Saturday, October 27, 2007

Two protests today

Saturday (27 October 2007)

*United Nations
Ralph Bunche Park
(43rd St. & 1st Ave.)
New York, NY 10017
10AM – 12 PM
Burma Point

*Union Square
Union Square South
(near 14th St.)
New York, NY 10003
4PM – 7 PM
International Campaign for Burma - ICB

Organizing meeting today, Oct 27

US CAMPAIGN FOR BURMA NYC ORGANIZING MEETING

When: Saturday, October 27 at 3pm
Where: Columbia University at 606 W 114th St (Potluck House)
Who: US Campaign for Burma
Contact: Geoff at gra2001@columbia.edu

Join us on Saturday, October 27 for a US Campaign for Burma (USCB) organizing meeting in NYC. We will discuss short- and long-term action plans and agendas, and we want your input. Burma activists from around NYC will attend, as will USCB grassroots coordinator Thelma Young.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Film on Burma on October 27





















TOTAL DENIAL: A Film by Milena Kaneva
THE STORY BEHIND THE BURMA HEADLINES

We’re honored to invite you to the New York premiere of “Total Denial,” the winner of the 2006 Vaclav Havel Award for Human Rights. This riveting story of personal courage and sacrifice chronicles the groundbreaking lawsuit against the American corporation Unocal (now Chevron) for human rights abuses in Burma and reveals the forces that are still keeping this oppressive military regime in power.

This is modern day David vs. Goliath story of a triumph displayed in the American courts. Film maker Milena Kaneva will attend the premier screening.


When: Premiere Oct. 27, 2007 at 7:00PM
Film runs: Oct. 26, 2007 – Nov. 2, 2007
Where: Cinema Village Theater
22 E. 12th Street
New York, N.Y. 10003
www.cinemavillage.com
Run time: 92 minutes

For more information, please read the attachement.

********************

You need to reserve to get free seats at this premiere. Please reserve asap. We only have limited seats.
To reserve your seat please respond to this email with your name and phone number to contact to confirm. Thanks.

Last leg of Peace Walk

SUPPORT THE PEACE WALK FOR BURMA

When: Wednesday, October 24 at 10 am
Where: Burmese Mission at 10 E 77th St (near 5th Ave)
Who: Burma groups in solidarity
Contact: Geoff at geoff.aung@gmail.com

Burmese monks and exiles have been marching from Albany, NY to the
United Nations. This week, they arrive in Manhattan. Here's what you
can do, as they show their support for peace and reconciliation in
Burma.

Wednesday, October 24: support the Peace Walk as they move from the
Burmese Mission to the United Nations. Join us at the Burmese Mission
at 10 am for the beginning of this last stretch of the march - 10 E
77th St, just off of 5th Ave. Columbia students meet at 116th and
Broadway at 9:15 am to go down to the mission.

As the Saffron Revolution begins to fade from people's minds, it's up
to local activists like us to maintain energy and commitment. As Burma
groups from NYC and upstate NY come together for the Peace Walk, make
sure you show your support. For more information, contact Geoff at
geoff.aung@gmail.com.

Happy Hour for Burma Today!

Who: You!
What: Cause for Drinks Happy Hour
Where:Blue Owl, 196 2nd Ave (at 14th street)
When:WEDNESDAY, October 24, 7-9PM
Why:
It's time for another Cause For Drinks Happy Hour and this month, we will be
joining worldwide protests on October 24th to support the people of Burma. $2 from every drink will go to help the Burma Lawyer's Council (BLC). The BLC is working to restore the rule of law and human rights in Burma where the ruling military junta continues to wage war on its people, most recently killing and detaining peacefully protesting monks. I really hope you will be able to make it -- our first two Cause for Drinks brought in over $2000!
Please help spread the word....

--
Diana Sabreen Photography
www.DianaSabreen.com
DianaSabreen@gmail.com

Monday, October 22, 2007

Proof that the pressure is producing results!

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iNQM50ZpyM5TDIvffetWlbolXcGAD8SDD7280

China, UN Talk of Sudan, Myanmar

1 day ago

BEIJING (AP) — China has discussed tensions in Sudan and Myanmar with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the Foreign Ministry said Sunday.

