(1) Why would someone decide to stop eating? We know that the body needs food in order to function well. However, many people fast at some time during their lives. Why is this? (2) Some people fast for political reasons. In the early 20th century, women in England and the United States weren't allowed to vote. In protest, many women went on fasts They hoped that fasting would bring attention to this injustice Mohandas Gandhi, the famous Indian leader, fasted 17 times during his life. For Gandhi, fasting was a powerful political tool. In 1943, he fasted to bring attention to his country's need for independence. For 21 days, he went without food. Another famous faster was Cesar Chavez. In the 1960s, he fasted for three weeks. Why? His goal was to bring attention to the terrible working conditions of farm workers in the United States. (3) Fasting is also a spiritual practice in many religions. Every year during the month of raliminut holiday Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. Many Hindus