Eyewitness to Nargis

(Image: Sitagu Sayadaw reassures a patient suffering from dehydration and shock, from the flickr album by a user named Cyclone Nargis.)

In the aftermath of cyclone Nargis, a 165 MPH monster that ripped through Burma's Irrawaddy Delta and turned the fertile region into a waste land, green-clad soldiers from the Tatmadaw (the Burmese Army) are nowhere to be found. Instead, maroon-robbed Buddhist monks emerge as the heroes leading the rescue and recovery effort.

A flickr photo album from an anonymous user named Cyclone Nargis shows the efforts of Sitagu Sayadaw (the Abbot of Sitagu Monastery) to bring relief to the survivors.

Rangoon University, already suffering from neglect since the student-led uprising in 1988. now resembles a jungle. The congregation hall still stands, but surrounded by abandoned lecture halls and uprooted trees. A Picasa photo stream by MoeMaka shows the devastation.

Another Picasa photo stream (warning: contains disturbing images) by Salai Than shows a closer look at the human toll and the devastation to the land.

President of IBMO in San Francisco Bay Area

Announcing Two Sermons by
The Venerable U Pannya Vamsa
Abbot of Dhammikarama Burmese Buddhist Temple, Penang, Malaysia
President of Sasana Moli, International Burmese Monks Organization (IBMO)

As president of the IBMO, Venerable U Pannya Vamsa has been on an international tour, urging the global public to join the ongoing struggle for Burma. For over 50 years, he has tirelessly worked to establish Buddhist centers and spread the Dharma around the world. He has now taken up the responsibility to raise funds for the victims of cyclone Nargis and to ensure efficient distribution of the collected donations. We encourage everyone devoted to Buddha's teachings, the survival of Buddhism, and the cause of the cyclone victims to take advantage of this rare opportunity to hear a sermon by the abbot.

Scheduled Sermons:

Saturday, May 31, 2008, 6 PM
Metta Nanda Vihara Dharma Retreat (Monastery)
4619 Central Avenue
Fremont, CA 94536
Contact: (510) 795-0405

Sunday, June 1, 2008, 4 PM
(Both English and Burmese languages)
Jefferson High School
699 Serra Monte Blvd.
Daly City, CA 94015
Theravada Dhamma Society
Contact: (415) 793-2512

More Info [PDF]

March and Vigil Targeting ASEAN

May 23, 2008 - March and Vigil
Singapore Consulate, San Francisco

KPFA Evening News Coverage [Burma segment starts at 36:45]
Press Release [PDF]

A Traveler's Perspective

by Laurie Weed

Hi everyone,

I visited Myanmar (Burma) less than a month before Cyclone Nargis hit and met many wonderful people there. Along with many of you, I'm now watching in horror as the junta turns a devastating natural disaster into a genocide by refusing access to the UN and other experienced international relief agencies. My heart is breaking for the Burmese people, who are suffering more than ever.

Since the cyclone, I've received reports from friends inside and the situation is dire. J., the founder and director of a volunteer-run preschool I visited in March, lives in Myanmar full time. He writes that their school was badly damaged but they are all safe, at least for now. The surrounding villages were hit very hard and the school is providing water, food, and shelter for the children and families who lost their homes. Five families are now living in the one remaining school building, along with several babies and toddlers whose parents cannot care for them until they rebuild their homes.

J. and his staff are deeply committed to the local community: they are trusted and trustworthy, providing a safe haven for children and their families in the aftermath of the cyclone. They have the resources and local know-how to acquire supplies and distribute them efficiently, but time and money are running short, and prices are increasing by the day.

Photos online: Before and After Cyclone Nargis
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurielou/sets/72157604973621519/

J.'s letter, which describes conditions during and after the cyclone, can be read here:
http://burmarelief.blogspot.com/2008_05_10_archive.html

What's happening now?

Some aid is arriving through official channels, but it is not nearly enough. The junta is still blocking the efforts of most international agencies and throwing up smokescreens instead of real help. It's shocking that this could be allowed to continue. This op-ed piece from the New York Times (5/21) sums up the status quo:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/21/opinion/21wed3.html?th&emc=th

The school has emergency funds to hold them over until June 1, when we've scheduled an additional delivery of cash (see "how to help" below.) J. has left the school in the capable hands of his staff and gone into the Yangon delta, the area hit hardest by the cyclone. With a team of local volunteers, they are running clandestine deliveries of food and supplies directly to hungry and displaced families, without government interference.

