Burma Appeal
|
9 May 2008: Staggering new estimates suggest that 100,000 people may have died in Burma's terrible cyclone. Incredibly, the corrupt and brutal Burmese government has stopped most international aid at the borders and is impeding the relief effort. What's happening in Burma is not just a natural disaster--it's also a catastrophe of bad leadership. Burma's brutal and corrupt military junta failed to warn the people, failed to evacuate any areas, and suppressed freedom of communication so that Burmese people didn't know the storm was coming when the rest of the world did. Now the government is failing to respond to the disaster and obstructing international aid organizations. Humanitarian relief is urgently needed, but Burma's government could easily delay, divert or misuse any aid. Yesterday the International Burmese Monks Organization, including many leaders of the democracy protests last fall, launched a new effort to provide relief through Burma's powerful grass roots network of monasteries--the most trusted institutions in the country and currently the only source of housing and support in many devastated communities. Click here to donate: Giving to the monks is a smart, fast way to get aid directly to Burma's people. Governments and international aid organizations are important, but face challenges--they may not be allowed into Burma, or they may be forced to provide aid according to the junta's rules. And most will have to spend large amounts of money just setting up operations in the country. The monks are already on the front lines of the aid effort--housing, feeding, and supporting the victims of the cyclone since the day it struck. The International Burmese Monks Organization will send money directly to each monastery through their own networks, bypassing regime controls. Last year, more than 800,000 of us around the world stood with the Burmese people as they rose up against the military dictatorship. The government lost no time then in dispatching its armies to ruthlessly crush the non-violent democracy movement--but now, as tens of thousands die, the junta's response is slow and threatens to divert precious aid into the corrupt regime's pockets. The monks are unlikely to receive aid from governments or large humanitarian organizations, but they have a stronger presence and trust among the Burmese people than both. If we all chip in a little bit, we can help them to make a big difference. Click here to donate: Here are some links to more information: For more information about Avaaz's work to support the Burmese people, click here: For more information about the cyclone, the humanitarian crisis, and the political dimension, see these articles: |
|
To Remind us of Burma
|
Bagan TemplesSacred Places in Myanmar There are two enormous ancient temple complexes in Southeast Asia: Bagan in Burma and Angkor in Cambodia. Both sites are remarkable for their expanse of sacred geography and the number and size of their individual temples. For many visitors Bagan is the more extraordinary because of its wonderful views. Scattered across a vast dusty plain may be seen scores of exotic Buddhist temples. The kingdoms of Bagan date to the early 2nd century AD, yet the region entered its golden age during the reign of King Anawrahta in 1057 AD. From this time, until it was overrun by Kublai Khan's forces in 1287 AD, more than 13,000 temples, pagodas and other religious structures were built. Today, seven centuries later, approximately 2,200 temples remain standing. The river Irrawaddy has washed away nearly one-third of the original city area, thieves have torn apart many temples in search of treasures, while earthquakes and the ravages of time have reduced hundreds of other temples to piles of crumbling stones. Two of the loveliest temples are the Mahabodhi and Gawdawpalin. The Mahabodhi, a smaller replica of the famous Bodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, India (where the Buddha attained enlightenment), was built during the 13th century reign of King Nantaungmya and is covered with niches containing seated Buddha figures. The 60 meter tall Gawdawpalin temple, built in the 12th century by King Narapatisithu, was badly damaged in a 1975 earthquake but has since been reconstructed. Many of the temples of Bagan are still functioning and large numbers of pilgrims visit the ancient holy place.
Photos: Mahabodhi temple, Bagan, Burma Gawdawpalin temple, Bagan, Burma
Review by Photo by flickr user organic guru |
|
Burma's Kachin FestivalFestivals in Myanmar The annual Kachin state festival, in the Burmese capital Myitkyina is a fairly big deal with many villagers coming from the hills representing all the various strands of the kachin peoples. There is much parading of costumes etc, lots of traditional Burmese dancing as well as a few modern bands. There was also a fairground, with hand propelled ferris wheel, magic show, fairground games etc. I flew from Mandalay and was going to get a boat back down the Irrawaddy river but the water was too low, this would be a great trip to do (as seen, similarly, in Orwell and Norman Lewis).
Review by Photo by jackdavies |
|
Maha Muni BuddhaMonuments & Landmarks in Mandalay, Myanmar Legends tell that Buddha once went to teach among the people of northern Burma. The local king requested the Buddha to leave an image of himself for the benefit of the people. Buddha sat for a week of meditation under a Bodhi tree while Sakka, a king of the gods, created a life-like image of great beauty. Pleased with the image, the Buddha decided to imbue it with his spiritual essence for a period of five thousand years.
According to ancient tradition, only five likenesses of the Buddha were said to have been made during his lifetime: two were in India, two in paradise, and the fifth is the Maha Muni or ‘Great Sage.’ Archaeologists believe the image was probably cast during the reign of King Chandra Surya, who ascended the throne in AD 146, some 600 years after the Buddha actually passed away. Little is known of the Maha Muni over the next fifteen hundred years. It was stolen, moved around by various kings and was once buried beneath a crumbling temple in the jungle. Brought to Mandalay in 1784 and placed within a specially built shrine, it is the most venerated Buddha image in all of Burma. The statue, 4 meters tall and originally cast of metal, is now entirely coated with a two-inch thick layer of gold leaf. So much gold leaf has been applied by so many different hands that the figure has developed an irregular outline. Many thousands of pilgrims visit the shrine each day and a great festival in early February draws hundreds of thousands.
Review by Photo by Photography: Martin Gray |
