BLOGGERS FROM BURMA

Get your freedom of information:

http://flamingpeacocks.blogspot.com/

http://english.dvb.no/

http://www.ko-htike.blogspot.com/

http://www.niknayman.blogspot.com/

http://69.64.67.53/breaking_news.php

http://www.soneseayar.blogspot.com/

http://www.uscampaignforburma.org/news-press/latestnews.html

TOTAL DENIAL FILM SCREENING WEDNESDAY (10/17)

OIL COMPANIES AND HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BURMA
Total Denial Film Screening
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Film will begin at 7:15
Langdell North

Please join us for a screening of Total Denial, a film about the events leading up to the landmark Alien Tort Statute case Doe v. Unocal. The movie is 92 minutes long. Please join us for snacks starting at 6:45pm.
Sponsored by HLS Advocates for Human Rights - Human Rights and the Environment Group, HLS Burma Campaign, APALSA, Human Rights Journal, Environmental Law Society and HCS Advocates for Human Rights.

Total Denial is the inspiring story of fifteen villagers from the jungles of Burma whose quest for justice eventually leads them to bring suit in a U.S. court against two oil giants - UNOCAL and TOTAL - for human-rights abuse. For five years producer/director Milena Kaneva collected accounts from Burmese villagers of forced labor, re-location of villages, rape, and murder associated with construction of the Yadana pipeline. Her "guide" during this journey was Ka Hsaw Wa, described by Kerry Kennedy in her book "Speak Truth to Power" as "A man of incredible courage and commitment, with the firm belief that one man can make a difference." A member of Burma's Karen ethnic minority, Ka Hsaw Wa, was one of the leaders of the student movement for democracy in Burma in 1988, which was violently suppressed by the Burmese government. For more than a decade, he has gathered testimonies and other evidence on numerous cases of human rights and environmental abuse. Wanted by police in both Burma and Thailand, he is now based in the U.S., traveling back to both countries periodically at considerable personal risk, to document further abuses. In 1995, along with the co-founders of Earth Rights International, Katie Redford and Tyler Giannini, Ka Hsaw Wa brought a landmark lawsuit against UNOCAL and TOTAL that drew international attention to the pervasive abuses in Burma. (HRW)

For more information on the film, visit www.totaldenialfilm.com or www.earthrights.org

EMAIL CHINA TO STOP SUPPORTING BURMESE MILITARY REGIME

To ~ THE BEIJING OLYMPICS:
ticketsupport@beijing2008.cn
(*caveat* on this one ~ in case China has some sort of blacklist of email address, I would recommend using an email account that you won't use too often in China in the future, esp for buying your Olympics ticket)

Dear Beijing Olympics representative,

I am writing to let you know that I will not be purchasing tickets to
the Olympics in 2008, and will encourage others to boycott these games as
well, unless China makes a major shift on its policy in Burma. By
supporting the junta in Burma, China is supporting violations of human
rights, slaughter of innocent monks, and continued impoverishment of
refugees.

These actions are in complete opposition to the spirit of the Olympic
games, which is a spirit of unity, triumph over obstacles, and teamwork.
If China cannot embody these practices in its foreign policy, then it
certainly is not fit to hold the Olympic games, and should expect a large
scale boycott from all who support freedom and human rights.

Sincerely,


To ~ MIKE CAPUANO:
http://www.house.gov/capuano/contact/email.shtml (fill this out and paste the body of the email in)

Re: House Resolution 610
Dear Honorable Representative Capuano,

I write to request your support of House Resolution 610, calling for a US
boycott of the Beijing Olympics if China does not change its policy on the
the military regime in Burma. The violations of human rights, poverty of
refugees, and recent brutal slaying of some of the most peaceful, loving
humans--Buddhist monks) are inexcusable, and the international community
must react swiftly and firmly. China's reluctance to help the UN resolve
the situation, putting economic interests above the most basic human
rights for freedom, calls for a strong statement: If China will not
facilitate work toward a peaceful solution in Burma, the Beijing olympics
must be boycotted. The Olympics are meant to be a celebration of the world
and the athletic accomplishments of all countries. China clearly should
not be permitted to host an event whose unviersal symbolism would be
tarnished by China's support of a military regime guilty of human rights
abuses.

Thank you for your kind consideration and for your support of freedom in
Burma.

Sincerely,

RALLY FOR BURMA THURSDAY IN FRONT OF THE STATE HOUSE

********RALLY FOR BURMA*********

3pm, THURSDAY (10/4), at the State House

*students meet 2:30pm in front of the Harvard T Stop*

Join the Burmese monks of Boston in a prayer

Hear the stories of student revolutionaries from the 1988 uprising for freedom

Support the Burmese freedom movement by encouraging companies to stop deals with the military junta

RALLY TO SUPPORT THE PASSING OF H.B. 2729

The Committee on Public Service held a public hearing for H.B. 2729 An Act Relative to Investment in Companies Doing Business in Burma (Myanmar), on June 28, 2007. This bill is sponsored by Representative Byron Rushing and it authorizes the Massachusetts Pension Reserve Investment Management Board to use its shareholder power to encourage companies doing business in Burma to withdraw. It also suspends new state pension fund investments in companies doing business in Burma until a democratically elected government has been installed in that nation.

The Committee Chairs have still not moved on this bill despite the atrocities taking place in the country of Burma.

IF YOU CAN’T MAKE THE RALLY TOMORROW, PLEASE CALL YOUR REP!

Call in for Thursday, October 4^rd

Targets:

1. Representative Jay Kaufman, at 617.722.2240 or Rep.JayKaufman@Hou.State.ma.us

2. Senator Benjamin Downing, at 617.722.1625 or Benjamin.Downing@state.ma.us

3. State Treasurer Timothy Cahill, at 617.367.6900 or by email: webmaster@tre.state.ma.us

CALL IN SCRIPT

Hi, my name is ______________, and I am from _____________. I am calling to ask (Representative Kaufman/Senator Downing/ State Treasurer Cahill) to support H.B. 2729, An Act Relative to Investment in Companies Doing Business in Burma (Myanmar). The bill introduced by Representative Byron Rushing would put pressure on companies that support Burma’s ruling military regime.

I ask that you explore all of the ways in which you, as Massachusetts (Representative, Senator, Treasurer), can honor the Burmese democracy movement's call for economic sanctions. As a shareholder in companies worldwide, Massachusetts has the power to question and oppose corporate investment in Burma.

Massachusetts has a long and proud tradition of leadership in supporting democratic movements around the world. The Commonwealth was a leader in the campaign against apartheid in South Africa. Massachusetts was also the first to enact a state law in support of the democracy movement in Burma. This is especially crucial now since the military junta is killing, detaining, or torturing thousands of peaceful protesters. The time to show our support is critical and I urge you to take action as soon as possible. Thank you.

ROOM CHANGE FOR BURMA TEACH-IN

BURMA TEACH-IN (8:00pm - 9:00 pm, 10/2)
The new location is: Penthouse, Room 14, SOCH (Hilles Library)

Sorry for the sudden change in locations. The room we originally reserved was too small for the expected numbers.

The Teach-In will feature:
1. Short presentation of film (10 min) and background of Burma
2. Presentation by Mark McDowell, a Canadian diplomat who has met with leaders of the Burmese democratic resistance and has over 14 years of expertise on the political situation in Burma
3. Daw Aye Aye San, student activist during the 1988 revolution and former political prisoner will speak about her experiences
4. Presentation on divestment issues by Tyler Giannini, Harvard Law School Fellow who worked on the landmark Unocal Case
5. Learn what you can do to help

We will be in Claverly Common Room to direct people to the new location.