U.S Secretary of State Met with Burmese Civil Activists in Burma......

US Department of State announced that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton meets with representatives of civil society groups (including Zarganar, Zayar Thaw, Khin Than Myint) in Rangoon, Burma, on December 2, 2011.

New Hopes for Burma.....

(CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's admiration for Myanmar democracy activist and former political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi was hard to miss during her visit to Suu Kyi's home in Yangon. They stood together, hands clasped and all smiles -- and even shared a hug -- at a news conference Friday on Suu Kyi's porch before international journalists.

"I felt like I had known her for years," Clinton told CNN's Jill Dougherty on her second day of meeting with Suu Kyi, "because of all of the information I had about her and the interactions that friends of mine had about her that carried messages back and forth."

But Clinton's enthusiasm on the last day of her historic visit to Myanmar seemed to extend beyond her personal admiration for the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who, until her release in November 2010, spent nearly 20 years under house arrest imposed by the country's regime -- one that now appears to be taking steps in the direction of democracy.

Clinton sees signs that the country, ruled by a military junta for almost 50 years and which in the past cooperated with North Korea in missile technology, may genuinely be opening up -- via its economy.

Historic Trip in Half a Century - US Secretary of State Visit to Burma...!!!

United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meets with Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi on December 1st, 2011.

US Department of State released the info regarding Secretary Clinton's historic visit to Burma from November 30 - December 2.  She visited the largest city of Burma, Rangoon and then the new capital, Nay Pyi Taw.

This historic trip marks the first visit to Burma by a U.S. Secretary of State in over a half a century. Secretary Clinton underscores the U.S. commitment to a policy of principled engagement and direct dialogue as part of our dual-track approach.

Statement from San Francisco Bay Area Save Irrawaddy Campaign Committee - Nov 14, 2011

 On behalf of the San Francisco Bay Area Burmese community and American friends who cherish peace and nature, we the volunteers of Save Irrawaddy Campaign Committee members have issued the following statement.

In collaboration with Chinese government, the Burmese government has started the construction of a massive dam and hydroelectricity project, the size of greater New York City, in northern Burma at the upstream Myitsone area in Kachin State. This project will affect not only the millions of people whose livelihood depends on the Irrawaddy River, it will also have an unimaginable devastating effect on flora and fauna that thrives along the Irrawaddy River as well as Burma’s ecosystem, it’s invaluable rain forest and wild life. The environmentalists and the concerned people of Burma are now voicing their grievances and discontentment regarding this project.

On September 30, 2011, the President of Burmese government U Thein Sein announced the suspension of the Myisone Dam project. However, his announcement will suspend this project only temporarily until the end of his current term at the end of 2015. We are therefore, hereby, demand the President of Burma to announce the permanent cancellation of the entire Myitsone Dam Project immediately.

We, who love the Irrawaddy and Burma, support Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the citizens inside Burma as well as academics, experts, scientists, artists, volunteers, activists and organizations who are the defenders of the Irrawaddy. We do hereby announce that we will stand by hand-in-hand with all the above-mentioned people of Burma until this project is permanently annulled.

We will strive to maintain the sustainability of the environment in the entire Southeast Asia region by living in peace and harmony among our neighbors. We will also fight to regain the human rights and dignity and to stop the atrocities inflicted upon our Kachin brothers and sisters who were forcefully displaced by this project.

We urge all the people who love the Irrawaddy, peace and the environment to join our efforts in fighting to save the Irrawaddy and our motherland.

Save Irrawaddy Community Forum / Event

Please join us at the Save Irrawaddy Community Forum at Centerville Community Center on Saturday, November 19, 2011 at 2pm. In collaboration with Chinese government, the Burmese government has started the construction of a massive dam and hydroelectricity project, the size of greater New York City, in northern Burma at the upstream Myitsone area in Kachin State.

This project will affect not only the millions of people whose livelihood depends on the Irrawaddy River, it will also have an unimaginable devastating effect on flora and fauna that thrives along the Irrawaddy River as well as Burma’s ecosystem, it’s invaluable rain forest and wild life. The environmentalists and the concerned people of Burma are now voicing their grievances and discontentment regarding this project.

Due to the widespread concern and protests, on September 30, 2011, the President of Burmese government U Thein Sein announced the suspension of the Myisone Dam project. However, his announcement will suspend this project only temporarily until the end of his current term at the end of 2015. We are therefore, hereby, demand the President of Burma to announce the permanent cancellation of the entire Myitsone Dam Project immediately. The campaign shall go on until the project is completely cancelled.

