| Raf 01.10.2007 21:12 |
Hi, have you heard about the crisis in Burma? Burma is ruled by one of the worst military dictatorships in the world. This week Buddhist monks and nuns began marching and chanting prayers to call for democracy. The protests spread and hundreds of thousands of Burmese people joined in -- they've been brutally attacked by the military regime, but still the protests are spreading. I just signed a petition calling on Burma's powerful ally China and the UN security council to step in and pressure Burma's rulers to stop the killing. The petition has exploded to over 200,000 signatures in a few days and is being advertised in newspapers around the world, delivered to the UN secretary general, and broadcast to the Burmese people by radio. they're trying to get to 1 million signatures this week. Sign below and tell everyone! link |
| thomasquinn 32989 02.10.2007 05:27 |
This petition stands no chance whatsoever. Neither China nor Birma (the name "Myanmar" is used only by the Junta, and not officially recognized) cares what people think: they are DICTATORSHIPS. Unless the UN manages to bypass China and accept a resolution anyway, there is nothing peaceful that can be done. Don't get me wrong, I'll sign it, but it's a vain attempt. Having said that, you are most welcome to shoot one or more Birmese generals. |
| Raf 02.10.2007 05:51 |
If it doesn't work, at least it'll help people see what's going on there. |
| AspiringPhilosophe 02.10.2007 08:40 |
I have to agree with Caspar...this petition is practically useless. China has veto power on the UN, so anything the UN could pass to try and help the situation would be vetoed by them and thus be dead in the water...they've already said they prefer to "deal with the problem outside of UN authority". Granted that's what they ALWAYS say whenever the UN tries to get anything done, but oh well. Who decided to give them veto power anyway? People always complain about the UN being useless as an organization, and it's true because every time they try and pass something either China or Russia veto it. I'm not really sure more attention needs to be drawn to this case. I mean, I'm an American (I'm sorry, please don't shoot me). Anyone who has ever lived her or even visited here and tried to watch the news knows that to the US, no other country on the planet exists unless we are fighting them; thus why I watch BBC news. To quote Eddie Izzard: "Do you guys know there are other countries? Cause sometimes you have to flip through a fair few channels to get anything..." But even we are hearing about Burma on the main news programs...so if it's caught our attention I'm sure the rest of the world knows about it. Don't get me wrong either...the petition is a great idea and the uprisings in Burma definitely need outside support to keep them going; I will probably even sign it. But asking the UN or China to do do something about it is a bit like asking Paris Hilton to solve an advanced calculus question...it's never gunna happen. |
| magicalfreddiemercury 02.10.2007 09:21 |
HistoryGirl wrote: I mean, I'm an American (I'm sorry, please don't shoot me). Anyone who has ever lived her or even visited here and tried to watch the news knows that to the US, no other country on the planet exists unless we are fighting them; thus why I watch BBC news. To quote Eddie Izzard: "Do you guys know there are other countries? Cause sometimes you have to flip through a fair few channels to get anything..."You know, I thought about this, and I agree (which is why I watch BBC news, too, btw). But I have noticed a shift in attention since 9/11. More people (around my area, anyway) are not only aware of other countries but also interested and concerned. Granted, there's still the "America is the world" train of thought for many people but at least there are some signs of enlightenment. For what good it will do, Raf, I'll sign the petition, too. |
| Raf 02.10.2007 15:46 |
Well, guys, I don't know how skeptical most of you are, but here's a newsletter I received a couple of hours ago: ******************************************* Dear friends, Our emergency petition to stop the crackdown on peaceful protesters in Burma is exploding, with nearly 500,000 signers from every nation of the world. But the situation in Burma remains desperate, with reports of hundreds of monks being massacred and tortured. Burma's rulers have also killed and expelled international journalists, cutting off global media coverage of their cruelty. China is still the key - the country with the most power to halt the Burmese generals' reign of terror. We're delivering our message this week with a massive ad campaign in major newspapers, beginning Thursday with a full page ad in the Financial Times worldwide, and in the South China Morning Post. The strength of the ad comes from the number of petition signers listed – can we reach our goal of 1 million signatures this week? The link to sign the petition and view the ad is below, forward this email to all your friends and family! link China continues to provide key economic and military support to Burma's dictatorship, but it has been openly critical of the crackdown. Now we need the government to match words with actions. Our ad paints a powerful moment of choice for China in its relationship with the world – will it be a responsible and respected member of the global community, or will it be associated with tyranny and oppression? People power, on the streets of Burma, and around the world, can triumph over tyranny. Our strength is in our numbers, spread the word! With hope and determination, Ricken, Paul, Ben, Graziela, Pascal, Galit and the whole Avaaz team. For the best local reporting on the situation in Burma, try these links: link link ******************************************* Sounds like good news to me. The ad looks good. |
| Micrówave 02.10.2007 16:19 |
Is the petition in chinese?
