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Sunday, September 30, 2007
Burma
I have been following the news of violence in Burma. I have wrestled with the question of why I hadn't posted anything about it. There is so much oppression and violence in the world, can I post about it every day?
But Robert of Left of Centrist fame lives in a city that is home to 3,000 to 3,500 Burmese - the largest population of Burmese in the U.S. He sees the faces of those who fled that country and came here for a peaceful life. And he has asked the blogging community to bring more awareness to the situation in Burma.
See Robert's film: Free Burma
The Burmese people have lived under a military dictatorship for 40 years. In 1990, a free election was held for the first time in 30 years and the National League for Democracy (the party of Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peace Prize winner) won the majority of votes, but the State Law and Order Restoration Council (now the State Peace and Development Council) refused to step down and Burma has continued to live under its oppressive thumb. Now, citizens, including hundreds of monks, are protesting extreme hikes in costs of living, including 500% increases in fuel costs. The military is squelching their voices by killing and imprisonment.
Please, if you are so moved, sign the petitions below. Violence and oppression can happen to the people of any nation. There could come a day when we wished that the world would stand up for us.
Amnesty International petition
AVAAZ.org petition To Chinese President Hu Jintao and the UN Security Council
But Robert of Left of Centrist fame lives in a city that is home to 3,000 to 3,500 Burmese - the largest population of Burmese in the U.S. He sees the faces of those who fled that country and came here for a peaceful life. And he has asked the blogging community to bring more awareness to the situation in Burma.
See Robert's film: Free Burma
The Burmese people have lived under a military dictatorship for 40 years. In 1990, a free election was held for the first time in 30 years and the National League for Democracy (the party of Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peace Prize winner) won the majority of votes, but the State Law and Order Restoration Council (now the State Peace and Development Council) refused to step down and Burma has continued to live under its oppressive thumb. Now, citizens, including hundreds of monks, are protesting extreme hikes in costs of living, including 500% increases in fuel costs. The military is squelching their voices by killing and imprisonment.
Please, if you are so moved, sign the petitions below. Violence and oppression can happen to the people of any nation. There could come a day when we wished that the world would stand up for us.
Amnesty International petition
AVAAZ.org petition To Chinese President Hu Jintao and the UN Security Council
Labels: Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma, Left of Centrist
posted by Carol at 12:32 PM
2 Comments:
It would be nice to have a time when no one had to stand up for anyone wouldn't it?
Mary,
I am speechless! Not because I don't have anything to say, but because I have TOO much to say and can't sort it all out in a few words. I really wonder if there aren't people who thrive on conflict. And there are others who seem to have a need to impose suffering on those around them. It would be a wonderful and amazing time if we didn't need to stand up for anyone.
And I wonder if we humans will ever allow that to happen...
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