This MUST Stop
In Burma, a group of the most peaceful, compassionate and unassuming human beings are being shot at for demonstrating against the violent regime running their country on bribes and hypocrisy. They have no weapons. The people supporting them have no weapons. Today and yesterday, there were shots fired at them, and still another news report tells of insecticides being stockpiled to use against them. INSECTICIDES. I’ve heard at least one report of a monk being killed. Last night, they were dragged from their beds and beaten, and now I sit here each day desperate to do something to stop it, but not knowing what.
News reports from the BBC, comments from the Guardian, all suggest that the US and UN will be unable to stop these atrocities from happening. They all point to China and India, saying the onus lies with these two countries flanking tiny Burma. But at the moment China is unmoved, as is Russia — another behemoth of a country all too ready to turn a blind eye. So what, if anything, can the EU and the US do?
It’s simple, force China’s hand.
We must do this. Someone has to make a stand to help these people. America, Britain, Europe, I implore you — your sanctions don’t mean a thing here, but your lack of presence will. Do the only thing that will make China sit up and listen: Pull out of the Olympic Games. Pull out now.
If democracy really DOES mean anything to you (yes, President Bush, I’m speaking to you) then you will pull out, and do it now.
Meanwhile, what can we do as individuals? Email the regime is one, search around the web for sites that petition world leaders to act against the Burmese junta. Have a look around HERE for information and to make a difference. You can email the asking for the release of the countries true leader: Aung San Suu Kyi.
Don’t fill up at Total petrol/gas stations. Yep, Total is one of the largest investors in the Burmese military junta. The regime have used money gained by Total investments to buy military hardware, including fighter planes. Drive right on by and get your car fuel elsewhere. It’s not that hard.
Don’t sit back and watch these people die. Find out what you can do, then do it. Please.
October 10th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
Womblin, the whole of it makes me extremely sick. I am sick of my country that sits on its ass when something wrong — utterly wrong — is happening, but gets up on its high horse and gallops around lopping off heads when its own comforts and luxuries are threatened…or its ego. And yet the mentality here is one that, America stands for right. No. America stands for might — it MIGHT help if it stands to gain from involvement. Burma has long been a denizen of death and wrong. I just don’t know how to help, aside from having written letters to my Senators and Representatives.
October 10th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
There is nothing one can really do that might make any difference, and in a way this means that we are living in a kind of hell having to watch it happening. We are utterly powerless here. And as usual, the world is spinning on an axis of greed, treading softly because of it, while some of the most inoffensive people in the world die or are tortured. Ugh.
It’s good to see you, by the way. How’ve you been?
October 11th, 2007 at 5:53 pm
In a fucking cast. But at LEAST it is now something I can sort of move about with. Couldn’t at all before. Enough to drive one to the brink.