NY Burma Roundtable

Peace March in New York Tomorrow, 9/26

2008-09-25T17:30:00.001-07:00

Dear New Yorkers for Burma,

Tomorrow, Friday, September 26th, join some of the monks who took to the streets in last year's peaceful uprising to mark the Saffron Revolution's first anniversary. The event will take place in Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, 47th st. & 1st Ave.

Schedule:
12:00 noon, Interfaith Gathering with spiritual leaders, testimony of Burmese monks who took part in the Saffron Revolution, video from the Saffron Revolution, and prayers
1:00pm, Peace Walk to UN & return to Plaza
2:00-4:00pm, Meditation & prayers

This event is being organized by the International Burmese Monks Organization. For more information call 718-426-3959 or visit www.burmesemonks.org

Last September, 100,000 monks took to the streets. When the military cracked down, scores were killed, thousands were imprisoned and many monks remain unaccounted for or in hiding. We believe that the best way to honor the monks is to continue the struggle that they were marching for. Come, show your support!

Hope that you can make it.

Best,

Thelma Young and Mike Haack

AP: Myanmar 1990 election winners want junta's UN seat

2008-09-10T03:21:00.000-07:00

Source: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gpi9eSFK6JZFeUEyHaO56CI94EmgD933H1J80

Myanmar 1990 election winners want junta's UN seat

By EDITH M. LEDERER – 1 hour ago
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The pro-democracy winners of Myanmar's 1990 elections asked the U.N. secretary-general Tuesday to recognize their own representatives in place of the current military rulers' United Nations mission.
A letter from candidates elected to parliament in 1990 challenged the legitimacy of the military government that refused to cede power after a landslide victory by Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy. The junta has ruled Myanmar, also known as Burma, ever since.
Daw San San, vice president of the Members of Parliament Union (Burma), said in the letter obtained by The Associated Press that the organization has set up a permanent mission to the United Nations and has appointed U Thein Oo as its permanent representative to the U.N.
"His excellency U Thein Oo is instructed to represent the people of Burma and the legitimate, democratically elected members of parliament in all organs of the United Nations," San said.
Oo was identified as an elected representative from Mandalay.
Brendan Varma, a U.N. spokesman, said the letter had been received by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's office and would be studied.
Myanmar's U.N. Mission said Ambassador Kyaw Tint Swe was not in his office to comment.
The 63rd session of the General Assembly will open on Sept. 16, a week before world leaders arrive for their annual ministerial meeting, and San's letter could be referred to the assembly's credentials committee.
The military has ruled Myanmar since 1962 and has been widely criticized for suppressing basic freedoms. The current junta, which took power in 1988 after crushing pro-democracy demonstrations, held general elections in 1990 but refused to cede power to Suu Kyi's NLD. Since then, the country has been in political deadlock.
Suu Kyi has been in prison or under house arrest for more than 12 of the past 18 years. For about the last three weeks, the 63-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner has refused daily food deliveries to her home to protest her ongoing detention, her party said.

IBMO Fundraiser: September 23, 2008

2008-09-10T03:20:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release For More Information contact:
September 8, 2008 Elizabeth Weinstein

(212) 334-1660, ext. 120

Reading Burma:

A Benefit for Cyclone Relief

and Freedom of Expression in Burma/Myanmar

With:

Nobel Prize laureate Orhan Pamuk, Booker Prize winners Salman Rushdie

and Kiran Desai, the Venerable U Gawsita, Siri Hustvedt, Joseph Lelyveld, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, George Packer, and other special guests

New York City—On September 23rd, the first anniversary of the monks' uprising in which thousands of Buddhist monks protested against Burma's military dictatorship and the 20th Anniversary of the 1988 pro-democracy protests by millions of ordinary civilians will be commemorated. PEN, the Burma Project of the Open Society Institute and the New York Review of Books will join together to honor Burmese writers whose work has been suppressed by the military regime and to support the victims of the recent cyclone. This event will also pay tribute to the thousands of monks who are missing or lost their lives last year and to those who continue to speak out against injustice for the past twenty years.

All proceeds of this benefit will be donated to the International Burmese Monks Organization (IBMO), a network of Burmese Buddhist monks collecting relief aid for the victims of Cyclone Nargis. Audience members can purchase a $100 ticket, which includes a post-event reception, or $20 and $15 tickets at www.smarttix.com.
In addition to the readings of Burmese writers' work, some of which includes unpublished accounts from the cyclone-affected areas of Burma, The New Yorker's George Packer will join the Venerable U Gawsita, one of the leaders of the 2007 Monks' Uprising, in conversation.
Don't miss this extraordinary opportunity to hear from the monks who stood up to the Burmese regime in 1988 and again in 2007, and from those men and women whose lives have been changed forever by the recent cyclone.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008, 7:00 p.m.

The Great Hall at Cooper Union

7 East 7th Street

Subway: 6 to Astor Place; N/R/W to 8th Street-NYU

New York, New York

$20 (general admission) and $100 (includes post-event reception)

$15 for students and PEN members (with valid ID)

For Donations or Tickets: www.smarttix.com or call 212-868-4444
Co-sponsored by the Burma Project of OSI, PEN American Center, The New York Review of Books and Cooper Union.

Action tomorrow, June 19

2008-06-18T09:56:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends and Family,

June 19, 2008 Thursday is our national hero Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's 63rd birthday. The Burmese people are very grateful for her leadership, vision, and tireless effort in the democratic movement in the past almost 20 years. Meanwhile, the junta has illegally extended the house arrest of the Noble Peace Prize winner. This is the time the Burmese people to collectively stand up and demand the junta the immediate release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

We are scheduled to hold a protest in front of Burmese Consulate in New York demanding the immediate release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi followed by candlelight vigil to pray for the good health of our hero. You are cordially invited to join us protesting against the illegal, cruel, and inhuman Burmese military government.

Date : June 19, 2008 Thursday
Time : 6:30 - 8:00pm
Location : Burmese Consulate (New York)
10 East 77th Street
New York, NY 10021

Long Live Daw Aung San Suu Kyi!!!

Best Regards,

Int'l Burmese Monks Organization
88 Generation Students (Exile)
NLD (Liberated Area, USA)
Int'l Campaign for Burma, New York
Women on the Move for Burma

p.s. Forwarding this invitation to your contacts is greatly appreciated.

The information in this email is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible to deliver it to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, dissemination, disclosure, copying, distribution or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited.
If you have received this message in error, please immediately notify us by telephone 202-408-9450 or by replying to this e-mail.

