Cyclone Nargis, How Can You Help?

[David365]

Hello
I'm sure no one can have been unaffected by the news of Cyclone Nargis, devastating Irrawaddy Delta of Myanmar (aka Burma) - home to an estimated 6 million people. With an estimated 100,000 people already dead world governments have been quick to send aid - but the Myanmar Government refuses to let all but a trickle in!

My blog is about personal development but my latest post discusses
Cyclone Nargis and what we can do? But I'd happy to carry on any discussion here as the more people act, the more chance there is of something happening.

David

[Jennihul]

Myanmar is trying the isolate/dominate trick on their people. The cyclone probably acted as an ally to them, helping their junta perpetuate chaos under which that type of hashed-together regime can thrive best.

Unending pressure from governments and human rights groups is the only way to assure their people are not forgotten.

I would look into Amnesty International.

Amnesty International USA - Action for Human Rights

Jennifer

[David365]

Originally Posted by Jennihul

I would look into Amnesty International.
Jennifer

I've been an active member of Amnesty International for 30 years - the post that I link to at the start of this thread has links to specific Amnesty (and other) Actions relating to Cyclone Nargis. The whole idea is to encourage people to act.

David

[schola]

That's rough.

I feel naturally compelled to help, but I realize that there is not much the rest of the world can do if their government is refusing help, short of a military invasion.

Maybe we should consider the possibility that sometimes there is nothing you can do to help? Sometimes more harm than good comes out of trying to be a "do gooder."

One thing we could do is focus on keeping our own countries from falling into the clutches of a repressive government like the one in Burma.

[David365]

You may feel sending emails or letters to Governments or other agencies a waste of time, but it is a way of doing something and it is a way of exerting collective, non violent pressure. If everyone wrote....

I'm also reminded of the Tim Robbins character in the Shawshank Redemption - OK it was fiction, but all those letters got a library!

David

[Brutha]

You may feel sending emails or letters to Governments or other agencies a waste of time, but it is a way of doing something and it is a way of exerting collective, non violent pressure.

I'm not sure whether pressure increases or reduces the problem. Some people get more defensive when you apply pressure.

I don't really understand at the moment why they don't want to let help inside.

The cyclone probably acted as an ally to them, helping their junta perpetuate chaos under which that type of hashed-together regime can thrive best.

Chaos can easily manifest itself in a regime change.
If people hunger to death they don't mind dying in a revolution.

[David365]

Originally Posted by Brutha

I'm not sure whether pressure increases or reduces the problem. Some people get more defensive when you apply pressure.

I don't really understand at the moment why they don't want to let help inside.

Look at it another way, without pressure they have shown little inclination to let help in. Writing letters, etc, is also a way of showing that the world outside is watching. Some regimes like this are sensitive to world opinion (OK, not all!).

My understanding of their reluctance to let help in, is being a military junta they see outsiders as a threat who may weaken their position. The fact that they cannot differentiate between say, The Red Cross and the US Army, is a very sad reflection on what is likely to happen out there.

[Brutha]

Look at it another way, without pressure they have shown little inclination to let help in.

There is a lot of pressure on Burma even before the cyclone.
They know that Europeans or Americans would change their regime if they could do it cheaply.

My understanding of their reluctance to let help in, is being a military junta they see outsiders as a threat who may weaken their position.

If that true, why to do propose being a bigger threat?

If that is the reason they don't let help inside wouldn't it be better to focus on convincing them that help is no threat than to increase pressure and to show that we really are a threat to them when they don't let help inside the country?

[David365]

Originally Posted by Brutha

There is a lot of pressure on Burma even before the cyclone.
They know that Europeans or Americans would change their regime if they could do it cheaply.

If that true, why to do propose being a bigger threat?

If that is the reason they don't let help inside wouldn't it be better to focus on convincing them that help is no threat than to increase pressure and to show that we really are a threat to them when they don't let help inside the country?

I don't think us arguing over what the junta will or won't do is going to make any difference. I personally feel that the more people write/email the junta/their embassy's the more likely they are to let aid in. I accept your arguments, I just think/hope you are wrong.

David