tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524934.post5867010001461329260..comments2023-10-07T23:38:41.904+08:00Comments on An American Expat in Southeast Asia: Laohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06746323559308496625noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524934.post-78933159457751450102007-07-05T06:34:00.000+08:002007-07-05T06:34:00.000+08:00And as a member of the US Campaign for Burma who h...<I>And as a member of the US Campaign for Burma who has travelled to the refugee camps in Thailand I can tell you there is no way to access those camps as an American other than through sponsorship.</I><BR/><BR/>I'm an American and I can assure you that access to the camps can be arranged. Perhaps what you meant to say is that most people don't know how to go about it.<BR/><BR/>Secondly, Rather than the celebrities for starving refugees schtick all the time it would be some nice to see an organization such as yours officially take a position against those who deliberately vetoed the US sponsored resolution and as such not politicize your message by blaming the US government or the current administration.<BR/><BR/>You might also wish to confront the customers of Burma's massive gem industry in the same way that NGOS focused on Liberia's "blood diamonds".<BR/><BR/>The massive gem sale starts today in Rangoon and yet I see no mention of this on your website - oversight?<BR/><BR/>Lao<BR/><BR/>PS. Next time you might want to leave your name at least ;-)Laohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06746323559308496625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524934.post-832573093191093012007-07-05T05:51:00.000+08:002007-07-05T05:51:00.000+08:00-I think you have a good point: raising awareness ...-I think you have a good point: raising awareness through celebrity is very worthwhile, but getting on Russia (China right now is too much of a risk)for its lack of support is just as important. The problem is the junta oppression of Karen minorities. And as a member of the US Campaign for Burma who has travelled to the refugee camps in Thailand I can tell you there is no way to access those camps as an American other than through sponsorship.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524934.post-58756533402411037462007-06-21T01:38:00.000+08:002007-06-21T01:38:00.000+08:00Thanks for your post. If people are interested in...Thanks for your post. If people are interested in helping on the ground, and getting more than just a warm fuzzy feeling for it, there are some great Burmese-run NGOs doing humanitarian work. Ensuring the survival and education of those the junta would starve out of the country is also key to the resistance.<BR/><BR/>Shan Orphan Support and Free Burma Rangers both accept online donations. (shan-orphans.org and freeburmarangers.org).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com