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Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar/Burma Today

A Resource Packet for Educators COMPILED BY:

Annie Kean, Shannon Dunn, Sarah Tarvin, Amy Lutterloh & Tese Wintz Neighbor

WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL November 20

th, 2013

© Tese Wintz Neighbor

CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES FACING MYANMAR TODAY

1 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

Introducing our Speakers…………………………………….2

Background Information on Myanmar ....................... 3

Map .......................................................................... 3

Country Profile & Introductory Resources…………..4

Language & Education...............................................9

News Sources............................................................ 12

History of Myanmar .................................................. 15

Pre-1988 ................................................................ 15

1988 to present.. ................................................... 16

Politics ....................................................................... 17

Human Rights ........................................................... 23

Myanmar in the World .............................................. 26

Myanmar-China Relations .................................... 26

Myanmar-India Relations ..................................... 26

Myanmar-Thailand Relations…………………………..29

Myanmar-Asia Relations ...................................... 30

Myanmar-U.S. Relations ....................................... 31

Refugee Issues .......................................................... 34

Religion & Ethnic Diversity ....................................... 38

Environment & Agriculture ...................................... 41

Science & Technology .............................................. 44

Arts & Culture - General ............................................ 46

Arts & Culture - Film ................................................. 49

Arts & Culture - Literature………………………………….52

Organizations ........................................................... 58

Local Resources………………………………………………..63

USING THIS RESOURCE GUIDE

NOTE: Many of these descriptions were excerpted directly from the source website

Visual

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)

Lesson Plans/Educator Resources

Recommended

Resource The Day After: Common Core Connection

Audio

Charts and Graphs

Maps

Educational Games

Breaking Stereotypes

Table of Contents

Photos by Tese Wintz Neighbor

unless otherwise noted

INTRODUCING OUR SPEAKERS

2 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

Therese Caouette Therese is the Executive Director at Partners Asia. Therese has worked with refugees,

migrants, and displaced persons in Southeast Asia for more than 30 years together with

community-based organizations, international bodies, foundations, and academic

institutions. Her work has emphasized building leadership and skills in local communities

and contributing to policies that shift resources responsibly to the local level where they

are most needed. Therese has published on the wide range of vulnerabilities faced by

mobile populations. She emphasizes participatory approaches to conducting research

and development projects. Therese has a Master’s degree in Public Health from

Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok and is currently on faculty with University of

Washington, Seattle University, and Thammasat University.

Treasure Shine Treasure is the Head of Programs Management for Partners Asia, a non-governmental

organization that supports community initiatives to improve the lives of the most

vulnerable of Burma/Myanmar. Treasure manages grant proposals and coordination with

the grantees while also networking with other organizations, associations, and

government bodies. Having been born in Burma/Myanmar, Treasure is very committed to

helping her country and the people within it progress. She has faced discrimination and

other challenges, but she remains committed to change for her country and her people.

Her goal, she says, is to “raise my people’s lives by promoting education and quality and

equality to everyone.” Treasure sees great value in

the exchange of ideas with other iLEAP Fellows. “I

really hope to meet many people from different

countries,” she says. “I believe I can learn a lot from

different people’s knowledge from this fellowship to

use in my profession.”

Kaung Nyunt Kaung Nyunt is the Head of Training and

Collaboration for Partners Asia, an organization in

Burma/Myanmar that works to support community

initiatives for the most vulnerable in the country. Since May of 2008, Kaung has been

working with Partners Asia focusing on education, organizational development, and

research, taking on a leadership role in 2010. After switching careers from engineering,

Kaung found his passion in education. Kaung wants to be able to “help improve the

abilities of the rural poor…especially the ethnic minorities to better their lives in the ways

that they choose,” he says, and believes that “education is the key to doing this.” Kaung is

looking forward to the cross-cultural component of the iLEAP Fellowship in order to

better understand the diversity within his own country. “There are 135 ethnic groups in

Burma/Myanmar,” Kaung explains. “This cross-cultural and leadership training will be

really effective for me, when I work with different groups.”

Congratulations to

Treasure and Kaung. They

are currently both in

Seattle as part of the

iLEAP Fellows Program.

www.ileap.org

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

3 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

Fast Facts

Capital: Nay Pyi Taw since 2006

Official Language: Burmese (117 minority

languages)

Currency: Burmese kyat

Area: 676,578 square km, slightly smaller than

Texas

Date of Independence: January 4, 1948

Population: 55,167,330 (07/2013)

Population Growth Rate: 1.05%

Urban Population: 32.6% (2011)

Literacy: 89.9%

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/t

he-world-factbook/geos/bm.html

The Irrawaddy

Delta, one of the

world’s great

rice-producing

regions, consists

of fertile river

mud and sand

deposited during

the last 2 million

years.

Did You Know?

Myanmar has 1, 930 km of coastline.

Myanmar ranks number 82 in the world in

arable land (15.94%).

Myanmar shares a border with Bangladesh, China, India, Laos, and Thailand.

Myanmar is home to 135 ethnic groups.

COUNTRY PROFILES & INTRODUCTORY RESOURCES

4 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

Geography

Location: southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand.

Area: 676,578 sq km (slightly smaller than Texas).

Capital: Nay Pyi Taw since 2006; originally Rangoon (Yangon).

Terrain: central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands.

Climate: tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwest monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mild temperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon, December to April).

Current Environmental Issues: deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water; inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease.

People

Noun and Adjective: Burmese (singular and plural), Burmese (based on information from the U.S. Government).

Ethnic Groups: Burmese 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%, Mon 2%, other 5%.

Population: 55,167,330 (July 2013 est.).

Population Growth Rate: 1.05% (2013 est.).

Language: Burmese (official), minority ethnic groups have their own.

Religion: Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim 4%, Animist 1%, other 2%.

Literacy: Male 95.1%, Female 90.4%, Total Population 92.7% (2011 est.).

Health: infant mortality rate–46.31 deaths/1,000 live births. Life expectancy at birth–65.6 years.

Government

Name: Since 1989 the military authorities in Burma, and the current parliamentary government, have promoted the name Myanmar as a conventional name for their state; the U.S. Government has not adopted the name, which is a derivative of the Burmese short-form name Myanma Naingngandaw.

Type: parliamentary government took power in March 2011.

Legal System: mixed legal system of English common law (as introduced in codifications designed for colonial India) and customary law.

Political Parties and Leaders: All Mon Region Democracy Party or AMRDP (Naing Ngwe Thein), National Democratic Force or NDP (Khin Maung Swe, Dr. Than Nyein), National League for Democracy or NLD [Aung San Suu Kyi], National Unity Party or NUP (Tun Ye), Rakhine Nationalities Development Party or RNDP (Dr. Aye Mg), Shan Nationalities Democratic Party or SNDP (Sai Aike Paung), Shan Nationalities League for Democracy or SNLD (Hkun Htun Oo), Union Solidarity and Development Party or USDP (Shwe Mann, Htay Oo), numerous smaller parties.

Economy

GDP (PPP): 90.93 billion (2012 est.).

GDP per capita (PPP): 1,400 (2012 est.).

Real GDP growth rate: 6.3% (2012 est.).

GDP Composition, by sector of origin: agriculture 38.8%, industry 19.3%, services 41.8% (2012 est.).

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bm.html

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: MYANMAR OR BURMA?

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Los Angeles Times: Myanmar or Burma? Debate over Nation’s Name Persists (12/24/2012) http://articles.latimes.com/2012/dec/24/world/la-fg-myanmar-burma-name-20121224 It was a subtle, but effective, way for critics to rankle the brutal generals running the country during the darkest days of global isolation: Call the nation Burma rather than Myanmar. The message: We don't believe your rule is legitimate The Washington Post: Why it’s Such a Big Deal that Obama Said ‘Myanmar’ Rather than Burma (11/19/2012) http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2012/11/19/why-its-such-a-big-deal-that-obama-said-myanmar-rather-than-burma/ One small but potentially telling detail I and others were watching for in President Obama's trip Monday to Southeast Asia's longtime dictatorship and rogue nation Burma, a historic visit meant to encourage the country's impressive democratic reforms and to displace Chinese influence there, was what name Obama would use for the country. The United States still officially refers to it as Burma, even though the country's leadership renamed it Myanmar about 20 years ago. Neither name was an ideal option for Obama, who did use a number of phrases such as "this spectacular country." But you probably can't be the first sitting U.S. president to visit a country without using that country's name at least once, and he did… NPR: Linguistics and Fiction in a Country Called Burma (12/01/2011) http://www.npr.org/blogs/ombudsman/2011/11/30/142968821/linguistics-and-fiction-in-a-country-called-burma The country many of us knew as Burma, a forgotten backwater for most Americans, is suddenly in play. Long a Chinese acolyte, the military-dominated government last month canceled a huge Chinese-financed dam project, deepened competing military collaboration with India, and held a truncated election. This week, it hosted Hillary Rodham Clinton in what was the first visit by a U.S. Secretary of State in more than 50 years. Important news, but here's the rub: What do you call the country? BBC: Should it be Burma or Myanmar? (09/26/2007) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7013943.stm Protest marches in Burma have entered a ninth day. But why is the country not known in the UK by its official name, Myanmar? The eyes of the world's media are focused on Rangoon, where tensions are rising in the streets, yet news organizations and nations differ in what they call the country.

So is it Myanmar or Burma?

In 1989, the military government officially renamed Burma “Myanmar” or the “Republic of the Union of Myanmar.” In this packet we will use it interchangeably. If the source we are quoting uses Burma we will keep this reference and vice versa. The renaming remains a disputed issue. Burma continues to be used by the governments of the United Kingdom and Canada. Official U.S. policy retains Burma as the country’s name, although President Obama has publicly used both names. Myanmar is used by the UN, Russia, France, Germany, India, Norway, Australia, China, Japan, and the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN). Aung San Suu Kyi uses Burma; as she says “it’s for each individual to make his or her own choice as to which he or she uses.” Note: Myanmar/Burma comprises a vast array of ethnic groups. It did not exist as a single entity until the 19

th

century when it was colonized by the British. It became an independent nation in 1948 and took the English-language name of Burma used by its former rulers.

COUNTRY PROFILE & INTRODUCTORY RESOURCES

6 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

CIA World Factbook: Burma (07/10/2013) http://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bm.html. Information about Burma including Geography, Economy, Government, People and Society, and more. The New York Times: Myanmar (07/16/2013) http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/myanmar/index.html. News about Myanmar, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.

U.S. Department of State Fact Sheet – U.S. Relations with Burma (08/01/2012) http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/35910.htm. This page details the relationship between the U.S. and Burma since the 1988 military coup in Burma. Cornell University: Resources for Teaching/Learning about Burma and the Karen (04/02/2012) http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:jaC75tfwk78J:http://seap.einaudi.cornell.edu/sites/seap.einaudi.cornell.edu/files/Burma-Karen%2520Resource%2520List.doc+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us This is a list of resources from the Southeast Asia Program Outreach at Cornell University about Burma including videos, folk tales, books, and online resources. University of Illinois: Asian Educational Media Service (07/27/2012) http://www.aems.illinois.edu/resources/currentevents/burma.html. News about the 2007 protests in Burma as well as background articles, lesson plans, and online and video resources.

Global Education (12/18/2012) http://www.globaleducation.edu.au/2359.html. Contains general information about Myanmar including Geography, Economy, Government, People, and more.

Burmese Refugees Fact Sheet (10/18/2012) http://www.globaleducation.edu.au/3432.html Since Myanmar became independent in 1947, conflict has existed between the Myanmar government and minority groups. Landmines planted by both government forces and ethnic armed groups injure and kill fighters, villagers, and animals. The conflict has caused many Shan, Mon, Kachin, Karen, Wa, and Karenni people to flee their homes. There are more than half a million internally displaced people in Myanmar, 140,000 Myanmar refugees in Thailand, and around 70,000 in Bangladesh, along with large numbers of illegal migrants in Thailand. Refugees Activity (06/04/2012) http://www.globaleducation.edu.au/teaching-activity/refugees-up.html#activity5 Students learn about life in a refugee camp, and resettlement in Australia with a program assisting refugees to rebuild their lives. The New York Times: Daily Lesson Plan, Beyond Burma (10/03/2007) http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20071003wednesday.html. Students learn about the 2007 military violence against protesting monks and are asked to reflect on the relationship between religion and society in Myanmar.

COUNTRY PROFILE & INTRODUCTORY RESOURCES

7 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

The Guardian: Burma, A Brief History (2011) http://www.guardian.co.uk/flash/0,,1000080,00.html. This brief slideshow begins with the early history of Burma, and takes us through time to Burma’s independence from Britain in 1948 to the military coup in 1988, and the 1999 house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi. UNICEF: Republic of the Union of Myanmar (06/11/2003) http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/myanmar.html News and statistics about Myanmar. Geography IQ: Burma (2002) http://www.geographyiq.com/countries/bm/Burma_map_flag_geography.htm An overview of the climate of Myanmar. The Curriculum Project: History of Burma from a Multi-Ethnic Perspective (2006-2012) http://curriculumproject.org/wp-content/uploads/History%20of%20Burma%20Student%20-%2021%20Aug%2008.pdf. The history of Burma is made up of the stories of all the people from inside Burma’s borders – Arakanese, Burman, Chin, Karen, Karenni, Kachin, Mon, Shan, and many smaller ethnic groups. You will have a chance to learn more about the history of Burma. Remember: History is about important events, discoveries, developments, changes, and famous personalities. The Guardian: Visit Burma the Safe Way (10/15/2013) http://www.theguardian.com/education/2007/oct/16/learnlessonplans.secondaryschools Students need to develop an awareness that such issues cannot be turned off like a TV. What they have seen should provide the impetus to find out more. Exploring Burma offers a rich variety of learning opportunities across the curriculum. It should also help students to understand the benefits of living in a democracy – the goal of the majority of the Burmese. The World Bank: Myanmar (2013) http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/myanmar Myanmar is embarking on a triple transition – from an authoritarian military system to democratic governance, from a centrally directed economy to a market-oriented economy, and from 60 years of conflict to peace in its border areas. These transitions have the potential to create opportunity and shared prosperity for the people of Myanmar and for the country to resume its place as one of the most dynamic economies in Asia.

BBC: Myanmar Profile (2013) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12990563 Myanmar, also known as Burma, was long considered a pariah state, isolated from the rest of the world with an appalling human rights record.

Exploring Leadership: Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi (11/17/2010) http://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/exploring-leadership-burmas-aung-san-suu-kyi. Students consider leaders in their own lives, think about the qualities of leadership exhibited by Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and write messages to Suu Kyi.

COUNTRY PROFILE & INTRODUCTORY RESOURCES

8 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

Thailand-Burma Border Consortium: Displacement and Poverty in South East Burma/Myanmar (2011) http://burmacampaign.org.uk/images/uploads/TBBC-Displacement-and-Poverty-in-South-East-Burma.pdf A new government in Burma/Myanmar offers the possibility of national reconciliation and reform after decades of conflict. Every opportunity to resolve grievances, alleviate chronic poverty and restore justice must be seized, as there remain many obstacles to breaking the cycle of violence and abuse. Militarization continues to pose the greatest threat to human security in the south eastern states and regions, with more people forced to flee from their homes during the past year than any other since the Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC) and ethnic community based organizations started documenting displacement in 2002. Providing a protective environment by stopping human rights abuses, ensuring accountability, and ending impunity will be essential for conflict transformation.

BBC: Profile: Aung San Suu Kyi (05/29/2012) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11685977 Like the South African leader Nelson Mandela, Aung San Suu Kyi has become an international symbol of peaceful resistance in the face of oppression.

LANGUAGE & EDUCATION

9 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

The Atlantic: The Burmese Language (02/01/1958) http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1958/02/the-burmese-language/306831/ The Burmese language belongs to the Tibeto-Burman group of the Tibeto-Chinese family of languages, but, unlike Chinese, it is not ideographic. That is, it does not have characters which originated as pictures, but an alphabet, of eleven vowels and thirty-two consonants, derived from the Pahlavi script of South India. "Our language comes from North and South" …By this I mean that our actual words, and the way we put them together, came to us from the North, with the early migrations from China, while the way we write them came from the South, brought to Burma by Indian traders and missionaries at a slightly later period. Languages, Identities, and Education – in Relation to Burma/Myanmar (10/15/2011) http://www.shanland.org/images/docs/lwin-language-aritcle-english-15thoct11.pdf The ethnic groups that live in Burma/Myanmar possess distinctive national, cultural, and language identities. However, the teaching of indigenous minority languages has been prohibited since 1962, and, even though changes are being introduced, that policy largely remains in place today. The paper outlines brief historical background of eight major ethnic groups and, introduces the ethnic languages and their status in Burmese/Myanmar education. The paper argues that there is a need to take into consideration ‘multilingual education’ in the light of the linguistic diversity that exists in Burma.

http://tec.army.mil/Burma/BurmaMap.html

Languages of Myanmar

National Language: Burmese

Literacy Rate: 90% (2010 UNESCO)

Language Counts: The number of individual languages

listed for Myanmar is 117. Of these, 116 are living and 1 is

extinct. Of the living languages, 10 are institutional, 34

are developing, 50 are vigorous, 18 are in trouble, and 4

are dying. (For language status definitions:

http://www.ethnologue.com/about/language-status)

For more information about Myanmar language:

http://www.ethnologue.com/country/MM

LANGUAGE & EDUCATION

10 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

The Irrawaddy: In Myanmar’s Schools, History’s in the Making (09/16/2013) http://www.irrawaddy.org/reform/in-myanmars-schools-historys-in-the-making.html Growing up in southeast Myanmar’s Mon State, Min Yarzar Mon listened to his parents tell stories of ethnic Mon kingdoms that ruled centuries ago, and of decades-long conflicts more recently between Mon armed groups and the national government. His teachers taught a different version of the region’s past. The Curriculum Project: Education in Burma and on the Border (2006-2012) http://curriculumproject.org/education-in-burma. The SPDC spends 25% of its budget on the military, and approximately 1.3% on education. Unsurprisingly, this has made Burma’s education the least effective in South-East Asia. The Atlantic: Burmese Names (A Guide) (02/01/1958) http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1958/02/burmese-names/306818/ To blend so many heterogeneous traditions into a single nation is no easy task, either socially or politically, but all of us are keenly aware of the need for protecting minority interests and correcting economic and educational inequalities. In this spirit of tolerance and mutual assistance we are creating a happy and cohesive Union of Burma.