Press Release - Tribute to Daw Suu - Honor Burma's Seniors

2008-06-15T05:40:00.001-07:00

Press Release

June 15, 2008

Tribute to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on her 63rd Birthday
Honoring Burma’s Prominent Seniors

June 19th will be Burma national leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s 63rd birthday. We are saddened by the fact that military leaders in Burma continue to resist the international calls to release her until today.

However, it does not stop people from celebrating the birthday of their beloved leader, who won numerous international awards including Nobel peace prize in 1991.

“We feel grateful to celebrate her birthday although she is still under house arrest in Burma. We are not happy though because we can not be with her.”, said Ni Ni We, who is leading the honoring event on June 15th in Nopoe refugee camp on the border of Thailand and Burma.

In New York, where another celebration will also take place on Sunday, a community based group Burma Point is sponsoring the event to honor Burma’s prominent seniors, who have been in the United States.

Burma’s prominent seniors are: the President of International Burmese Monks Organization, Venerable U Pannya Vamsa; a long time Kachin ethnic leader Duwa Zau Aung; a great artist Win Pe; a professor Dr. Salai Tun Than; a great Burmese literature critic Maung Swan Yi; a famous writer Maung Thara; an academic Dr. Khin Maung Gyi; a member of parliament Peter Limbin, and a community activist U Kyaw Win.

Emerald Soe, who is one of the coordinators for New York event, says “It is illegal for the SPDC to continue arresting the people’s leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. We feel outraged by it. The people of Burma are not happy and certainly the prominent seniors are distressed about it. We are extremely afraid to lose our leader in the hands of the military regime. But at least we need to let the world know that she is on our minds.”

Contact: Emerald Soe – 1-917-797-2134, 1-646-643-8689
Ni Ni Wai – (66) 02 402 7224

Event at Asia Society 'Burma's Agony: The International Humanitarian Response'.

2008-06-02T18:06:00.000-07:00

The Asia Society and the Open Society Institute

invite you to a panel discussion:

Burma’s Agony:

The International Humanitarian Response

Monday, June 9, 2008

8:00 – 8:30 a.m.: Registration and Breakfast

8:30 – 10:00 a.m.: Panel Discussion / Q & A

FREE Admission

Limited Seating

Registration Recommended

Asia Society will stream a live webcast of this event starting at 8:30am EST

E-mail your questions to moderator@asiasociety.org

Asia Society

725 Park Avenue at 70th Street

New York, NY

On May 2 and 3, Cyclone Nargis devastated large swathes of Burma stretching from the Irrawaddy Delta to the city of Rangoon, leaving more than 134,000 people dead or missing and creating a humanitarian crisis affecting an estimated 2.5 million survivors. Immediately following the disaster, offers of assistance from the international community poured in, but Burmese military leaders largely barred foreign aid workers from reaching the hardest hit areas for three weeks. After UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon received assurances that the government would grant access to all international aid workers, relief agencies are slowly being permitted to move into the cyclone-ravaged delta. As this humanitarian tragedy was unfolding, Burmese generals moved forward with a national referendum to approve a new constitution which consolidated their power and extended the house arrest of pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, leaving many to question whether the junta will keep its promise to allow a major relief and reconstruction effort to move forward. International relief officials have warned that thousands more could die of disease or famine unless the Burmese government opens its doors to more help.

Join us as the Asia Society and the Open Society Institute convene a panel discussion to assess the situation in Burma, including the international humanitarian response to meet the most urgent challenges as well as longer-term recovery efforts.

Speakers:

Sir John Holmes, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator

The Hon. Henrietta Fore, Administrator, US Agency for International Development and Director of US Foreign Assistance (via teleconference)

Amb. Vanu Gopala Menon, Permanent Representative of Singapore to the UN

A local volunteer relief worker in Burma will join the discussion via teleconference to provide an on-the-ground report.

As seating is limited, advance registration is suggested.

To register, call 212-517-2742 or online at: https://tickets.asiasociety.org

For more information, visit our website at www.asiasociety.org

This is the first public forum since the cyclone -- please attend!

Seminar tomorrow!

2008-05-27T19:03:00.000-07:00

Seminar on Burma
featuring Nay Tin Myint - 88 Generation Activist and NLD Leader

Wednesday, May 28, 2008, 7:30 - 9:00 pm

Vox Pop
1022 Cortelyou Rd.
Brooklyn
(Q train to Cortelyou Rd)

Burma (also known as Myanmar), a country in Southeast Asia bordering
Thailand, China, and India, has been under brutal military rule since
1962.
On May 2, Cyclone Nargis struck Burma. Since then, an estimated
100,000 people have died. The public health problems caused by the
cyclone have been compounded by the military's refusal to accept aid.
Therefore, the current humanitarian crisis cannot be addressed without
attention to the political crisis that has dominated Burma for several
decades.
Come and learn about the current situation in Burma, how it got to be
this way, and what you can do to help.

Main Speaker:

Nay Tin Myint is a well-known activist from the 88 Generation student
group and a leader of Burma's National League for Democracy. He was
arrested in 1989 for making a public speech against the military
regime and was held as a political prisoner for 15 years. He was
released from prison in 2005 and fled the country in 2007. He now
lives in Brooklyn and continues his activism in support of Burmese
democracy and human rights.

Other members of the 88 Generation student activist group will also be
present to answer questions.

Demonstration in front of French consulate, 05/24/08

2008-05-23T12:26:00.000-07:00

Please support the International Campaign for Burma, which has organized a protest to urge France to push for humanitarian intervention in Burma:

Place : Consulate General of France, 934 Fifth Avenue (between 74th and 75th Streets), New York, NY 10021

Date : May 24, 2008 Saturday

Time : 2 – 4pm

Take "6" Train and get off 77th street.

"France, along with United Kingdom, has played an active role to help Nargis victims in a very large scale. Humanitarian intervention in Burma with or without the approval of United Nations is proposed to international community. The humanitarian intervention is the most effective way to save the lives of millions of the cyclone survivors.

We, as ordinary citizens of Burma, welcome French government for immediate humanitarian intervention on behalf of millions of starving cyclone survivors." (International Campaign for Burma)

TONIGHT 5/18/08: Burma Talk @ Blue Stockings Book Store

2008-05-18T11:28:00.000-07:00

BURMA - THE CLOCK IS TICKING!

Informational discussion with Cristina Moon & Karen Zusman
7pm, Sunday May 18, 2008
Bluestockings Bookstore
172 Allen Street between Stanton and Rivington
212.777.6028

UN estimates cyclone Nargis death-toll over 100,000 and growing, yet
aid is being confiscated and diverted by the military junta.

