Dear Friends,
Cyclone Nargis has left a tragedy of huge proportion in Burma. On top of the political suffering the Burmese have endured the past 46 years, now almost certainly 100,000 are dead, and at least 2 million people are without food, shelter and water, and face disease and starvation.
As Buddhists we know that suffering is inevitable, that change and even death are inevitable. In this situation however, while the force of nature that tore through Burma was uncontrollable, the human decisions that are affecting the scope of the death and destruction are deliberate.
To see Thich Nhat Hanh give support to the Burmese monks go to #14 at www.burmaitcantwait.org
For the latest news on Burma’ suffering, go to uscampaignforburma.org
15 Burmese monks begin a 2 day fast May 15 outside the United Nations to ask the UN to take immediate action on Burma, before more people die.
Many of us are responding and we thank you for your care. Let us know what you are doing and by posting your events on our website. The Buddhist Peace Fellowship encourages the wider Buddhist community to respond in the following ways. And we encourage you to send this appeal out to your sanghas and your friends.
1. Offer humanitarian aid now to those directly affected by Cyclone Nargis. Emergency relief efforts can be directed towards BPF’s affiliate, the Foundation for the People of Burma (FPB), which already has some funds in Burma, and has the resources and connections in country that assure proper distribution and use of your generous gifts. (** see below for what FPB is doing now.)
Donations can be made via the FPB website at www.foundationburma.org or by check or money order to Foundation for the People of Burma, 225 Bush Street Suite 590, San Francisco, CA 94104. For questions call (415) 217-7015. Email: info@foundationburma.org
2. Write or email the Myanmar Embassy, expressing your compassionate concern for the Burmese people in this natural disaster, and sincere wishes that the Burmese government will wholeheartedly devote all its considerable military and civilian resources to rescue those trapped in the path of the cyclone and will allow the free flow of international relief aid.
The Honorable Ambassador U Linn Myaing
Embassy of the Union of Myanmar
2300 S Street NW, Washington D.C. – 20008
info@mewashingtondc.com
3. Write or email the United Nations. Ask Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to visit Burma, assess the situation in person, and talk to the generals himself. Tell the Security Council that now is the time to act to save over 1 million Burmese from starvation or disease. salsa.democracyinaction.org.
4. Write or call your Representative and Senator in the US Congress. Ask them to use their influence with China and India to help the situation in Burma. Visit forms.house.gov to locate the contacts to your representatives.
** Buddhist Peace Fellowship works closely with The Foundation for the People of Burma (FPB) one of the more effective groups working in specific communities in Rangoon and southern Burma for many years. With 70 people already in-country, FPB is positioned to quickly address people’s needs in these areas.
FPB’s immediate response to the disaster has focused on working with their existing project partners in Rangoon and on the Thai-Burma border to organize and financially support emergency supplies and services. Reports from Burma are that food supplies are low, prices are astronomical, and safe drinking water is difficult to access.
FPB’s current efforts include:
• Providing food and materials to monasteries/shelters for the newly homeless population in a neighborhood in central Rangoon
• Supporting the emergency supply and distribution of water filters
• Assisting the efforts of our partners on the Thai-Burma border to purchase rice at fair market prices in Thailand and ship it to the affected areas
• Support for Burmese doctors and nurses that have offered their assistance and are currently visiting monasteries/shelters to provide care for the wounded and surveillance to prevent disease outbreak
• Traveling to the Irawaddy Delta area to begin bringing in supplies and assistance
FPB will explore the feasibility of longer-term interventions as their understanding of the situation develops.
Thanks and love,
Margaret Howe
-- Margaret Howe
Human Rights Program Coordinator
Buddhist Peace Fellowship
707-360-8452
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