Basic Burmese Greetings and Phrases

http://salika.com/burmese/burgen.htm

LANGUAGE & EDUCATION

11 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

The Irrawaddy: In Burma, a Debate over Mother-Tongue Teaching (10/23/2013) http://www.irrawaddy.org/feature/burma-debate-mother-tongue-teaching.html As a student in Mandalay, Thida Win would wake up early every morning, before sunrise, to cram in two hours of Chinese language and history study before classes started at her public school. She and her parents were born in Burma, but her grandfather migrated to the country from China in the 1950s, and she wanted to speak his language.

“I Have a Dream” speeches by

Burmese Students

Students in the English Immersion

Program (EIP) at the Umphium Mai

Refugee Camp on the Thailand-

Burma border express their hopes for

the future of Burma.

http://vimeo.com/38912715.

Ask your students: What is your

dream for the future?

http://curriculumproject.org/education-in-burma

Sampling of Public Expenditure of

Education as a Percentage of GDP

Three out of ten primary school-

aged children are out of school.

NEWS SOURCES

12 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

The Irrawaddy http://www.irrawaddy.org/ The Irrawaddy Publishing Group (IPG) was founded in 1993 by a group of Burmese journalists living in exile in Thailand. The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma and the Southeast Asian region. BurmaNet News http://www.burmanet.org/news/. The BurmaNet News is an online news service covering Burma (Myanmar) established in 1994. The service is distributed for free via a listserv and an online website. It compiles the most recent published news and opinion pieces pertaining to Burma five times a week, excluding some holidays.

Burma News International http://www.bnionline.net/. The Burma News International was established in 2003 with four Burmese news organizations based in the western border of Burma, India, and Bangladesh. It was later expanded, with other Burmese news organizations based in Thailand and the Thai-Burma border areas joining in. At present, it has eleven independent Burma media/news organizations as members. The Burma News International aims to promote Burma related news and reports in South Asia and South East Asia. It also serves as a bridge for mutual-understanding, sharing experiences, expertise and resources and cooperation among the Independent Burma Media Organizations. New Light of Burma http://www.myanmar.cm/newspapers/the-new-light-of-myanmar.html The New Light of Myanmar is a daily English newspaper from Myanmar (Burma) about Myanmar news. Myanmar News http://www.myanmarnews.net/. Myanmar News.Net is a stand-alone site covering news of the Myanmar area, including stories from around the region and beyond. Additionally we provide international headlines, business and finance stories, and foreign exchange rates. Weather and links to other news media in the city are also displayed.

The Myanmar Times http://www.mmtimes.com/. A weekly newspaper based in Yangon, Myanmar. Myanmar Freedom Daily http://www.mmfreedom-daily.com/ Mizzima: News from Myanmar http://www.mizzima.com/ Mizzima, derived from the Pali word for middle or moderate and chosen for its inference of an unbiased and independent media, was established in 1998 in New Delhi, India, by three veterans of Myanmar’s 1988 pro-democracy uprising. Since its founding the aim of Mizzima has been to provide high quality news relating to Myanmar, contributing toward freedom of expression and the free flow of information in the public interest.

NEWS SOURCES

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Global Voices: Myanmar (Burma) http://globalvoicesonline.org/-/world/east-asia/myanmar-burma/ Global Voices is an international community of bloggers who report on blogs and citizen media from around the world. Democratic Voice of Burma http://english.dvb.no/. The Democratic Voice of Burma is a non-profit Burmese media organization committed to responsible journalism. Their mission is to provide accurate and unbiased news to the people of Burma, to promote understanding and cooperation amongst the various ethnic and religious groups of Burma, to encourage and sustain independent public opinion and enable social and political debate, and to impart the ideals of democracy and human rights to the people of Burma.

Stand Up for Human Rights and Democracy in Burma http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stand-Up-for-Human-Rights-and-Democracy-in-Burma/170764199673405. This Facebook page was conceived to mobilize support for the event below, which commemorated the 4th anniversary of Burma's 2007 "Saffron Revolution." However not until the inalienable rights of all of the people of Burma are protected by their government will our work be done. Our mission endures: to actively promote freedom, democracy, and human rights throughout Burma.

Channel One News For Educators http://www.channelone.com/for-educators/. In addition to providing a Monday-Friday daily news show that consists of educational, high-quality video, we offer a number of supplementary materials to help you teach current events and media literacy in your classroom. All of our video content and related resources are aligned to the Common Core State Standards. Whether you’re looking for relevant videos that put real-world events in context, or embarking on the flipped classroom movement, Channel One News is all about authentic learning. Channel One News: Passport: Myanmar http://www.channelone.com/passport-myanmar/. Channel One News is a digital content provider focused on encouraging young people to be informed, digital-savvy global citizens. Our show is a daily news program with supplementary educational resources, aligned to Common Core State Standards (CCSS), to help students, teachers, and parents interpret the news of the day and spark important conversations. Northwest Asian News Weekly (Seattle-based) http://www.nwasianweekly.com/ We are the only weekly English-edition newspaper serving Washington’s Asian community. The Northwest Asian Weekly has one simple goal: to empower the Asian community.

http://www.nwasianweekly.com/tag/erika-berg/.

NEWS SOURCES

14 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

Karen News http://karennews.org/. Karen News is reported and written by Karen journalists to provide information on issues that shape Karen communities in Burma and around the world. Karen News provides a window to Burma and the international community on what is happening in Karen state. Our journalists live and work in Karen communities, know the issues that affect Karen people and aim to bring those issues to the attention of people across Burma, in the diaspora, and to all readers interested in the struggles and triumphs of the Karen people.

Kachin News http://www.kachinnews.com/. Kachin News Group (KNG) is based in Chiang Mai, Thailand and covers news, especially in Kachin State northern Burma as well as the rest of Burma since May 12, 2003. It was formed by Kachin student leaders, who took part in Burma’s democracy uprising in 1988. The KNG produces online web-based multi-media news such as news, photo news, and video news (KNG-TV) for Kachins and non-Kachins. The KNG multi-media news is uploaded in three websites in three languages: English, Kachin, and Burmese. The daily news production is done together by three branch offices in New Delhi, India, China-Burma border, and Myitkyina, Kachin State.

Kachinland News http://kachinlandnews.com/. Kachinland News is an independent, non-profit media organization committed to report true and accurate news and events taking place in the Kachinland, Burma and abroad. Our members and reporters comprise of Kachin dissidents, writers, and journalists living in the Kachinland, Burma and abroad.

HISTORY OF MYANMAR 1988 TO PRESENT

15 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

History of Burma (10/14/2013) http://www.cfob.org/HistoryofBurma/historyOfBurma.shtml This site provides an overview of Burmese history from early times through present day. PBS: Burma: A Political Timeline (2011) http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/burma601/timeline.html#. Learn more about Burma's turbulent history, from colonial rule to independence to increasing isolation under a military regime. Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore: The Changing Nature of Conflict Between Burma and Siam as Seen from the Growth and Development of Burmese States from the 16th to the 19th Century (05/2006) http://www.ari.nus.edu.sg/docs/wps/wps06_064.pdf The pre-modern states of Burma and Siam waged intense wars against each other numerous times during the first Toungoo empire in the mid-16th century and during the early Konbaung empire from the mid-18th to early 19th centuries. However, during the restored Toungoo empire in the 17th century, Burmese-Siamese wars were mainly skirmishes on peripheral battlegrounds. Chulalongkorn University: Accounts of King Bayinnaung’s Life (10/14/2013) http://www.arts.chula.ac.th/~complit/event/hantawadi.htm King Bayinnaung (AD 1551-1581) is renowned in Myanmar history as the King who not only reunited Myanmar and established the second Myanmar Kingdom, the Toungoo Dynasty, but also as the King who extended the frontiers of the country to her farthest extent, covering parts of Northern Thailand and Laos.

History of Myanmar

849–1289 First Burman state – based

at Pagan

1364–1527 Second Burman state –

based at Ava

1486–1752 Third Burman state –

based initially at Toungoo

1753 Fourth Burman state

established (massive expansion till

1824)

1824 Britain attacks Burma which

loses its north, west, and extreme

south east

1852 Second Anglo-Burmese War,

Britain seizes the south west

1885 Third Anglo-Burmese War,

Britain occupies central Burma

1941 Burma Independence

Army (later Burmese National Army)

founded in collaboration with the

Japanese

1945 BNA revolts against

Japanese occupation

1948 Burma becomes a republic

1962 The civilian government is

overthrown and military rule begins

2010 Aung San Suu Kyi is released

from house arrest

2012 Aung San Suu Kyi sworn into

parliament, President Obama visits

Burma

http://www.historyextra.com/burma

http://www.historyextra.com/burma

HISTORY OF MYANMAR 1988 TO PRESENT

16 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

BBC: Was Burma’s 1988 Uprising Worth it? (08/06/2008) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7543347.stm. On 8 August 1988 cities across Burma were packed with demonstrators. Hundreds of thousands of people marched through the then capital, Rangoon, calling for a transition to democracy and an end to military rule. They were the largest mass protests in the country since independence in 1948 – and it looked for a while as though they might achieve results. But six weeks later, at least 3,000 protesters were dead, thousands more were jailed and the military was firmly back in control. Some Background Information about Burma (03/20/2010) http://www.burmawatch.org/aboutburma.html. In 1948, Burma, a South East Asian country with 48 million multi-ethnic people, won independence from Britain after more than 60 years as a colony. A new constitution established a system of government based on a democratically elected parliament. However, almost immediately the government was challenged by ethnic groups, who had been promised more autonomy within ten years in the new constitution, and communists. Periods of intense civil war ensued. PBS: Eyes of the Storm: Turning Points in Burmese History (01/01/2010) http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/episodes/eyes-of-the-storm/turning-points-in-burmese-history/5363/. Slightly smaller than Texas, Burma borders Thailand to the east, India to the northwest, and China to the northeast. The majority of Burmese people live in the south amid the fertile Irrawaddy River delta region. Scroll through the interactive timeline below to learn about the major turning points in Burma’s troubled history of colonization, military coups, and popular uprisings. Click on the “+” signs for more details, including rare video footage provided by the Democratic Voice of Burma. 1988 Uprising and 1990 Election http://www.oxfordburmaalliance.org/1988-uprising--1990-elections.html. In 1988, there was growing resentment towards military rule – further exasperated by police brutality, economic mismanagement, and corruption within the government – but there were no channels to address these grievances. All this lead to widespread pro-democracy demonstrations in 1988, known as the 8888 Uprising. In May 1990, after huge international and national pressure, the military junta arranged free elections for the first time in 30 years. The National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Aung San Suu Kyi, won 80% of the seats in Parliament (398 out of 447). However, the military junta, surprised by such a landslide victory for the opposition, annulled the results of the election and refused to hand over power. The 8888 Uprising, Realization of its Objectives (08/07/2013) http://www.mizzima.com/opinion/ed-op/9803-the-8888-uprising-realization-of-its-objectives. On August 8, 1988, a nationwide uprising took place in Myanmar. That fact that it had a concrete political objective cannot be denied by anyone. What is the cause of the 8888 uprising? Why did people throughout the country revolt against the government? What was the political background and what were the demands of this uprising? It is only when we can understand these questions and answer them correctly that we can hand over our political tasks to the next generation.

POLITICS – AUNG SAN SUU KYI

17 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

BBC News Asia Pacific: Profile: Aung San Suu Kyi (05/29/2012) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11685977 Like the South African leader Nelson Mandela, Aung San Suu Kyi has become an international symbol of peaceful resistance in the face of oppression.

The 68-year-old spent most of the last two decades in some form of detention because of her efforts to bring democracy to military-ruled Burma.

In 1991, a year after her National League for Democracy (NLD) won an overwhelming victory in an election the junta later nullified, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

The committee chairman, Francis Sejested, called her "an outstanding example of the power of the powerless.”

She was sidelined for Burma's first elections in two decades on 7 November 2010 but released from house arrest six days later.

As the new government embarked on a process of reform, Ms. Suu Kyi and her party rejoined the political process.

On 1 April 2012 she stood for parliament in a by-election, arguing it was what her supporters wanted even if the country's reforms were "not irreversible.”

She and her fellow NLD candidates won a landslide victory and weeks later the former political prisoner was sworn into parliament, a move unimaginable before the 2010 polls.

http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_priz

es/peace/laureates/1991/kyi-bio.html

It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield

it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.

Timeline

1988: Returns from UK to Rangoon to care for ailing mother; after 8/8/88 swept onto political stage

1989: Put under house arrest as Burma junta declares martial law

1990: NLD wins election; military disregards result

1991: Wins Nobel Peace Prize; accepted by her sons

1995: Released from house arrest, but movements restricted

March 1999: Husband Michael Aris dies in London

2000-02: Second period of house arrest

May 2003: Detained after clash between NLD and junta forces

Sep 2003: Allowed home after medical treatment, but under effective house arrest

May 2007: House arrest is extended for another year

Sept 2007: First public appearance since 2003, greeting protesting Buddhist monks

May 2008: House arrest extended for another year

May 2009: Charged with breaking detention rules after an American swims to her compound

August 2009: Sentenced to 18 months further house arrest

November 2010: Released from house arrest

April 2012: Stands for parliament for first time

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11685977

POLITICS

18 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21578172-

myanmars-ethnic-conflicts-are-main-obstacle-continued-progress-f-

word?zid=309&ah=80dcf288b8561b012f603b9fd9577f0e.

The Economist: Democracy on Prescription: Why Myanmar’s Military Rulers are Giving Power to the People (05/25/2013) http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21578169-why-myanmars-military-rulers-are-giving-power-people-democracy-prescription?zid=309&ah=80dcf288b8561b012f603b9fd9577f0e. Mynamar’s transition has been a top-down affair. This, more than anything, distinguishes it from other recent upheavals such as the “people power” revolutions of the Arab spring, the fall of communism in Europe, and the toppling of Indonesia’s President Suharto. At crucial moments the threat of mass protests hurried the process along. Government advisers concede that in 2011 they were afraid of an Arab spring on the streets of Yangon. For the main part, though, Myanmar now stands as a rare example of an authoritarian regime changing itself from within.

Time: Burma Unbound: Photos from a Waking Nation (01/10/2013) http://lightbox.time.com/2013/01/10/burma-unbound-photos-from-a-waking-nation-by-adam-ferguson/?iid=lb-gal-viewagn#1. When I landed in Rangoon for the first time in April 2012 to photograph Burma’s historic parliamentary by-elections, I sped from the airport to my hotel in a rickety but relatively late-model taxi. A spirit of optimism informed my daily interactions. The people on the street were free to speak. And as a foreign journalist, my cameras were out and working – not hiding – from the streets to the presidential palace. The Burma I encountered seemed vastly different from the relentlessly authoritarian state I’d heard so much about: here, I felt, was a country in vital transition.

Time: Aung San Suu Kyi’s Path to Victory (04/10/2012) http://lightbox.time.com/2012/04/10/aung-san-suu-kyi-nachtwey/#1. Aung San Suu Kyi, once a prisoner, is now a parliamentarian. On April 1, the Nobel Laureate led the National League for Democracy to victory in by-elections hailed as a landmark for Burma. For Suu Kyi, who spent much of the last 20 years under house arrest, the win was a stunning reversal. For her followers, it was a revelation.

Council on Foreign Relations: Understanding Myanmar (06/21/2013) http://www.cfr.org/human-rights/understanding-myanmar/p14385.

POLITICS

19 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

This article introduces the political history of Myanmar and discusses democratic and economic reforms, the state and society in Myanmar, and possibilities for the future. Human Rights Watch: Burma World Report 2013 http://www.hrw.org/world-report/2013/country-chapters/burma. Burma’s human rights situation remained poor in 2012 despite noteworthy actions by the government toward political reform. In April, opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy party won 43 of 44 seats it contested in a parliamentary by-election; the parliament consists of 224 seats in the upper house and 440 in the lower house, the majority of which remain under the control of military representatives or former military officers.

USA Today: Obama Praises, Encourages Change in Burma (05/20/2013) http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/05/20/obama-myanmar-burma-thein-sein/2343431/. President Obama praised changes in the country he repeatedly referred to as "Myanmar" on Monday, but he added that the military government there needs to go even further. While official U.S. policy refers to the Asian nation by its older name – Burma – Obama used the name preferred by the ruling military government in encouraging President Thein Sein to continue on the difficult path of political and economic change. "As President Sein is the first to admit, this is a long journey and there is still much work to be done," Obama said.

The Diplomat: Burma: A Fragile Peace (03/26/2013) http://thediplomat.com/2013/03/26/burma-a-fragile-peace/. The feting of Burmese President Thein Sein in Europe and elsewhere is premature. Much work remains for Burma to achieve a true peace. After the 2012 Elections: Real Change or Smoke-and-Mirrors? http://www.oxfordburmaalliance.org/effects-of-the-2010-elections.html. In 2010, Burma held its first elections in two decades and completed its transition from military junta to civilian government. However, the elections were widely criticized for being neither free nor fair, and they resulted in no real power change as the elected leaders were simply the old generals in civilian clothing. Furthermore, under the 2008 Constitution, 25% of the seats in Parliament are reserved for the military, leaving it still very much in power. Public Radio International: The History and Future of Government, Monastery Relations in a Changing Myanmar (7/16/2013) http://www.theworld.org/2013/07/the-history-and-future-of-government-monastery-relations-in-a-changing-myanmar/. Hardline Buddhist monks fomenting against Muslims; dozens of monks on the frontlines of ongoing protests against a Chinese – run copper mine – these are the latest reminders of the powerful role Buddhist clergy often play in public life in Myanmar. The activist tradition among monks goes back a ways in the country, also known as Burma. And that has often put them at odds with the government.