Event Details:
Venue: Centerville Community Center
3355 Country Drive, Fremont, CA 94536
Date & Time: Saturday, November 19, 2011, 2pm – 5pm

Speakers:
- Grace Mang, China Global Program Coordinator, International Rivers
- Ko Aung Din (USCB, Washington DC)
- Ko Min Zin (UC Berkeley)
- L Naw San is the member of the Kachin community in the Bay Area.

Note: Contents will be in Burmese, some in English.

The event is organized and sponsored by the San Francisco Bay Area Burmese Community.
Save Irrawaddy SF Campaign Committee

(Ref: http://saveirrawaddysf.blogspot.com/
www.irrawaddy.org)

The Lady Film.... Life of Aung San Suu Kyi

A film about the life of Aung San Suu Kyi (born June 19, 1945), the Burmese opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, directed by the French director Luc Besson, starring Michelle Yeo.

Aung San Suu Kyi is considered a Burmese democracy icon and she is one of the strongest living voices for freedom and justice in the world. She had been unjustly detained by the government of Myanmar (Burma) and under house arrest for 15 out of the past 21 years - beginning in the months before the 1990 general election in which her National League for Democracy party won 81% (392 of 485) of the seats in Parliament.

The film tells a poignant love story of one of the world's most prominent prisoners of conscience, Aung San Suu Kyi, and the last ten years of her marriage to the academic Dr Michael Aris, who remained in Oxford to raise both their children in her absence, while tirelessly campaigning behind the scenes to try to secure her release. When Dr Aris was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 1999, the Burmese authorities refused permission for him to visit her -- offering instead that she could leave and return to Oxford - though she would never be allowed back into Burma. Suu Kyi was confronted with a terrible choice -- one whose consequences would be irrevocable; her husband and children -- or her country.

The title of the film, "The Lady," is the name by which Aung San Suu Kyi is known by the Burmese people who see her as a beacon of grace and courage against the odds, and who risk incurring the wrath of the authorities for publicly uttering her name.
(http://michelleyeoh.info) 

Famous Burmese Comedian Released from Prison!!

 Zarganar, the Burmese famous Comedian was serving 35 years in prison for participating in the 2007 Saffron Revolution and for critizing the Burmese military government after 2008 devastating Nargis Cyclone.

He has been released today (12 October 2011) by the Burmese government!!! Since his release he has thanked all of those who campaigned for his release and asked them to keep pressing for the release of all other political prisoners in Burma. (Ref: www.freezagarnar.org, www.dvb.no)

Burmese Literary Talk

   Burmese Literary Talk:

Event Info:

Oct 8th, 2011

6pm to 10pm

Los Cerritos Community Center

Fremont, CA

Raising Awareness - Community Event

Here is this Sunday locations' information for Burma supporters, please join in:
Morning meet-up place:   1453 Marin Ave, Albany CA 94706 at 9:00 am
Parade Starting Point:      9:30 a.m. 
at the corner of FRESNO AVENUE and SOLANO AVENUE, Berkeley CA 94707

Booth Location: 1496 Solano Ave; Bet. Curtis and Santa Fe Ave

San Francisco Bay Area Burma supporters to join the Solano Avenue Street fair and the Parade this year again to speared awareness about Burma and her culture. Come be a part of this wonderful community event and support Burma!!!!

37th Annual Solano Stroll "Unsung Heroes"
Sunday - September 11 2011, 10am - 6pm (The Solano Stroll is always the second Sunday in September)

Solano Avenue in Berkeley & Albany, CA

Come Raise Awareness about Burma, Join Solano Stroll Parade and Burma booth (Sunday Sept. 11)

San Francisco Bay Area Burma supporters to join the Solano Avenue Street fair and the Parade this year again to spread awareness about Burma and her culture. Come be a part of this wonderful community event and support Burma!!!!

Burma supporters will join the parade in the mooring and at a Burma broth (at 1377 Solano Ave; in front of City bank) all day long.

Run for Burma in San Francisco Marathon (July 31)

     
Each year 20,000 runners participate in the San Francisco Marathon (26 miles) and and many of them are to promote various causes. This year event will be on this Sunday, July 31, 2011. 