How exactly will China and the UN pressure Myanmar/Burma/whatever to stop, by waiving a petition shouting "stop!"?
I quote from your source: link
For a start, they are the creation of the UN, where Burma has powerful friends armed with the means to protect the generals from prosecution and punishment. International action to pursue criminal rulers has to begin within the UN Security Council, where China and Russia have already shown an indecent readiness to use their veto to guard their client government in Naypyidaw from any action that could disturb attempts to plunder Burma of its natural resources.If you happen to live there and NOT work for the military, you have no more internet connection, so you could care less about a petition. But if the U.S. does something, then we'll be accused of pushing our views onto a group of people that were "doing fine" with all these executions and beatings. See Iraq. And if the U.S. does nothing, then we'll be accused of not caring. Are we the only country that does business with China? No, but I don't see other countries stepping up to the plate here. Why doesn't France or Belgium do something? They don't want to send their troops to the middle east for oil, how about sending some German or Portuguese troops over to save lives? Oh wait, there's nothing there but snow and mountains. But you go ahead and sign your petition and I won't. Because all that petition says is "Gee, I fee so bad I wish I could do something, so I'll sign my name and people will see!!!" Note the link petition website states "What You Can Do:" 2. Protest Isn't that what started this whole thing? |
| magicalfreddiemercury 02.10.2007 18:02 |
Micrówave wrote: But if the U.S. does something, then we'll be accused of pushing our views onto a group of people that were "doing fine" with all these executions and beatings. See Iraq.It would be nothing like Iraq. We didn't go to Iraq for humanitarian reasons. We went there for Dubya's ever-changing reasons and nothing more. |
| Lisser 02.10.2007 18:22 |
This hits close to home for me. Some of you may remember me posting about a family I got in my school that came Burma. There are four children, I've got two boys in my elementary school, there is another boy in the middle school and a girl in high school that has had her leg blown off by a land mine in Burma. They are here in America legally and have been given assylum is what I'm told. The children are wonderful. They do not speak much English but they say "Thank you" for everything they get whether it be a pencil or a winter coat from me. They are a joy to have here. Caspar is right as well about only the current dictatorship recognizing the name Myanmar, the rest of the world refers to this country still as Burma. It's an awful situation and I hope for a solution soon bc the people of this country are in grave danger. I've signed the petition and also written to my State Senator about the concerns I have. |
| john bodega 03.10.2007 04:58 |
For every thinking human on the planet, the words "Fuck the Chinese Government" should roll off the tongue quite easily. The rest of the world shouldn't give them the time of day, never mind the Olympic games. They should be harangued at length until the situation improves. |
| thomasquinn 32989 03.10.2007 07:47 |
Sadly, it's not that easy. Believe me on this one, if Europe and the US were capable of this, they'd have done it already, as China is a source of constant head-ache. However, China is also a major trading partner. In fact, she is to such an extent, that China is in a position to make the threat they did: if the US and Europe try anything funny, they are willing and able to crash our economies (which will hurt them too, but not as badly as it'll hurt us), sending the west (and probably the rest too) into a recession that could easily resemble the '30s. That's why we can't take away their Security Council-veto, and why we can't really do anything about their blatant disregard of human rights: they have us by the balls, even though our politicans won't tell/show you that in a hurry! |
| john bodega 03.10.2007 08:22 |
Gotta love appeasement, eh! |