Myanmar Moves Its Capital City (11/08/2005) http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/0511/051108-myanmar.html. Includes warm-up exercises, vocabulary, and

discussion questions about Myanmar and the

issues surrounding the moving of the capital

city. Asks students to read an article and think

about the implications of Myanmar’s actions.

POLITICS

20 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

People Power: Rangoon, Burma (11/15/2012) People Power is a multi-media resource that fosters student exploration of how engaged citizens change the world. These lessons are common-core connected and also available on www.civicvoices.org. The accompanying short video profiles the efforts of student activists in Rangoon, Burma to advance democratic rights and freedoms. The following mini-lesson was excerpted from this site: http://www.sharemylesson.com/teaching-resource/People-Power-Section-6-Rangoon-Burma-50007197/.

Guiding Question: How Can Young People Change the World?

Show the 6:43 minute video to the class and share the following quote of Aung San Suu Kyi: “The students were protesting not just the death of their comrades but against the denial of their right to life by a totalitarian regime, which deprives the present of meaningfulness and held out no hope for the future. And because the students’ protests articulated the frustrations of the people at large, the demonstrations quickly grew into a nationwide movement.”

After viewing the video, discuss: 1. In the quotation, Aung San Suu Kyi says that the Burmese military regime had deprived the present of meaningfulness in what ways did the military deny rights and deprive people of a meaningful life? 2. What risks were faced by democracy activists in Burma? 3. The Internet has proven a difficult tool for the regime to control…what role can technology play in democracy movements? How can it be used to further the goals of democracy activists? How can it be used against them? 4. One of Aung San Suu Kyi’s most famous quotations is: “Please use your liberty to promote ours.” What do these words mean to you? How do you think you might be able to answer her call?

Download these and other questions, plus a short background reading for free at this site: http://www.sharemylesson.com/teaching-resource/People-Power-Section-6-Rangoon-Burma-50007197/. Students who are interested in learning more about ASSK may want to view these documentaries: Douye (Our Cause) Documentary about Aung San Suu Kyi (2007) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG33b4hsD9k#t=37 We created this subtle protest film based on "Freedom" to illuminate the peaceful stand of Aung San Suu Kyi and her Democratic Party. She came back to Burma from Europe when her mother's health was ailing. Once she arrived in Burma she was put under house arrest because she spoke out for freedom. With that background we created a film where various people (in America and worldwide) spoke out for "Freedom" in many languages. Participants include President Clinton, President Bush, great musicians, artists and "everyday" people who expressed their feelings. (46:56) Portrait of Courage (2013) Part 1 (14:53) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFLlhPRbRiU Part 2 (11:20) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqOQd8O7Rfc Pro-democracy advocate and prisoner of conscience Aung San Suu Kyi is interviewed by John Pilger in 1996.

Common Core Connection

THE DAY AFTER

POLITICS

21 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

The Wall Street Journal: Myanmar’s Political History (10/11/2011) http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203633104576625323325873338.html. Myanmar, the Southeast-Asian country formerly known as Burma, has faced political turbulence since its oppressive military regime gained power in 1962. Here are some key events in the country's history.

Al Jazeera: Are Invisible Forces Orchestrating Myanmar’s Anti-Muslim Violence? (10/09/13) http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/10/are-invisible-forces-orchestrating-myanmar-anti-muslim-violence-201310864149233413.html The military has much to lose from democratic reforms and may be using the bloodshed as a way to reassert control. The Economist: Hold Fire, if not Ceasefire (10/15/2013) http://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2013/10/myanmar-s-ethnic-conflicts?zid=306&ah=1b164dbd43b0cb27ba0d4c3b12a5e227 It has become something of a holy grail for the government of President Thein Sein – a nationwide ceasefire ceremony, witnessed by the world’s diplomats and photographers. For the reformers in Mr. Thein Sein’s government such a scene would cap their efforts to transform Myanmar from a strife-storm, impecunious, isolated military dictatorship into a peaceful, democratic and fully integrated member of the world community – a process that they feel only really began when their man was appointed president in March 2011.

The Independent: A Milestone in Our History: Burma Remembers the Class of ’88 (08/07/2013) http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/a-milestone-in-our-history-burma-remembers-the-class-of-88-8750794.html. As their nation inches slowly towards democracy, activists look back on a defining moment in their struggle.

East Asia Forum: Myanmar Has Made a Good Start to Economic Reform http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2013/03/27/myanmar-has-made-a-good-start-to-economic-reform/ Myanmar’s President Thein Sein embarked on a global roadshow in the beginning of 2013. His welcome in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand illustrates the dramatic change in global perceptions with respect to Myanmar over the last two years. The reforms set in train by Thein Sein’s administration are not assured of success. Still, there is no doubt the reforms have garnered significant attention and raised domestic and international hopes. Burma/Myanmar (2013) http://www.enotes.com/burma-myanmar-reference/burma-myanmar. In the last half-century the peoples of Burma have experienced six different political transformations. Read about each one here. Reporters Without Borders: Time Magazine Censored Twice Over for Coverage of Radical Buddhists (06/26/2013) http://en.rsf.org/burma-time-magazine-censored-twice-over-26-06-2013,44860.html Reporters Without Borders condemns the decision by Burmese magazine distributor Inwa Publications not to sell Time Magazine’s July issue, which has a cover story about the Burmese Buddhist monk Ashin Wirathu headlined The Face of Buddhist Terror. The media freedom organization is also appalled by the government’s endorsement of this censorship and calls for the ban to be lifted at once.

HUMAN RIGHTS

22 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

Burma Project/Southeast Asia Initiative (10/2013) http://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/about/programs/burma-project-southeast-asia-initiative The Burma Project/Southeast Asia Initiative supports civil society efforts to advance free expression, ensure government accountability and justice, and empower marginalized groups to exercise their rights. Conflicts in Burma: Human Rights & Conflict in Burma (12/2013) http://conflictsinburma.crowdmap.com/ This interactive map documents conflicts and human rights abuses since March 2011 when Thein Sein took power until present. Women, Violence and Burma: Reporting from the Frontlines in Kachin State (04/09/2013) http://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/voices/women-violence-and-burma-reporting-frontlines-kachin-state Kachin State and Northern Shan State have seen an escalation of conflict and human rights abuses since June 2011. Ongoing fighting and intermittent intensive military strikes between the Burmese military and the Kachin Independence Army (the military arm of the Kachin Independence Organization) have resulted in the displacement of 100,000 people; there is limited to no humanitarian access for these displaced communities which are primarily composed of women, children, and the elderly. World Without Genocide: Burma (2012) http://worldwithoutgenocide.org/genocides-and-conflicts/burma. The ruling military regime in Burma is one of the world’s most oppressive and abusive. Currently, the Burmese government is involved in a military campaign against the largest indigenous ethnic group in Eastern Burma, the Karen. The Washington Post: A Prisoner’s Pursuit of Democracy in Burma (07/17/2013) http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-leadership/wp/2013/07/17/a-prisoners-pursuit-of-democracy-in-burma/. A longtime Burmese journalist, Win Tin sharpened his words into a tool for activism in the late 1980s, when he co-founded the National League for Democracy (NLD) with Aung San Suu Kyi during a period of political turmoil in Burma.

Burma 1962-Present (2013) http://worldwithoutgenocide.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Conflict-in-Burma-World-Without-Genocide.pdf One-page handout with the Where? When? and How? of the military regime’s ethnic cleansing of minorities in Burma.

Vanity Fair: Aung San Suu Kyi (12/2012) http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/2012/12/burma-aung-san-suu-kyi. After 15 years of captivity by Burma’s dictators, Aung San Suu Kyi is free, her name a symbol of moral power, her country moving toward democracy. Meeting Suu Kyi in Washington, D.C., Tom Freston recalls the emergence of an unlikely revolutionary who has changed her world peacefully, while Annie Leibovitz photographs “The Lady.”

HUMAN RIGHTS

23 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

KekGalabru: Political Participation (11/09/2010) http://blogs.nysut.org/sttp/2010/11/09/kek-galabru-political-participation/. Students will describe and compare the political situation in Burma, China, North Korea, Iran, and Cambodia. They will reflect on why voting is important and explore the ways the governments in these countries deny the right of their citizens to political participation. CNN: Myanmar’s Child Soldiers (06/13/2001) http://edition.cnn.com/2001/fyi/lesson.plans/06/13/child.soldiers/. Students will discuss the conflict in Myanmar and the role of child soldiers. They will analyze the international community’s role in the conflict. Myanmar Times: Myanmar Rejects Latest UN Report (10/28/2013) http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/national-news/8619-myanmar-rejects-latest-un-report.html Myanmar's top diplomat at the United Nations has dismissed a recent report by the special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar as one-sided and called for an end to the envoy's mandate. Seattle Globalist: 10 Questions for Burma Human Rights Activist Bo Kyi (03/20/2012) http://www.seattleglobalist.com/2012/03/20/10-questions-for-burmese-human-rights-activist-bo-kyi/1750. Burma human rights activist Bo Kyi talks about his experience as a political prisoner and what he thinks of the political situation and human rights issues in Burma. BBC: Burma Frees a Further 73 Political Prisoners (07/23/2013) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23416223. The Burmese authorities say they are releasing another 73 political prisoners, after a promise by President Thein Sein to free all dissidents by the end of the year. Some are from the Kachin ethnic group, which has signed a peace deal after years of fighting for autonomy. Burma, also known as Myanmar, has freed hundreds of political detainees since steps towards democracy began in 2010.There are thought to be about 100 such prisoners remaining in Burmese jails. Burma Minister Warns Arakan NGOs Against Aid ‘Bias’ (11/04/13) http://www.dvb.no/news/burma-minister-warns-arakan-ngos-against-aid-bias/34130 The Burmese government on Monday gathered a group of international humanitarian agencies working in the restive Arakan state to remind them that they must distribute aid “fairly” to local communities. It follows the latest eruption of violence in the western state, where communal clashes between Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims have claimed hundreds of lives since last year. On Saturday, at least four people, including three Rohingyas, were killed in Pauktaw township, an area about two hours northeast of the state capital Sittwe. Local Buddhists later accused Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) of “bias” for taking three injured Muslim men to the hospital. Former Political Prisoners Denied University Education in Rangoon (07/02/2013) http://www.irrawaddy.org/burma/former-political-prisoners-denied-university-education-in-rangoon.html The university studies of 23-year-old Ye Myat Hein were interrupted in 2007 when he was imprisoned in connection with the pro-democracy uprising known as the Saffron Revolution. Today, more than a year after his release by Burma’s government as part of a mass amnesty in January 2012, he is among more

HUMAN RIGHTS

24 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

than a dozen would-be students who have been denied the opportunity to re-enroll at the University of Yangon in Rangoon. The reason? Because of the time they served as political prisoners, which the government says amounts to truancy. Myanmar Army Frees More Child Soldiers as Part of Pact to End Practice (08/07/2013) http://www.trust.org/item/20130807101400-wc6hq. The Myanmar army has discharged 68 children and young people on Wednesday, the United Nations said, exactly a month after it released 42 children and young adults who had been recruited for soldiering and other duties. The impoverished Southeast Asian nation, formerly known as Burma, is one of 22 countries worldwide that the U.N. says are violating international law on the rights of children in armed conflict. Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation: Burmese Awardees (2013) http://www.rmaf.org.ph/newrmaf/main/awardees/filter/all/all/all/BU/1 Since 1958, the Ramon Magsaysay Award is being given to persons – regardless of race, nationality, creed or gender – who address issues of human development in Asia with courage and creativity, and in doing so have made contributions which have transformed their societies for the better. The roster of Magsaysay awardees includes social and political leaders who have led independence movements; established, restored, or strengthened democratic institutions; and reformed inept government systems. Other awardees have modernized their post-war economies; preserved and promoted indigenous cultures; and pioneered in setting up basic human services programs in health, education, and social welfare especi ally for the poor and marginalized. Global Nomads Group: Human Rights in Burma Lesson Plan (10/2012) http://pvkmenake.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/59851266/GNG-Burma-Lesson-Plan.pdf. This lesson plan is designed to provide students with a foundational understanding of the political climate in Burma and the tools they need to analyze the situation and what can be done to improve it. Activities include: Discuss the meaning of democracy and protest in general and with regard; familiarize yourself with an overview of Burma’s current political situation. Examine the situation in Burma through the lens of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; explore the role of religion in Burma’s unrest; examine the benefits and disadvantages of economic sanctions in general and with regard to Burma.

MYANMAR IN THE WORLD

25 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

International IDEA: Challenges to Democratization in Burma – Perspectives on Multilateral and Bilateral Responses (2001) http://www.idea.int/asia_pacific/burma/ This report looks at Burma/Myanmar's relations with neighboring states and other governments, and the policies and measures adopted by the international community that may strengthen or reduce the prospects of democratization in Burma/Myanmar. Chapter 3: China-Burma Relations http://www.idea.int/asia_pacific/burma/upload/chap3.pdf Chapter 4: India-Burma Relations http://www.idea.int/asia_pacific/burma/upload/chap4.pdf Chapter 5: Thai-Burma Relations http://www.idea.int/asia_pacific/burma/upload/chap5.pdf

Myanmar-China Relations Myanmar and China’s Complex Relationship (04/25/2012) http://www.economonitor.com/analysts/2012/04/25/myanmar-and-chinas-complex-relationship/ With political and economic reforms being pressed forward, Myanmar continues to astound the international community with the degree of changes being implemented by the government. As Western nations prepare to suspend and lift sanctions on Myanmar, questions arise as to the reasons motivating the many political actors for the quick change of course. Although a multitude of reasons contribute to reforms, some observers find that the dependence on China is a significant one. The Diplomat: Myanmar’s “Looking West” Policy: Is China Being Sidelined? (06/26/2013) http://thediplomat.com/2013/06/26/myanmars-look-west-policy-is-china-being-sidelined/ Under Thein Sein, the country is seeking to evolve from its reliance on China…“Look West” is designed not only to substantially rebuild a sound relationship with the West and at the same time to balance China’s excessive influence in Myanmar; it also seeks to develop and maintain better ties with other Asian countries, especially ASEAN members, who already have strong ties with the West. The Diplomat: China’s Troubled Myanmar Policy (08/23/2013) http://thediplomat.com/2013/08/23/chinas-troubled-myanmar-policy/ Over the years, China has expended considerable effort to improve its neighborhood relations, with the goal of maintaining stable borders and a viable trading environment. In so doing it has undertaken significant diplomatic efforts in maintaining networks among governments and governing elites. As time passes, one of the main shortcomings of this policy approach is becoming evident: China is increasingly finding itself at odds with non-governmental actors. Myanmar is a case study. Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs: China and the Changing Myanmar (03/29/2013) http://journals.sub.uni-hamburg.de/giga/jsaa/article/view/582/580 Myanmar’s rapidly political reform dazzled and puzzled many watchers, Chinese included. Multiple internal and external factors contributed to the decision to adopt the reform. Internally, the political change is the result of a process designed and implemented by the military government, which was necessitated by the military’s lack of professional governance skills and made possible by its consent. Externally, Myanmar’s desire to mitigate its overdependence on China, to improve relations with U.S., and to repair its reputation at ASEAN motivated its reform at home.

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International Crisis Group: China’s Myanmar Dilemma (09/14/2013) http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/asia/south-east-asia/myanmar/177-chinas-myanmar-dilemma.aspx The relationship between China and Myanmar is best characterized as a marriage of convenience rather than a love match. The dependence is asymmetric – Myanmar has more to lose should the relationship sour: a protector in the Security Council, support from a large neighbor amid international isolation, a key economic partner and a source of investment. While China sees major problems with the status quo, particularly with regards to Myanmar’s economic policy and ethnic relations, its preferred solution is gradual adjustment of policy by a strong central government, not federalism or liberal democracy and certainly not regime change. The Wall Street Journal: China’s Ambassador to Myanmar Stresses Communication (10/10/2013) http://blogs.wsj.com/searealtime/2013/10/10/chinas-ambassador-to-myanmar-is-busy-busy-busy/ Yang Houlan, China’s ambassador to the Myanmar embassy has also taken on a more active role in social media, engaging with Myanmar society through Facebook, hoping, he says, to clarify some misunderstandings about China’s activities in Myanmar and help the public to “develop a holistic” view of relations between the two nations. Asia Times: China Still Has it Wrong in Myanmar (09/10/2013) http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/SEA-01-100913.html China's policy of pursuing relations strictly at an inter-governmental level has spawned negative perceptions among various politically relevant grass roots communities in Myanmar. From controversial investments that have had negative social and environmental impacts, to single-minded efforts to protect its commercial interests, China is now part and parcel of many of Myanmar's deep-seated problems. The Financial Times: Myanmar’s Old Friend China is Left Wondering Where it Went Wrong (06/17/2013) http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/398274d8-d4e8-11e2-b4d7-00144feab7de.html#axzz2j88b58WJ Beijing struggles to deal with the changed relationship with its neighbor, says Jamil Anderlini. China Media: Burma Gas Pipeline (10/21/2013) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-24605706 The launch of a fully operational gas pipeline between Burma and China will benefit both nations, papers say, adding that it also highlights cordial ties between the neighbors. Myanmar-India Relations The Telegraph: Make the Right Moves in the Great Game (08/06/2013) http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130806/jsp/opinion/story_17197485.jsp#.UlweAFCkqVF As Myanmar opens up to the West after decades of military rule and self-enforced isolation, China seems to be uncomfortable with the competition for influence it now faces…But where does India stand in the ‘Great Game East’ that is developing around Myanmar? Many see India as being marginalized in a country that is crucial to its strategic and economic interests. The Myanmarese turn to the West, and not to India, when they seek to explore alternatives to the Chinese. Increasingly, India is being seen as a defensive power influence, incapable of contesting Chinese influence in Myanmar, and unwilling to play along with those who seek to contest Chinese influence there.

