'In the critical zone': Nanaimo man ramps up hunger strike, stops taking fluids, to protest old-growth logging

A Nanaimo, B.C., man says he's putting his life on the line as he abstains from food and liquids to protest old-growth logging in the province.

Howard Breen, 68, has been on a hunger strike since April 1 with demands to speak with Forest Minister Katrine Conroy about old-growth forest protection.

After 22 days without food, Breen stopped taking liquids at midnight Friday, which coincides with Earth Day.

"Right now I just have a little bit of amplification of a few pains here and there but I am being monitored by one of my daughters, who's a nurse, and we have two doctors who have been advising us," Breen told CTV News on Friday.

Breen is participating in the hunger strike with Vancouver resident Brent Eichler, 57, who has gone without food for 30 days.

The pair are part of the environmental group Save Old Growth, though they say their demands are different from the rest of the organization.

Breen says the pair only has one goal, to speak with Conroy in a public meeting about the protection of old-growth forests in B.C.

"I'm now in the critical zone with pretty much 36 hours to go," said Breen.

"Everyone is hoping that I don't push the envelope to the wall, and certainly that's not my desire," he said.