Stop Child Labor and Child Soldiers

When I was a monk in Burma I was able, with great difficulty, to travel to back areas normally never seen by foreigners. I personally witnessed child slave labor camps. Imagine your kids being removed from your famliy at eight or ten years old. They are taken to road works and forced to crush large boulders into gravel while armed soldiers lurk from nearby shaded spots.

This is really happening.

Here is a news report:

By Daniel Trotta

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Myanmar is filling the ranks of its depleted armed forces with children as young as 10 and may try to capture even more boys after the recent crackdown on pro-democracy protests, Human Rights Watch said on Tuesday.

The former Burma is so desperate to replenish its army after desertions and attrition that children are bought and sold by military recruiters. They are beaten and held as virtual prisoners while the government denies it is happening, the report said.
end

What can you do:

Put your Christmas shopping dollars to work by supporting organizations that are able to organize, lobby, and provide support.

Two such organizations are the US Campaign for Burma (http://www.uscampaignforburma.org)
and
www.Avaaz.org

Chevron pumping Burmese gas

Readers - Good News, Here is a simple way for you to help the people of Burma.
Stop buying Chevron gas.
Chevron is pumping natural gas on behalf of the Burmese military because it has a grandfather clause exemption from boycotting regulations.
Chevron, just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.
Chevron, You were my favorite source of gas. No More!!!
Readers stop buying Chevron gas until this is corrected. 

Every time you DON”T buy Chevron gas you have helped the people of Burma. Send a message with your purchasing dollars.

Public opinion does influence even military forces like the one that is ruling Burma at this time.
Because of the international public outcry the Burmese military has allowed Aung San Suu Kyi to meet with some of her party representatives for the first time in years.
This is due to the influence of all our voices. This is a small concession and the trap and the trick would be if we thought this was enough and then turned our heads to more convenient directions.

One leverage point for continued public pressure will be through the governments and businesses that are engaging with the Burmese Military. The five countries in particular that seem to be the closest and doing business with Burma are China, India, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore.
According to Joel Brinkley in an San Francisco Chronicle article, India recently said that Burma was a, “close and friendly neighbor,” and signed a three year deal with Burma for energy exploration.

People of India, please let your government know that this is not acceptable.

Be compassionate, be responsible!