This revelation is pleasantly unexpected but also very fitting.
]]>The military junta in Myanmar unexpectedly raised fuel prices to upwards of 500% last month, making it impossible for the largely working class populations to even take the bus to work. People have been forced to stay home because they can't afford to pay for transportation and food and gas prices have also risen.
In response to economic hardships, protests that began on August 19 have continued up to the present despite attempts by the government to crack down on protesters. So far, the government has arrested all known activists that have not already gone into hiding, believing that this would curtail the movement. Unfortunately for them, Buddhist monks in Yangon and other cities have joined the march over the past week.
It has been almost two decades since the 1988 pro-democracy uprising in Myanmar and the protests are a welcome sign that Burmese residents are not complacent and still willing to fight against the military regime. The US and other European countries have placed sanctions against Myanmar but those have been largely ineffective because Myanmar is able to trade with neighboring countries in Southeast Asia and with China and India.
I am worried/scared about how the Burmese government will react to the continued marches. They haven't been afraid to murder peaceful citizens in the past to get their way. Myanmar is a very religious country and so the Buddhist monks marching in the streets have helped the protests gain momentum and the government is getting antsy. The regime has mostly ignored the protests, probably fearing a backlash for attacking such a peaceful and religious group.
The government as of today has released its first official warning against the protesting monks and others. Violence is expected to break out tomorrow.
A friend of mine forwarded this press release to me this morning:
Burma Campaign UK sources in Rangoon have reported that soldiers have been ordered to shave their heads, in possible preparation for infiltrating peaceful demonstrations. They would start rioting or attacking police, providing the regime with a pretext for a brutal crackdown on protestors.Sources indicate that soldiers from Light Battalion 77 in Rangoon have been given the order. Sources also report that the regime has ordered 3,000 monks robes from a factory in Rangoon.
It is a tactic the regime has used in the past, including at the Depayin massacre in 2003, during which Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested. Regime militia dressed as monks were involved in the ambush which left up to 100 democracy activists dead. State television today reported that action would be taken against protestors.
"We know from experience that the regime is capable of opening fire on civilians", said Mark Farmaner, acting Director of Burma Campaign UK. The regime came to power on the back of a massacre in 1988 that left at least 3,000 civilians dead. They have also been accused by the UN of breaking the Geneva Convention for their deliberate targeting of civilians in attacks on ethnic minorities.
Despite the widespread expectations that the regime will use violence to suppress protest, the international community has been remarkably silent, with the French government being the only one to make a strong statement warning of consequences if the regime respond with violence.
ASEAN has also expressed concern. "The regime has been held in check by the peoples' respect for the monks and the fact that the world is watching, but the scale of
protests means they will be looking for options that allow them to justify a crackdown," said Mark Farmaner, "The UN Secretary General and other world leaders must speak out and make it clear that a violent response in unacceptable. At the moment the international community seems to be willing to watch from the sidelines as the regime moves closer to a massacre. If the regime does attack protestors, this will have been one of the most widely predicted massacres in recent history, and makes a mockery any government's claim to be committed to human rights."
The Burmese Association at Berkeley is going to meet tonight to talk about the recent news. We are excited that something is happening, that we might be on a path to revolution but at the same time very worried because we still have family back in Burma.
In other news, I am helping facilitate a DeCal class at Berkeley this semester, looking at racism and structural inequities in the education system and seeing what possible solutions exists to these problems.
I've been disturbed about what I've heard of the Jena Six case in Louisiana and allegations of resegregation occurring in Alabaman schools.
I don't know what to do about any of these events. There have been a lot of discussions and a protest was held on campus last Thursday calling for the release of the Jena 6 but it's not enough.
]]>I should have cut my hair before I left for Taiwan. It was sooo hot there and having short hair in Berkeley doesn't make much of a difference. Also went through my clothes to see what I should donate to Goodwill before I go back. I've outgrown so much over the years and they're just taking up space in my closet.
Been back from Taiwan for a week but I haven't accomplished much of the things I need to do before I go back to Berkeley.
Reminders:
1. Thank you cards.
2. Resilience Essay/Reflections
3. TIC starts Monday.
4. Bio book from Mamie.
5. Develop pictures from Taiwan!
6. Move into my apartment on Thursday.
7. Set up wireless and cable.
8. Waive SHIP.
9. DO NOT fail OChem!
10. Telebears: August 01, 12:20 pm
I can't believe I'm going back for Summer Sessions right when everyone else is coming home for the summer; OChem is going to take up my entire summer. : ( *grumbles*
]]>Natalie Portman Gangsta Rap - SNL sketch
http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/#mea=2922
Cover of Fiona Apple's "Ugly Girl"
Performed by California Golden Overtones
Ugly Girl
When I saw you at the grocery store
You were sharing a shopping cart with her
And I couldn't turn and run away
I didn't know what to say
You introduced us for the first time
And I had to look her in the eye
But you could not have imagined my surprise
Can't you see?