Dispatches from the front lines

"We went to Konyangon, and we conducted one successful food distribution there. At this time it's difficult for expatriates to move into the affected areas far down in the delta region, so we are sending a local assessment team and when there are back we send a transport with the supplies we know are needed. We have the capacity to efficiently carry out thus operations with [name removed] as the main local person and a full team of locals packing and distributing."

"We are sending two trucks at midnight to Dedaye in Ayeyarwaddy division. I am not on board since foreigners are not allowed; [name removed] and other locals go. We hope to continue sending materials for as long as needed, we have the team to effectively assess, transport and distribute supplies rapidly. So far we go with five items to all households in the targeted villages, the items are rice, beans, oil, jaggery (raw cane sugar), salt. 2 trucks (10 feet) can transport food for about 580 families for 6 days."

How to help

Thanks to your generosity and effort, we've raised over $900 US so far just from this dispatch. Even passing the word on to your contacts is a huge help -- several donations came in from people I don't personally know. Your concern for the Burmese people is truly appreciated. Thank you.

Many of you are already involved in cyclone relief efforts and this is not meant to pressure you - but if you are able to help some of the cyclone survivors through this channel, please do. Even small donations will make a big difference -- for example, $40 USD will buy enough rice to feed a family of four for one month.

The current priorities of this project are:

1. To continue to feed the people who have come to the school for assistance.

2. To help the five families now living at the school to collectively rebuild their homes, one at a time.

3. To identify and help other families in the village who need emergency relief: providing water, food, shelter, and medical care.

If you can give something to the cause, please contact me at: laurieweed@hotmail.com

I'm working with a trusted contact here in the Bay Area who will deliver cash in person. After assessing the options, we determined this would be the quickest and most efficient way to send funds. The courier leaves for Myanmar on June 1, so there's still time to donate to this mission if you would like to help. Every dollar collected through this channel will buy food and other emergency supplies for the cyclone survivors.

Please continue to help spread the word and let the Burmese cyclone survivors know they have not been forgotten.

Thank you,

Laurie Weed
writer, editor, vagabond
http://www.kismetworldwide.com/laurieweed/index_travel.htm

Subscribe to Songlines:
https://www.mailermailer.com/x?oid=33676h

Flashpoints with Dennis Bernstein [Radio Program]

Upon the arrival of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in Burma, Dennis covered the Burma topic as the lead story on today's Flashpoints program. His guests this time around were:
Kenneth Wong
Ko Ko Lay
Jean Gale
Gregg Butensky

You can listen here.

Your Call Radio Show

The one hour discussion on KALW Radio,
hosted by Rose Aguilar, included guests:

Ko Ko Lay (in studio)
U Kovida (in studio)
Dr. Tint Swe (by phone from India)
Debbie Stothard (by phone from Thailand)

[Check back for a link to listen to the show.]

Your Call Radio - KALW 91.7 FM

Tune in to KALW 91.7 FM Tuesday, May 20 at 9:00pm PST, for a special Trans-Pacific edition of the Your Call radio program, as they look at the situation in Burma. How have the disastrous cyclone and the slow response of the military government changed the prospects for democracy in Burma?

www.yourcallradio.org
Live on the Internet at: www.kalw.org

Press Coverage for May 17

Global Day of Action

KPFA Berkeley 94.1 FM
KPFA was broadcasting live from the rally in San Francisco from 4:00-5:30pm. The entire program is available here:
www.kpfa.org [includes photos]

Special thanks to host Dennis Bernstein and his crew, and to Kenneth Wong for co-hosting.

View photos from Global Day of Action events around the world


Dr. Sein Win Accepts Honorary Degree for
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from Dominican University

Burma Exile in Bay Area Urging Americans to Send Aid
KRON TV - www.brightcove.tv

Burmese opposition leader says world must act
John King, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, May 18, 2008
www.sfgate.com

Reuters photos:
search.us.reuters.com
Moemaka coverage [in Burmese]
www.moemaka.com

Exiled Burmese politician seeks Bay Area support
By Matt O'Brien - Contra Costa Times
www.insidebayarea.com
www.contracostatimes.com

Former Burmese leader visits Dominican
Jennifer Upshaw - Marin Independent Journal
www.marinij.com