This year again, we are participating at the Run For Burma program as part of the San Francisco Marathon to raise awareness about Burma. 17 runners -- including BADA youths from Burmese American Youth Democratic Alliance (BAYDA), will be running that day. Two are running half marathon (First Half - 13 miles) and the rest are doing 5K (3 miles) group run/walk with a Free Burma banners to raise awareness. 

If you run or watch this year event, please ware Free Burma shirts, buttons or carry banners, posters and photos to help raise awareness about Burma's Freedom.
 
1. We are organizing a 5k (3.1 miles) run/walk with a Free Burma Banners to raise awareness about Burma. 

(Please Bring / wear anything you can highlight about Burma if you are running and/or watching and supporting)

2. The 5K raise will start at 7:45 am at the Embarcadero and Mission near the ferry building in San Francisco.

3. Runners will meet a block away at Mission and Steuart at 7 am SHARP before proceeding to to raise starting point ( close by ) and start the race at 7:45 am and end at 9:00 am (the latest).

No booth this year, but come support us at the raise start/finish area between 7-9 am.  You can cheer them and, here are all the race map and the start times for the all races.

For First Half: 1st Half Marathon Course Map
5K Course Map: http://www.thesfmarathon.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/5k_kidsRun1.pdf
Wave Start Times:  http://www.thesfmarathon.com/the-race/start-wave-times/

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s 66th Birthday and Women of Burma Day

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Laureate and 2008 Congressional Gold Medal recipient is one of the World's most renowned freedom fighters and advocates of non-violence.

She is the symbol of peace and democracy and beacon of hope for people all over the world who are suffering under oppression and injustice. 

Saturday, June 18, 2011 - 6:00pm - 10:00pm
First Congregational Church of Palo Alto
1985 Louis Road Palo Alto, California 94303

Free Admission. Donation are much appreciated.
All proceeds will be donated to HIV/AIDS Shelters run by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD

Organized by:
Burmese American Women’s Alliance (BAWA) - bawalliance.org

Co-sponsored by:
Burmese American Democratic Alliance (BADA) - badasf.org
First Congregational Church of Palo Alto - Peace and Justice Committee
For more information, visit bawalliance.org or call:

Mabel Tun (650) 321-5587 |
Khin Hlaing Soe (650) 269-1165 |
Yasmin Vanya (408) 250-6227
Soe Soe (408) 702-0357 |
Htwe Htwe Win (510) 590-6996 |
Ngwe Thar Lay (415) 425-5997

Join Us and Support a Cause for Peace at Asian Herritage Street Fair - May 21 2011

Info Booth on Larkin strees.

Visit, Volunteer at BADA booth at Asian Heritage Street Fair



Dear all supporter for Peace in Burma cause,

May is Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM), dedicated to celebrating the culture, traditions, and the history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States.

In 1978, congress passed a resolution to commemorate Asian American Heritage Week during the first week of May. This date was chosen because of two significant anniversaries that occurred during this time: the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants in the United States on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad (majority of the workers were Chinese immigrants) on May 10, 1869. In 1992, the month of May was permanently designated as Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month.

I would like to invite you to join the ASIAN Heritage Street Celebration as follows:

Date- May 21, 2011
Time- 11:00 to 6:00 pm.
Place- Civic Center/Little Saigon District
Larkin and McAllister Street
San Francisco

As BADA will also have a information booth in the celebration to promote Burma cause and free Burma. So i would like to request you to do volunteer at the BADA booth at your convenient time between 10-00 am to 6:00 pm.

Wish to see you, your family and friends at the ASIAN Heritage Street Celebration.

******
For further details please do visit-

http://asianfairsf.com/

For More Information Contact:
Angela Pang, AsianWeek Foundation
apang@asianweek.com or (415) 321-5894

A Fundraiser for HIV/AIDS Shelters in Burma

Saturday March 12, 2011,

6:00–10:00pm

Berkeley Unitarian Universalists Fellowship Hall

1024 Cedar Street @Bonita, Bekeley, CA

Dinner, speakers and film:
Suggested Donation: $15-$25

All proceeds will be donated to the HIV/AIDS shelter run by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s Party in Burma.

FILM: Crossing Midnight
Raising Awareness about the Human Rights Crisis in Eastern Burma

Image: Time Magazine's December 2010 cover,
 "The Fighter: Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi is a beacon of freedom in a country without it."
 To read the whole article, go to the link:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2040197,00.html