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The Irrawaddy: India Marginalized in Myanmar (07/20/2013) http://www.irrawaddy.org/z_education/india-marginalized-in-myanmar.html But as Myanmar opens up to the outside world after decades of isolation, it is turning more to the West, especially the United States, to balance China’s growing influence, and not to India. Increasingly, Delhi is seen as a defensive power, unwilling and incapable of contesting Chinese influence in Myanmar, and not central to what has been described as the emerging “Great Game East.” The Telegraph: India to Open Super Highway to Burma and Thailand (05/29/2012) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/9297354/India-to-open-super-highway-to-Burma-and-Thailand.html India is to open a new four lane motorway to allow traders and tourists to drive from its eastern tea state of Assam into Burma, Thailand, and eventually Cambodia and Vietnam. The new "trilateral highway" is aimed at creating a new economic zone ranging from Calcutta on the Bay of Bengal to Ho Chi Minh City on the South China Sea. The Hindu: No Anti-India Activities from our Soil (06/22/2011) http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/no-antiindia-activities-from-our-soil/article2122968.ece Myanmar gave “firm assurances” to India on Tuesday that its territory will not be used for anti-India activities, as their Foreign Ministers held a series of “positive and constructive” meetings with focus on cooperation in security, energy, and agriculture. Asia Times: New Role for India in Myanmar (09/16/2013) http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/SEA-01-160913.html With ongoing communal and ethnic violence on one hand and the implementation of bold reform initiatives on the other, Myanmar's transition from authoritarianism to democracy presents immense challenges as well as opportunities for neighboring India. How New Delhi reacts to these tests will have wide-ranging impacts on the future of India-Myanmar relations. Bloomberg: India Sees Rupee Signs as Myanmar Opens (07/26/2013) http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-26/india-sees-rupee-signs-as-myanmar-opens.html Earlier this month, Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar, hosted the World Economic Forum. The event confirmed the unexpectedly swift reassimilation into the global community of a country that, until five years ago, had remained walled off by the military junta in power since 1962. Now that the regime is at long last liberalizing, and inviting foreign investment to change the landscape of one of the poorest regions in Southeast Asia, Myanmar could make enormous strides by taking advantage of its geographical location, with India to the east and China to the west.

(Soe Zeya Tun/AFP/GettyImages)

Aung San Suu Kyi meets with India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

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Burma Campaign UK: Burma-India Relations: A Betrayal of Democracy and Human Rights (03/2007) http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/reports/India_Briefing.pdf Due to a strong historical and geographical connection between the two countries, Burma and India have traditionally had a very close bond in terms of trade, commerce, political philosophy, religion, and culture. This changed following the brutal military crackdown against the democracy movement in 1988, but relations began warming again in the mid-1990s, and in the past five years India has become increasingly close to Burma’s dictatorship. Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India: India and its Neighbors: Myanmar http://www.mea.gov.in/myanmar-in.htm India and Myanmar share special ties of culture, language, trade and tradition rooted in historical linkages through India’s North East. India sees a direct relationship between peace and stability across the borders with Myanmar with development and prosperity of its own North Eastern region. Over the past year, India’s close and multifaceted relationship with Myanmar has been further strengthened through an exchange of visits at the highest level. Myanmar-Thailand Relations

Time: Burmese Refugees Remain in Limbo by Thai Border Despite Political Reforms (08/07/2013) http://world.time.com/2013/08/07/burmese-refugees-remain-in-limbo-by-thai-border-despite-political-reforms/ The wrinkled limestone karst landscape of the Thai-Burmese border is home to around 130,000 Burmese refugees. A survey conducted last month attempted to determine how this fraught situation could be remedied – asking inhabitants of one camp if they wanted to return to Burma, resettle in third countries, or stay permanently in Thailand. Results are still being tallied, but this barometer of opinion is largely a moot point, as there are no easy answers for victims of the world’s longest running civil war. The Irrawaddy: Love Thy Neighbor – Thai-Burmese Relations (07/24/2012) http://www.irrawaddy.org/commentary/love-thy-neighbor-thai-burmese-relations.html In the last two months, Thailand has received two prominent figures from its former pariah neighbor. Burma’s Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi visited in June and now reformist President Thein Sein has just concluded a trip focusing on trade collaboration. Despite both being hailed as successful in their own way, each carried contrasting messages to the Kingdom. Bangkok Post: General Hails ‘Best Ever’ Relations (09/18/2013) http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asia/370214/myanmar-says-thai-relations-today-best-ever Relations between Thailand and Myanmar are at their most cordial in the history of ties between the two countries, says Min Aung Hlaing, the commander-in-chief of the Defense Services of Myanmar. The Irrawady: U.S. Budget Crisis Hits Home for Burma-Thai Border Refugees (10/18/2013) http://www.irrawaddy.org/burma/us-budget-crisis-hits-home-burma-thai-border-refugees.html Though Washington has sent its federal employees back to work after a 16-day crisis of governance, Burmese refugees in Thailand who were preparing to resettle in the United States are still finding those plans put on hold a day after most U.S. government services resumed. Vivian Tan, spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Bangkok, confirmed to The Irrawaddy that resettlement flights have been temporarily suspended due to developments in Washington.

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2013 UNHCR Country Operations Profile: Thailand http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/page?page=49e489646 While Thailand is not party to the 1951 Refugee Convention, the generosity of the Royal Thai Government in hosting refugees and asylum-seekers has spanned several decades. The country currently hosts some 84,900 registered refugees and an estimated 62,000 unregistered asylum-seekers from Myanmar in nine camps along the Thai-Myanmar border. Myanmar-Asia Relations New York Times: Myanmar in Lead Role at a Regional Meeting (10/10/2013) http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/11/world/asia/myanmar-once-shunned-accepts-asean-leader-post.html?ref=myanmar Myanmar, until two years ago a pariah, on Thursday formally accepted the top post of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, an affirmation of the country’s new position on the international stage. At the close of the East Asia Summit here, Myanmar’s president, Thein Sein, accepted the gavel of ASEAN and with it the responsibility of hosting the summit meeting a year from now in Myanmar’s little-known, newly built and remote capital, Naypyidaw. Asia Times: Myanmar, North Korea Stay Brothers in Arms (09/05/2013) http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/SEA-01-050913.html Evidently Myanmar has not rolled back relations with Pyongyang despite persistent pressure from Washington, including during then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's historic visit to Myanmar in December 2011, and believed behind-the-scenes prodding from Japan and South Korea. East Asia Forum: Bangladesh-Myanmar Relations: Smooth Sailing (07/28/2012) http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2012/07/28/bangladesh-myanmar-relations-smooth-sailing/ Though Myanmar is a close neighbor, the government of Bangladesh has refrained from establishing close bilateral relations due to the long-term military rule in Myanmar. Center for Strategic and International Studies: Japan Chair Platform: Japan and Myanmar: Relationship Redux http://csis.org/publication/japan-chair-platform-japan-and-myanmar-relationship-redux From an apex as the most important economic aid relationship that Burma/Myanmar had with any foreign state or organization, either multilateral or bilateral, from independence in 1948 until 1988, Japan has fallen into a role of marginal assistance and influence for the past score of years. Japan PM Shinzo Abe in Burma for Economic Talks (05/25/2013) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22638383 Japanese PM Shinzo Abe is in Burma on the first visit by a Japanese head of government since 1977. A business delegation is accompanying Mr. Abe, who is keen to strengthen economic ties with Burma. Japan’s Economic Advance into Myanmar Part of a Wider Regional Strategy (06/06/2013) http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/787102.shtml#.UmlqHflJPnE

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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Myanmar in late May. As the first Japanese leader to visit the country in 36 years, Abe met Myanmar President U Thein Sein and opposition political figure Aung San Suu Kyi, expressing Japan's support to Myanmar in aiding in the country's democratic transition, economic reform and ethnic reconciliation. Japan is anxious to develop relations with Myanmar at the moment. Myanmar-U.S. Relations The Atlantic: Lifting the Bamboo Curtain (09/01/2008) http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/09/lifting-the-bamboo-curtain/306945/ As China and India vie for power and influence, Burma has become a strategic battleground. Four Americans with deep ties to this fractured, resource-rich country illuminate its current troubles, and what the U.S. should do to shape its future. U.S. Department of State: U.S. Relations with Burma http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/35910.htm The United States supports a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic Burma that respects the human rights of all its peoples. Elections in November 2010 led to a peaceful transition from sixty years of military rule to a quasi-civilian government headed by President Thein Sein. Under President Thein Sein, the Government of Burma has initiated a series of political and economic reforms which have resulted in a substantial opening of the long-isolated country. These reforms include the release of many political prisoners, ceasefire agreements with 12 of 13 major non-state armed groups, greater freedom of the press, and parliamentary by-elections in 2012 in which pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her opposition party won 43 of the 44 seats they contested (out of 45) gaining approximately 11% representation in parliament. PBS: New Chapter Begins for U.S. Relations With Myanmar, Though Concerns Remain (05/20/2013) http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/world/jan-june13/myanmar_05-20.html At the White House, President Barack Obama welcomed Myanmar President Thein Sein, the first Burmese leader to visit Washington in nearly five decades. Ray Suarez talks to Jennifer Quigley of the U.S. Campaign for Burma and Priscilla Clap, former chief of the U.S. mission in Myanmar, about reforms in that country. The Woodrow Wilson Center: The First Visit to Burma by an American Secretary of State (12/19/2011) http://www.wilsoncenter.org/node/21102 When Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Burma (Myanmar) at the end of November 2011, much was made of this being the first visit by an American secretary of state in over half a century. The only previous visit occurred in February 1955 when Secretary of State John Foster Dulles visited Rangoon. The issues behind the two visits were different, but they were both unexpected (a year before the visits

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/11/19/president-

obama-promises-support-people-burma

President Obama meets with President Thein Sein of Burma.

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neither could have been envisioned), both responded to recent changes in Burma, and both had a China connection. Brookings: Obama in Burma (11/16/2012) http://www.brookings.edu/research/opinions/2012/11/16-obama-burma-rieffel-sun Barack Obama will be the first sitting U.S. President to visit Burma/Myanmar since the country gained its independence in 1948. The visit has important implications for U.S. foreign policy toward China and for U.S. foreign assistance to countries in transition from authoritarian to democratic rule.

Obama Makes First Visit to Myanmar (11/19/12) http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887323353204578126592329167294 YANGON, Myanmar—President Barack Obama arrived in this once-pariah nation to commend its progress away from military rule and call for more steps to address human rights abuses, in a visit the White House hopes will help push the nation further down the road of political and economic change.

U.S. President Obama Hail’s Burma’s ‘Remarkable Journey’ (11/19/12) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20386066 Burma is on a "remarkable journey" of reform that has much further to go, Barack Obama said as he made the first visit to the South East Asian nation by a serving U.S. president. A desire for change had been met by an agenda of reform, he said, and he was there to extend a "hand of friendship". Obama, in an Emerging Myanmar, Vows Support (11/18/12) http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/19/world/asia/obama-heads-to-myanmar-as-it-promises-more-reforms.html?_r=1& President Obama journeyed to this storied tropical outpost of pagodas and jungles on Monday to “extend the hand of friendship” as a land long tormented by repression and poverty begins to throw off military rule and emerge from decades of isolation. The Jackson School of International Studies, SIS 495 Task Force: U.S.-Burma Relations: Peace, Stability, and the Transition to Democracy (2013) http://digital.lib.washington.edu/researchworks/handle/1773/22745 Burma will define the Obama Administration’s foreign policy legacy. Political change in Burma, once unimaginable, is now a bright reality with burgeoning prospects for the future. The ongoing rapprochement between Washington and Naypyidaw over the past four years has been marked by what seemed to be an improbable internal transformation of government under the leadership of Burma’s President Thein Sein. Burma has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to a new national trajectory marked by the goals of ethnic peace, stability and democratic governance. Al Jazeera: Coming to America: The 5 Biggest Refugee Groups of the Last 20 Years (10/14/2011) http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/america-tonight/america-tonight-blog/2013/10/13/the-5-biggest-refugeegroupsofthelast20years.html In 2007, the United States began resettling enormous numbers of refugees from Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, many of whom had been living in camps on the Thai border for a decade or longer. The refugees had fled the world’s longest-running civil war, where torture, rape, and the forced conscription of children were commonplace. Asia Society: Advancing Myanmar’s Transition: A Way Forward for U.S. Policy (12/01/2011)

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http://asiasociety.org/policy/task-forces/advancing-myanmars-transition-way-forward-us-policy Advancing Myanmar’s Transition: A Way Forward for U.S. Policy assesses the nature of the changes that are under way in Myanmar and the challenges and vulnerabilities the country faces. Against this backdrop, the report’s co-authors –Priscilla Clapp, former Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Burma (1999–2002), and Suzanne DiMaggio, Asia Society’s Vice President of Global Policy Programs –recommend measures that the United States can undertake at this critical moment to encourage, support, and advance the institutionalization of sustainable democracy in Myanmar.

Aung San Suu Kyi Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech (12/10/1991) http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1991/kyi-acceptance.html Watch the first minutes of the acceptance speech delivered on behalf of Aung San Suu Kyi by her 18-year old son, Alexander Aris, on the occasion of the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, December 10, 1991.

Nobel Prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi (C) receives the Congressional Gold Medal from House Speaker John Boehner (L), in the Rotunda of the Capitol in Washington, DC, USA. Photograph: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty

Images http://www.theguardian.com/news/2012/sep/19/picture-desk-live-the-best-news-pictures-of-the-day

Permission pending

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The Burmese Refugee Project (2013) http://burmeserefugeeproject.org/. The Burmese Refugee Project is a non-profit organization seeking to build participatory models for community development and education in various Shan communities in northern Thailand. Our mission is to equip disenfranchised, stateless, Shan Burmese communities with the skills, knowledge, and education necessary to improve their current lives and enhance their future opportunities. We hope that by initiating education, health, and community development projects, we can help contribute to the development of a supportive, participatory, and prosperous Shan community in which they are able to thrive despite their precarious and unstable legal situation.

Refugees from Burma (2013) http://www.culturalorientation.net/learning/populations/burmese/images. The Images: Refugees from Burma gallery focuses on photos of refugees from Burma in their home and work environments in the United States. In addition, the website hosts two image galleries, one highlighting photos of refugees from Burma living and participating in the urban environment of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the other of refugees from Burma in camps in Thailand. BBC: Burma Discussion (05/07/2013) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCX0Mzv3KsI British MP Rushanara Ali speaks for the opposition Labor party on international development and Melanie Teff from Refugees International talks about the humanitarian crisis.

The Seattle Times: Refugees Face Uncertain Future as Myanmar Opens (05/11/2013) http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2020969930_apasthailandmyanmarrefugeesinlimbo.html. Since the day she was born, 20-year-old NawLawnadoo has known almost nothing of the world beyond the fence and guard posts that hem her in with 45,000 others – ethnic minorities from Myanmar and those like her who were born and raised in the Mae La refugee camp in neighboring Thailand. Read her story and learn about the life of refugees in the Mae La refugee camp in Thailand.

Karen News: Refugee Survey – Most do not want to go back to Burma (07/15/2013) http://karennews.org/2013/07/refugee-survey-most-do-not-want-to-go-back-to-burma.html/. A survey conducted by the Karen Refugees Committee at the ThamHin camp southern Thailand found that 46 percent of those Karen refugees who were surveyed want to resettle to a third country, another 27 percent would prefer to remain in Thailand, and 27 percent would only go back to Burma if peace is guaranteed.

Seattle Globalist: Burmese Reforms Haven’t Stemmed Flow of Refugees to Washington (11/17/2012) http://www.seattleglobalist.com/2012/11/17/burmese-reforms-refugees-in-western-washington/7998. In the last few years, the Burmese government, long considered one of the world’s most repressive, has implemented a number of democratic reforms. But despite these changes, Washington’s Burmese refugee population has continued growing steadily over the last two years, and still makes up the largest incoming refugee population in the state, ahead of both Iraqis and Somalis. So where are they all?

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Refugees International: Life in the Rohingya’s Myanmar: A Q & A with Photojournalist Greg Constantine (06/20/2013) http://www.refugeesinternational.org/blog/life-rohingyas-myanmar-q-photojournalist-greg-constantine. Greg Constantine discusses his experience with Rohingya internally displaced persons (IDPs) and their life in the refugee camps.

