Free Burma

[payjo]

Hey all,

Go sign a petition to end the retailing of all goods made in Burma/Myanmar
by Federated Department Stores, Inc. They own a lot of retail stores the
big ones being Macy's and Bloomingdale's. For those who don't know, Burma
has been under a brutal military dictatorship since 1962. This regime,
known as the SPDC, State Peace and Development Council, is notorious for
human rights abuses ranging from forced labor to political prisoners.

To sign the petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/fds/petition.html

For more information about Burma:
http://www.freeburmacoalition.org/

Be sure to spread the word. Burma gets very little media exposure, so we
must do all we can to educate.

 

[Electric Amish]

No thanks. I have more Burma than I need already.

amish

 

[Wallydraigle]

Why, so they can bite us in the back once they get on their feet, or so the Euopean whiners can accuse of trying to run the world? There's just no incentive. The people of Burma (Myanmar?) have been putting up with this crap since 1962. If it really bothered them they would revolt and set up the government and way of life that they want. Also isn't Burma one of the biggest producers of opium poppies in the world? With the revenue from that a boycott isn't going to shut the regime down, unless you can get heroine addicts to join the boycott

As much as those sweat shops suck, it's still employment. I guess it's better than nothing, so a boycott would just hurt the people and not the regime. I think this is just something the people are going to have to sort out on their own. When oppressed people have had enough, they will turn things around. It always happens. I do admire your attitude though. At least you cared enough to post.

 

[payjo]

First off, I'd like to thank you guys for replying. Obviously, you have strong opinions about the topic to take the time to write about it.

lirion,
You don't seem to know your facts or you don't care to obtain the facts. From your ludicrous comments you have no idea what your talking about.

If it really bothered them they would revolt and set up the government and way of life that they want.
In 1988, the people of Burma rose up in massive pro-democracy demonstrations, which the military brutally put down. These demonstrations were non-violent, but turned violent when the military started shooting at innocent people. Under tremendous pressure, the SPDC consented to a democratic election, and on May 27, 1990, the National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi won the presidency with 82% of the popular vote and 80% of the parliamentary seats. The Burmese Military under the SPDC rejected the election results and placed the newly elected president, Aung San Suu Kyi, under house arrest. The SPDC also pressured the other NLD leaders to resign and increased the already severe restrictions on freedom of assembly, speech, and the press. Although Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on October 14, 1991 in recognition for her efforts to bring peace to Burma, she lived under house arrest until 1995, and continues to be restricted from travel, communication, and political power.

With the revenue from that a boycott isn't going to shut the regime down...
We have to do all we can. The military is able to buy arms with the profits it receives from these corporations allowing it to stay in power.

We have to be the voice for those who cannot be heard. The world doesn't change on its own. It's the people that change the world, and apathy only prolongs the struggle.

 

[azazyel]

Liron, you really have no clue what's happening there. A few years ago the Monks would no longer accept alms from the military. Now you may think this is no big deal but it was HUGE. With out being able to give alms to the monks they would not be able to gain merrit. So what did the military do? They arrested and killed Monks!!!!!

Please read the other thread I posted today "change of pace" I would post a link but I am a subscriber so you may not be able to find it. Please read about Aung San Suu Kyi and what she has suffered to try to bring democracy to her people. Also Afganistan supplies 90% + of the worlds opium...Berma is called the "Rice Bowl" for a reason.

 

[Harvey]

payjo -- I agree with your premise, but you should correct your statement. The companies you list (and others) are listed on your link as Apparel companies that may be importing, sourcing, licensing, retailing, stocking, or selling clothing/apparel or other products from Burma, not as companies that are owned by the Burmese government.

Here's a direct link to the list on their site.

Beyond signing a petition, you can have more effect by voting with your dollars. Simply choose other stores, and write the mangement of the offending stores, as well.

While you're at it, please join my boycott of all food products from companies owned by the tobacco Borg, Philip Morris.

 

[RedFox1]

Our country has had an embargo on Cuban products for years...other than making Cubans poorer, I'm not sure it has made much of a difference.



