Well the cyclone that tore through Burma is tragic beyond my ability to even fully grasp it.
As of today even the most conservative estimates are putting the death toll into the many tens of thousands and the survivors are at great risk of disease, starvation, and dehydration.
The military Junta is slow in allowing help in. They are always paranoid and afraid of losing their power. They, the military junta, have found an all time low in their history. This is not the time to discuss this further. This is the time to step up and help the people.
I am endorsing Save the Children as a good place to get resources and help into Burma quickly. Save the Children has been there a long time and they will know how to operate in this horrific time.
Here is a link to their site
https://secure.ga4.org/01/cyclone_nargis?qp_source=hp%5fpb%5fnargris
or
http://www.savethechildren.org
Please donate now.
With respect,
Patrick Ryan
www.AwakenedWisdom.com
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Friday, December 7, 2007
Hope is a prayer
Hope is a prayer.
I hope that you are having a nice day today.
Depending on where you live:
I hope that you are able to appreciate your freedom.
I hope that you had many good conversations about life and politics, openly and without fear of being overheard.
I hope that you did not have to worry about the army raiding your village and taking your children today.
I hope that you are not missing friends and relatives who marched at a recent demonstration.
I hope that you read a newspaper that represented differing views.
I hope that you were able to consider who you would vote for in your next election.
If any of that is true for you then I know you do not live in Burma.
Please take a moment and hope that this will be true in Burma too.
Thank you and blessings,
Patrick
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
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
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
Monday, November 12, 2007
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!
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!
Monday, October 29, 2007
The Burmese military's view of People's Desires
Here is a photo I took of a billboard that is posted on a busy street in Yangoon, Burma.
It is telling the people what their desires are.
In case the photo is difficult to read here is what it says:
People's Desires
1) Oppose those relying on external elements, acting as stooges, holding negative views.
2) Oppose those trying to jeopardize stability of the State and progress of the nation.
3) Oppose foreign nations interfering in internal affairs of the State.
4) Crush all internal and external destructive elements as the common enemy.
Take a moment and really get what it would be like to live in a country in which you are controlled by military force and this sign represents the value system of that force.
Try to understand the fear and greed that run such a military.
Try to understand what it is like to live in such conditions knowing that you can be crushed just for speaking what the military would consider a, "negative view."
Now if you will indulge my belief that we can all make a difference from afar.
Picture in your mind those very same soldiers and imagine a light of love and divine wisdom washing over them unconditionally.
Imagine that light carrying Meta, loving kindness, to those very soldiers.
Imagine them feeling safe, loved, and open hearted to each other and the people all around.
Imagine in that unfamiliar feeling of love and safety that same soldier receives a Divine Wisdom that informs him that he will be alright without his gun.
Imagine him releasing his fear and embracing the whole and kindheartedness of his own Divine Wisdom.
Imagine him reaching his hand out to the people nearby and crying out for forgiveness.
Imagine those people granting his request for forgiveness and embracing that soldier in love and compassion.
Imagine a wave of compassion moving through Burma like a tsunami of forgiveness washing away the fear that had up till now run the soldiers life.
Imagine all the soldiers dropping their weapons.
Imagine the small group of generals that presently run the country not having an army to enforce their will.
Imagine a time of healing decades of abuse.
and now imagine your heart energy reaching out from where you are to the beautiful people of Burma, holding them - NOW!
Thank you,
Patrick
www.AwakenedWisdom.com
Sunday, October 28, 2007
By VOA News
"Heavily armed forces guarded the Shwedagon and Sule pagodas on an important Buddhist holiday Friday, when monks end a period of monastic retreat.
Also Friday, the party of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said the government has released at least 70 more people detained in the military's violent crackdown on protesters."
It is encouraging that some talks are taking place between Aung San Suu Kyi, the UN and the Burmese military.
It is essential that we all keep our attention on this situation.
The appearance of peace in Burma is not a true reflection of the condition of the people but rather a result of having soldiers posted everywhere.
When I was there recently I was informed that any gathering for any reason larger than 5 people is technically illegal.
When was the last time you gathered with more than 5 people.
What if you had to be concerned that you were breaking the law just because of that.
I want us all to remember that this military used violent force against Burmese monks and laypeople that were engaged in Peaceful protests. We all saw the pictures of the military shooting into crowds of unarmed citizens.
Any governing body that will not allow people to speak out, that uses weapons and violence against the people, and that is run by greed for profit is essentially evil.
When I was there I personally met some high ranking military officers that had been educated in the west. I could see that they were essentially good people that I believe given the chance would do the right thing.
What these officers need is an opportunity to switch allegiance from the small group of corrupt generals to the people.
At this time the biggest fear that runs the rank and file military is reprisals against family members.
There must be some way to create a condition, a tipping point of the will, so that the military can set down their weapons.
Imagine what would be possible if on the same day, same hour, all soldiers simply put their weapons away and walked through the streets side by side with monks and laypeople demanding that a democratic election would be held.
Remember that there is no outside force that is threatening this country. The enemy, as far as the military is concerned, are the citizens who held a legal election twenty years ago only to have it overruled.
Well I can dream can't I?
"Heavily armed forces guarded the Shwedagon and Sule pagodas on an important Buddhist holiday Friday, when monks end a period of monastic retreat.
Also Friday, the party of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said the government has released at least 70 more people detained in the military's violent crackdown on protesters."
It is encouraging that some talks are taking place between Aung San Suu Kyi, the UN and the Burmese military.
It is essential that we all keep our attention on this situation.
The appearance of peace in Burma is not a true reflection of the condition of the people but rather a result of having soldiers posted everywhere.
When I was there recently I was informed that any gathering for any reason larger than 5 people is technically illegal.
When was the last time you gathered with more than 5 people.
What if you had to be concerned that you were breaking the law just because of that.
I want us all to remember that this military used violent force against Burmese monks and laypeople that were engaged in Peaceful protests. We all saw the pictures of the military shooting into crowds of unarmed citizens.
Any governing body that will not allow people to speak out, that uses weapons and violence against the people, and that is run by greed for profit is essentially evil.
When I was there I personally met some high ranking military officers that had been educated in the west. I could see that they were essentially good people that I believe given the chance would do the right thing.
What these officers need is an opportunity to switch allegiance from the small group of corrupt generals to the people.
At this time the biggest fear that runs the rank and file military is reprisals against family members.
There must be some way to create a condition, a tipping point of the will, so that the military can set down their weapons.
Imagine what would be possible if on the same day, same hour, all soldiers simply put their weapons away and walked through the streets side by side with monks and laypeople demanding that a democratic election would be held.
Remember that there is no outside force that is threatening this country. The enemy, as far as the military is concerned, are the citizens who held a legal election twenty years ago only to have it overruled.
Well I can dream can't I?
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