Refugees International: Myanmar: What will Replace the Notorious NaSaKa? (07/16/2013) http://www.refugeesinternational.org/blog/myanmar-what-will-replace-notorious-nasaka. On my research missions to Myanmar and to Bangladesh, I have met so many Rohingyas who suffered terrible abuses at the hands of the NaSaKa border force and whose everyday lives were blighted by their fear of it. In our reports, Refugees International has repeatedly demanded that the NaSaKa be reined in, and so we welcome President Thein Sein's announcement that this notorious force is being disbanded. But this positive development also raises questions – namely, what the NaSaKa’s replacement will be and whether its behavior will be any different? International Rescue Committee: Hard Living in the City (04/10/2013) http://www.rescue.org/blog/hard-living-city-malaysia-refugees. In a new report entitled, “In Search of Survival and Sanctuary in the City,” the International Rescue Committee (IRC) details the hardships faced by Burmese refugees living in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia has not signed U.N. conventions that protect the rights of refugees, and the government makes no distinction between refugees and economic migrants. Refugees are not allowed to work legally, and access to humanitarian assistance, healthcare services, and educational opportunities is limited. UNC Global: Class Assignment Turns into a Mission to Help Burmese Students Succeed (07/09/2013) http://global.unc.edu/news/class-assignment-turns-into-a-mission-to-help-burmese-students-succeed/. For Amy Lerner, helping the children of Burmese refugees began as a class assignment. It grew into an ever-expanding mission she has yet to complete.That was less than three years ago. Now, she wants to be able to go to Burma – also known as Myanmar – one day so she can better understand its cultural heritage, its ethnic diversity and the history of oppression against some ethnic groups.

Educating the Refugee Child: A Resource Guide for Elementary School Teachers Working with Refugee Students from Burma (08/2012) http://www.unc.edu/ccps/documents/lerner.pdf. This web and print-based resource guide is a first attempt at providing some support to the local school personnel who work with refugee children. While it is geared toward aiding local teachers who work specifically with Karen refugees from Burma, I hope that school personnel from other locations (who may be working with refugee students from varying backgrounds), may also find it useful.

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Video for Learning about Refugees from Burma (2013) http://www.culturalorientation.net/learning/populations/burmese/video. The video features interviews with refugees from Burma, talking about their challenges and accomplishments dealing with learning English, employment, housing and community, rights and responsibilities, and the long process of resettlement. The New York Times: Life in Limbo for Chin Refugees (11/30/2011) http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/30/life-in-limbo-for-chin-refugees/?_r=0. Thirty-year-old Biathleng fled Myanmar’s Chin State for Delhi in June, with three children and a teenage wife. Like many other Chins, one of Myanmar’s largest ethnic minorities, his family walked for two days until they crossed the border into India, he says. They then shared a vehicle from Mizoram to Guwahati, Assam, and caught a train to the Indian capital, fleeing persecution and impoverishment in their heavily militarized homeland. Myanmar: Internal Displacement Snapshot – Kachin and Northern Shan States (07/2013) http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Kachin_Snapshot_July%202013.pdf. The conflict in Kachin and northern Shan States has displaced an estimated 100,000 people. The number of registered IDPs staying in camps in Kachin and in northern Shan States has reached more than 87,000 including 50,000 in areas beyond the government control. Refugees from Burma: Their Backgrounds and Refugee Experiences http://www.cal.org/resources/pubs/burmese.html This profile includes information on the histories, cultures, and experiences of Burmese refugees with a focus on the Burmans, the Karen, and the Chin.

Council on Foreign Relations: Myanmar’s Religious and Ethnic Tensions Begin to Spread Across the Region (06/14/2013) http://blogs.cfr.org/asia/2013/06/14/myanmars-religious-and-ethnic-tensions-begin-to-spread-across-the-region/ For decades, during the rule of the military junta, Myanmar’s numerous internal problems spilled over its borders, sewing chaos along the frontiers with India, Thailand, China, and Bangladesh. Myanmar’s narcotics producers flooded Thailand and other countries with methamphetamines and heroin, Myanmar’s numerous civil wars sent hundreds of thousands of refugees spilling into Thailand and Bangladesh and created a profitable cross-border illegal arms trade in India, and Myanmar’s combination of rape as a weapon of war and massive migration created some of the most virulent strains of HIV/AIDS in Asia, which then spread into China and Thailand.

REFUGEE ISSUES

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UNHCR: 2013 Country Operations Profile, Myanmar http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49e4877d6.html Though the new Parliament agreed to consider looking into a proposal to draft a new citizenship law and revoke the current Myanmar Citizenship Law, which could improve the status of a large group of residents in Rakhine State and other people without citizenship in the country, the Government's response was a reiteration of current policies. UNHCR foresees a continuing need to assist some 800,000 residents of Rakhine State without citizenship. PBS: Voices from the Burmese Diaspora (2002-2011) http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/burma601/voices.html. Burmese in exile share their stories about leaving the country. Time: Burmese Refugees Remain in Limbo by Thai Border Despite Political Reforms (08/07/2013) http://world.time.com/2013/08/07/burmese-refugees-remain-in-limbo-by-thai-border-despite-political-reforms/. The wrinkled limestone karst landscape of the Thai-Burmese border is home to around 130,000 Burmese refugees. Many who fled decades of ethnic conflict have lost their lands, families and livelihoods, and countless children born in makeshift camps have neither set foot in the country of their parents’ birth nor speak their parents’ native tongue. While recent reforms in military-dominated Burma, officially known as Myanmar, have seen democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi elected to Parliament, as well as the suspension of Western sanctions and the release of political prisoners, the refugee quandary endures.

RELIGION & ETHNIC DIVERSITY

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Ethnic Nationalities of Burma http://www.oxfordburmaalliance.org/ethnic-groups.html. There are more than 135 different ethnic groups in Burma, each with its own history, culture, and language. The majority Burman (Bamar) ethnic group makes up about two-thirds of the population and controls the military and the government. The minority ethnic nationalities, making up the remaining one third, live mainly in the resource-rich border areas and hills of Burma, although many have been forcibly removed from their homes by the military-backed government as it confiscates land for development projects and resource exploitation. As a result, millions of people from these minority groups have become internally displaced people (IDPs) within Burma, or refugees in neighboring countries. Burma Link: Ethnic Groups (07/19/2013) http://www.burmalink.org/ethnic-groups-cultures-and-histories/. Categorizing people into distinctive ethnic groups is a problematic task that necessarily over-simplifies a complex reality. Even self-identification of ethnicity poses problems as some people may identify with many different ethnic groups and some with none at all. Accordingly, people of Burma provide differing numbers of ethnic groups that exist in the country.

Briefing: Myanmar’s Ethnic Problems (10/2013) http://www.irinnews.org/report/95195/briefing-myanmar-s-ethnic-problems Mutual distrust, power struggles, and tension over the hoarding of resources, including gold, gems, and timber, have characterized the long history between the rulers of Myanmar – primarily of Burman background – and the many other smaller ethnic groups that comprise this Southeast Asian nation of more than 50 million. Cornell University SEAP: Burma/Karen Project (10/2013) http://seap.einaudi.cornell.edu/burma-karen_project SEAP Outreach has created the Burma/Karen Project in response to the surge of requests for information and training about Burma and ethnic groups such as the Karen, who make up the bulk of the in-coming Southeast Asia refugee population in upstate New York and many other communities in the U.S. We are committed to providing educational resources on Burma and its many ethnic groups through our lending library and the Burma/Myanmar Explorer Box – a traveling culture kit of objects for use by teachers and community organizations. We also offer professional development workshops for teachers and presentations for community groups and businesses that focus on cultural and historical background. The Diplomat: Constitutional Reform Needed for Myanmar’s Ethnic Challenges (07/15/2013) http://thediplomat.com/2013/07/15/constitutional-reform-needed-for-myanmars-ethnic-challenges/ Myanmar has a myriad of challenges to democratic reform and economic development. At the top of the list must be its deep-seated and long-standing ethnic and religious conflicts.

Interactive Myanmar Map http://www.stimson.org/programs/myanmar-map/. This clickable data map explores the overlap of minority populations and economic infrastructure development in Myanmar (Burma) as of September 2011.

RELIGION & ETHNIC DIVERSITY

38 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

The New York Times: Beyond Burma: Studying Buddhism and Buddhist Culture Around the World (10/14/2013) http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20071003wednesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons In this lesson, students learn about the 2007 military violence against protesting monks in the devoutly Buddhist country of Myanmar. After investigating and “curating” an exhibit on the history, basic tenets, practices, and global influence of this ancient faith, students consider the implications of the military regime’s actions on Buddhist society in Myanmar. Cultural Profiles – Chin Burmese http://worldrelief.org/page.aspx?pid=1730. The Chin are an ethnic group in Burma (Myanmar) who are persecuted for ethnic and religious reasons. Many Chin have fled to refugee camps in Malaysia, Thailand, and India.

Minority Rights Group International: Chin http://www.minorityrights.org/?lid=4497. The Chin was one of the ethnic groups that signed the Panglong Agreement of 1947, with its promise of a federal structure in the new independent Burma. This was never fully implemented and contributed subsequently to the slide into civil war between the state and some of these groups within a decade, and particularly after the 1962 coup d’état by General Ne Win.

Minority Rights Group International: Kachin http://www.minorityrights.org/?lid=4490/ The Kachin encompass a number of ethnic groups speaking almost a dozen distinct languages belonging to the Tibeto-Burman linguistic family who inhabit the same region in the northern part of Burma on the border with China, mainly in Kachin State.

The Curriculum Project: History of Burma from a Multi-Ethnic Perspective (2006-2012) http://curriculumproject.org/wp-content/uploads/History%20of%20Burma%20Student%20-%2021%20Aug%2008.pdf. The history of Burma is made up of the stories of all the people from inside Burma’s borders – Arakanese, Burman, Chin, Karen, Karenni, Kachin, Mon, Shan, and many smaller ethnic groups. You will have a chance to learn more about the history of Burma. Remember: History is about important events, discoveries, developments, changes, and famous personalities. The Economist: Caught in the Middle (07/11/2012) http://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2012/07/myanmars-minorities. While the world’s attention is diverted by the political thaw in lowland Myanmar, more than 75,000 Kachin (and counting) have been displaced from their native lands since the army attacked a Kachin Independence Army (KIA) outpost last June near a contested hydropower dam site, ending a 17-year cease-fire. Rights groups accuse Myanmar’s army of intentionally targeting civilians as part of their counter-insurgency strategy.

RELIGION & ETHNIC DIVERSITY

39 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

Drum Publication Group (10/2013) http://www.drumpublications.org/ This simple web site aims to provide Karen people and all those interested in Karen language, access to Drum's educational materials and includes a regularly updated collection of downloadable Karen language materials as well as the group's online English-Sgaw Karen Dictionary. The Karen People http://www.karen.org.au/karen_people.htm. The Karen people are an ethnic group living in South-East Asia. The Karen people are culturally and linguistically diverse. There are about seven million Karen people living in Burma (Myanmar), about half a million Thai-Karen whose ancestral villages are in Thailand, and smaller groups of Karen living in India and other South-East Asian countries.

The New York Times: Myanmar’s Muslim Minority Confronts Fear and Mistrust (07/02/2013) http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/03/world/asia/myanmars-muslim-minority-confronts-fear-and-mistrust.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&smid=fb-share. After decades of peaceful coexistence with the Buddhist majority in the country, Muslims say they now constantly fear the next attack. The root of the violence, which has left around 200 Muslims dead over the past year, appears partly a legacy of colonial years when Indians, many of them Muslims, arrived in the country as civil servants and soldiers, stirring resentment among Burmese Buddhists. Open Society Foundations: Exiled to Nowhere: Burma’s Rohingya (07/09/2012) http://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/voices/exiled-nowhere-burma-s-rohingya The Rohingya are from western Burma. As a Muslim minority group, they face systematic discrimination by the military regime. An outbreak of severe violence in the western Burmese state of Rakhine has refocused international and regional attention on the issue of the area’s estimated 800,000 stateless Muslim Rohingya threatening to destabilize the country’s wider transition away from military rule. The Dark Side of Transition: Violence Against Muslims in Myanmar (10/01/2013) http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/asia/south-east-asia/myanmar/251-the-dark-side-of-transition-violence-against-muslims-in-myanmar.aspx Following the outbreak of deadly intercommunal clashes in Rakhine State in 2012, anti-Muslim violence has spread to other parts of Myanmar. The depth of anti-Muslim sentiment in the country, and the inadequate response of the security forces, mean that further clashes are likely. Unless there is an effective government response and change in societal attitudes, violence could spread, impacting Myanmar’s transition as well as its standing in the region and beyond.

Classroom Writing Projects

Writing Prompt (MSP Friendly)

The plight of the Muslim Rohingyas in Burma is very serious. Currently they do not hold status or have citizenship in any country! Many believe that they should be granted citizenship in Myanmar. Decide if you agree or disagree with this proposal and write a multiple paragraph letter to the leader of Myanmar to persuade the government to support your position.

Writing Prompt (HSPE Friendly) Myanmar is faced with many challenges. Write a multiple-paragraph essay for a new classmate explaining two or three issues currently facing the country.

Common Core Connection

THE DAY AFTER

ENVIRONMENT & AGRICULTURE

40 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

The Burma Environmental Working Group (10/21/2013) http://www.bewg.org/ The Burma Environmental Working Group envisions a Burma in which a democratic government and a strong civil society work together effectively to safeguard ecological and cultural diversity and ensure that the country’s development policies provide equitable benefits to all. Burma Issues – Environment (10/21/2013) http://www.cfob.org/burmaissue/environment/environment.shtml Formerly called the rice bowl of Asia, Burma's economy and environment have deteriorated to such an extent that over the past three decades, Burma has become one of the world's poorest countries. One of the main reasons for this is because the military regime, currently

calling itself the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), tightly controls the economy and therefore pockets all foreign investment revenue for itself. As Myanmar Opens to World, Fate of its Forest is on the Line (11/15/2012) http://e360.yale.edu/feature/as_myanmar_opens_to_world_fate_of_its_forests_is_on_the_line/2592/

Years of sanctions against Myanmar’s military regime helped protect its extensive wild lands. But as the country’s rulers relax their grip and welcome foreign investment, can the nation protect its forests and biodiversity while embracing development? UNDP: The State of the Environment in Myanmar (10/21/2013) http://www.mm.undp.org/enviroment/UNDP_MMR_Enviroment.html UNDP and FAO have initiated programs to improve the livelihoods of community and environment through community participation in cooperation with line government ministries. Mangrove reforestation was a major activity in environmental rehabilitation in 2008 and continued in 2009 under UNDP’s post-Nargis reforestation strategy. Burma’s New Environmental Challenges and Opportunities (10/04/2012) http://www.ethicaltraveler.org/2012/09/burmas-new-environmental-challenges-and-opportunities/ The recent political opening of Burma (Myanmar) after decades of isolation is bringing new environmental challenges as the country struggles to modernize and develop its infrastructure and policy framework. IRC Myanmar: Cyclone Nargis 2008 Facts and Figures (05/03/2011) http://www.ifrc.org/en/news-and-media/news-stories/asia-pacific/myanmar/myanmar-cyclone-nargis-2008-facts-and-figures/ On 2 May 2008, Cyclone Nargis made landfall in Myanmar, crossing the south of the country over two days, and devastating the Ayeyarwady Delta region. According to official figures, 84,500 people were

Burma’s Environment: People, Problems and Policies (07/25/2011) http://www.earthrights.org/campaigns/burmas-environment-people-problems-policies

A groundbreaking report, Burma’s Environment: People, Problems, Policies was released on July 25, 2011, by the Burma Environment Working Group (BEWG). This 100-page, first-of-its-kind, holistic examination of Burma’s natural environment focuses on the laws, policies, and frameworks covering the environment in Burma. The report documents overall patterns and specific cases of developmental threats to the environment.

ENVIRONMENT & AGRICULTURE

41 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

killed and 53,800 went missing. A total of 37 townships were significantly affected by the cyclone. The UN estimates that as many as 2.4 million people were affected. NBC: Cyclone Nargis Embodied the Perfect Storm (05/08/2008) http://www.nbcnews.com/id/24526960/ It was Asia's answer to Hurricane Katrina. Packing winds upwards of 120 mph, Cyclone Nargis became one of Asia's deadliest storms by hitting land at one of the lowest points in Myanmar and setting off a storm surge that reached 25 miles inland. MCEER-Myanmar (Burma) Cyclone Nargis Disaster 2008 (10/21/2013) http://mceer.buffalo.edu/infoservice/disasters/burma_cyclone.asp Burma, also known as Myanmar, is one of Asia's poorest countries. A largely rural, densely forested country, it is endowed with extremely fertile soil and has important offshore oil and gas deposits. However, its people remain very poor and are getting poorer. Burma is ruled by a military junta which suppresses almost all dissent. The Burmese media have been strictly controlled since the 1962 military coup, filtering not only criticism of the government but most bad news, including reports of natural disasters. PBS: Myanmar Allows First U.S. Aid Shipment Following Horrific Cyclone, Article Lesson Plan (05/12/2008) http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/world/jan-june08/cyclone_5-12.html Lesson plan and activities to accompany news article introducing the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis on Myanmar. Breaking News English’s Burma Cyclone News Article ELL Lesson Plan (05/06/2008) http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/0805/080506-cyclone.html Article and accompanying activities, including warm ups, vocabulary builders, pre-reading, during reading, and post reading activities with an emphasis on the English Language Learner. Myanmar Cyclone: Thomas Reuters Foundation (10/21/2013) http://www.trust.org/spotlight/myanmar-cyclone/ We cover the world’s under-reported stories. We work with the best law firms to provide free legal assistance to NGOs and social entrepreneurs worldwide. We promote the highest standards of journalism around the world.

National Geographic: Irrawaddy River: Myanmar’s River of Spirits (05/2006) http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2006/05/irrawaddy-river/salak-text. The name "Irrawaddy" is an English corruption of AyerawaddyMyit, which some scholars translate as "river that brings blessings to the people." But it's less a river than a test of faith, receding during the country's dry season until its banks sit exposed and cracking in the sun, only to return each spring with the monsoon, coming to life, flooding fields, replenishing the country with water, fish, and fertile soil. The Irrawaddy has never disappointed the Burmese. It is where they wash, what they drink, how they travel. Inseparable from their spiritual life, it is their hope.

