Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Break the Burmese blackout

So the work on Burma done by the NGO named Avaaz continues and here's what they say themeselves in their latest encouragement to us -as friends of Human Rights, but foremost of the Burmese people.

"Dear friends,

Last week, Burma went dark--the military shut down all internet, telephone and communication links with the rest of the world. They did it because it has been the pictures, blog posts, and emails--of monks brutally murdered, journalists shot--that have done the most to galvanize the entire world on Burma. Without that flow of information, the media is reporting dry diplomatic processes--and each day the danger grows that the press will move on.

We can't allow the Burmese blackout to succeed. Avaaz is working to support highly respected Burmese democracy and civil society groups by sending them $100,000 in crucial technical and humanitarian support this week. These groups, working in the region with the right equipment and tools, can help bring stories out of Burma and poke holes in the blackout, shining spotlights on the ongoing cruelty in Burma. They are desperate for help to give humanitarian assistance to the victims of the crackdown and tell their stories to the world before the current window of media attention passes. Other donors take months to raise money; only we can be fast enough to meet this urgent need. Can we raise $100,000 (75,000 Euros) in the next 24 hours so the money can be transferred this week? Click below now to make a donation online: https://secure.avaaz.org/en/end_the_burmese_blackout/1.php?cl=32423058

A massive military crackdown has quashed the public protests and thousands of peaceful monks and protesters are right now being brutalized in secret prisons, away from the TV cameras. Burma's people need us more than ever. Over the last several days, over 775,000 Avaaz members have answered the call for help and signed our petition, launched a global ad campaign, organized hundreds of protests, and lobbied their governments. Yesterday, we delivered our petition personally to UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and helped win stronger measures on Burma from the European Union. The UN Security Council, including China, has finally condemned the crackdown.

The pressure is working. Every news story on Burma cites the power of global public opinion in this situation. Burma's generals want to stifle that power by cutting off all communication, and there is a real danger this week that they will succeed, and the press will move on. But we can stop them. Click below to donate whatever you can:"
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/end_the_burmese_blackout/1.php?cl=32423058

I love their closure saying, "With hope and determination"
And then signed by the names: "Ricken, Pascal, Graziela, Ben, Paul, Milena and the whole Avaaz Team"

Well, what is Avaaz then besides these names? The name of the NGO means "'voice' in many languages" and they are "a legally registered non-profit organization, co-founded with the support of major NGO partners like Oxfam and MoveOn.org, and working with global figures like Al Gore on climate change and Desmond Tutu on poverty." They have offices in 6 countries and an administrative office in New York City. Their mission is "a global democratic one", and their community has grown in just 9 months to over 1.5 million members from every nation on earth.

A report on all of their work on Burma so far
http://www.avaaz.org/blog/en

Keep up the good work!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!