8 a.m. Monday, Nov. 12, with participants consuming liquids only until noon on Thanksgiving Day. 

“There is no longer any doubt that human activity is causing climate change and global warming much more rapidly than anyone in the scientific community had previously believed,” said Avram Friedman, executive director of the Canary Coalition. “We have about one decade in which to dramatically reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and transition to clean, safe, renewable technologies, if we intend to avoid the worst consequences of climate change which could render our planet virtually uninhabitable for future generations.”

Each morning, participants gathered at 7:30 a.m. to greet Buncombe County employees making their way to the county courthouse, afterward moving to the Vance Monument until sunset — weather permitting — with a prayer ceremony held at noon each day and followed by speakers from scientific and activist communities.