Raw SuperShow LD 23/04/2012 - Car-Enthusiast John Cena Celebrates Turns 35 in Motown

[Brahma_Bull9]

Environment of Business in Burma
The business environment in Burma appears to be changing rapidly, and for the first time in a century, towards realizing the great potential the nation possesses. It is situated strategically on the Indian Ocean rich in natural gas and precious gems, as well as a considerable amount of oil, and timber (1). Numerous questions remain however before the real growth can begin to come to fruition. One, will the inept military government be able to stay out of the way and be content with maintaining a low profile long enough for this to occur. Just examine the rice crop and one can get a view of the speed of developments, and the government getting in its own way in Burma. In 2009, Irrawaddy, a news agency in Burma reported that Rice exports have essentially quadrupled over 2008's number. Due in part to food shortages across the globe, and that Burma was selling rice at 25% less than Vietnamese exporters (2). At the same time, however, the domestic prises were rising. Fast forward to March of 2010 when the Wall Street Journal reported the government announcing it was halting exports to deal with a domestic shortfall(3).
The second question is, when will the numerous U.S. sanctions that harm the countries prospects of growth be lifted. The latter just being mentioned as 'when' and not 'if' gives great hope to the Burmese people, and speculators all over the globe. Unilateral American sanctions began in 1988, in which the U.S. stopped providing aid for the nation after the military crackdown on widespread domestic calls and riots for regime change. American aid over the period of 1946 to 2007 totalled over a trillion in economic aid, and a half a million in narcotic law enforcement aid (2007 dollars)(1). Over the course the tumultuous nineties civil crack downs resulted in stricter sanctions against the regime. In 1997 America announced that no Burmese military members would be eligible for visas, and an executive order prohibited American business investment. Later in 1997, after the Junta attacked an NLD caravan including Sung San Suu Kyi more sanctions would be piled on, the little Burmese assets in American banks were froze as the country was prevented from using any U.S. banking facility. Additionally, the visa restrictions were extended to military members families, and an estimated $356 million worth of Burmese imports were halted.
However, it seems now the corner has finally been turned in U.S. – Burma relations with Secretary Clinton’s recent visit to the nation November 30th, 2011. Reuters reported that just after the visit, in Yangon, the former capital, a piece of property valued at $1.5 million increased to $1.8 million on the optimistic speculation(4). Despite the apparent U.S. centric attitudes, the tides started to change several years ago. Their was an up tick of an investment, and it appears to be culminating now. American companies are still on the side lines, and have revealed little about thoughts of doing business in Burma. Chevron remains the only U.S. company doing business in Burma as part of the sanctions allowing investment at the time of promogulation to remain(4). The picture being painted by some on the ground in Burma is that of a possible missed opportunity if inaction continues from the Americans. An American presence in Burma is huge not only as it provides influence in a highly contested region with other global powers, India and China, but also American business getting in now maybe crucial. Christian Oram, a British businessman who has worked in the information technology sector in Myanmar for 13 years and now plans a $30 million Burmeses focused fund investing in businesses. Ending the sanctions not only could go further to help other investments, and legalize investment in to a land of great potential in a critical stage, "The early growth phase promises potentially extraordinary returns. You can't get extraordinary returns in Vietnam anymore, or Thailand... In Myanmar we are just getting started" Oram stated(4).
In the wake of U.S. sanctions, other western investment declined, according to the U.S. State department. This pull out of western capital was motivated by a perception of an increasingly unfriendly business environment and mounting pressures from those not sympathetic to the Burmese regime. However, the development of neighboring Asian countries appears to be making up for the absence of western investment, pulling Burma into the beginning processes of modernization. According to Earth Rights Organization, India, China, Thailand, South Korea and Singapore are the largest sources of investment (5). In 2007, the beginning of the resurgence of foreign investment started, tripling the investment in the natural gas sector. Investment in natural gas infrastructure made up 90% of all foreign direct investment (FDI) that year. That was just the beginning, as of August 2007, twenty-six Chinese Multinational Corporations (MNC's) were working on sixty-two projects. Just a year later, in late 2008, sixty-nine Chinese MNC's were working on ninety projects in hydropower, oil, natural gas, and mining. On top of that, Reuters recently reported a $14 billion comprehensive Chinese funded project for more hyrdro-power dams and highway infrastructure. The countries aren’t just providing financing and making money off profits, but they are receiving desired resources. Numerous dams are providing power for Thailand, though Burma itself still struggles with frequent power shut downs. China received 40 million tons of nickel ore in exchange for its investment in an extensive mining operation. From all indications, the gains will only be greater as Burma continues to accept aid for exploratory mining, on and off shore drilling for natural gas and oil. All in all, foreign direct investment totals $20 trillion for 2011, up from a mere $300 million with Singapore and Thailand being the major contributors trailing China (5).
Real Estate is another market in Burma that is very unpredictable and quickly changing. Many already believe the speculation has built a bubble in Yangon already, and investors are shying away from the city. The land, just a few years ago could reportedly be purchased from the government for just 250 kyat a square foot(the local currency), now the price is over 7,500 kyat per a square foot (4). Additionally, economic success is expected to open up other avenues. A struggling tourism industry already built off Singapore and Thailand mega chain hotels wait patiently to expand.