But a ministry statement did not release details of the Saturday night telephone call between Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Ban.

Critics say China has not used its influence with the governments of Sudan and Myanmar to try to alleviate major humanitarian crises in the two countries. Some international human rights groups have called for boycotts of next year's Beijing Olympics unless China acts.

China is one of Sudan's closest allies, buying two-thirds of its oil output and supplying the government with weapons. Beijing has been urged to pressure Khartoum to hasten the deployment of an African Union-U.N. peacekeeping force in the troubled Darfur region. More than 200,000 people have died and 2.5 million have been driven from their homes during the 4-year-old Darfur conflict.

The Chinese have also come under pressure to use their influence with Myanmar's ruling junta to urge the regime to show restraint after a violent crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators.

Tens of thousands of people turned out for rallies in Myanmar last month. The junta claims that 10 people were killed when troops opened fire on demonstrators. Diplomats and dissidents say the death toll was much higher.

Beijing earlier this month agreed to the issuing of a statement of concern by the U.N. Security Council over the crackdown.


======================
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=2&theme=&usrsess=1&id=174064

Ban calls PM to discuss Myanmar

UNITED NATIONS/NEW DELHI, Oct. 22: United Nations Secretary-General Mr Ban Ki-Moon today spoke to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh over phone and discussed the situation in Myanmar where the military junta had cracked down on pro-democracy street protests.
The telephonic talk, initiated by Mr Ban and Dr Singh, came a ahead of the UN Secretary-General's special envoy Mr Ibrahim Gambari's meeting with the Prime Minister and foreign minister Mr Pranab Mukherjee here tomorrow. Mr Gambari met foreign secretary Mr Shiv Shankar Menon today. The conversation between the UN Secretary General and the Prime Minister came at a time when India is under growing world pressure over Myanmar issue.
Mr Gambari, who arrived here last night, is on a mission to coordinate efforts among key governments in Asia to help resolve the crisis in Myanmar. He has already held discussions with officials of Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. He is also slated to visit China and Japan to discuss the situation in Myanmar. He is scheduled to go to Myanmar in the middle of November for another round of discussions with the military leadership and the Opposition seeking a democratic
set-up. n SNS & PTI

SUPPORT THE PEACE WALK FOR BURMA

SUPPORT THE PEACE WALK FOR BURMA

When: Tuesday and Wednesday, October 23 and 24
Where: Columbia University and the Burmese Mission
Who: Burma groups in solidarity
Contact: Geoff at geoff.aung@gmail.com

Burmese monks and exiles have been marching from Albany, NY to the
United Nations. This week, they arrive in Manhattan. Here's what you
can do, as they show their support for peace and reconciliation in
Burma:

1) Tuesday, October 23: support the Peace Walk as they move past the
Columbia University campus to the Burmese Mission. Join us at 11:30 am
at 116th and Broadway.

2) Wednesday, October 24: support the Peace Walk as they move from the
Burmese Mission to the United Nations. Join us at the Burmese Mission
at 10 am for the beginning of this last stretch of the march - 10 E
77th St, just off of 5th Ave. Columbia students meet at 116th and
Broadway at 9:15 am to go down to the mission.

As the Saffron Revolution begins to fade from people's minds, it's up
to local activists like us to maintain energy and commitment. As Burma
groups from NYC and upstate NY come together for the Peace Walk, make
sure you show your support. For more information, contact Geoff at
geoff.aung@gmail.com.

Monday, October 15, 2007

Peace Walk -

Peace Walk for Burma
Support Peace and Reconciliation in Burma

Grafton, NY to the United Nations in New York City
October 13-24, 2007

We are walking in solidarity with the monks and people of Burma who risk their lives every day for freedom and democracy.


Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo

Saturday Oct. 13 Grafton Peace Pagoda àTroy
Sunday Oct.14 TroyàAlbany
Monday Oct. 15 AlbanyàCastleton
Tuesday Oct. 16 CastletonàCatskill
Wednesday Oct.17 CatskillàWoodstock
Thursday Oct. 18 WoodstockàHighland
Friday Oct. 19 HighlandàNewburgh
Saturday Oct. 20 NewburghàTomskin Cove
Sunday Oct. 21 Tomskin CoveàNyack
Monday Oct. 22 NyackàFort Lee, NJ
Tuesday Oct. 23 Fort Lee, NJàNYC Burmese Embassy
Wednesday Oct. 24 Burmese Embassy-UN Peace Vigil

We will walk a total of 215 miles, beginning each day at 8 AM and typically walking 15-18 miles per day. Feel free to join the walk at any point for any length of time.
Please respect that the walk will be free of drugs, alcohol and weapons. If you plan to join us for more than a day, please bring a sleeping bag.

For more information:
*Heidi Ricks (518)-885-1806/ rickshei@capital.net
*Grafton Peace Pagoda: Jun (518)-658-9301
*Cell phone for Peace Walk (518) 605-8506

Initiated by Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist Order/Grafton Peace Pagoda and
The Capital District Burmese Community

Press Release: Burma & India Committed Mass Killing of Burmese

Burma Point
www.burmapoint.com
www.burmapoint.blogspot.com

October 14, 2007

Press Release

Activists Warn Burma Senior Generals to Avoid Future Penitence
Urge Indian Government to Release Karen, Arakan Ethnic Nationals

Burma Point received a letter dated October 2nd from a former top official of Burma ’s military. The hand written letter is an evidence of Inida military and the regime in Burma joined together to commit mass murders of Burmese people. Thus, we strongly condemn both authorities for killing Burma ’s nationals.

Although the world, today, finds out about the regime’s current killing of Burmese monks and people, including ethnic nationalities, through internet, television, and phones, there are other mass murders that occurred behind the scene would be impossible for the international community to know.

According to a news article published by Asia Times Online on August 15, Indian government was facing difficulty in court for not providing proper evidence against the defense, Burma’s ethnic nationals Karen and Arankan, who were being accused of weapon “smugglers.”

The letter we received could be the evidence that Indian officials have been looking for. By looking at the letter, it is obvious that the Indian government transformed itself to an apologist of Burma military regime by plotting to kill some of our ethnic nationalities and arrest others without proper evidence to indict them in court.

In addition, the letter mentions more mass killings by Burma ’s senior generals.

The question we ask is for how long the SPDC would continue to kill the innocent Burmese people. Now is the time for the senior generals to come out before the people. It is urgently needed to reconcile the nation sincerely by meeting with people’s representatives led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

If Sr. Gen. Than Shwe and associates stubbornly refused to take appropriate steps for the nation we would like to warn of facing future penitence. In addition to what people witnessed of the regime recent killing of innocent monks, students, ordinary citizens, and ethnic nationalities, if more behind the scene atrocities, similar to the events mention in the letter, revealed we warn that Burmese people would one day surely punish the offenders.

In conclusion, on behalf of Burma ethnic nationalities, we request Indian government to release detained Karen and Arakan people immediately to any third countries that would accept them, and for India to become our good neighbor, the government must cease being apologist, killing our people, and selling weapons to the regime. We strongly urge the senior generals and associates to stop using good soldiers as your power sticks to brutally kill fellow nationals, avoid future penitence by standing up as “people’s soldiers” and implement requests stated above as soon as possible for the 50 million citizens of Burma .


Contact: Moe Chan – 718-396-1464, 646-643-8689

Protests for this week

Here is the schedule of protests/rallies/demonstrations to be held in New York during the week of 15-20 October 2007:

Monday – Thursday (15-18 October 2007)

United Nations
Dag Hammarskjold Plaza
(Corner of 47th St. & 1st Ave.)
New York, NY 10017
5PM – 7PM

Friday (19 October 2007)

China's Mission to the United Nations
350 East 35th St.
New York, NY 10016
4:30 PM – 6 PM

Saturday (20 October 2007)

United Nations
Ralph Bunche Park
(43rd St. & 1st Ave.)
New York, NY 10017
10AM – 12 PM

Burma's Mission to the United Nations
10 East 77th St. (bet. Madison Ave. & 5th Ave.)
New York, NY 10021
2PM – 4PM

Monday, October 8, 2007

Protest on Oct 9 at the UN

Please join us in front of the United Nations on Tuesday, 9 October 2007 as we gather to help give a voice to all of the citizens of Burma who have risked their lives so that our country and its people may have a better, more peaceful and promising future.