ENVIRONMENT & AGRICULTURE

42 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

What Were the Internal and External Effects of Cyclone Nargis in 2008? (Excerpted from Burma/Myanmar: What Everyone Needs to Know

David I. Steinberg, Oxford Press, 2013, pp. 140 - 143) Cyclone Nargis was the single most devastating disaster to strike Burma/Myanmar in recorded history. It is common for cyclones in the annual monsoon season (May through September or so) to sweep up the Bay of Bengal from the south and inundate the Bengal area of India and Bangladesh. Such torrential rains frequently affect Burma/Myanmar, and along the Rakhine coast the annual rainfall can approach 200-300 inches per year, about three times that of Rangoon and almost ten times that of the dry zone of the central part of the state, as the Arakan Yoma Mountains stop most of the precipitation. Nargis was unprecedented, however. Stories circulate that the government issued warnings, but these were said to be less than adequate in two respects: they did not emphasize the severity of the storm, and many of the affected areas are so remote that no warning reached them. Although the figures are imprecise, some 138,000 people were killed. The mangrove swamps that offer some protection against cyclones had been severely diminished to make way for shrimp and other aquatic farming, so villages were exposed to the full force of the storm, in much the same way that New Orleans suffered more in Hurricane Katrina because it had lost its wetlands protection. The absurdity of the government’s response was apparent when it officially indicated the exact number of ducks, chickens, and water buffalo that had been killed but could not count the number of people. It is estimated that damaged has amounted to US$2.4 billion at the free market exchange rate, and was 27 percent of the GDP in 2007. Regardless of the accuracy of the rumor that the junta in Naypyitaw, out of the path of the storm, delayed responding because they do not like to hear bad news, or the additional rumor that the informants did not want to interrupt Maung Aye’s golf game, these are indicative of the cynicism with which the actions of members of the junta are treated. However, these are but subsidiary elements in the junta’s reaction to the events. We should remember that the cyclone of May 2 preceded the planned referendum on the constitution on May 10. The government had explicitly denied foreign requests for referendum observers, even turning down suggestions that the United Nations plays that role. They did not want any foreigners watching the referendum. It is highly probably that the day of May 10 was chosen by the government because astrologers considered it was a date auspicious for their cause; thus, canceling that date was exceedingly difficult. To solve this dilemma, the date was allowed to stand for most of the country, except in the delta where the cyclone hit. That new date there was May 24. Aside from whether this was a credible delay, it is significant that the government denied visas for foreigners to go into the affected areas until May 24, thus effectively preventing them from observing the referendum.

-Continued on next page-

ENVIRONMENT & AGRICULTURE

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…As worldwide offers to provide assistance poured in, the United States had its ships off the coast and

was prepared to fly in helicopters with relief supplies to the most remote areas. The junta adamantly

refused the offer, although supplies (estimated at some US$75 million) eventually were allowed to land

in Rangoon. The United States was extremely upset by this apparent lack of concern by the military for

its own people, and American newspapers complained about the callousness of the government. The

most important issue from the junta’s vantage point was likely to have been something completely

different. For two decades the United States has advocated regime change and the overthrow of

military rule in Myanmar, and there is no question that the junta believed that this would be the best

excuse for an invasion—an invasion that some dissidents inside and externally have called for (although

the NLD has never done so). The absurdity of the United States starting another war was not apparent

to the Burmese, who have been ever fearful of a U.S. invasion since 1988.

The Burmese government’s response was in sharp contrast to that of the unaffected Burmese people,

who organized their own relief teams and response. They carried out assistance and equated

themselves with great worldwide appreciation. The Burmese government response was also in sharp

contrast to the reaction of the Chinese leadership to the massive earthquake in Sichuan Province at

about the same time. The Chinese leadership showed up at devastated sites and comforted the

affected, while two weeks after the cyclone Than Shwe was shown inspecting a carefully constructed

tent village in what was a photo opportunity, not a realistic appraisal of the situation. (Officials later

privately admitted this was a mistake.) Autonomous social workers and helpers were often detained

because they were operating free from government control.

Important as well was the inherent nationalism of the junta’s response that the Burmese do not need

the outside world. Even at such a dire time, it would have been most unlikely for the junta to allow

unrestricted access to its territory. When it later tried (unsuccessfully) to raise some US $11 billion for

relief, it stipulated that relief was to be managed by the Burmese themselves. They certainly would

resist and deplore the suggestion by the French foreign minister that the United Nations should invoke

the R2P, which would authorize foreign intervention without the approval of the state concerned (a

provision that was passed in 1995 in cases of conflict). The junta would have perceived it as evidence of

invasion by foreign powers, to which the Burmese might well have responded with military force, thus

escalating tensions into confrontation.

Cyclone Nargis exhibited the systemic problems of the military’s administration: its fear of foreign

intervention and civilian leadership; nationalism; the propaganda elements of administration; and the

low priority it placed on the welfare of its people. The coordinated response was eventually led by

ASEAN with assistance from the United Nations. But the Burmese clearly did not want to be seen as

beggars in the international community.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

44 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

Myanmar Science and Technology News (10/21/2013) http://www.allvoices.com/Myanmar/technology-news As the world's premier platform for citizen journalism, Allvoices is committed to delivering a community-driven platform for open, global news and idea exchange. E! Science News: New Snub-Nosed Monkey Discovered in Northern Myanmar (10/26/2010) http://esciencenews.com/articles/2010/10/26/new.snub.nosed.monkey.discovered.northern.myanmar An international team of primatologists have discovered a new species of monkey in Northern Myanmar (formerly Burma.) The research, published in the American Journal of Primatology, reveals how Rhinopithecus strykeri, a species of snub-nosed monkey, has an upturned nose which causes it to sneeze when it rains. Field biologists led by Ngwe Lwin from the Myanmar Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association and supported by an international team of primatologists from Fauna & Flora International (FFI) and the People Resources and Biodiversity Foundation, discovered the new species during the nationwide Hoolock Gibbon Status Review in early 2010. Hunters reported the presence of a monkey species with prominent lips and wide upturned nostrils.

E! Science News: Hundreds of New Species Discovered in Eastern Himalayas (10/10/2009) http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/08/10/hundreds.new.species.discovered.eastern.himalayas Over 350 new species including the world's smallest deer, a "flying frog," and a 100 million year-old gecko have been discovered in the Eastern Himalayas, a biological treasure trove now threatened by climate change. A decade of research carried out by scientists in remote mountain areas endangered by rising global temperatures brought exciting discoveries such as a bright green frog that uses its red and long webbed feet to glide in the air. IRRI: Myanmar Taps Science to Target Rice Exports (09/09/2013) http://irri.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=12650:myanmar-taps-science-to-target-rice-exports Myanmar is mapping out its way to vastly boost its rice production through a carefully planned strategy that engages donor agencies and builds rice science capacity. Economic development across Southeast Asia, including in Vietnam, has been lifted by rice sector development, thanks to higher production and exports. In Myanmar, the government wants to produce sufficient rice for its burgeoning population that is expected to reach 100 million by 2030.

Cyclone Nargis and Hurricane Katrina: Compare and Contrast

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending to the precise details of explanations or descriptions.

Have students work in small groups. Use the data included in the following slideshow, http://www.slideshare.net/expattam/hurricane-katrina-vs-cyclone-nargis, to have students analyze, compare and contrast the effects of Cyclone Nargis and Hurricane Katrina. Students should ask questions such as which disaster had the greater financial damage, the higher amount of casualties or was the strongest in a meteorological sense. Ask students to decide which factor or factors are most important and why. Students should choose which disaster was “worse” and support their argument using facts and data from the slideshow.

Common Core Connection

THE DAY AFTER

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

45 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

SciDevNet: Science Competes for Attention in Myanmar’s Reforms (04/10/2012) http://www.scidev.net/global/science-diplomacy/feature/science-competes-for-attention-in-myanmar-s-reforms.html Science and education were poorly served by Myanmar's military junta and are still struggling for attention under recent reforms, writes Mike Ives. Myanmar's recent and unexpected political reforms have prompted Western powers to ease their longstanding economic sanctions against the country's military-dominated government. The Economist: Leapfrog Spotting, Mobile Phones May Regenerate the Country’s Withered Banking System (09/28/2013) http://www.economist.com/news/finance-and-economics/21586841-mobile-phones-may-regenerate-countrys-withered-banking-system-leapfrog-spotting For a foreigner at least, it is still a bit of a thrill to use an ATM machine in downtown Yangon. After years of carting around wads of dog-eared dollars to exchange for even larger wads of ancient, crumbling kyat, the local currency, immaculate new machines now disgorge crisp new banknotes. It is a minor miracle. Linked to the international payment system only late last year, hundreds of ATMs around the country can now be used on Visa’s payments system. Geography IQ: Burma http://www.geographyiq.com/countries/bm/Burma_map_flag_geography.htm An overview of the climate of Myanmar.

ARTS AND CULTURE – GENERAL

46 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

Myanmar Traditional Arts http://www.myanmars.net/myanmar-arts/index.htm This website provides detailed descriptions of the 10 Myanmar arts, the 18 essential arts of Myanmar Noble Men, and Myanmar music, dance, and movies. Additionally, there is a short video of a Burmese craftswoman describing her art that is on display in Japan. The Art and Culture of Burma http://www.seasite.niu.edu/burmese/cooler/BurmaArt_TOC.htm Dr. Richard M. Cooler, the former director of the Center for Burma Studies at Northern Illinois University, created this on-line course outline on the arts of Burma. The contents of the outline include images and descriptions of the arts of the Pre-Historic period, the Pre-Pagan period, the Pagan period, and the Post-Pagan period. Performing Knowledge, Education as Entertainment: Asian Puppetry, Burma http://www.fowler.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/curriculum/Intersections_Lesson11.pdf. Before film and television, puppetry was one of the most important entertainments throughout Asia. It also served as a major form of public education. In societies where oral traditions were as important as written literature, each generation learned of the beginning of the world and its beings, and understood the great moral tales as they engage with puppetry performances. This particular lesson focuses on puppets from Burma (Myanmar). The Burma Project (03/24/2013) http://www.artconspiracy.net/blog/the-burma-project/. Artist Amy D’Apice made it her mission to create one drawing per day for 27 days while in Burma. View her drawings and the stories behind them. Exhibition Shows Burma’s ‘Vanishing’ Natural, Cultural Heritage (07/08/2013) http://www.irrawaddy.org/archives/39503. Some 200 people gathered at Gallery 65 on Rangoon’s Yaw Min Street on Saturday to attend the opening of an exhibition on Burma’s rich natural and cultural heritage. Thaw Time: Myanmar Hosting its First International Literary Festival (02/01/2013) http://rt.com/art-and-culture/myanmar-literary-dissident-author-224/ Did you know that readers in Burma could only access redacted versions of classics by Anton Chekhov, Leo Tolstoy, George Orwell, and John Steinbeck for decades because of government restrictions and censorship? This brief article discusses Burma’s first literary festival since the closing of the Burmese censorship office and rebranding of the Press Scrutiny board as the Copyrights and Registration Division. Myanmar Arts http://myanmartravel.org/arts/ This website provides a brief overview of art in Myanmar and includes more in depth descriptions of Myanmar crafts, marionette, music, dance, and literature.

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Sandaya: Burmese Lessons (05/07/2012) http://newmusictheatre.org/blog/2012/05/sandaya-burmese-lessons/. The collaborative performance explores the culturally rich artistry and complexity of the long troubled and still struggling Myanmar. Conceived by Susan Galbraith and Kit Young with Chaw EiThein, the piece features a talented and dynamic roster of artists including Thein, U Yin Htwe, Meghan McCall, Kyal Thee, U TunKyi, Erle Taylor aka KoThan Win, and Myanmar PyiKyaukSein. This new work sheds light on recent social and political events and brings a heightened awareness to Myanmar and its people. Street Art on the Rise in Burma Amid Recent Reforms (08/27/2012) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raUxwzaiuiQ. Artists are expressing their political views and frustrations with the government by creating art on buildings. However, they say they don’t tag buildings such as hospitals out of respect. They don’t think they are being reckless, just using art as a form of free speech. Asia Society: Taiwanese Artist Brings Burma, Land of Shadows, to Light (10/24/2011) http://asiasociety.org/blog/asia/taiwanese-artist-brings-burma-land-shadows-light A photo essay by Taiwanese artist Chien-Chi Chang, "Burma, Land of Shadows," explores the paradoxical lives of the intensely Buddhist country under the shadow of the military regime that has held Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Burma's democracy movement, under house arrest for 15 of the past 21 years. Posing as a tourist in the country to take the pictures for the essay, Chang describes Burmese society as a real-life version of George Orwell’s Animal Farm. In Photos, Words, and Art, a Generation Looks Back on 1988 (07/24/2013) http://www.irrawaddy.org/photo/in-photos-words-and-art-a-generation-looks-back-on-1988.html The collective memory of one of Burma’s most iconic generations has re-emerged in an impressive art show commemorating the 1988 popular uprising that became known worldwide as the 8888 Uprising. The art show, currently on display at the Rangoon University Judson Hall exhibition annex on Pyay Road, this year celebrates the silver jubilee of the uprising, known as 8888 because of the significant events that took place on Aug. 8, 1988. With the growing environment of free expression in Burma, the exhibition has drawn on previously unseen art works, poetry, writings, sculptures and cartoons produced by former political prisoners both during and after their incarceration. The Art of Burma Web Gallery (2005) http://www.grad.niu.edu/burma/Art_of_Burma_2/index.html. This exhibition explores several aspects of Burmese Buddhist art, as well as the history of the collectors who brought Burmese objects to the United States. The analysis of Burmese Buddhist art and American collectors is displayed in four sections, comprising Burmese Buddhism and its protectors; donors and religious practice; the transmission of religious knowledge; and collectors. Objects in the exhibition have been drawn from the Burmese holdings at the Center for Burma Studies at Northern Illinois University and the Denison University Art Gallery. The New York Times: Opening a Door to the Burmese Past, and the Present Too (09/01/2013) http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/02/world/asia/opening-a-door-to-the-burmese-past-and-the-present-too.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0&ref=asia The curators pronounced it a star attraction among hundreds of rarely seen ancient objects in the neglected museums and dusty storerooms they have been scouring across Myanmar as they prepare

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48 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

for a 2015 exhibit at the Asia Society in New York City that will celebrate the nation’s long-hidden Buddhist art. Smithsonian: Myanmar’s Young Artists and Activists http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/Myanmars-Young-Artists-and-Activists.html

The New Zero Gallery and Art Studio looks out over a scruffy street of coconut palms, noodle stalls, and cybercafés in Yangon (Rangoon), the capital of Myanmar, the Southeast Asian country formerly known as Burma. The two-story space is filled with easels, dripping brushes and half-finished canvases covered with swirls of paint. A framed photograph of Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who was released from seven years of house arrest this past November, provides the only hint of the gallery’s political sympathies. Myanmar Sunrise App (04/05/2013) http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/New+Market/Story/A1Story20130404-413559.html. The Straits Times today launched an interactive book App, Myanmar Sunrise, on the extraordinary story of the world's newest democracy experiment and the region's last big economic frontier. A collection of features and analyses on politics, economy, business and travel, it offers a compelling look at today's Myanmar with new insight, color and insider accounts by a team of ST writers including Foreign Editor Ravi Velloor, Indochina Bureau Chief NirmalGhosh and Life!'s John Lui. Tales of Wisdom and Discernment (10/14/2013) http://www.learningtogive.org/lessons/unit226/lesson19.html This is a lesson including a Burmese folktale. Through four folktales from different parts of the world and wisdom traditions, learners will look at situations where characters were placed in difficult situations and had to make decisions which would extricate them from their problems. Learners will use decision-making to determine advice which others can use when faced with their own difficulties. They will also define discernment and wisdom and give examples of each in real life situations. Myanmar/Burma: Integrated Activities for Culture Study http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:bRWya-mROdEJ:wowlit.org/wp-content/media/Myanmar-Packet.doc+&cd=39&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a. Includes daily lessons along with a book list, discussion questions that align with Common Core standards, and general information about the country.

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49 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

The Piano Tuner (Upcoming Release) http://www.timeout.com/london/film/new-werner-herzog-film-the-piano-tuner-1 German New Waver Werner Herzog is set to return to fiction filmmaking with a Victorian-era drama called The Piano Tuner, based on a 2002 novel by Daniel Mason about a British man who is sent to a remote village in war-torn Burma to tune the piano of a daffy soldier. Burma: Encounters in a Forgotten Country (2013) http://www.journeyman.tv/?lid=65076. Multi-colored hot-air balloons glide serenely over the lush Burmese countryside. Waterways and ancient temples pass underneath as excited shouts ring out, "look at the balloon!" The isolated and primitive world of rural Burma eagerly absorbs these alien objects that soar overhead, providing a rare and beautiful vision of a forgotten land, full of mystery and magic. (58:28.00) They Call It Myanmar: Lifting the Curtain (2012) http://www.theycallitmyanmar.com/about-the-film/. Shot clandestinely over a two-year period by best-selling novelist and filmmaker, Robert H. Lieberman, this film provides a rare look at the second-most isolated country on the planet. It lifts the curtain to expose the everyday life in a country that has been held in the iron grip of a brutal military regime for 48 years. This unique feature length documentary, culled from over 120 hours of striking images, is an impressionistic journey. Interviews and interactions with more than 100 people throughout Burma, including an interview with the recently released Aung San Suu Kyi, are interwoven with spectacular footage of this little seen nation and its people. Though Burma has tumbled from one of the most prosperous and advanced countries in Southeast Asia to one of the world’s poorest, They Call It Myanmar is a story of beauty, courage and hope. (1:24:00)

Honor & Sacrifice: The Roy Matsumoto Story (2013) http://honordoc.com/index.html Honor & Sacrifice tells the complex story of a Japanese immigrant family ripped apart by WWII. The Matsumoto family included five sons; two who fought for the Americans and three who fought for the Japanese. The eldest, Hiroshi (Roy), became a hero, fighting against the Japanese with Merrill's Marauders, an American guerrilla unit in Burma. He was born near Los Angeles, educated in Japan, and became a hero when he used his Japanese language skills and military training to save his surrounded, starving battalion deep in the Burmese jungle. At the same time his parents and sisters were living in their family’s ancestral home, Hiroshima. The story is told by Roy's daughter Karen as she discovers her father's work in military intelligence, kept secret for 50 years. For Educators: http://honordoc.com/teach.html We have a 35-page curriculum guide ready to go, providing educators a great resource to expand on the movie in a number of different areas. You can see it by clicking here. If you want to download the file, right-click the link and choose "Save linked file" or the similar instruction used by your operating system. Honor & Sacrifice on DVD http://honordoc.com/store.html Stourwater Pictures is currently offering the DVD of the 28-minute film, Honor & Sacrifice, to academic institutions, libraries, and organizations

100-year-old Roy

Matsumoto lives in

Washington State.