How could this happen and what can we do?
Join Burma activists Cristina Moon, exec director of 8808forBurma.org,
and writer Karen Zusman, for conversation/Q&A. Better understand the
mind of the junta, where to donate and how to pressure China to use
influence with Burma's military to accept aid and bring about dialog
between the military, the democracy movement, and ethnic nationalities.

Demonstrations

2008-05-16T17:38:00.000-07:00

May, 17, 2008 UN PROTEST: 2.5 MILLION LIVES IN BURMA IN THE BALANCE. UN ACT NOW!

==============

WHEN: Saturday, May 17, 12pm

WHERE: Ralph Bunche Park, United Nations, 43rd St and 1st Ave

WHO: NY Burma activists -- NY Burma Roundtable, US Campaign for Burma, Burma 88 Coalition, 8-8-08 for Burma

CONTACT: Farheen Malik, newyork@uscampaignforburma.org // Cristina Moon, 347-756-4088, info@8808forburma.org

==============

Join an urgent Global Day of Action for Burma's cyclone survivors!

Over 100,000 people are dead or missing - as a second cyclone approaches Burma and the military regime continues to block relief workers and steal donated supplies from the 2.5 million people already affected by the first cyclone, the present humanitarian tragedy playing out in Burma could be only the beginning.

The international community must take decisive action to save millions of lives that are currently hanging in the balance, with or without the consent of the Burmese military regime.

As a compassionate New York resident, please wear white on Saturday and join us to hold vigil with 15 Burmese Buddhist monks who will fast and demonstrate in front of the United Nations.

The clock is ticking. Over two million lives are at stake. THE UN MUST ACT NOW!

More information on the Global Day of Action available at www.burma-network.org

===============
===============

May 15-16, 2008 UN PROTEST VIGIL & FAST BY BURMESE BUDDHIST MONKS

==============

WHEN: Thursday, May 15, 3pm-7pm // Friday, May 16, 9am-6pm

WHERE: Ralph Bunche Park, United Nations, 43rd St and 1st Ave

WHO: Sasana Moli International Burmese Monks Organization, Buddhist Peace Fellowship, NY Burma activists

CONTACT: Margaret Howe, 707-360-8452, margaret@bpf.org // Sasana Moli, 718-426-3959, ibmohq@gmail.com

==============

Members of Sasana Moli International Burmese Monks Organization and Buddhist Peace Fellowship, and senior Buddhist teachers such as Sharon Salzberg will hold vigil and fast to send a message to the international community that action must be taken NOW to save the over two million lives in Burma affected by Cyclone Nargis.

As a compassionate New York resident, please wear white and join us to hold vigil, fast, and demonstrate in front of the United Nations on Thursday and Friday.

###

This Saturday, May 17 - GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION FOR BURMA!

2008-05-13T18:53:00.000-07:00

May 17 Global Day of Action for Burma: Calling for a Critical Response to Burma's Humanitarian Disaster

On Saturday, May 17, 2008, a Global Day of Action for a critical response to the Burmese humanitarian disaster will take place in cities around the world. Demonstrations and vigils will be held to urge world governments and the United Nations to take action now and save countless lives at this crucial time for the people affected by Cyclone Nargis. Details of the times and locations of all Global Day of Action events around the world can be found at http://www.burma-network.org as soon as they become available.

Specifically, please join New York Burma activists in this significant Day of Action:

When: Saturday, May 17, 12pm
Where: Ralph Bunche Park, United Nations, 43rd St and 1st Ave
Who: NY Burma activists -- NY Burma Roundtable, US Campaign for Burma, Burma 88 Coalition
Contact: Farheen Malik, newyork@uscampaignforburma.org

Despite the devastation and deaths wrought by the cyclone in the immediate aftermath of its landfall, the humanitarian tragedy playing out in Burma may only be beginning. Burma's military regime has blocked the international aid effort to such an extent that 1.5 million people are at risk of dying from starvation, dehydration and communicable diseases. The scale of the desolation is incomprehensibly huge: thousands of homes have been destroyed, Burma's rice-growing heartland has been rendered fallow due to flooding, and tens of thousands are already dead. It is, without a doubt, the worst natural disaster to strike Asia - perhaps the world - since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Burma's rulers have turned a wholly humanitarian concern into a political issue, neglecting the very real needs of their citizens to meet their own political ends. Disaster relief specialists are waiting for access to the country, and thousands of tons of aid are ready to be distributed. It is only due to the government's obstruction that a comprehensive relief effort is not currently underway. Burmese state television shows images of generals handing out packets of aid to cyclone victims and promoting the May 10 referendum, while denying the gravity of the situation in cyclone-affected areas and the thousands of remote villages that are still without food, potable water, shelter or medical help.

The international community must step up and take decisive action to save millions of lives that are currently hanging in the balance, with or without the consent of the Burmese military regime. It has been a positive step that the international community has discussed the option of critical intervention, however this is not enough. Decisive action needs to be taken. Governments around the world need to make the vital decision to save millions of lives, by whatever means possible. As well, it is imperative for the friends of Burma's military regime in the international community to initiate dialogue pressuring the junta to open the country's borders for an international relief effort to get underway. The clock is ticking. Over a million lives are at stake. The international community needs to act – now.

Two videos from last Friday's protest

2008-05-13T18:47:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, various New York Burma activists came together at the UN for a demonstration. We demanded that the junta "LET THE AID REACH BURMA CYCLONE VICTIMS NOW!"

Here are two notable videos:

CNN -- http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/world/2008/05/09/roth.un.myanmar.pressure.cn

PBS-13 -- http://www.thirteen.org/newsandpublicaffairs/burma-let-the-aid-reach-the-people

Please watch.

We have a working website.

2008-05-08T21:06:00.000-07:00

http://nyburmaroundtable.googlepages.com/

Please view the calendar.

Updated Announcement

2008-05-08T21:03:00.000-07:00

**PLEASE DISTRIBUTE WIDELY***

UN DEMONSTRATION and CANDLELIGHT VIGIL: LET THE AID REACH BURMA CYCLONE VICTIMS!

UN Demonstration
When: Friday, May 9, 3-5 pm
Where: Ralph Bunche Park, United Nations, 43rd St and 1st Ave
Who: NY Burma Roundtable, US Campaign for Burma, Burma 88 Coalition, Coalition or Regime Change
Contact: Cristina Moon, info@8808forburma.org

Candlelight Vigil
When: Friday, May 9, 7-9pm
Where: Union Square, 14th Street and Broadway
Who: NY Burma Roundtable, US Campaign for Burma, Burma 88 Coalition, Coalition for Regime Change
Contact: Cristina Moon, info@8808forburma.org

Join us THIS FRIDAY, May 9 from 3pm to 5pm for a demonstration outside the United Nations (Ralph Bunche Park, United Nations- 43rd St and 1st Avenue, NY, NY)!