As we rally in support of change in Burma, we will pay tribute to the monks, nuns, students, as well all of the citizens of Burma who have endured -- and continue to endure -- violent oppression as the Burmese military regime cracks down on peaceful demonstrations.

Please plan to attend the gathering so that we can collectively let the world knows that we stand in solidarity with these brave women and men. Details are as follows:

Date: Tuesday, 9 Oct. 2007

Time: 5:00 - 7:00 PM

Venue: Dag Hammarskjold Plaza
Corner of 47th St. & 1st Ave.
New York, NY 10017

Videos of Oct 5 Protest at Chinese Mission

http://www.reuters.com/news/video/videoStory?videoId=68106

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0CL-rKFAa8

Saturday, October 6, 2007

Global Day of Action in Union Square - Today, October 6!

GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION: SECURITY COUNCIL MUST ACT NOW

When: Saturday, October 6, 5 pm-7pm
Where: Union Square, New York City
Who: US Campaign for Burma
Contact: Farheen Malik at uclafarheen@gmail.com

This Saturday marks a Global Day of Action to support the monks' protests in Burma by demanding UN Security Council action. In over 35 countries around the world on this day, people are coming together to condemn the Burmese military junta's violent suppression of peaceful protesters. Join us on Saturday in Union Square to take part in this worldwide event, as the US Campaign for Burma and several other Burma groups show their solidarity for the Saffron Revolution. Please WEAR THE COLOR RED, and BRING AS MANY RED FLOWERS AS YOU CAN. The flowers will be used to create a public display of tribute to those who have sacrificed so much in Burma these past weeks - all of those untold hundreds of thousands who put their lives on the line to bring down the military regime. Many lost their lives, many are imprisoned, and many are in hiding. On Saturday, the Global Day of Action will honor their courage. We will call for UN Security Council action, and we will distribute postcards giving people an opportunity to pledge their boycott of the Beijing Olympic Games. China must stop vetoing Security Council action. For more information, contact Farheen Malik at uclafarheen@gmail.com.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Protest China's Support of the Burmese Military

Friday, October 5

4:30-6:00 p.m.

Chinese mission to the U.N.
Located on East 35th Street, between 1st and 2nd Aves

Details to follow - watch this space

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Support the monks: Stencil images

New easy-to-use stencil template to make monks at different sizes!

Join the Saffron Revolution

You can help make this image appear all over the world, reminding people everywhere of the uprising in Burma and showing that the struggle for freedom is alive everywhere.

A person like you could print one or both of these at any size, cut them out to make a stencil and use dark orange paint to put the images up. Where you paint it and what you paint it on is up to you...

For more info and to download a PDF, go to
http://saffronrevolutionworldwide.blogspot.com/

Video of Oct 1 Protest at UN

Roughly 200 protesters confront the Burmese foreign minister at the UN in New York:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=o5WqvxV6Z7E

Monday, October 1, 2007

Burma: Where Next? A Roundtable

Dr. Thaung Htun, UN Representative for the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma
Josh Kurlantzick, author, Charm Offensive: How China's Soft Power is Transforming the World (Yale University Press, 2006)
Maureen Aung-thwin, director, Southeast Asia Initiative, Open Society Institute

Monday, October 15th, 2007
1:30-3:30 pm

Vanderbilt room 220
40 Washington Square South
New York University

Hear the latest update on the "Saffron Revolution", the peaceful efforts of Buddhist monks and pro-democracy activists to bring change to Burma; and join in a discussion about what China and other countries could do.

Sponsored by Asia Catalyst, NYU Asia Law Society, NYU Law Students for Human Rights