TV news earlier today showed scenes of people sitting praying outside the Burmese Embassy in London. I had a real feeling that this was the way to go and found the following details on the website of the Burma Campaign UK ( http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/pm/events.php ).
There is a demonstration outside the Burmese Embassy in London every day from 12-1pm
Embassy of the Union of Myanmar
19 A CHARLES STREET
LONDON W1J 5DX
Nearest tube Green Park
I was reading extracts from some of the blogs being written by people inside Burma right now. I think one of the chants the monks and nuns are using is OM LOKAH SAMASTAH SUKHINO BHAVANTU which has been discussed on this forum before now, although I'm not going to look for the link right now. This is the sloka which means something like 'may all sentient beings in all worlds be happy'.
Perhaps, even if we can't join with others to pray for the people - all the people - of Burma, we could run those words through our minds at least three times:
OM LOKAH SAMASTAH SUKHINO BHAVANTU
OM LOKAH SAMASTAH SUKHINO BHAVANTU
OM LOKAH SAMASTAH SUKHINO BHAVANTU
OM SHANTI SHANTI SHANTI
With love
Sunanda xxx
Has anyone received this message? It's going around.
In support of our incredibly brave friends in Burma: May all people around the world wear a red t-shirt on Friday, September 28th. Pass it on!
I hadn't heard that Barafundle but am getting my one and only red t-shirt out right now. Problem is that it's too cold for just a t-shirt. (Coincidentally mine has an Om sign on the front.) I suppose that's a jog for me to get myself down to the Burmese Embassy. In my red t-shirt. Thanks for giving me something I can do.
Love
Sunanda xxx
This whole thing can excalate into a battle which can involve China.
China gets its oil and gas from Burma, so China will be very reluctant to get involved and if they do ,they will side with the generals. The USA and UN will have to tread very carefully if they get involved.
But China has the Olympics coming up and what I've heard is that they will not want to rock that particular boat (which is going to be worth lots of hard currency to them) by siding with the Burmese generals.
What I can't wrap my head around is how these shadowy military dictators can be so twisted and inhumane. How do human beings get to be like this? To me it is just inexplicable that any human could inspire to be a dictator and enact such cruelty on his own country. My mind just can't grasp how this can be.
Greed? - From what little I understand, they are being 'managed' and made promises to, due to the interest in her excellent natural resources... China have a clear & strong interest, and I suspect (due to the massive news driven 'outrage') - so do we:(
Interesting snippet on the radio news earlier (and I'm not sure if I heard right) but some of the forces are fighting between themselves, I don't know if it's full blown firearms type, however it proves there is dissent, doubt and a desire for justice amongst the ranks eh 🙂
Yes, I heard that there is dissent within the ranks. The military must at some point see reason that it's not right to kill your brother, especially if he happens to be a Buddhist Monk. As my husband said, you kill a monk, then there is no saying how many more times you would have to come back in another life before you reached enlightenment.
PS, I am wearing the brightest red top today ....
Love
PS, I am wearing the brightest red top today ....
Me too. Well it's red anyway.
But China has the Olympics coming up and what I've heard is that they will not want to rock that particular boat (which is going to be worth lots of hard currency to them) by siding with the Burmese generals.
It's always awful to make politics out of the Olympics, but I think on this occasion we should. (LOL, I say "we" - and as if the UK and our politicians would.) But ideally we should use this to humble China, who are an utterly totalitarion state. Ideally we'd even refuse to take part, which of course is not happening.
But it's an opportunity all the same. Many things could be done, if only symbolically. Chinese people today are not as trusting of the totalitarians as they were. Things can start to change there with help from outside.
V
I agree V, but would it make any difference? When the US boycotted the Moscow games, it didn't stop Russian invading and remaining in Afghanistan.
I seem to remember a very long thread on boycotting the Olympics some time back here on HP. I believe it was very divided on those who went for the political route and those who felt the sportspeople shouldn't be used as a sacrifice after the amount of training they had put in. Maybe China are far more worried about their purses than the Russians were.
Love
Hi all
Well, I'm not long back from the Burmese Embassy where I joined the small and very moving demonstration there (wearing not only my red t-shirt but also a red bandanna that we were all given.) I found myself standing next to Jo Brand. Interestingly, given the posts above, one of the placards read 'Boycott China Olympics 2008'. There is, I believe, going to be a big protest on Saturday 6th October but I haven't any details yet. Virginia McKenna, for those old enough to remember her, was also at today's protest. Who knows what good this will do - the Embassy was tightly closed, net curtains drawn - but it was good to be able to do something.
Love
Sunanda xxx
Hi all
Well, I'm not long back from the Burmese Embassy where I joined the small and very moving demonstration
I wish I could have been there with you.
Maybe I'll make the 6th.
That's great Sunanda:), wish I was there as well. Unfortunately Oct 6 is one of my busy weekends but I shall be there in spirit.
Love x
Well done Sunada.
The US has now stepped in with sanctions against them.
Just spotted this
http://news.independant.co.uk/world/asia/article3010196.ece
Not wanting to stray for long off-topic, but China and the Olympics came up. It'll be interesting to see how that goes at the time. I've met a couple of people from mainland China recently, and the main thing they say is that there's a huge dearth of English-speakers there (which tourists etc. will expect) and it could be a big problem.
Anyway, back to Burma ...
V