A powerful cyclone from last Saturday struck Burma, leaving a rising death toll of 100,000 and more than 41,000 missing. Despite the growing urgency for aid towards the disaster, the Myanmar government has let in little aid and has restricted movement in the delta.

Inside the UN, the US Campaign for Burma will be doing a press conference with Anjelica Huston, pushing the need in the aftermath of the cyclone, TO ALLOW AID AGENCIES TO ACCESS BURMA'S WORST HIT AREAS. Some death toll estimates are pushing 100,000. Let's let everyone inside the UN - including the media sources who will be attending - know that the junta must listen: LET THE AID REACH BURMA CYCLONE VICTIMS NOW!

After the demonstration we will hold a candlelight vigil for the cyclone victims at UNION SQUARE @ 7pm, tentatively. We will use this space to raise awareness about the current devastating situation of the people of Burma and necessary funds for Thirst Aid (http://www.thirst-aid.org/), who is working in Burma NOW to provide water and shelter, the most pressing needs of the people of Burma.

UN Demonstration and Evening Vigil for Burma Cyclone Victims - This Friday!

2008-05-07T19:56:00.000-07:00

Join us THIS FRIDAY, May 9 from 3pm to 5pm for a demonstration outside the United Nations (Ralph Bunche Park, United Nations- 43rd St and 1st Avenue, NY, NY)!

A powerful cyclone from last Saturday struck Burma, leaving a rising death toll of 22,500 and more than 41,000 missing. Despite the growing urgency for aid towards the disaster, the Myanmar government has let in little aid and has restricted movement in the delta.

Inside the UN, the US Campaign for Burma will be doing a press conference with Anjelica Huston, pushing the need in the aftermath of the cyclone, TO ALLOW AID AGENCIES TO ACCESS BURMA'S WORST HIT AREAS. Some death toll estimates are pushing 100,000. Let's let everyone inside the UN - including the media sources who will be attending - know that the junta must listen: LET THE AID REACH BURMA CYCLONE VICTIMS NOW!

After the demonstration we will hold a candlelight vigil for the cyclone victims at UNION SQUARE @ 7pm, tentatively. Please tell everyone to come and show their support for Burma!

The Burmese community in New York ask you to join us to show your support for the victims by lighting a candle and giving a donation, because the people of Burma need your help now more than ever.

Everyone is welcome!

Please check back here for updates to the information above.

Public Cyclone Response Meeting @ 7PM, 5/6/08

2008-05-05T14:18:00.000-07:00

New Yorkers will be meeting to discuss how we can respond to the recent cyclone disaster in Burma, which has claimed over 10,000 lives already. In Burma today, there is little health education about preventable diseases such as typhoid and cholera, diminishing supplies of safe drinking water, a leveled infrastructure, and staggering inaction by Burma's military junta to provide aid. Please join us in creating plans for events and activities to help Burma's people.

Please arrive before 7pm so we can start promptly!

Address: 18 W 27th Street, 10th floor
Nearby subway: 6 @ 28th street (& Park), R/W @ 28th street (& Bway)
When: 7pm, Tuesday, May 6 2008

Call 347-756-4088 when you're outside, or someone will be at the door to let you in. Take the elevator to the 10th floor and look for signs.

URGENT News Update

2008-05-05T11:07:00.000-07:00

If you have not heard already...

Thousands More Deaths Expected in Myanmar

Hla Hla Htay/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

People who lost their homes took shelter in a Buddhist temple in Yangon on Monday. More Photos >

By SETH MYDANS

Published: May 6, 2008

The death toll from the devastating cyclone that struck Myanmar over the weekend escalated to nearly 4,000 people, the government said Monday, and the foreign minister told diplomats and United Nations officers that it could rise to 10,000....

More...

Total Denial Screening

2008-04-07T14:43:00.000-07:00

Total Denial Screening

Host:	APAAM and Burma 88


Date:	Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Time:	8:00pm - 10:00pm
Location:	Lerner East Ramp Lounge
City/Town:	New York, NY

This is the story of two WESTERN CORPORATIONS, UNOCAL/TOTAL oil pipeline making business deals with a junta infamous for HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES. Fifteen plaintiffs who've never left the Burmese jungle will battle head-to-head with two corporate giants in a US courtroom, shocking the world with its revelations. As documented by wanted man Ka Hsaw Wa and award winning filmmaker, Milena Kaneva.

Burma 88:

The Burma 88 Coalition is a Columbia University student group devoted to advocating for human rights in Burma. Last fall, when the Saffron Revolution took to the streets in Burma, demanding an end to military rule, we coordinated Columbia’s response.

Our work is not over.

Join us at this meeting to find out how you can fight for human rights in Burma.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=31632030581

Event this Wednesday

2008-03-30T21:15:00.000-07:00

Amnesty International NYU and Amnesty International Brooklyn present:

FACES OF MYANMAR (BURMA): A NATION IN CRISIS

Featuring: Khin Phyu Htway (Burmese activist) & Myra Dahgaypaw (Karen activist)

7:00 - 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Kimmel Center for University Life
New York University
60 Washington Square South, room 804
New York, New York

Despite a landslide victory for the National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi in 1990 the military junta of Myanmar (Burma) has maintained a stranglehold over government, suspending the constitution, persecuting ethnic minorities, imprisoning and torturing peaceful protesters and worse. Come and learn how the people of Myanmar are struggling for change in one of the most repressive regimes in the world, and how you too can help them.

This event is FREE and open to the public.

Non-NYU visitors must present a valid photo ID upon entering the Kimmel Center for University Life.

Contact Amnesty International @ NYU for more info: amnesty.club @ nyu.edu

Food will be served.

Note: The Kimmel Center for University Life at NYU is walking distance from the W. 4th Street subway station (A,C,E,B,D,F,V trains), 8th Street subway station (R,W trains), and Astor Place subway station (6 train).

Panel Discussion on March 25, 2008

2008-03-18T20:31:00.000-07:00

The Asia Society and Open Society Institute invites you to a panel discussion:

The Crisis in Burma:

In Search of a Unified International Response

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

6:00 – 6:30 p.m.: Registration

6:30 – 8:00 p.m.: Panel Discussion / Q & A

8:00 – 8:30 p.m.: Reception

$5 members, NGOs, seniors, students (w/ID)

$7 non-members

Asia Society

725 Park Avenue at 70th Street

New York, NY

Six months have passed since the Burmese military government’s violent crackdown on thousands of monks who took to the streets of Rangoon in peaceful, pro-democracy demonstrations. While the brutality of the assault, subsequent mass arrests and heightened repression received an immediate burst of attention and media coverage around the world, the focus on Burma has waned steadily in recent months. After making a few initial concessions to the international community, such as allowing in a UN human rights investigator and permitting a government meeting with pro-democracy leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese junta continues to stand firm and political activists continue to be imprisoned.