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50 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

The Road to Mandalay: Assessing the Myanmar Reforms (2012)

http://www.aems.illinois.edu/searchresults_detail.html?biblioId=8493

Burma, also known as Myanmar, has long been closed to the scrutiny of journalists and camera crews, and its only real ally and investor has been neighboring China. But, following the dubious elections of 2010, things began to change. The government released dissenter Aung San Suu Kyi, suspended a dam project with China, freed thousands of prisoners, and signed peace pacts with a number of warring ethnic groups. This report on the country was produced with a previously unheard-of travel visa and a relatively liberal ability to film and interview without interference. Locations include the old colonial capital of Rangoon (now Yangon), the bizarre new North Korean – style capital Naypyidaw, the ancient temple town of Bagan, and the bustling commercial hub of Mandalay. Speaking with reporters, a presidential advisor sheds light on past turmoil and insists that Burma is now heading in the right direction – an assertion whose validity remains to be seen. The Lady (2011) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1802197/ The story of Aung San Suu Kyi as she becomes the core of Burma's democracy movement, and her relationship with her husband, writer Michael Aris. Into the Current: Burma’s Political Prisoners (2010) http://www.intothecurrent.org/. Into the Current tells the story of Burma’s unsung heroes – its prisoners of conscience and the price they pay for speaking truth to power. The film follows the stories and sacrifices of former political prisoner Bo Kyi and an underground team who work tirelessly and often at great risk on behalf of their jailed colleagues. It illuminates the profoundly inspiring political vision of many recently released prisoners, at a time when Burma is just beginning historical change towards democratic reform. (1:27:00) Burma VJ (2008) http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/burma-vj/. The Southeast Asian nation of Burma (also known as Myanmar) has been under the control of a military dictatorship since a coup toppled the elected prime minister in 1962. With Burma's press and mass media under the control of the military government, dissent has had little opportunity to take hold in the country, but that began to change in 2007; a band of Buddhist monks stepped forward to lead a revolt against the state, and as news spread about their actions, as many as 100,000 people took part in protests against the oppressive and violent leadership. The official state media ignored the uprising, but a new breed of reporters were at hand to cover the revolution – the Democratic Voice of Burma, also known as the Burma VJs, a handful of young video journalists armed with hand-held digital video cameras. The Burma VJs filmed the protests as well as violent acts committed by police and military officials, and then smuggled the footage to colleagues in Thailand, who then passed their images on to news organizations the world over. Filmmaker Anders Østergaard offers a look at how new technology is pressed into the service of a people's revolution in Burma VJ, a documentary which tells the story of the Democratic Voice of Burma and their role in the battle for a free and democratic Burma. (1:25:00) Inside Burma: Land of Fear (1996) http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/inside-burma-land-of-fear/. More than a million people have been forced from their homes and according to the United Nations; untold thousands have been massacred, tortured, and subjected to a modern form of slavery. John Pilger and David Munro go undercover in one of the world’s most isolated, and extraordinary countries,

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Burma, which Amnesty International calls ‘a prison without bars. They discover slave labour preparing for tourism and foreign investment. (51:07.00) Our Burmese Days (1996) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117270/plotsummary An examination of biculturalism wrapped in an extraordinary personal odyssey. Our Burmese Days is also a fascinating defacto glimpse of life in a country that's rarely covered in the media today. Now known as Myanmar, the film's title is a reference to the novel "Burmese Days" by George Orwell, who worked for a time in the country's colonial police force. This record of a daughter's attempts to understand her mother's denial of her roots "because it is too complicated a story to tell" reveals a family history that is both as tragic and as comic as any and yet unique when seen in the context of their colonial past. (1:30.00) Beyond Rangoon (1995) http://www.teachwithmovies.org/guides/beyond-rangoon.html. This film was inspired by the sad and continuing history of political repression in Myanmar (formerly Burma). It tells the fictional story of Dr. Laura Bowman, an American who travels to Myanmar as a tourist, seeking to forget a tragedy at home. Confronted with the searing brutality of the ruling military dictatorship, she is transformed by the suffering of the Burmese people and the inspiring leadership of Nobel Peace Prize Winner Aung San Suu Kyi. To this day, Aung San Suu Kyi and the movement she heads still seek democracy and a government that recognizes basic human rights. (1:40:00)

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52 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

M is for Myanmar (Young Reader) (Young Hla, 2011) http://www.thingsasianpress.com/kids/detail_misformyanmar.htm. Young Hla describes the country of her birth in vivid, poetic anecdotes to her little sister who has never been there. Her stories provide lively captions for the paintings that glow like jewels and brilliantly illustrate the vitality and culture of a little-known corner of the globe. When the last page of this book has been turned, readers will long to ride in a trishaw, dab fragrant thanaka paste on their faces to prevent sunburn, eat savory mohinga soup for breakfast, and hear the exuberant greeting of “Mingalaba” that welcomes them to Myanmar. (48 pages) Bamboo People (Metali Perkins, 2010)

http://www.bamboopeople.org/. Chiko isn’t a fighter by nature. He’s a book-loving Burmese boy whose father, a doctor, is in prison for resisting the government. Tu Reh, on the other hand, wants to fight for freedom after watching Burmese soldiers destroy his Karenni family's home and bamboo fields. This coming-of-age novel takes place against the political and military backdrop of modern-day Burma. Narrated by two fifteen-year-old boys on opposing sides of the conflict between the Burmese government and the Karenni, one of the many ethnic minorities in Burma, Bamboo People explores the nature of violence, power, and prejudice. (272 pages) Burma/Myanmar: What Everyone Needs to Know (David Steinberg, 2009) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7044868-burma-myanmar?from_search=true Burma/Myanmar: What Everyone Needs to Know offers a concise synthesis of this forbidding yet fascinating country. David Steinberg, one of the world's eminent authorities on the region, explains the current situation in detail yet contextualizes it in a wide-ranging survey of Burmese history and culture. Authoritative and balanced, it will be standard work on Burma for the general reading public. (217 pages) Little Daughter: A Memoir of Survival in Burma and the West (Zoya Phan, 2009) http://www.amazon.com/Little-Daughter-Memoir-Survival-Burma/dp/067006968X. Zoya Phan was born in the remote jungles of Burma, to the Karen ethnic group. Zoya's mother was a guerrilla soldier, her father a freedom activist. Her early years were blissfully removed from the war. At the age of fourteen, however, Zoya's childhood was shattered as the Burmese army attacked. With their house in flames, Zoya and her family fled. So began two terrible years of running from guns, as Zoya joined thousands of refugees hiding in the jungle. Her family scattered, Zoya sought sanctuary across the border in a Thai refugee camp. The following year, at a 'free Burma' march, she was plucked from the crowd to appear on the BBC, the first of countless interviews with the world's media. She became the face of a nation enslaved, rubbing shoulders with presidents and film stars. By turns uplifting, tragic and entirely gripping, this is the extraordinary true story of the girl from the jungle who became an icon of a suffering land. (335 pages)

Bamboo People Discussion and Activity Guide

http://www.mitaliperkins.com/

Bamboo%20People%20Activit

y%20&%20Discussion%20Guid

e-2.pdf.

Discussion Questions

Essay topics About modern

Burma Activities and

Research Projects Burma Quiz Meet the Author

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To Myanmar with Love (Things Asian Press, 2009) http://www.thingsasianpress.com/books/detail_tmwl.htm. Beyond politics, little is known about Myanmar (Burma). Highlighting the country’s great beauty and hospitality, this book is dedicated to the local residents whose warmth and encouragement are its inspiration. From helping a community library in New Bagan to breakfast with 2,700 monks in Mandalay, adventurers and armchair voyagers will discover the secrets of savvy expatriates, seasoned travelers, and inspired locals. With its unique insights into dining, shopping, sightseeing, and culture, To Myanmar With Love is a one-of-a-kind guide for the passionate traveler. (226 pages)

Burma Chronicles (Graphic Journal) (Guy Delisle, 2009) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5596923-burma-chronicles?from_search=true From the author of Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea and Shenzhen: A Travelogue from China comes Burma Chronicles, an informative look at a country that uses concealment and isolation as social control. It is drawn with Guy Delisle's minimal line, interspersed with wordless vignettes and moments of his distinctive slapstick humor. (263 pages) Under the Dragon: A Journey through Burma (Rory MacLean, 2008) http://www.amazon.com/Under-Dragon-Journey-through-Burma/dp/1845116224. The memory of a brief visit to Burma had haunted Rory MacLean for years. A decade after the violent suppression of an unarmed national uprising, which cost thousands of lives and all hopes for democracy, he seized the chance to return. Travelling from Rangoon to Mandalay and Pagan, into the heart of the Golden Triangle, he hears stories of freedom fighters, government censors, basket weavers, farmers and lovers – ordinary people struggling to survive under one of the most brutal and repressive regimes in the world. Under the Dragon is a perceptive and heartbreaking portrayal of contemporary Burma, a country that is shot through with desperation and fear, but also blessed – even in the darkest places – with beauty and courage. (240 pages)

Fiery Dragons: Banks, Moneylenders and Microfinance in Burma (Sean Turnell, 2008) http://www.amazon.com/Fiery-Dragons-Moneylenders-Microfinance-Institiute/dp/8776940403 This book by Sean Turnell explores the present circumstances of Burma's financial malaise, but does not neglect how it got there. Opening its account at the dawn of the colonial era, the book takes the story forward to the events that in our times bring the Burmese people out onto their streets to demand something better. (400 pages)

Where China Meets India:

Burma and the New Crossroads

of Asia

(Thant Myint-U, 2011)

At once a travelogue, a work of

history, and an informed look into

the future; Where China Meets

India takes us across the fast-

changing Asian frontier, giving us a

masterful account of the region’s

long and rich history and its sudden

significance for the rest of the world.

Watch an interview with the author:

http://us.macmillan.com/wherechin

ameetsindia/ThantMyintU.

Where can you find more books on Burma?

Goodreads: Popular Burma Books Search http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/burma. U.S. Campaign for Burma: Books http://uscampaignforburma.org/books

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54 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

The River of Lost Footsteps: Histories of Burma (Thant Myint-U, 2006) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/112293.The_River_of_Lost_Footsteps. In The River of Lost Footsteps, Thant Myint-U tells the story of modern Burma, in part through a telling of his own family's history, in an interwoven narrative that is by turns lyrical, dramatic, and appalling. Through their stories and others, he portrays Burma's rise and decline in the modern world, from the time of Portuguese pirates and renegade Mughal princes through the decades of British colonialism, the devastation of World War II, and a sixty-year civil war that continues today and is the longest-running war anywhere in the world. (361 pages) Finding George Orwell in Burma (Emma Larkin, 2006) http://www.us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780143037118,00.html. In one of the most intrepid travelogues in recent memory, Emma Larkin tells of the year she spent traveling through Burma, using as a compass the life and work of George Orwell, whom many of Burma’s underground teahouse intellectuals call simply “the Prophet.” In stirring prose, she provides a powerful reckoning with one of the world’s least free countries. Finding George Orwell in Burma is a brave and revelatory reconnaissance of modern Burma, one of the world’s grimmest and most shuttered police states, where the term “Orwellian” aptly describes the life endured by the country’s people. (304 pages) Burmese Days (George Orwell, 1934) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9650.Burmese_Days. Set in the days of the Empire, with the British ruling in Burma, this book describes corruption and imperial bigotry. Flory, a white timber merchant, befriends Dr. Veraswami, a black enthusiast for the Empire, whose downfall can only be prevented by membership at an all-white club. (376 pages)

From the Land of Tree Ghosts: A Burmese Odyssey (Pascal KhooThwe, 2003) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/103148.From_the_Land_of_Green_Ghosts. This is the astonishing story of a young man's upbringing in a remote tribal village in Burma and his journey from his strife-torn country to the tranquil quads of Cambridge. In lyrical prose, Pascal KhooThwe describes his childhood as a member of the Padaung hill tribe, where ancestor worship and communion with spirits blended with the tribe's recent conversion to Christianity. (336 pages) The Piano Tuner (Daniel Mason, 2003) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55096.The_Piano_Tuner?from_search=true In 1886 a shy, middle-aged piano tuner named Edgar Drake receives an unusual commission from the British War Office: to travel to the remote jungles of northeast Burma and there repair a rare piano

Burmese Days Lesson Plans for Teachers (2009) http://www.bookrags.com/lessonplan/burmese-days-a-novel/. The Burmese Days lesson plan contains a variety of teaching materials that cater to all learning styles. Inside you'll find 30 Daily Lessons, 20 Fun Activities, 180 Multiple Choice Questions, 60 Short Essay Questions, 20 Essay Questions, Quizzes/Homework Assignments, Tests, and more. The lessons and activities will help students gain an intimate understanding of the text; while the tests and quizzes will help you evaluate how well the students have grasped the material.

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55 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

belonging to an eccentric army surgeon who has proven mysteriously indispensable to the imperial design. From this irresistible beginning, The Piano Tuner launches its protagonist into a world of seductive loveliness and nightmarish intrigue. And as he follows Drake’s journey, Mason dazzles readers with his erudition, moves them with his vibrantly rendered characters, and enmeshes them in the unbreakable spell of his storytelling. (336 pages) The Stone of Heaven: Unearthing the Secret History of Imperial Green Jade (Adrian Levy, Catherin Scott-Clark, 2003) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1160872.The_Stone_of_Heaven?from_search=true Fei cui (imperial green jade), esteemed for its "virtue, beauty, and rarity," obsessed the Emperor Qianlong (1736–96). Thereby hangs a tale of passion and loss – and, more recently, of bloodshed and looting. Qianlong's discovery of a huge fei cui bowl from Kublai Khan's reign (1259–94) drove him to dispatch armies 3,000 miles to mountainous, steamy Burma, demanding "tributes" of fei cui from the mines of the "Southern Barbarian" king. He won his tribute. He did not win the delectable Xiang from far-western Kashgar but immortalized his unrequited love in commissioning the famous "Persian Pepper" fei cui pendant. (448 pages) The Glass Palace (Amitav Ghosh, 2002) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/77103.The_Glass_Palace. Set in Burma during the British invasion of 1885, this masterly novel by AmitavGhosh tells the story of Rajkumar, a poor boy lifted on the tides of political and social chaos, who goes on to create an empire in the Burmese teak forest. When soldiers force the royal family out of the Glass Palace and into exile, Rajkumar befriends Dolly, a young woman in the court of the Burmese Queen, whose love will shape his life. He cannot forget her, and years later, as a rich man, he goes in search of her. (512 pages)

Burma: The Longest War 1941-1945 (Louis Allen, 2000) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1638067.Burma. The campaign in Burma was the longest in World War II, and was, arguably, also the most ferocious and the most varied. It comprised jungle as well as desert warfare; the longest retreat in the history of the British Army; the greatest defeat suffered on land by the Japanese army; long-range penetration groups operating hundreds of miles behind enemy lines and ruthless hand-to-hand fighting. (720 pages)

Shooting an Elephant (George Orwell, 1936) http://www.george-orwell.org/Shooting_an_Elephant/0.html. George Orwell, from a first person narrative perspective in Moulmein, Burma, writes an autobiographical essay titled Shooting an Elephant, confessing the inner conflict of a British police office. From his experience in British-ruled India in the early twentieth century, his essay shows feelings in the area and the East against Europe, and the faults of imperialism. (5 page short story)

Shooting an Elephant: George Orwell’s Essay on his Life in Burma Lesson Plan (10/14/2013) http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/shooting-elephant-george-orwells-essay-his-life-burma This lesson plan is designed to help students read Orwell's essay both as a work of literature and as a window into the historical context about which it was written. This lesson plan may be used in both the History and Social Studies classroom and the Literature and Language Arts classroom.

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56 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

Comprehensive Reading: Lifting the Bamboo Curtain

Materials: Printed copies of Lifting the Bamboo Curtain from The Atlantic September 2008 (http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/09/lifting-the-bamboo-curtain/306945/ Highlighters in three different colors for each student. Procedure: Note: Although this article is dated, it still provides an good overview of issues facing Burma/Myanmar today. You may want to pick a more recent article from this packet and follow these same procedures.

Have students read the article through in its entirety. During this reading, students should make no markings.

Have students read the article a second time and this time they should highlight anything they think is important.

Have students read the article a third time and this time they should highlight information that would be useful to a tourist, using a different color highlighter.

Have students read the article a final time, this time highlighting information that would be useful for an aid worker, again using a different color.

Have students discuss in small groups how it was easier to know what to look for when they had a specific purpose in reading than when they were just told to highlight “what is important.”

Finally, have students discuss as part of a “Think/Pair/Share” what they think the author’s purpose was in writing the article. Remind them to use textual evidence to support their claim.

(Inspired by approaches in Chris Tovani’s I Read It, But I Just Don’t Get It) CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.2 Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.6 Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how the author acknowledges and responds to conflicting evidence or viewpoints.

