Go Monks Go!

Protests erupted in Burma following the SPDC’s overnight hike of fuel prices on August 15, leading to a drastic increase in the price of essential commodities such as rice. While the protesters are from all walks of life, Buddhist monks are taking incredibly powerful actions.

One of the most impressive stories of courage and action to emerge started in the first week of September when several hundred monks protesting in Pakokku, central Burma, and were fired upon by SPDC Army soldiers. In the crackdown, some of the monks were severely beaten and three were arrested. The next day, a group of monks angered by the cruel treatment held about 20 SPDC officials hostage, calling for the release of the detained monks. The standoff ended that afternoon with both the SPDC officials and the monks being released.

This week a message came from the All Burma Monks Alliance, threatening to excommunicate SPDC personnel and their families if the SPDC does not meet a series of demands by mid-day today. The monks demanded that the SPDC apologize for the incident in Pakokku, immediately reduce commodity prices, release all political prisoners, and enter into dialogue with pro-democracy groups. Excommunication – the refusal to accept alms or provide spiritual services – would mean serious public embarrassment for the junta personnel. It could also increase internal pressure on the SPDC, since personnel are already resentful over the huge income gap between themselves and the military leaders.

Monks all over the country have said that they will march to the biggest temples in their hometowns beginning today – which also marks the 19^th anniversary of the Burmese military coup.

Since the protests began, I have been more encouraged and excited than I have been in months. As activists on the outside, sometimes I feel that there is only so much advocacy and protesting and writing op-eds we can do. It comes to a point when action is needed by the very people we are fighting for; the price hike and ensuing protests in Burma are one such moment. Every day I hope that the Burmese people continue to have the strength and the courage to persevere. To the people of Burma, we stand behind you and will fight to make your voices heard all over the world.

Having a Cold in a Hot Climate

Colds in Southeast Asia are a bizarre irony. At home, I was so used to curling up in a ball in my duvet with lots of warm tea and movies to nurse a cold or flu. But here, being sick is just one hot sticky mess. Even cranking up the air-conditioning so you feel cold enough for tea and a blanket doesn’t work. The second you step out of your freezer room, your body goes into shock with the surge of hot humid air. I don’t think the constant change from one extreme temperature to the next does any good… it seemed to only magnify my fever.

Meds… another battle. At home, you just grab some Tylenol Cold and Flu pills (night and daytime, of course) and a box Neo Citron, and you’re set. Here you have to dodge a million offers of antibiotics – Southeast Asian doctors’ favorite answer to any ailment, even if it’s not bacterial. You also need to be an excellent and unabashed mime (if you are somewhere where there isn’t so much English spoken) and you need to know exactly what you need. I felt like I was in medical school. I had to research the actual drugs in my favorites back home and find generic versions here, which were in weird doses and different combinations, obviously producing very different effects. I took a sinus decongestant that was 3 times stronger than anything back home, but didn’t have anything else in it. It also has the side effect of reducing my ability to sleep… obviously making recovery that much slower.

My advice to anyone planning on living overseas: take a bunch of cold medicine and pain killers with you! Nothing here compares.

Unexpected Changes

After a lot of soul searching and inner arguments, I’ve decided to follow my heart… back to the city and the movement I love. I tried to pull away from Tibet in order to find something that could lead to a career, but I know now that I cannot leave Tibet behind. When something is buried so deep inside you, it’s impossible to forget or even ignore it. In the upcoming year, which is so important to the Tibetan and Burmese movements, I have to be with “my first love.”

Only a month ago, I was desperately homesick. After seeing refugees being resettled to third countries and wandering around Buddhist wats and pagodas, I decided that I was going to overcome the longing. And I did. Once I started feeling comfortable again being here in this city, in this job, everything changed again. A friend on a mission visited and pulled me (willingly) back into the world I had left behind. A month ago, I never would have believed that I would be going home so soon!

Yesterday, I went to get my ticket. Because my boss needs to finalize details for the next period, I am making plans for THREE months down the road! This is a record in planning ahead for me!!

However, with the move now official, I'm a little apprehensive about returning to Montreal, sliding back into pretty much the same life I was leading before I left. What will be one whole year abroad has definitely opened my eyes to the world around me and the person I want to be in it. Am I taking a step backwards, or am I returning to the place I am meant to be for now? A friend mentioned a great quote from Nelson Mandela that really resonated with me:

“There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.”

I can’t wait to see friends and family again, and to enjoy living in such an amazing city. But it will definitely be an interesting change.

The One Year Count-down Begins

Today marks an important day for two movements that have their own places in my heart and my consciousness.

August 8, 2008 (an auspicious Buddhist date) is an important date for the Burmese: it will be 20 years since the national uprising that lead to the killing of thousands of people and the imprisonment of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The time I’ve spent with the Burmese human rights group here in Bangkok has been very interesting and has given me the opportunity to grow personally and as an activist. The bravery of the Burmese people – of those who continue to protest inside their country despite definite detention, and of those who have left their lives and families behind to campaign for democracy in exile – has inspired me.

August 8, 2008 is also the opening day of the Olympics in Beijing. Today Tibetans and their supporters have intensified their campaign against the Beijing Olympics, with only 365 days to go (www.studentsforafreetibet.org and www.beijingwideopen.org). Since Beijing put in its bid to host the 2008 games, human rights groups around the world have been vocal that such a country as China should not be given the honour because of its human rights record. The promises made by the IOC or Beijing have not yet been seen. The air quality is horrible in the capital, media reporting is not free, and millions of “ethnic nationalities” continue to live under the yoke of oppression. As my friends gather around the world to mark this important date, I wish I was there with them. I’m thinking of them and waiting anxiously for news that the “Great Wall 6”, and Lhadon and Paul, have been safely released from detention in Beijing.

One World. One Dream. Free Tibet!!

You have to check this out…

http://beijingwideopen.org