Join us as the Asia Society and Open Society Institute convene a panel discussion to revisit the situation in Burma in light of the military government’s recently announced “roadmap to democracy,” including its intention to conduct a national referendum to approve a new constitution in May, followed by a multiparty general election in 2010. How credible is this development given that the new constitution would effectively bar independent political leaders from participating in the process? The panel will also assess recent efforts at the international and regional levels to advance national reconciliation in Burma. What role can and should international actors such as the United Nations and the United States play together with ASEAN and Burma’s influential neighbors?

Speakers:

Scot Marciel, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs

Thaung Htun, Representative for UN Affairs, National Coalition

Government of the Union of Burma

Asia Society will stream a live webcast of this event starting at 6:30pm EST

E-mail your questions to moderator@asiasociety.org

As seating is limited, advance registration is suggested.

To register, call 212-517-2742 or online at: https://tickets.asiasociety.org

For more information, visit our website at www.asiasociety.org

Open invite to the ....first NY Burma Roundtable meeting on March 28, 2008!

2008-03-17T19:10:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

First, and most importantly, hope you are well!

Geoff, co-administrator on this mailing list, and I met the other day, and we realized how helpful it would be to NY Burma activism to begin holding meetings of all interested persons and organizations. We are all doing (and have done) such notable actions throughout the city, and it would be great to meet face-to-face to announce upcoming events and see how we can help each other!

In due course, a monthly meeting would be perfect for this forum. We would like to hold the first meeting on...

Friday, March 28, 2008, 5:30pm. Location TBA - but most likely near or at The New School
(Refreshments will be served!)

The agenda will include personal/organization introductions (which will be formed in part by the questions below), Burma situation updates, upcoming events from each of our organizations, and next steps for NYBRT.

In preparation for this meeting, we'd like to know the following from you and/or your organization:

(regarding meetings)
1. Are you interested in attending monthly NYBRT meetings? I.e. do you and/or your organization want to take a more active role in connecting the Burma activism within New York?
2. Can you attend the first meeting on March 28? (We hope to hold the 2nd meeting on April 25 -- thoughts?)
3. Do you have any additional agenda suggestions (whether or not you can attend on March 28)?

(regarding you and/or your organization)
4. What is your organization's most important objective, and how can NYBRT help you realize it?

5. With what in the past has NYBRT helped you and/or your organization, if anything?

6. In your current Burma work, what gives you and/or your organization the most energy?

7. What interests you and/or your organization most about the situation in Burma?

8. What do you feel needs more attention within NY Burma activism?

9. What are your and/or your organization's future plans for Burma activism? (include specific dates, campaign names, etc.)

10. What would be the practical next steps for NYBRT?

We would very much appreciate your response by Friday, March 21, 2008, 9pm. Please send the 10 questions to others in your organization as well! Hopefully, if you cannot attend meetings, someone else in your organization or network can help connect you and/or your organization to the care and concern of other NY Burma activists! It's so important that we network so our message for change in Burma is so much more effective and powerful!

Simply send your responses to Geoff and me - newyork@uscampaignforburma.org.

I very much look forward to hearing from you!

In solidarity,

--
Farheen Malik

Action this week!

2008-03-17T18:32:00.000-07:00

=_=_= UN SPECIAL ENVOY BRIEFS UNITED NATIONS THIS WEEK =_=_=
>>>>> BURMA ACTIVIST COMMUNITY WILL RESPOND WITH PROTEST
>>>>> DATE: Wednesday, March 19, TIME: still TBA
>>>>> INFO BELOW
Contact info@8808forburma.org, 917.488.0302

==============================

====
Dear all,

As you probably know, UN Special Envoy to Burma Ibrahim Gambari is supposed to be briefing the United Nations Security Council this coming week on how he's coming back from Burma empty-handed, without even having been granted a meeting with General Than Shwe. This is our chance to capitalize on what could be one of the last discussions on Burma at the UN before the May referendum - Gambari's trip MUST be highlighted as a major failure, rather than being swept under the rug.

Individuals from the New York Burma activist community consulted on a direct action strategy to highlight Gambari's failure and call for UN Secretary General Ban to go to Burma himself to accomplish what he's called for in past statements - to have a genuine and inclusive political dialog - and came up with the following:

A demonstration outside the UN, including:
>>>>>18 people dressed in white longyi and shirts, with the number 100 on the shirts, representing 1800 political prisoners who must be freed, and
>>>>> as many people as possible dresssed in ethnic or Burmese dress (Karen and Shan dress would be best) to represent the need for an end to attacks in eastern Burma in order for there to be a genuine and inclusive dialog.

The Gambari briefing is going to be on Wednesday afternoon, and will be a closed briefing. We will protest with the costumes outside the UN so long as we don't use any sound devices (since there was insufficient time to get a permit), and release a statement to the UN Press Corps.

Other things needed for the demo:
-- sponsoring organizations
-- protesters
-- help publicizing the protest to NY activist groups, online Burma groups, Buddhist groups in NY-area, communities from Burma in the NY area
-- signs for protest outside the UN

Many thanks,

Cristina Moon

--
8-8-08 for Burma
PO Box 20025
New York, NY 10001-0001
www.8808forburma.org

Prayer Service, March, and Rally TODAY

2008-02-09T03:57:00.000-08:00

There is a march and prayer service today, Saturday, February 9.

Location: from the United Nations (46th Street and 1st Avenue) to the Chinese Consulate (all the way across 42nd street).

Time: Prayer service - from 1pm to 3pm
March - from 3pm to 4pm
Rally - upon arrival to the Chinese Consulate

Event on Tuesday

2008-01-27T20:00:00.000-08:00

Critical Interpretations of Sustainable Development
Tuesday, January 29th
8pm
Roone Arledge Cinema

Interested in alternative perspectives on sustainable development?
We invite you to come hear speakers expand the discussion on current research and practice. Our panelists approach the field from expertise in human rights, anthropology, economics, and sociology.

Mary Robinson has served as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and as President of Ireland and is now the Executive Director of the Ethical Globalization Initiative, which promotes a more ethical and equitable globalization process.

David Harvey is a leading theorist in the field of urban studies who teaches in the departments of geography and anthropology at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York.

Sanjay G. Reddy teaches economics at Barnard College and at SIPA at Columbia University. He focuses on the economics of development, and is best known for his work on global poverty estimates.

