A Few Announcements!

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