Environmental Issues in Burma
The environmental issues concerning Burma have no easy resolutions at this time, like most environmental issues. However, it seems Burma’s very existence continues to compound the issues it faces. The two main problems are deforestation, and water contamination. As mining becomes more prevalent in the nation its impact will grow, compounding other environmental issues. The mismanagement of an abundance of water is a worsening situation and continues to as other practices side effects contribute to the deterioration of water resources.
Burma is home to half of the remaining forests in South East Asia (6). It was estimated that in 1930 over 70% of Burma was covered by forestry, however, only 30% of that remained. This is due in part because Burma provides very rare timber, such as teak trees, and its trees are known to handle humidity as well as termites very well. In short, the timber is a sought after product, especially by neighbors. The domestic fracture in Burma provides the desperation needed to put large scale deforestation into action. Resistance armies perched on the borders bear the brunt of the blame, accused of making illegal trades with China, Thailand, and Singapore to continue their existence. It was estimated that a truck used to enter into China every 7 minutes loaded with Burmese timber, an estimated $350 million yearly by Global Witness (7).
However, the government has it share of responsibility to. It was believed that upon reaching a cease fire between oppositions and the Junta that deforestation would ease, but the trends have not supported that. In the immediate aftermath of the peace treaty, 1989-1993 an estimated 31,000 hectares were burned, compared to 15,000 the previous ten years. Today in Burma, almost two-thirds of domestic energy is dependent upon wood. The deforestation is rampant, the Pinduang Wildlife Sanctuary, Burma’s first preserved land established in 1918 is now depleted. Pinduang was protected well until 1950, the 200,000 hectare plot was home to rhino’s and an estimated 800 elephants (6). Now, under half of the forest remains, and the biodiversity is in shambles. Since 2005, however, China has cracked down considerably on illegal timber. Statistics show a 70% decrease in illegal timber trade into China from Burma since the crackdown. Even with Chinese concern, it appears the Junta has little to protect the forests (7).
The development of mining in Burma has also contributed to deforestation. Gold mining in the state of Kachin resulted in deforestation causing streams to dry up. Kachin, due to its location, was one of the last remaining nearly untouched forests in the world. That is no longer the case. In addition to deforestation, mining has increased pollution. Mercury poison is becoming prevalent in the absence of storage for toxic waste, and it is discharged into the land. Contributing to water issues in Burma, mining operations have diverted riverbeds for water blasting techniques to remove sediments. This has disrupted the natural flow of water, creating floods in one area, and a shortage of water in other areas (8).
Perhaps the most stark and descriptive development of the vicious cycle in environmental issues facing Burma is the case of Lake Inle. Lake Inle is the second largest source of in land water in Burma. It is a great tourist attraction, known for floating villages and gardens. Those very floating gardens are a big part of the problem. A documentary named “The Floating Tomatoes” exposed the after effects of the chemical fertilizers and pesticides on the lake (9). As a result of the use, farmers, villagers, consumers, fisherman – almost anyone who comes in contact with the lake becomes sick. The other main trade on the lake, fishing, has been hard hit. A 2007 University of Tokyo report detailed the extent of the damage and the unsightly transformation the lake has gone under . In 1968, their were nine known fish species unique to the lake. At the time of the report in 2007, only one, a carp, could be found. The drop off in fish has caused fisherman to turn to cultivating floating gardens, or larger ones as they cannot afford land. It is estimated there are now a near 100,000 floating farm gardens in the lake. With the decrease in fish profits, the farmers cannot afford to lose the chemical fertilizers and pesticides as they double the yields farmers desperately need. As less and less people can fish, more turn to the gardens, killing more fish and forcing more into gardens. On top of the increase in the amount of farms, what was once seasonal work is now contributing pollutants to the lake year round as more and more fisherman becomes fulltime farmers (10).
Chemical fertilizers and pesticides are not the only problem facing the lake, the deforestation poses its fair share of problems for the lake. Located in the mountains, the lake is surrounded by lush forestry of the Shan state. The deforestation causes silt to build up on the surface of Lake Inle which has resulted in a prolonged shortage of rainfall. The same 2007 University of Tokyo report found that the lakes area decreased by more than one-third in sixty-five years . However, it pointed to the gardens as the main culprit blaming them for 93% of the decrease in size. The lake has gone from being fifty eight kilometers long to now only eighteen, and the width of the lake has decreased to six and a half kilometers wide from thirteen. This is a startling trend with major implications for not only the village and people directly dependent on the lake, but those in major cities like Mandalay who buy the crops and fish from the region (10). Additionally it is one of the focal points of a tourist industry that already struggles from bad press and the lack of infrastructure.
Finally, and possibly the most wide spread and serious problem facing Burma is the water quality. It is estimated that 40% of people in Burma do not have access to clean water, and that another 57% do not have access to basic sanitation facilities(11). The people in these areas struggle using the same limited amount of water for everything until it dries up, then they must turn to merchants. Additionally, the monsoon flooding that brings much of the water to these areas for the year is what contaminates the water. Diarrhea is the second leading cause of death for children under 5, and one in three experience serious diarrhea yearly. Of those, 50% are children who fight death in many circumstances (11).