Saskia Sassen is a professor in the Department of Sociology and a member of the Committee on Global Thought at Columbia University. Her research and writing focus on globalization, immigration, global cities, and new networked technologies.

Sponsored by Global Solutions, the Undergraduate Human Rights Program, the Roosevelt Institution, Burma 88 Coalition, and the CU Democrats

Updates from and about Burma

2008-01-22T15:55:00.000-08:00

These will enlighten you:

*A Forgotten Crisis

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/19/AR2008011902016.html

*Myanmar going 'downhill on all fronts,' says US

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hvpjzbOju-BXxtb_mFEroSlpdv-A

*The Burma Campaign UK: December 2007 in Burma

http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/Last%20Month/Last_Month_December_07.pdf

A Few Announcements!

2008-01-22T15:47:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the brief hiatus, here are updates:

1) Sunday, January 27th @7pm - $5 suggested donation
Discussion: Karen Zusman, "Postcard from Burma"
Location: Bluestockings Radical Books, 172 Allen Street between Stanton and Rivington :: 212.777.6028

Join witness and author Karen Zusman, who returned to Burma weeks after the recent crackdown in Burma and who now tells the whispered stories of students, monks, military widows, housekeepers, and waiters

2) Spring 2008: Student Exposure Trip to Thai-Burma Border
Date of Trip: March 20, 2008-March 30, 2008

WHY GO TO THE THAILAND-BURMA BORDER?
Situated between India, Thailand, and China, the country of Burma has been ravaged for decades by violence, poverty, and fear. Due to the oppression of the current military regime, over 3,200 villages have been destroyed, sending over a million people to fleeing to neighboring Thailand.

If you have been interested or involved in Burma’s epic freedom struggle, this trip will provide you with the knowledge and legitimacy beneficial to elevating your efforts to help the people of Burma at an effective level. You will leave Thailand not only with unique knowledge and experience of the crisis and ways to assist the people of Burma but will also gain strong personal relationships with the individuals who risk their lives for freedom and human rights in Burma. This is more than just an exposure tour where you learn about what is happening; by the end of this trip, you are expected to take the knowledge and be a strong leader in pushing for Burma action in your local area.

HOW DOES THIS TRIP WORK?
The group (consisting of 8-10 people) will meet in Los Angeles and travel together to Thailand, where they will meet organizations and individuals working along the Thai-Burmese border. The group will spend time in Bangkok, although the majority of the stay will be spent in the town of Mae Sot, situated right by the Thailand-Burma border where there are many nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) run by Burmese persons who have fled their home country and now in exile, work to promote human rights, democracy, and provide assistance to those in need. Each student will spend a week assisting and learning from an NGO of his/her choice. Among the NGOs include groups that focus on workers rights’, health care, law, human rights documentation, women’s rights, orphans, and political prisoners. The trip will be led by an experienced USCB staff and member.

CAN I APPLY?
In order to apply to participate in this trip, you must be in good medical condition and be able to pay for the costs of your own travel and trip coordination. The cost (excluding travel costs to LAX and vaccinations) will be between $1400-1500 for the 10-day trip, but will vary for each individual participant. All trip participants must arrange their own roundtrip travel to Los Angeles International Airport on March 20, 2008. The group will then fly together to Bangkok, Thailand. The group will return on March 30, 2008 to Los Angeles International Airport.

Trip itineraries will remain confidential because of the sensitive nature of the organizations’ work. While every precaution will be taken by the trip coordinator to ensure complete safety of the group, all trip participants will need to sign a waiver in order to participate.

Applications are due on January 20, 2008. If interested, please contact Thelma Young at thelma@uscampaignforburma.org.

For more information on the current situation in Burma, please visit http://www.uscampaignforburma.org/ .

US Consular Information on Thailand:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1040.html
Routine Vaccinations for travel to Thailand:
http://www.cdc.gov/travel/seasia.htm#vaccines

Today!

2007-11-25T09:21:00.000-08:00

Stand Up for Women Human Rights Defenders!
Demonstration Sunday November 25, 2007
New York, New York

Women On the Move for Burma (WOMB) is organizing a demonstration on behalf of women human rights defenders all over the world, especially those women democracy activists in Burma that are in detention or in hiding. Our demonstration will be one of many in solidarity with the women activists of Burma.

Several of WOMB’s honorees from our Profiles in Courage selections have been arrested as part of the September uprisings. Let us show our support for these brave women!

Upcoming important dates:
November 25 is International Day to Stop Violence Against Women
November 29 is International Day for Women Human Rights Defenders

This Demonstration
When: Sunday November 25, 2007
Where:
1:30 – 2:15 PM Ralph Bunche Park 43rd and 1st Ave
2:15 – 3:15 PM March to Burma Mission
3:15 - 4:00 PM Burma Mission - 10 E 77th St btw 5th and Madison Ave.

For more information, contact:

Kathleen Didomenico (212-365-4155)
Carolyn Nwe (917-704-4623)
Nang San (917-519-3771)

Total Denial Screening at the SAJ this Wed at 7.30 pm

2007-11-12T12:52:00.001-08:00

Apparently The Open Society Institute will be attending with some monks. Please come with all your friends and/or put it on your email list. Here:

TOTAL DENIAL: THE FACTS BEHIND THE PROTESTS IN BURMA Wednesday, November 14, 7:30 p.m. SAJ 15 West 86th Street, NY NY

Please come to the SAJ and see this film - if you did not already see it at the Human Rights Watch film festival or at its current run at the Cinema Village. It is a revelation, not only about the horrors that many Burmese have endured for decades, but also about the fact that the courts of the USA became a conduit for the redress of some of those government-perpetrated atrocities. In this case, the plaintiffs were villagers of the Tenasserim region of Burma, through whose state a natural gas pipe line was built by Total and Unocal (now Chevron) with the use of slave labour, which is far more brutal than it sounds. In describing what became of them, the film also sheds light on other aspects of the constant struggle of the people in Burma. Since the film provides this information so brilliantly you will learn that action at this critical time can be very effective.

After the screening, Milena Kaneva, the film's eloquent and magnetic director, and Moe Chan, of Burma Point, which works with refugee Burmese communities and gathers worldwide support for human rights and democracy movements in Burma, will respond to your questions. They will be joined by Burmese monks from monasteries in the New York area and by representatives from human rights and legal organisations working on resolutions of the situation in Burma.