<< Why, so they can bite us in the back once they get on their feet, or so the Euopean whiners can accuse of trying to run the world? >>



You guys are tough on Lirion, but he does have a point (that you didn't address.) For years I heard stories about how the Taliban was making life miserable for the Afghani people. However, now that we've removed the Taliban and have helped install a new government, the activists I run into still seem to have nothing but sour grapes for us. Before that it was Somalia -- same deal. People seem to believe that we're doing too much to intervene in other parts of the world.

-Russ

 

[b0mbrman]

<< No thanks. I have more Burma than I need already.
amish >>


Ha ha

BTW, I can't sign it...it'll put those poor people who are already oppressed out of a job

 

[bjb86s]

Edit: Sorry, that was probably in bad taste.

 

[Harvey]

Nothing like a buch of know-nothing morons polluting a serious topic about suffering people with wiseass remarks. :|

 

[payjo]

However, now that we've removed the Taliban and have helped install a new government, the activists I run into still seem to have nothing but sour grapes for us. Before that it was Somalia -- same deal.

I'm glad someone is keeping up with CNN.
Anyways, here's something that you may or may not believe. The United States actually supported the Taliban, providing military aid during the Cold War. Yes the great US of A!!! Why you ask? Well Afghanistan is a great military strategic point in any future wars against the Russians.

And while we're on this topic of opium. Here's a little know fact:
May 2001 ? Secretary of State Colin Powell gives $43 million in aid to the Taliban regime, purportedly to assist hungry farmers who are starving since the destruction of their opium crop in January on orders of the Taliban regime. [Source: The Los Angeles Times, May 22, 2001]

I'm with you, Harvey. I will join your cause and boycott all food products from companies owned by Philip Morris. All of our struggles are intertwined, no cause is not worth fighting for.

Here's some good reading for you critics out there:
http://www.copvcia.com/free/ww3/02_11_02_lucy.html

 

[b0mbrman]

<< I'm glad someone is keeping up with CNN.
Anyways, here's something that you may or may not believe. The United States actually supported the Taliban, providing military aid during the Cold War. >>



The Taliban didn't even exist until 1996 - from Encarta

Perhaps you mean the mujahideen?



<< Yes the great US of A!!! Why you ask? Well Afghanistan is a great military strategic point in any future wars against the Russians. >>



The Russians aren't going to fight us anytime soon...Maybe you mean that it was a strategic point in any future war against the Soviets? Let's not forget that the war meant that Afghanistan got to keep its independence instead of becoming just another duckit in the Soviet Union

And furthermore, it worked though, didn't it? A US-supported Afghanistan held off the Soviet Union for a *decade*. The Soviets kept pouring and pouring money into the conflict and sending soldiers upon soldiers into the fray...In the end, it was one of the biggest factors that led to the breakdown of the Soviet Union...We all still agree that we don't like communism right?



<< And while we're on this topic of opium. Here's a little know fact:
May 2001 ? Secretary of State Colin Powell gives $43 million in aid to the Taliban regime, purportedly to assist hungry farmers who are starving since the destruction of their opium crop in January on orders of the Taliban regime. [Source: The Los Angeles Times, May 22, 2001] >>


Can't find your particular article (got a link to it?) but a quick search of the LA Times archive comes up with this link

Here's what they say:

:: The U.S. does not have diplomatic relations with Afghanistan and has imposed several layers of economic, political and military sanctions on the Taliban, the nation's strict Islamic government. [Colin L. Powell] also charged Thursday that the regime, which gained power in 1996 after defeating a coalition once supported by Washington, has only exacerbated the suffering ::

 

[b0mbrman]

<< I'm with you, Harvey. I will join your cause and boycott all food products from companies owned by Philip Morris. All of our struggles are intertwined, no cause is not worth fighting for. >>


Do that and you'll get the opposite effect that you're probably looking for. I'm guessing you dislike that they sell tobacco, no? If you decrease the demand for their food, that part of their business will become relatively less profitable so they'll shift more of their resources toward tobacco production.