Common Core Connection

THE DAY AFTER

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57 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

The Lady and the Peacock

(Peter Popham, 2011)

Peter Popham's major new

biography of Aung San Suu Kyi draws

upon previously untapped testimony

and fresh revelations to tell the story

of a woman whose bravery and

determination have captivated

people around the globe. Celebrated

today as one of the world's greatest

exponents of non-violent political

defiance since Mahatma Gandhi, she

was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize

only four years after her first

experience of politics.

The Voice of Hope: A Review of Aung San Suu Kyi (Alan Clements, Aung San Suu Kyi, 2003)

Daw Suu Kyi speaks modestly and candidly in describing her upbringing, the role of her

parents in shaping her values, her frenetic daily routine while under house arrest, life

abroad and eventual homecoming to Burma, and unrelenting commitment to non-

violence.

The Face of Resistance: Aung San Suui Kyi and Burma’s Fight for Freedom (Aung Zaw, 2014)

Aung San Suu Kyi is a world-renowned, inspirational symbol of Burmese resistance and

courage. Released in 2010 after spending fifteen of the previous twenty-one years under

house arrest, many are now looking to her to lead the country. But is it possible for Suu

Kyi to mend the deep divisions in Burmese society? Who are the groups that make up

Burma's face of resistance? And how can Suu Kyi unite these disparate factions into one

cohesive group to take on the current regime in the elections scheduled for 2015? The

Face of Resistance explores these questions and sheds light on the people who have

fought alongside Suu Kyi for decades in Burma's resistance movement.

Letters from Burma (Aung San Suu Kyi, 1998)

In this collection of writings from her

imprisonment, Aung San Suu Kyi paints a vivid,

poignant, yet fundamentally optimistic picture

of her native land. Aung San Suu Kyi reveals an

acute insight into the impact of political

limitations on peoples' lives by examining the

effects of inflation on the national diet and

advocating better healthcare and educational

programs.

“To view the opposition as dangerous is to

misunderstand the basic concepts of

democracy. To oppress the opposition is to

assault the very foundation of democracy.”

The Lady (2011)

The Perfect Hostage (Justin Wintle, 2007)

A biography of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, one of the world’s most renowned freedom

fighters and advocates of non-violence, and the figurehead for Burma’s struggle for

democracy. Recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, she has dedicated her life to the

liberation of her country.

AUNG

SAN

SUU

KYI

Books (and a movie) by

and about Nobel Laureate

Aung San Suu Kyi

© Annie Leibovitz;

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/2

012/12/burma-aung-san-suu-kyi

permission pending

ORGANIZATIONS

58 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

Partners Asia http://partnersasia.org/ Partners Asia supports community initiatives to improve the lives of the most vulnerable among the people of Myanmar. Many of these people live in unstable areas within Myanmar and along its borders, where they are at risk of displacement and exploitation. At Partners Asia, we build relationships with innovative organizers in these communities and with international donors, bridging the gap between local leaders and global resources. Women’s League of Burma (WLB) http://womenofburma.org/aboutus/. Women’s League of Burma (WLB) was established on December 9, 1999 with the aim of increasing the participation of women in the struggle for democracy and human rights, promoting women’s participation in the national peace and reconciliation process, and enhancing the role of the women of Burma at the national and international level. U.S. Campaign for Burma http://www.uscampaignforburma.org/. The U.S. Campaign for Burma (USCB) was established to help build and channel political will for freedom in Burma. Since our founding in 2003, USCB’s work has delivered tangible results for the people of Burma. USCB’s grassroots members have been the driving force in the United States for mobilizing political pressure for democracy and human rights in Burma. We are the only U.S. based advocacy organization devoted full-time to human rights, freedom, and democracy in Burma. Around the country and the globe, we are a recognized leader of the Free Burma movement. Karen Human Rights Group http://www.khrg.org/about.html. The Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG) is a grassroots Karen-led human rights organization, established in Karen State during 1992 and now operating across rural eastern Burma. With eighteen years of experience, and twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize (in 2000 and 2001), KHRG is now recognized internationally as a leading authority on major issues such as internal displacement and forced labor in Burma. We work directly with rural villagers who are suffering abuses such as forced labor, systematic destruction of villagers and crops, forced relocations, extortion, looting, arbitrary detention, torture, sexual assault, and summary executions. Karen Women’s Organization (KWO) http://karenwomen.org/about/. The Karen Women’s Organization was formed in 1949 and has a membership of over 49,000 women. KWO is a community-based organization of Karen women working in development and relief in the refugee camps on the Thai border and with IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) and women inside Burma. Since our formation in 1949 we have expanded our focus from one of purely social welfare to try to encourage an awareness of Women’s Rights and to promote women’s participation in the community decision-making and political processes. Shan Women’s Action Network (SWAN) http://www.shanwomen.org/2011-12-10-17-10-22.html. SWAN was set up on 28 March 1999 by a group of Shan women active in Thailand, inside Shan State and along the Thai-Burma border seeking to address the needs of Shan women. In fact, before the

ORGANIZATIONS

59 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

formation of SWAN, Shan women in various locations had already been active in a number of projects to assist women. Even though informal networks were in place, it was felt that more could be achieved, in addressing both practical and strategic needs of Shan women, if a more concrete network among the various women could be formed. Burma Watch International http://www.burmawatch.org/whoweare.html. We are a group of people, including Canadians and people originally from Burma, who sympathize with and have concern for people suffering inside Burma. In 1989, we founded Burma Watch International, a society for human rights, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Burma Relief http://freeburmaalliance.org/. Burma Relief is a New York City-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) humanitarian relief organization dedicated to empowering Burmese refugees to create sustainable and thriving communities through educational, medical, and infrastructural development. Burma Partnership (10/21/2013) http://www.burmapartnership.org/ Burma Partnership is a network of organizations throughout the Asia-Pacific region, advocating for and mobilizing a movement for democracy and human rights in Burma. We draw our strength from the diversity of our partners, from the multi-ethnic leadership of political and civil society organizations both inside Burma and in exile, to our partners and broad-based solidarity organizations throughout the region.

Another Development for Burma (10/21/2013) http://www.dhf.uu.se/another-development-for-burma/ The project Another Development for Burma provides a platform for groups and individuals within the Burmese democracy movement to consider long-term, holistic, and visionary thinking on the future of Burma. Activists, practitioners, and politicians meet in seminars and workshops to discuss policy alternatives and draft policy recommendations for various thematic sectors. Girl Determined http://www.girldetermined.org/Girl_Determined/Girl_Determined.html After 50 years of repressive military rule, Myanmar is undergoing a political and economic transition. At this critical historical juncture, girls can have the opportunity to truly influence change. What was unimaginable a few years ago is now possible. Girls can speak out, meet with government officials, organize awareness raising events – openly ask for change. Girl Determined fosters the skills girls need not only to avoid the incredible risks they face, but to effect long-term change that can impact generations. Eden Center for Disabled Children http://www.edencentre.org/ A non-profit organization catering for the physically and intellectually disabled children irrespective of race, religion or nationally. It was established on 18th April 2000 by concerned and dedicated persons in Yangon, Myanmar.

ORGANIZATIONS

60 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

UNICEF/Myanmar http://www.unicef.org/myanmar/ UNICEF has been working in Myanmar continuously since 1950. Despite difficult political and economic circumstances, UNICEF helped to successfully initiate programs to protect children against small pox, leprosy, and yaws. Over time, UNICEF expanded its programs to support the development of rural health services, basic education for children, and community water supply and sanitation systems. More recently, UNICEF has supported HIV/AIDS prevention, early childhood development, and child protection programs. UNICEF also advocated for Myanmar's accession to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, which the government ratified in the 1990s. Metta Development Foundation http://www.metta-myanmar.org/ More than forty years of internal conflicts have had a devastating impact on the peoples of Myanmar. Many communities suffered displacement, loss of life, property, and livelihood. A new era of challenge in the country’s troubled history was ushered in when ceasefire agreements were reached between the government and the majority of armed ethnic groups. This backdrop of peace means that it is now possible to reach out to communities in strife torn areas and initiate a development process that would help them evolve into stable, self-reliant societies within the Union. It is with the specific aim of assisting these communities in distress that the Metta Development Foundation was established in 1998 as a non-governmental organization. Metta’s assistance, initially among the Kachins in the far north, will be extended to other regions of Myanmar, regardless of ethnic origin or religious orientation. Myanmar Charity Group http://myanmarcharitygroup.org/ Our organization’s goal is to provide assistance for the education and general welfare of disabled and orphaned children living in Myanmar. Our mission cannot be accomplished without Metta (Myit-tar) and the generosity of our future contributors like you. Everyone can help out in different ways; every idea, comment, concern, and complaint is welcome. CARE International/Myanmar http://www.care-international.org/where-we-work/myanmar.aspx CARE has worked in Myanmar since 1995 with the aim to improve the living standards of rural communities through health intervention programs, including HIV/AIDS prevention and care, as well as nutritional support for pregnant mothers and children; food security and livelihoods programs, comprised of support for agriculture, fisheries, and livestock; and water, sanitation, and hygiene. Mercy Corps/Myanmar http://www.mercycorps.org/myanmar Our strategy is making vulnerable communities more food secure and resilient to climate change, while enhancing economic opportunities, strengthening civil society, and improving health and nutrition.

ORGANIZATIONS

61 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

Nobel Women’s Initiative http://nobelwomensinitiative.org/burma/ We stand in solidarity with sister Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and other brave women activists of Burma. To support them we work within the UN and ASEAN systems to call on the international community to put pressure on the Burmese military regime and to establish a Commission of Inquiry as a first step to hold the regime accountable for its actions. Our aim is to influence leaders to take action for peace and justice, and to promote women’s full participation in all processes. - See more at: http://nobelwomensinitiative.org/burma/#sthash.efkS3nFV.dpuf. Burma and Open Society (07/2013) http://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/explainers/burma-and-open-society. The Open Society Foundations have been actively involved in Burma since 1994. With a focus on supporting marginalized groups such as Burma’s ethnic communities, women, and youth, we have helped foster a generation of civil society and media leaders who represent one of the best hopes for a peaceful transition to democracy. We believe the transition in Burma will not be successful without genuine national reconciliation and the promise, for all of the people of Burma, of equal rights under the rule of law. To this end we support efforts to build the capacity of civil society groups and other key stakeholders to advocate for a transparent and accountable government, responsible foreign aid and investment practices, and universal access to education, health care, information, and justice in Burma. Pomelo http://www.pomeloyangon.com/ We provide a fair trade marketplace for small Myanmar producers, opening opportunities for them to improve their social and economic situation. We are committed to using local materials and local artisans to produce quality, handmade products with a contemporary twist. Our producers include HIV sufferers, street youths, and the mentally and physically disabled and small family businesses fighting poverty. When you are in Yangon drop by to pick up some ethically-sourced memories of your time in the land of a thousand pagodas. Smile Education & Development Foundation http://smile-edu.org/ Smile membership has grown to nearly 1500 young people from different religions and ethnic backgrounds. Smile is committed to effectively utilizing all of leaders and members knowledge and skills to accomplish our organization’s goals and vision. To these ends, the Smile Language team, founded in July 2008, provides free language classes for poor youth and children. Special English language classes, run with own funding and support, are also being taught through our partnership with Educasia, an education INGO. Our organization is run by a team of eager local Burmese and foreigners who want to see positive progress in their communities, driven by education.

Ted Youth at Yangon (12/26/2010) http://www.ted.com/tedx/events/1621.html TEDxYouth@Yangon was the very first TEDx event in Myanmar intended for youths under 26 years old. The admission was totally FREE but there were applications as the maximum attendee limitation was 100. Attendees were encouraged to bring anything (paper, picture, photo, prototype or whatever) creative, innovative, informative or funny, at least.

ORGANIZATIONS

62 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

Free Burma Rangers (FBR) http://www.freeburmarangers.org/ The Free Burma Ranger's (FBR) mission is to provide hope, help and love to internally displaced people inside Burma, regardless of ethnicity or religion. Using a network of indigenous field teams, FBR reports on human rights abuses, casualties and the humanitarian needs of people who are under the oppression of the Burma Army. Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) http://aappb.org/aboutaapp.html. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) is a human rights organization based in Mae Sot, Thailand that works for the release of all political prisoners and for the improvement of prison conditions inside Burma. Set up in 2000, AAPP is entirely run by former political prisoners. It carries out a range of activities on behalf of Burma’s political prisoners. These activities include: providing basic necessities, such as food and medicine, to current political prisoners and their families; documenting and reporting on human rights abuses carried out by the regime against political prisoners and pro-democracy activists; and securing support from international governments and organizations to assist in the campaign to free all political prisoners. AAPP is widely recognized as a reliable and credible source of information on political prisoner issues in Burma, by the United Nations, governments, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and respected media outlets around the world.

LOCAL RESOURCES

63 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

Coalition for Refugees from Burma (CRB) http://www.allburmarefugees.org/. Coalition for Refugees from Burma (CRB) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit mutual assistance association focused on providing culturally and linguistically appropriate social support services to improve the living conditions and quality of life of refugees from Burma resettled in Washington State. Seattle Burma Roundtable (SBR) http://www.facebook.com/SeattleBurmaRoundtable. The Seattle Burma Roundtable (SBR) has been meeting on a regular basis since November of 1993. It is an umbrella group that is composed of members of the University of Washington Burma Action Group, the Seattle Campaign for a Free Burma, and any other community members who wish to support the struggle for freedom and justice in Burma (also known as Myanmar); provide medical and humanitarian aid for refugees, and educate ourselves and others about the situation on the Thai-Burma border. Refugee Women’s Alliance (ReWA) http://www.rewa.org/index.php?q=node/4. Refugee Women's Alliance (ReWA) is a multi-ethnic, community-based organization that provides comprehensive culturally and linguistically appropriate services to refugee and immigrant communities throughout King and Snohomish Counties. ReWA, formerly known as Southeast Asian Women's Alliance (SEAWA), was founded in 1985 by a group of successfully resettled women who sought to provide newly arrived women with services not available from other agencies. Southeast Asia Resource Center, University of Washington http://jsis.washington.edu/seac/ The Southeast Asia Center promotes and sustains the study of Southeast Asia and encourages understanding of Southeast Asia in the Pacific Northwest and the nation. We pursue this mission by offering language study and courses in various disciplines that focus on Southeast Asia. Local World Relief http://worldreliefseattle.org/ World Relief Seattle has worked since 1979 to empower the local church to serve refugees in the Greater Seattle area. Originally founded to care for those fleeing war in Southeast Asia, we have since grown to resettle refugees from over 25 countries. Over the last decade, we have welcomed an average of 650 refugees each year. The people we serve come from regions as diverse as Southeast Asia, the Middle East and East Africa; over the past few years, the largest populations that we’ve worked with are from Burma, Bhutan, Iraq, and the Former Soviet Union.

Pied Piper of Child Refugees Honored in Seattle http://www.king5.com/news/cities/seattle/Pied-Piper-of-child-refugees-honored-in-Seattle-161381375.html Simon Khin teaches new refugees about American culture,

helping them with housing, school work, jobs, and

resumes. He even helped pay for the funeral of one

refugee’s family member. He established Seattle’s non-

profit "Coalition for Refugees from Burma" and has helped

more than 100 children over the past few years. So many

have followed his lead in Seattle he’s become known by

some as the “Pied Piper” of Burmese refugees.

LOCAL RESOURCES

64 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

Seattle International Rescue Committee http://www.rescue.org/us-program/us-seattle-wa Each year, thousands of refugees are invited by the U.S. government to seek safety and freedom. Forced to flee conflict or persecution, many refugees have survived against incredible odds. Refugees step off the plane with next to nothing but their dignity, hope, and determination. In Seattle, the IRC helps refugees to rebuild their lives. iLeap http://ileap.org/ iLEAP is an international nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire and renew social leaders and global citizens through integrated leadership programs that ignite hope and transformation in the world. We conduct programs in Seattle, Washington and collaborate with social leaders throughout Asia, Africa, and Latin America to build regional networks of change leaders who are connected through a values-based approach to leadership and committed to building strong global partnerships for social change.

Seattle International Rescue Committee The IRC Speakers Bureau brings refugee speakers into community schools, universities, organizations, and businesses to educate audiences about their experiences as refugees and current refugee issues. The IRC resettles many refugees from all over the world, including countries like Burma, Bhutan, Somalia, Iraq, Iran, and Eritrea. Some of these refugees have agreed to share stories of their personal journeys to educate their new community –true stories that are so often ignored in the media. Specifically, Zam Khan Cingh is the Burmese woman who is currently working with the Speakers Bureau. After fleeing from the Chin state, Zam and her family were displaced for 5 years before coming to the United States. Now, she and her husband are both employed and her three sons go to school in Tukwila. Her story is rich and personal; she would be a great addition to any classroom experience. For more information, contact:

Mara Silvers IRC Speakers Bureau Intern

silversm@seattleu.edu 406-459-1807

LOCAL RESOURCES

65 World Affairs Council Resource Packet Challenges & Opportunities Facing Myanmar Today November 20, 2013

U.S. Refugee Resettlement Agencies help newly arrived refugees settle into Northwest/Puget Sound communities. These organizations include:

Church World Service http://www.cwsglobal.org/ Ethiopian Community Development Council http://www.ecdcus.org/ Episcopal Migration Ministries http://www.episcopalmigrationministries.org/ Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society http://www.hias.org/ International Rescue Committee http://www.rescue.org/ Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service http://lirs.org/ U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants http://www.refugees.org/ United States Conference of Catholic Bishops/Migration http://www.usccb.org/about/migration-and-refugee-services/ Refugee Services and World Relief http://worldrelief.org/ These organizations are also known as Voluntary Agencies (volags) or Resettlement Agencies.