Total Denial could not be more timely, not only with regard to the recent protests in Burma, but also in connection with abuses committed by US-based corporations in Iraq and elsewhere. It provides an opportunity to learn, at no charge and via the illuminating medium of film, not only about conditions in Burma but also how several complex areas of law were argued by prominent corporate and civil rights lawyers, resulting in an expansion of the right, under the Alien Torts Claims Act of 1798, of victims of human rights abuses elsewhere to sue individuals and corporations in U.S courts.
(for more on this see http://www.laborrights.org/press/Unocal/chapmanlawreview_spring05.htm)

LA TIMES review: An unexpectedly gripping look at the ongoing political and human rights situation in Myanmar/Burma. Bulgarian-born filmmaker Milena Kaneva forges the film with of a rough-hewn urgency, and whatever it may lack in graceful image-making it more than makes up for in emotional immediacy. Burmese activist Ka Hsaw Wa -- who lives as a fugitive outlaw when in his own country -- and his American wife use a semi-obscure law that ironically dates back to Colonial times to initiate a lawsuit in the U.S. court system for abusive activities undertaken on behalf of American businesses operating in Burma. The cross-cutting between the jungles of Southeast Asia and the courtrooms of California never ceases to startle, and Kaneva cannily uses the lawsuit to give the film a strong spine and sense of drive.

Total Denial Screening at the SAJ this Wed at 7.30 pm

2007-11-12T12:52:00.000-08:00

article

2007-11-09T11:44:00.001-08:00

Students, teachers, schools face deliberate attacks in conflict areas - UNESCO:

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=24596&Cr=education&Cr1=unesco

New York Burma Friends: Can You Help Us in Congress

2007-11-09T11:39:00.000-08:00

from the US Campaign for Burma...

Block Burmese JADE (Junta's Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act of 2007:
New York Get Your Representatives to Co-Sponsor!

As we mentioned last week, Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA) introduced new sanctions to cut off major revenue from Burma's military junta. The Block Burmese JADE (Junta's Anti- Democratic Efforts) Act of 2007 (HR 3890) has the power to force the regime to negotiate with Burma's democracy leaders and Ethnic nationalities. We must show the people of Burma that the U.S. is taking action to support their calls for freedom, democracy and human rights. Call your Representative today asking them to support the Block Burmese JADE Act! Organize your community to call in as well. Contact details for your Representative below.

What the Act Does:

The regime makes hundreds of millions of dollars each year off the sale of gems. More than 90 percent of the world's rubies and fine-quality jade comes from Burma. The new sanctions will crack down on the regime's practice of avoiding U.S. sanctions by laundering gemstones through third countries before they are sold.

Chevron with a large investment in natural gas in Burma, provides the regime with huge cash flows. They have also escaped sanctions - until now! This bill will target Chevron's payments to the regime and their ability to claim tax deductions on those payments.

This Act also freezes the assets of Burmese political and military leaders, prevents Burma from using U.S. financial institutions via third countries to launder the funds of those leaders or their immediate families, and prohibits Burmese officials involved in the violent suppression of protesters from receiving visas to the United States.

"This legislation will turn off a huge cash spigot for the thuggish Burmese regime," Lantos said. "If my colleagues come together and act quickly to pass these new sanctions, we can put an end to huge profits for the junta and its unscrupulous middle-men. We must ensure that the sale of some of the Earth's most beautiful natural resources does not continue to enable the horrors inflicted upon the people of Burma."

Burma also uses third countries to access the U.S. banking system. These overseas banks process accounts in and through the United States for Burma's rulers, providing the regime with much-needed hard currency. The regime uses these funds to purchase weapons and luxury goods, while the bulk of Burma's population lives in poverty.

Lantos' legislation tightens existing sanctions to prevent Burma's military rulers from profiting from sales to the United States, and blocks access to the U.S. financial system not just for Burmese human rights violators but also to those who provide the regime with banking services.

The Block Burmese JADE (Junta's Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act of 2007, if passed, would be the strongest action yet that the U.S. takes to pressure Burma's military regime to negotiate with Burma's democracy leaders and ethnic nationalities.

Contact information:

To find out whom your individual representative is click on this link and type in your zipcode, www.house.gov. Once there, enter your zip code in the "Find your representative" box in the top left corner of the screen.
Once you know whom your representative is - use the list below to contact your representative's Foreign Affairs staffer. If s/he is not there leave a message and ask her/him to call you back. Call today and call every day until you get an answer!

Already a cosponsor:
Congressman Gary Ackerman (Democrat, 5th district)
Congressman Peter King (Republican, 3rd district)
Congressman Joseph Crowley (Democrat, 7th district)
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (Democrat, 14th district)
Congressman Eliot Engel (Democrat, 17th district)

Need

Top Priority As He is Chairman of the Ways & Means Committee, the committee responsible for passing this Act
Congressman Charles Rangel (Democrat, 15th district), contact staffer: 202-225-4365
Congressman Tim Bishop (Democrat, 1st district), contact staffer: Will Jenkins at 202-225-3826
Congressman Steve Israel (Democrat, 2nd district), contact staffer: Mike Ryan at 202-225-3335
Congressman Carolyn McCarthy (Democrat, 4th district), contact staffer: Robert Recklaus at 202-225-5516
Congressman Gregory Meeks (Democrat, 6th district), contact staffer: Sophia King at 202-225-3461
Congressman Jerrold Nadler (Democrat, 8th district), contact staffer: Carole Angel at 202-225-5635
Congressman Anthony Weiner (Democrat, 9th district), contact staffer: Dori Friedberg at 202-225-6616
Congressman Edolphus Towns (Democrat, 10th district), contact staffer: Alex Beckles at 202-225-5936
Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (Democrat, 11th district), contact staffer: Jahmal Hudson at 202-225-6231
Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez (Democrat, 12th district), contact staffer: Max Trujillo at 202-225-2361
Congressman Vito Fossella (Republican, 13th district), contact staffer: CW Estoff at 202-225-3371
Congressman Jose Serrano (Democrat, 16th district), contact staffer: George Sullivan at 202-225-4361
Congresswoman Nita Lowey (Democrat, 18th district), contact staffer: Lucy Heenan at 202-225-6506
Congressman John Hall (Democrat, 19th district), contact staffer: Scott Payne at 202-225-5441
Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand (Democrat, 20th district), contact staffer: Brooke Jamison at 202-225-5614
Congressman Michael McNulty (Democrat, 21st district), contact staffer: David Torian at 202-225-5076
Congressman Maurice Hinchey (Democrat, 22nd district), contact staffer: Moira Campion at 202-225-6335
Congressman John McHugh (Republican, 23rd district), contact staffer: Ann LeMay at 202-225-4611
Congressman Michael Arcuri (Democrat, 24th district), contact staffer: Sam Marchio at 202-225-3665
Congressman James Walsh (Republican, 25th district), contact staffer: Tim Drumm at 202-225-3701
Congressman Thomas Reynolds (Republican, 26th district), contact staffer: Mark Meyer at 202-225-5265
Congressman Brian Higgins (Democrat, 27th district), contact staffer: Jonathan Weston at 202-225-3306
Congresswoman Louise McIntosh Slaughter (Democrat, 28th district), contact staffer: Michelle Adams at 202-225-3615
Congressman Randy Kuhl (Republican, 29th district), contact staffer: Paul Bleiberg at 202-225-3161

To add their name as a cosponsor:
Let them know that to co-sponsor they should contact Eric Richardson at the Committee on Foreign Affairs office at eric.richardson@mail.house.gov or 225-5021.

