Padaukpan

The image of "Faith", Padaukpan blooms at New Year.

Dear Padaukpan,

I have been in Thailand for almost 2 months. I took the blooming Padaukpan, image of " Faith" and " Love", picture on the occasion of New Year festival, April 12 to 16 for you all.

Last week, I visited a Sunday school for Burmese migrant workers in Bangkok. There are around 680 young Burmese women and men studying English, Thai and computer at the school. The school has been running by an NGO, Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (TACDB). It has been started with around a hundred students 3 years ago before I left Thailand and I used to help for that program as well. Now it grows up to more than 600 students. Luckily, a Buddhist education foundation let hires three stores school building for that program in downtown Bangkok. Khin Phyu Htway was once teacher in that school.
I talked with some Burmese migrant workers who have been working in garment factories in my last visit. They have to work more than 12 hours a day and they earn only around three thousands Baht (around 100 $ par month). They have to live in a small room and they even cannot have a well sleep under the heat at night.
I am going again to that school tomorrow, Sunday and I will help some students for their application to scholarship program of Australian Open University for Undergraduate studies. Some young students reached college level and some finished high school in Burma. The scholarship program is for Burmese Refugees in Thailand.

I am really happy to see my beloved Burmese, however at the same time I am really sad too. I do not want to see them in that poor situation.

Best,

ZMK.

Total Denial

My boyfriend and I went to see Total Denial screening last Wednesday. It is an award winning documentary film by Milena Kaneva about the human rights lawsuit, Doe vs. Unocal. It was very inspiring to see how human rights violations victims from a remote area of Burma, with the help of legal assistance from EarthRights International, sued a giant oil company and won the case. This victory sends out the message to all the corporations that they should think twice about doing business with the abandoned and dissolute military regime of Burma.

The following day I was sitting in one of my business classes at the Robert H. Smith School of Business, and we were discussing about globalization and how to manage global supply chain management. We talked about factors that a firm needs to consider when outsourcing in foreign countries and partnering with foreign companies/government. There are many barriers like cultural and language differences, political situation, trade policies, laws and regulations. So after class I had a conversation with my professor and I was able to share with him about the movie screening I went to the night before since it was relevant to the topic we discussed that day. I always take every opportunity to share with others about the atrocities and ever-worsening situation in Burma. It is important to me that I inform people I come in contact with about my passion, human rights and Burma.

Doe vs. Unocal was mentioned in my Human Resources Management textbook. I took that class last semester, and I was really excited when I saw that case in my book. In fact I even called the EarthRights International office in DC to tell them about it. Education is available and I like to believe that our generation will produce ethical and responsible businessmen and businesswomen. May be this is a wishful thinking. But I sincerely and truly believe in the goodness of humanity.

chasingfreedom,
~myatnoe

Cherry and Padauk

Hello! Friends,

Last Sunday, I went to Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C. When I saw many cherry blossoms, I missed Padauk flowers from Burma. Every year in April, Burma celebrates its new year when the Padauk flowers are blooming. The yellow flowers and green leaves are in everywhere when people play with water in the humidified weather. On every small street, people are having fun by watering each other; some are making traditional food and let the players eat free food. On the main crowded roads, dancers and singers are entertaining the season and its audience. In the monastery, for the religious purpose, some people practice meditation while some make donations to Buddha and his sons, monks. I had never missed the new year festival when I lived in Burma. I hope to get a chance to enjoy the festival in Burma at least once in the rest of my life.

When I was looking at the cherry trees and thinking of Japan and U.S history, I felt the peace of the world. Hiroshima and these cherry trees prove peoples’ ability to forgiveness and love for peace. Even if Japanese people and government can forgive American people and establish a good relationship with the U.S, I have a question why Burmese people cannot forgive and build peace with each other.

Sadly, we cannot see the products of Burma in the U.S stores today due to the U.S trade sanction against Burma military regime. However, one day when freedom and justice are well balanced in Burma, I hope to see not only made-in-Burma products in America but also Padauk trees with beautiful and fragrant flowers given to the American people who supported for the freedom of Burma.
Winmay