 

[Vega]

Nope I have a 30 pg project right here I had to do... ill post it up..

Yes, please. I can't wait. This is so riveting.

 

[GI Cake]

So how should I red rep Bull, do I do it with a overly large picture, or a fucked up Gif?

 

[Brahma_Bull9]

GENDER SUMMARY
Main gender issues in Burma constitute a dire need of conversation and change. Women’s rights are a human right; and the evidence shows that violence among women isn’t foreign to the regime’s aggressive culture.
Beginning with violations, the US State Department notes that although domestic violence seemed to be infrequent, there isn’t much data, since the regime hasn’t documented any statistics regarding it. The laws do very little to help women; although rape is illegal, there is no law regarding spousal rape, nor is there data on where and when it has or most often happens. Also, sexual harassment is not listed against the law.
The State of Terror report from the Karen Information Centre (KIC) and the Karen Women’s Organization (KWO) report that one of the main human rights violates based on gender is referred to as portering. The KIC notes this definition as victims being “taken against their will from their homes and villages, and forced to carry supplies or munitions for military troops, often for many weeks”. It is also reported that porters are forced to carry more than they can, without the basic necessities and receive little to no rest. After all this, it is documented that these women are ‘routinely raped’. The Human Rights Watch finds that although the regime refute all instances of portering, the military still proceeds in doing so on a regular basis; this doesn’t pertain specifically to females, but also to children, who proceed without being paid for long, arduous work. While the females are taken into work by the military, their villages are often pillaged for food supplies and water, and later burnt to the ground before they return. The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions reports that the people of Burma “face starvation and forced migration, both internally and to other countries.”
The State of Terror report from the KWO reports women accounts of what has taken place through their country with gruesome, horrific imagery. Pregnant women, the report states, are often took for forced labor, and women who were pregnant report of miscarriages as a result. One woman from the report, Case 79, reports of soldiers making her carry three extremely heavy shells to a mountain top, and how she felt she couldn’t breathe after all the work; for food, she reports that she only had a handful of rice to eat. This went on for more than a month she recalls. The KWO cites that this type of treatment occurs frequently and repeatedly throughout a Burmese woman’s life, and prevented them from the needs of going to school and maintaining themselves. They are living in constant fear that a soldier may appear one day and demand their lives, food, money, or family as porters.
Some of the jobs as porters the women have to do are lengthy, strenuous jobs that require a great amount of strength to perform. These jobs include, the KWO Cases report, making the roads, cleaning landmine roads, building places and carrying food and supplies. The times the women were pregnant, reports have women having the babies while working. Case 91 reports having the baby and cutting the umbilical cord with “slices of bamboo skin”. The pregnant women then carried their children while carrying ammunition and other food supplies on their backs for days. Once the child or women were hungry, nothing was given to them. The supplies were given to the soldiers. At night, there was nowhere to sleep, so they were made to sleep on ground, where they later reportedly developed sickness, chills, and fever. No hospitals are around in the vicinity to help.