You're leaving me
For an ugly girl
Does she talk about politics?
And all that stuff that used to makes me sick
Does she smoke cigars and stay up late
Oh she's so great
Does she tell you what you want to here?
And I bet she could grow a beard
I feel better thinking you were queer
It's not fair
I can't compare
To an ugly girl
To an ugly girl
Lalalalalala lalalalalalala lalalalalalalala
Lalalalalalala
Lalalalalalalala
Lalalalalala hhahah
Hahaha the jokes on me
I feel jealous and I feel mean
She's so nice
That it makes up for her face
There's no way, do you have to keep your eyes closed
Do you have to keep the lights down low?
Oh I bet you wish you had a blind fold
CAN'T (instead of don't) you see you're leaving me
For an ugly girl
For an ugly girl
She's an ugly girl
A real ugly girl
Lalalalalalala lalalalalala lalalalalala lalalalalalala
She's an ugly girl
An ugly girl ahh huhhh
(The next song is very explicit so proceed at your own caution.)
]]> Cover of Ben Fold's version of "Bitches Ain't Shit"Bitches Ain't Shit
Bitches ain't shit (x2)
Bitches ain't shit but hoes and tricks
Lick on deez nutz and suck the dick
Get's the fuck out after you're done
And I hops in my ride to make a quick run...
I used to know a bitch named Eric Wright
We used to roll around and fuck the hoes at night
Tight than a mutharfucka with the gangsta beats
And we was ballin' on the muthafuckin' Compton streets
Peep, the shit got deep and it was on
Number 1 song after number 1 song
Long as my muthafuckin' pockets was fat
I didn't give a fuck where the bitch was at
But she was hangin' with a white bitch doin' the shit she do
Suckin' on his dick just to get a buck or 2
And the few ends she got didn't mean nothin'
Now she's suing cuz the shit she be doin' ain't shit
Bitch can't hang with the streets, she found herself short
So now she's takin' me to court
It's real conversation for your ass
I once had a bitch named Mandy May
Used to be up in them guts like everyday
The pussy was the bomb, had a brotha on sprung
I was in love like a muthafucka lickin' the protung
The homies used to tell me that she wasn't no good
But I'm the maniac in black, Mr. Snoop Eastwood
So I figure brotha wouldn't trip with mine
Guess what? Got gaffled by one time
I'm back to the muthafuckin' county jail
Six months on my chest, now it's time to bail
I get's released on a hot sunny day
My brotha D.O.C. and my homey Dr Dre
Scooped in a coupe, Snoop we got news
Your girl was trickin' while you was draped in your county blues
I ain't been out a second
And already gotta do some muthafuckin chin checkin
Move up the block as we groove down the block
See my girl's house, Dre, pass the glock
Kick in the do', I look on the flo'
It's my little cousin Daz and he's fuckin' my hoe, slut
I uncocked my shit...I'm heart-broke but I'm still loc'ed
Man, fuck a bitch!
Bitches ain't shit but hoes and tricks
Lick on deez nutz and suck the dick
Get's the fuck out after you're done
And I hops in my ride to make a quick run...
I used to know a bitch named Eric Wright
We used to roll around and fuck the hoes at night
Tight than a mutharfucka with the gangsta beats
And we was ballin' on the muthafuckin' Compton streets
Peep, the shit got deep and it was on
Number 1 song after number 1 song
Long as my muthafuckin' pockets was fat
I didn't give a fuck where the bitch was at
But she was hangin' with a white bitch doin' the shit she do
Suckin' on his dick just to get a buck or 2
And the few ends she got didn't mean nothin'
Now she's suing cuz the shit she be doin' ain't shit
Bitch can't hang with the streets, she found herself short
So now she's takin' me to court
It's real conversation for your ass
Bitch can't hang with the streets (x2)
]]>Watch: Me and You and Everyone We Know, Love Me If You Dare
Lend: Born into Brothels
Return: Library Books by 4/6
Work on websites for RISE and BAB
Talk to SSEAS Department about funding, etc for BAB
4/06: Coffee with Rebekah :D, Party!!!
4/07: Eggster Festival!!!
4/09: Assignment 7 due for Soc, need to find another person to interview for project before then
4/12: Physics 8B Midterm
4/13: OASES High School Field Trip
4/14: Yellowcard @ Greek
4/16: Final Soc Paper due (14+ pgs)
I'm tired. URAP sucks right now. I need another Spring Break. : (
]]>Oh... it's still alive. Yay! :D
]]>