Talking Points for Staffer:

- Tell the staffer you want your representative to co-sponsor the Block Burmese JADE Act of 2007
- Give her/him proof that this policy works. It cuts off hundreds of millions of dollars to the regime and will specifically target the top generals' finances.
- Mention that the military junta still deserves sanctions. On top of brutally crushing thousands of peaceful demonstrators, including monks, the military regime has destroyed more than 3,000 villages. It has forcibly displaced more than half a million people inside Burma as well as causing a million refugees to flee across the border to neighboring countries and has made no efforts to move toward democracy.
- Let her/him know it is important to send a strong signal to the regime that the US government will continue to keep American money out the hands of the junta.
- This is not the only action being taken against Burma. On top of many diplomatic efforts, the EU has imposed new sanctions, as well as Australia, and even Japan has decreased aid to Burma.
- Finally ask the staffer to call you back when your representative has co-sponsored the Block Burmese JADE Act. Important: Leave your phone number!
Let him/her know that his/her constituents care about Burma!

Check up to see if they cosponsor:
It's easy to check and see if they follow through and agree to cosponsor. THOMAS, the Library of Congress' congressional records database updates a list of all information on legislation. Click on this link to find out who has signed as cosponsors,

Please let me know when you have contacted your Representative and how it went - thelma@uscampaignforburma.org. These new sanctions will hit the regime where it hurts.

Two protests today

2007-10-27T09:26:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-27T09:24:00.000-07:00

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.

Film on Burma on October 27

2007-10-24T03:41:00.001-07:00

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

2007-10-24T03:40:00.001-07:00

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!

2007-10-24T03:37:00.000-07:00

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

Proof that the pressure is producing results!

2007-10-22T18:20:00.001-07:00

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

2007-10-22T18:19:00.001-07:00

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.

Just in case you have not seen this yet

2007-10-16T02:07:00.000-07:00

EU agrees extra Burma sanctions

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/article3063825.ece

Peace Walk -

2007-10-15T18:05:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-15T17:52:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-15T17:50:00.000-07:00

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

Protest on Oct 9 at the UN

2007-10-08T20:07:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-08T08:51:00.000-07:00

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

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

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

2007-10-06T09:57:00.000-07:00

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.

Protest China's Support of the Burmese Military

2007-10-03T19:06:00.001-07:00

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

Support the monks: Stencil images

2007-10-02T15:02:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-02T14:40:00.000-07:00

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

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

Burma: Where Next? A Roundtable

2007-10-01T17:21:00.000-07:00

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

Protest Monday, October 1

2007-09-30T19:00:00.000-07:00

THIS MONDAY, The Burmese Foreign Minister will address the UN General Assembly. Please join several Burma groups at the Burmese UN Mission in New York to tell the world the truth about the Saffron Revolution in Burma. Two events have been planned in response to his speech on Monday...

When: Monday, October 1, 12 pm - 1 pm,
Where: Burmese Mission to UN, 10 E 77th St (near 5th Ave)

This will be followed by a Rally at the UN:

When: Monday, October 1, 1pm - 6pm
Where: 47th Street & 1st Avenue

Come with Signs that say "UNSC ARMS EMBARGO NOW!" and wear a RED SHIRT in support of the Saffron Revolution!

Every major media outlet in the world will be covering his words, and the world must know what we have to say in response. Therefore, we need big numbers -- please try to bring as many people as possible.

If you can't make it this Monday, we will be at 47th street & 1st Avenue on Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 1-6pm.

Actions in New York, Sept 30-Oct 2

2007-09-29T15:37:00.000-07:00

1) CANDLELIGHT VIGIL AT UNION SQ.

When: Saturday, September 30, 2007 at 8 pm

Where: Center of Union Sq.

Join the NYC Burma activists Saturday night at 8pm in Union Square - we'll be showing solidarity for the Saffron Revolution, the protest movement inside Burma currently threatening to overthrow one of the

world's most brutal military regimes. And please wear the color red and bring your own candle, which around the world is becoming the color of solidarity for these protests.

2) PROTEST AT THE BURMESE MISSION

When: Monday, October 1, 12 pm - 1 pm

Where: Burmese Mission to UN, 10 E 77th St (near 5th Ave)

Who: US Campaign for Burma

The Burmese Foreign Minister will address the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on this afternoon. Please join several Burma groups at the Burmese Mission to tell the world the truth about the protest movement

in Burma - exactly what the Foreign Minister will not say to the UNGA.

Followed by: RALLY AT UN

When: Monday, October 1, 1pm - 6pm

Where: 47th Street & 1st Avenue

The Burmese government is addressing the General Assembly around 5pm on Monday. Join friends of Burma to show our outrage at the violent crackdown on peaceful protests--and to demand change!! Wear a RED SHIRT in support of the Saffron Revolution!

IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT ON MONDAY WE WILL BE AT 47TH STREET & 1ST AVENUE SATURDAY, MONDAY AND TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY FROM 1-6PM.

3) RALLY FOR THE SAFFRON REVOLUTION

When: Tuesday, 10/2, 12 pm

Where: Low Plaza

This Tuesday, the Burma 88 Coalition at Columbia University will show their support for the Saffron Revolution, the growing protest movement inside Burma threatening to overthrow the country's brutal military

regime. Join us at Low Plaza at 12 noon - for action, t-shirt screening, all kinds of good stuff. Please wear the color red, the color of solidarity for the protests.

4) TEACH-IN: WHAT IS THE SAFFRON REVOLUTION?

When: Tuesday, 10/2, 8pm

Where: Lerner Hall, West Ramp Lounge

Join the Burma 88 Coalition as we break down all of the information regarding the Saffron Revolution, the growing protest movement inside Burma threatening to overthrow the country's brutal military regime.

We'll have a few speakers, and you'll become an expert. Many thanks to Global Solutions for hosting this event as part of their meeting.

5) PANEL DISCUSSION: "THE CRISIS IN BURMA"

When: Tuesday, October 2, 8pm

Where: New School for Social Research, 78 Fifth Avenue, Room 1107 (entrance from 16th street)