While under this hopeless foundation of a life style these women have to forcibly undertake, one aspect, denied by the regime, takes place frequently: the molestation and rape of women. The patterns are evident, the KWO State of Terror Report states, throughout the States of Burma and towns and villages.
The KWO declares that these rape and sexual abuse incidents are ‘strategies’ undertaken by the military regime to control citizens. Its evidence is of the case files from the citizens, who report in detail of the activities taken against them, and against their friends or family members. Case 4 of the State of Terror Reports displays in great detail of a virgin woman raped by four soldiers; she became pregnant and bore the soldiers child. Case 43 reported of a woman who was also raped by a group of soldiers in her hut one day, and afterwards was shot repeatedly directly afterwards, and no action was taken by the government or law enforcement.
These cases, the KWO states, are patterned throughout the state, along with elements of torture of intimidation. The unwritten philosophy is, that those who complain will either be “too afraid too or not be taken seriously”. Most of the perpetrators are high-ranking officials, who also look the other way when these incidents arise. Although the 2004 ceasefire agreement among the government has been in place, no indications of stopping these incidents continuity have been set in place.
Village chiefs, the report states, are under constant manipulation to do what soldiers say, and are constantly at risk of abuse and torture. Men, have been killed for doing their job inadequately, and typically leave the village chief job to senior women. These women then have that risk that men do and also the risk of being raped or forced to have sex with soldiers to protect their village.
While these all remain significant problems, one issue that has surfaced recently has been the trafficking of women and children, the USSD reports. Although there are laws set in place to prevent these incidents, such as the Suppression of Prostitution Act and the Child Law, the situation still remains unstable, with the regime being evasive with statistics and refusing to cooperate with other Asian nations such as Thailand.
With many human rights violations, women also still remain overlooked when it comes to occupational work. The USSD reports women are banned from some professions and in the military. Benefits for maternity are not recognized, even though the laws entitle them to receive them.
Although much looks bleak for women in Burmese society, by tradition they enjoy high social and economic status in some areas, the USSD states. The Government operates training programs and rehabilitation programs for former tortured prostitutes. Mothers are provided assistance by the Myanmar and Child Welfare Association. The Mynamar Women Entrepreneurs’ Association helps women with new businesses. The Myanmar Women’s Affairs Federation promotes women’s welfare and provides skills necessary to help them achieve proper development in society. Its goals are listed to eliminate prostitution, rid domestic violence, and most importantly protect women’s rights. Also, the Myanmar National Committee on Women’s Affairs and other NGOs have educational seminars that instruct and advice families and citizens on society’s dangers that they live in, including the constant fear of trafficking. The UN sponsored Inter-Agency Project on Trafficking works closely with these seminars. The USSD reports that these NGO’s in their work have been “moderately successful”.

 

[IHW]

Good thing Josh is drunk.

