Last Friday I took part...

[akujunkan]

...in a march from the Burmese Chancery to the Chinese Embassy in downtown D.C. to protest the junta's crackdown on Burmese demonstrators. (FWIW, the Big City back home plays host to the largest community of Burmese exiles in the country; it's pretty neat that there are seven or eight Buddhist Temples operating in the bastion of reactionary, conservative Christianity that is INakaland.)

It was quite gratifying to watch the Chinese diplomats perform the walk of shame from the embassy doors once working hours had ended. (Seriously, these people sent a dude with a leaf blower out to try to disrupt the speeches.) But even more gratifying was the massive amount of people, from all walks of life, who showed up to take part--everyone from Buddhist monks (Seon, Sri Lankan, and of course Burmese) and Code Pink, to students and professionals.





Will it make a difference? Probably not as much as anyone would hope, but at least it's better than sitting on my ass in INakaville, wishing I could have done something.

ETA: Fuck Ratzinger and the Catholic Church for ordering Catholic clergy in Burma not to participate in demonstrations. Talk about bullshit...

That will be all.

Comments

[dark-waterlily.livejournal.com]

Fuck Ratzinger and the Catholic Church for ordering Catholic clergy in Burma not to participate in demonstrations. Talk about bullshit..
Catholics, are full of bullshit... I know that because I see what they do everyday in my country, they always are on the side that has the power/doesn't want the change/tries to keep the power and not the reason... and I don't know why but they are as closed minded as they were when the inquisition was established...
Bullshit, why hasn't the UN done something? damn it! people are dying there, they will not come back if all the problems are fixed.
I envy your country for being able to freely let anyone say 'fuck the Catholic clergy and their biased bullshit'

[akujunkan.livejournal.com]

What INCENSES me about Ratzinger's order is that it was an ORDER. It should be up to the individual clergymember to choose whether or not to protest according to their own conscience, not a former member of the Hitler Youth. For fuck's sake, they're burning demonstrators alive over there. How can you stand by letting that happen and still call yourself a Christian?

The UN did attempt to do something; China vetoed it. India, Singapore and the rest are also being buddy-buddy because they want Burma's oil and other natural resources. I really do hope some people grow spines and decide to boycott the Beijing Olympics over this; it's just left me speechless.

[dark-waterlily.livejournal.com]

Shit...
I didn't know about China vetoing... it is sad that countries are like voltures waiting to eat the dead.
boycott it's the only answer... but countries like mine would not make the difference unless one of the bigger ones side with us... France I doubt it since they have interests there, I don't know about England... shit, it sucks not having a say in this tragedy... they are monks! the world would have cried if they were catholic monks!
I say Boycott... damn it!

I forgot...

[dark-waterlily.livejournal.com]

Boycott is not a good approach since most sponsors are from big countries...
*facepalm* sometimes I wonder how far my naivety can go until I notice my mistake. This is depressing.

Re: I forgot...

[akujunkan.livejournal.com]

Yup. China is very much interested in Burma for its of its oil and gas reserves, hardwood and mineral resources, and because it's strategically located geographically. Also, China can point to the junta in Burma whenever people breathe down its neck regarding human rights abuses. England, alas, is one of the largest foreign investors in Burma (through proxy companies). Not really sure where France stands, but I believe you on that.

the world would have cried if they were catholic monks!

I think you hit the nail on the head here. Catholocism has gained the upper hand thanks to centuries of violent repression (and now a huge PR machine) that Buddhism lacks. That fact shouldn't make a difference, but it does.

I seriously doubt a boycott will happen. But I think there's something to be said for putting the pressure on governments (US/Britain/EU especially) to boycott, and keeping it on after Burma's off the front page again.

FWIW, I scrapped my volunteer application.

Re: I forgot...

[dark-waterlily.livejournal.com]

***Not really sure where France stands, but I believe you on that.
If I am not mistaken, they have an oil enterprise... 'Total' or something.
***I seriously doubt a boycott will happen.
But we can start using the 'do not support the Olympic games' slogan, ... after all, I have learned that the market is really 'susceptible' of this kind of reactions... if countries do not want to take responsabilities then let's force them.. boycott to everyone who supports this games.
Oh I think I fried my brain there... don't mind me... I just visited the UN webpage and I couldn't even let a comment there...

Re: I forgot...

[akujunkan.livejournal.com]

If I am not mistaken, they have an oil enterprise... 'Total' or something.

Of course. Most of them do (or if not, they're interested in the gems and/or hardwoods).

No kidding about the UN page. Not exactly user friendly, is it? (Wonder why that is...)