Myanmar
Just look at them. Most of us can’t even be bothered to summon the energy to change the channel if there’s something crap on the telly. These people are walking and walking and walking, not even knowing if they’ll be coming back.
It remains to be seen just how we can help with what’s happening in Myanmar right now. Who knows? The protesters may yet prevail. It’s a question of hoping that the junta don’t on this occasion give into their baser instincts and kill more people that they already have. It’s also to be hoped that something comes out of the discussions at the UN for a change.
In the mean time, there’s the small matter of a petition (via Rachel). If anybody has anything else we can do, I’d love to hear about it.
Jamie Kenny’s keeping tabs on some of the best blogging that’s emerging. Read the bit about Buddhist psychological warfare. Just amazing.
UPDATE: An excellent post from Davide.
UPDATE UPDATED: Just had an email which might be of interest to anyone based in Brighton:
In support of the peaceful protest by monks and nuns in Burma.
* This Sunday (30th Sept), and the following two Sundays *
Organised by Stephen H. and supported by the Free Burma Coalition.
All info: Stephen on 01273 746351 / 07816 865355 / henntsp@yahoo.com:
This is to inform you of three peaceful Dharma Yatras (silent walks) taking place on Sunday 30th September, Sunday 7th October and Sunday 14th October in support of the monks and nuns who are peacefully demonstrating in Burma. The walk will leave the Palace Pier at 12 noon and end at the Peace Statue (Hove lawns) each day. Please assemble at the pier entrance between 11.30am – 12 noon. Members of the Free Burma Coalition will attend the walk.
For a brief explanation of what Dharma Yatra are see.
For an example of how Buddhists use Dharma Yatra see.
Unfortunately, the last time the monks led peaceful demonstrations in Burma, in 1988, hundreds were shot and thousands of innocent men women and children were murdered. Since then tens of thousands have been systemically tortured.
Various Buddhist groups and organisations are supporting this peaceful Dharma Yatra.
Yours in Dhamma,
Stephen
The email also came with links to some YouTube movies:
Channel 4’s Despatches: Burma’s Secret War
BBC News: Oppressive government in Burma
UPDATE: I like this.
Posted on September 27th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
| See also • Burma: Day of Action • Walking the walk • More shared values |
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Filed under Activism, All around the world |
Just, Ch4 News have actually been ace on covering the protests and bloggers over last few days. There’s a list of best blogs, and their latest report on the http://www.channel4.com/news website. Think they deserve a big-up.
Yep, the direct link to the CH4 news page about the situation is here - loads of links and the video report shown last night which was excellent.
Channel 4 News have published a list of bloggers who are trying to get the latest developments out of Burma. Al Jazeera lists the 3 (not unreasonable) demands that the monks are making. One thing I learned since posting on this is that “Myanmar” is the name given to the country by the vile Junta running it, so I’m sticking with “Burma”. More on that here. The Foreign Office website says the same thing.
Yes, after a little reading, the Burma/Myanmar thing is strange to say the least. Myanmar, adopted by SLORC and accepted by the UN but not by the UK and US. Burma it is from now on.
Brown should actually do something.
How about sending a couple of battleships and parking them just off the coast to remind the illegitimate military rulers of Burma that other countries have a longer history of talking their language and can do it better when needed?
Might make them think a little before acting.
Hi, information on a daily demonstration outside the London Embassy can be found at:
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/pm/events.php
Also, people are encouraged to write to the embassy (There are links there also to international events to express solidarity with the people of Burma)
Additionally, a very simple, quick way to take action right now. Considering those courageous monks, and their supporters were brave enough to go onto the streets to demonstrate, risking their lives, then I think all of us should visit the following page, and send a message to the EU president:
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/eu_action.html
Meanwhile the situation in Burma has also prompted me to have a long rant about how so called “freedom and democratic loving people” wilfully ignored the plight of the Burmese people, along with other crimes in the so called “war on terror” at:
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=229087059&blogID=313858011&Mytoken=4787943C-C1F5-4B02-94DF673D7310F00860826601
9 dead today in Burma………… shock fucking horror, I hope that the UK blog community with join also to protest the fact that US forces are investigating an air strike in southern Iraq this week which local police said killed five women and four children, a US military statement said today.
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2007/0927/breaking71.htm
9 dead in foreign country! Goodness, What will we do when it gets close to home; like ummm; Darfur?
NB Must ask PA: Why are Burmese so important? (As opposed to Tibetans, etc)?
Most perplexing.
To anon and yellercat above,isn’t it possible that you may be neglecting to mention that some of us have blogged and taken “real world actions” also about the disasters in Iraq, Darfur, and elsewhere?
I know I certainly have, and i’m sure other bloggers will have done also. Why shouldn’t we stand in solidarity with those unfortunate enough to live in whatever part of the world has been affected by wars, brutal regimes, etc..?
[...] by Rev Giles Fraser, Vicar of Putney on the subject of Religion and Democracy - and inspired by the pro-Democracy Protests in Myanmar/Burma being spearheaded by Bhuddist Monks, and reported via [...]
[...] by Rev Giles Fraser, Vicar of Putney on the subject of Religion and Democracy - and inspired by the pro-Democracy Protests in Myanmar/Burma being spearheaded by Bhuddist Monks, and reported via [...]
[...] by Rev Giles Fraser, Vicar of Putney on the subject of Religion and Democracy - and inspired by the pro-Democracy Protests in Myanmar/Burma being spearheaded by Bhuddist Monks, and reported via [...]