Filed under: Opinion/Editorial, Uncategorized | Tags: washinton post, anne applebaum, burmese regime
A number of times over the last few days, people have asked me why the Burmese regime is, essentially, killing its own people, and whether there was any logic or reason behind it. The answer is yes, and Anne Applebaum did a great job of explaining it in the Washington Post.
–Karen
Filed under: From the Field, International Response, Latest News, Media, Uncategorized | Tags: bogale, irrawaddy delta, new york times, reporters
The unnamed New York Times reporter(s?) in Myanmar have been doing great work to report the suffering of the people in the Irrawaddy Delta region. The following line is from a report on Bogale – one of the hardest-hit areas – in today’s paper. 95 percent of the houses in Bogale are believed to have been destroyed in the cyclone.
<<This reporter, whose name is being withheld to avoid detection by the government, was able to reach some, but not all, of the worst-affected areas by hiding in the bottom of a boat.>>
–Karen
Filed under: Donations, Events, From the Field, International Response, Latest News, Resources, Uncategorized | Tags: 1988, 8-8-08, buddhist, buddhist peace fellowship, burma-network, fast, international burmese monks organization, monks, protest, sasana moli, sharon salzberg, united nations
From 8-8-08 for Burma, the opposition group born out of the 1988 student-led protests in Rangoon, now called Yangon:
May 15-16, 2008 UN PROTEST VIGIL & FAST BY BURMESE BUDDHIST MONKS
==============
WHEN: Thursday, May 13, 12pm-8pm // Friday, May 14, 12pm-8pm
WHERE: Ralph Bunche Park, United Nations, 43rd St and 1st Ave
WHO: Sasana Moli International Burmese Monks Organization, Buddhist Peace Fellowship, NY Burma activists
More information on the Global Day of Action available at www.burma-network.org
–Karen
Filed under: International Response, Resources, Uncategorized | Tags: disaster victims, free calling, rebtel
(Via Sree Sreenivasan, Dean of Students, Columbia Journalism School)
Rebtel, a global calling service, is offering the ability for anyone to call China or Myanmar for free due to the recent tragedies in both countries.
This would be helpful for families, non-profits trying to contact people in those countries to distribute aid and journalists looking to call these countries.
A typical one hour call to either country would cost over $100. Rebtel works
without use of a computer to make calls. Anyone can add their contacts phone
numbers to the site and get a local 415 or 510 number that they use to call
contacts abroad.
*WHEN *May 14 through May 22
*HOW *
1. Sign up at http://www.rebtel.com/callforhelp
2. Enter your mobile number and your friend’s mobile number in China or Myanmar
3. Rebtel will send a local number where you live
4. Dial the local phone number to speak with your friend in China or Myanmar
*WHO *Available to anyone in 47 countries
http://www.rebtel.com/en/Rates/Rebtel-countries/
–Divya
Filed under: International Response, Lessons and Theory, Resources, Uncategorized | Tags: economist, humanitarian relief, relief web, technology
In June 2007, the Economist came out with a great article titled, ‘Flood, famines and mobile phones.” It’s about how technology is transforming humanitarian relief operations. Given how angry the Gods have been with our planet off late, its highly relevant and worth reading in its entirety.
It also mentions an excellent resource on humanitarian disasters and relief work across the globe – ReliefWeb. According to the Economist article, the site got 3 million hits the day after the Tsunami struck.
– Divya
Filed under: FOR THE RECORD, Uncategorized | Tags: Australia Special Broadcasting Service, dalai lama
In a recent post, I summarized the main highlights of an article in Australia’s Special Broadcasting Service titled, “A second cyclone may affect Burma.” Another Burma-blogger, Danny Fisher, posted the following comment on it.
“Just a quick note to say that this report is not exactly accurate on the point that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has traditionally “refrained” from commenting on Burma. This past fall, he offered his “full support” to the Buddhist monastics who demonstrated against the junta. I would refer your readers here and here for more information.”
– Divya
