Burma: Act Now, Think Later! Let's Go!

OK, here is an unbelievable, "once in a lifetime" opportunity to help those suffering immensely  in Burma -- both as a result of the dictators complete lack of response to the devastation of the May 9th cyclone, which is estimated to have adversely affected over 2 million people, as well as for the million plus internally displaced ethnic people who have been attacked and abused by the regime for 20 years or more; as the regime has systematically attacked them and driven them from their homes.

This is well documented -- see the FBR website at www.freeburmarangers.org  These people have nowhere to go and as a result, they hide in the jungles and mountains of Burma under the most austere conditions imaginable, hoping for help and aid, thats comes almost exclusively from the Free Burma Rangers (FBR) ... or does not come at all.  FBR has been helping these people through humanitarian relief and aid efforts for over 11 years, through cross-ethnic teams that are trained to go deep inside Burma to meet the needs of those in dire circumstances. 

It is a mission that most of us would not dare to do, but they do it our of love for the ethnic people of Burma ... who, incidentally were US and British allies in WWII. They deserved far better than they have received from us, collectively,  Now is the time to step up and act!

Fact: there are 2 million pounds of relief supplies and aid  -- non-perishable food, drinking water, shelter, mosquito nets, medical kits, clothes, etc-- in Thailand right now, under US control!!  This is the shipment of humanitarian supplies that sat in US Navy ships off the coast of Burma for weeks, as the regime refused to let it come in country.  Now those supplies have been off-loaded in Thailand and are destined for various (unspecified) NGO's in Thailand to try to help those in most desperate need inside Burma.  Will it be wasted, or will it actually go to those who need our help desperately?  That's the big issue and question.

There is a group of supporters that are trying to work with the US government to get some large portion of those supplies designated to FBR -- as they are really the only entity that will go deep into Burma to deliver support and aid for those in greatest need.  It is a dangerous  mission they are willing to undertake because they believe in the cause and they are brave beyond measure.  Fact: in the last 18 months 5 FBR relief team members have given their lives -- i.e they have been killed, or died --  in pursuit of this noble and worthy cause.

Our government is well meaning, I think, but slow to act.  I ponder the issues that constrain them. Why is this a hard decision?  Seems pretty obvious to me and it is the right thing to do. It should be a simple thing to designate some portion of the 2 million pounds of supplies (sitting on the ground and benefiting nobody today) to be given to FBR, who has an 11 year successful track record of being able to actually get the supplies to those in the most significant need. So, what is the problem? 

Time and our own indecision, due to process and bureaucracy,  is wasting and pandering  the opportunity to save hundreds of thousands of lives, right now -- and certainly, the regime in Burma will do nothing to help -- but will only continue to oppress those who need our help the most and right now!

So, what can you do?  Take a stand.  Write your Congressman and Senator and ask them to take a stand.  Go to FBR's website and make a donation to help them buy supplies, if they cannot get them from our government ... they will not waste your donation -- my family and I have been there and we have seen first hand what they do and how they do it.  It is awesome and humbling, but... it is GOOD!  You can all make a difference, by acting now and thinking later!  Just do it!

You will not regret it.  One dollar given can save a life. Thinks about the reality of that! That's cheap and valuable at the same time.  So, get on board with the mission.  Make a difference, now!  You can be the force that save lives across the world.  But, you must act  Feeling for these people is not going to help them, but taking a stand can.

God Bless those of you who step up and help!  The reward is eternal.

-- not feel!