h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7012673.stm

It's quite something to see all those monks protesting against the ruling elite, but I fear there's a bloodbath coming.

FREE BIRMA!

support Aung San Suu Kyi
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1950505.stm

The Beeb is compiling emails etc and doing a darn good job of galvanising support. It is up to us to make sure this time is not wasted like last time. These people deserve kudos for their courage. They deserve our voices to be added to theirs.

How about we start a hootoo campaign to harass our government to put our money where their mouth is?

For a really good book on the subject;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Land-Green-Ghosts-Burmese-Odyssey/dp/0007116829/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/202-5227268-3446223?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1190746372&sr=8-1

Other online booksellers are available. Books are also available in "buildings" called "shops" where they are arranged on "shelves". So I'm told...I never leave the computer screen

RF

Br. Reddyfreddy and everyone,

From the Land of the Green Ghosts'

I have that book in front of me right now and it is a fascinating and frightening read. Along with counting our lucky stars we still live in a comparatlvely free country, we should be doing everything we can to support them.

It warmed my heart to see peaceful monks protesting, and the number of people brave enough to back them up, but I heard tonight that a curfew has been imposed and like Galaxy Babe I fear a bloodbath for those defying that curfew.

Off to look at the BBC link.

If you can get hold of the book (and it's cheaper than when I bought it!!) I would recommend it.

Websailor

What about all our soldiers who got the Burma Star, what was that all about, if we let some jumped-up Generals get in control? I don't suppose many of today's UN speeches were focussed on the Burma issue and the brave monks - if previous form is anything to go by. What's Brown saying anyway? I can't be bothered to look. This has been going on for 20 years - if they had oil or terrorists we'd be piling the troops in there or bombing their so-called parliament from an aircraft carrier somewhere offshore...aaach!

ain't there a lot of monk

Ironic that the BBC news reader announced marching monks
and what I saw was marching nuns.
Aren't nuns as newsworthy as monks?

I never saw any marching nuns..must've been watching different times.
Do you have a link for the online petition, Wilma?

>Aren't nuns as newsworthy as monks?<

Of course. Just not quite so alliterative...

This may be the petition: http://www.unscburma.org/Petition.php

However, things aren't isn't looking at all good..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7013560.stm

Hello Talwill you join me in the protest? I'll not make a good nun though

Damn

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7013638.stm

Sure, I'll protest with ya! I've already shaved my head, but I refuse to wear a maroon robe...

Petition signed

The news is saying the internet cafes are being closed and the monks are wearing face-masks.

I can't see us getting much more information out of there.

I think what should happen in times like these, we ought to go on mass to the place where this is happening, like 52 million of us and just sit down and have a cuppa, might work! just a thought

Petition signed

So long as they don't shut down the mobile networks, we will still get news, Annie...

There was a Radio 4 report for Burma saying that the government is not really competent enough to completely isolate the country. Its means of policing the Internet there are fairly crude and can be got around with a bit of thought.

Tourists go to Burma to buy tiger skins. There used to be a roaring trade in this area but they're getting much harder to find now. Perhaps there aren't any more tigers? Anyway visitors can still get leopard skins. These are cheaper too!
Hey, we could stop buying this stuff. We could stop going there for cheap holidays! We could empty all their hotels and beaches tomorrow.
We could really Cubanise them!