ATLANTA - The smells from the kitchen at Rocky's Brick Oven Pizzeria in Atlanta are downright heavenly, which makes it even harder for owner Bob ``Rocky'' Russo to go on a hunger strike. <br>
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Russo, whose landmark pizza joint in Atlanta's upscale Buckhead district has afforded him local-celebrity status, decided to stop eating three weeks ago to raise awareness of the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. <br>
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The brash former New Yorker -- with no family connection to either country sees big trouble brewing in Asia and he wants to make sure everyone knows the risks. <br>
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Ingesting nothing but water, vitamin supplements, cappuccino and an occasional Hershey bar with almonds, the self-described ``civilian warrior'' claims to have lost 50 pounds in 21 days. <br>
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The marquee outside his pizzeria says he will fast until ``India (and) Pakistan stand down.'' He says he would at least like to see some pressure applied through a global boycott of those countries' products. <br>
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Russo, who has used the restaurant sign to highlight other political issues, from changing the Georgia state flag to Elian Gonzalez, believes the world can be changed if everyone takes a little piece of the responsibility. This is his, for now. <br>
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Russo conducts educational seminars on world affairs at the restaurant, sponsors international exchange students and urges his multicultural staff to get involved in public service. After September eleventh, they staged a benefit for the Red Cross. <br>
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Russo's father opened the family's first pizza place in 1937 in their native Brooklyn. They relocated to the South in the '70s and have been in Buckhead for the past 16 years, becoming a neighborhood favorite and celebrity haunt. <br>
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One wall holds signed letters and photos of former President Jimmy Carter, Secretary of State Colin Powell, pop stars Elton John and the late Lisa ``Left Eye'' Lopes. <br>
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Russo started his fast at about 255 pounds, so he's not in danger of wasting away quite yet.