 

[The Brain]

Burma
• Also known as Myanmar in English as ordered by ruling military junta. Much of world refuses to refer to Burma as Myanmar in an attempt to avoid legitimizing the current regime.
• Former British Colony as a province of India, uses remains of British Court system, however, no guarantee to a fair trial.
• Burma is a Southeastern Asian nation, on the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal and Andaman sea, between India and Thailand.
• Take into account poor HIV/AIDs, higher death rates and lower birth rates Burma has an estimated population of 53,999,804
• Capital City recently moved from Ragoon (or Yangon) with a population of 4.259 to million small city of Naypyitaw.
• Bicamarel legislative branch consisting of 224, 168 elected and 56 appointed by the military.
• Most Recent elections in Novemeber 2010 which attracted suspicions about its validity when the junta's Union Solidarity and Development Party won over 75% of the seats. However, the government has shifted to under civilian control to a limited extent.
• Prime Minister and President Military General Thein Sein
• Opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for 15 of 22 years of Junta rule.
• Predominantly Buddhist population with minorities of under 5 % consisting of Christians, Muslims, animist, and other religions
• Shares a borders with Bangladesh, China, India, Laos, and Thailand.
• Burma has a land area of 653,508 square kilometers, slightly smaller than Texas.
• Has a diverse population, Burman people make up 68% of the population while Shan, Karen, Rakhine, and Mon make up a considerable portion. Most immigrants to Burma are of Chinese or Indian or origins.
• Abundant in natural resources of Teak timber, petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas, hydropower.

History of Burma
• King Anawrehta founds first unified Burmese Buddhist state uniting almost all of present day Burma until Kublai Khan conquers Pagan in 1287 ultimately destroying the Burmese state.
• Burma is reunited under the Toungoo Dynasty in 1486 until 1752, internal divisions led to the fall. The Konbaung dynasty soon would take power and rule until the final confrontation with Britain in 1886. Britain wasged three wars to conquer Burma beginning in 1824, resuming in 1852, and culminating in 1886. Britain would place Burma under the rule of British India as a province.
• 1937 Britain separates Burma from India and places it under direct British rule.
• Japan foments support from a separatist group within Burma, invades and occupies in 1942. Japan trained Burma Independence army to help with invasion; the organization would changes its name to Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League (AFPFL) and become adversarial towards the Japanese rule. 1945 - Britain ends Japanese rule with the help of Aung San, father of Aung San Suu Kyi and leader the AFPFL. Two years later he would be assassinated by U Nu, who served in Japanese government and would become PM in 1948.
• Under the guidance of U Nu, Burma is a founding member of the Movement of Non-Aligned States to remain neutral in the Cold War.
• In the late 1950's, a split emerged in the ruling AFPFL party, General Ne Win emerges as interim leader until U Nu wins elections in 1960, however, his tenor was short as his Buddhist beliefs and tolerance of separatist factions in the military sparked a coup led by General Win.
• In 1974 a new Constitution transferred power from the military to the People's assembly, essentially a figure head government that consisted of Prime Minister, Ne Win and other former military leaders in charge.
• In 1988, Wide spread riots in response to a currency devaluation trigger the formation of The State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). The council declared martial law and in the process arrested thousands including placing Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest, moving the capital to Ragoon, and renaming Burma Myanmar in English.
• Elections are held in the aftermath of the 1988 uprisings in 1990 in which Aung San Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy (NLD) wins landslide elections. She is kept under house arrest by the military and the elections are ignored. Aung San vows to continue working for a peaceful change and is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Maps


Political

What the hell is this? This is a Raw discussion thread.

 

[The Dragon Saga]

Josh is drunk!

 

[Brahma_Bull9]

HUMAN RIGHTS

According to the CIA Fact book, large proportions of reported violations of human rights take place in Burma. The Fact Book reports “forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation” among the citizens. Under the 1962 Burmese coup d’etat and media laws, it makes an able militaristic government to continue to do as it pleases; some of the laws in place are regulations to make sure word does not get out of their proceedings, such as laws that regulate internet service and laws that threaten “community peace and tranquility or national solidarity or national economy or national culture” (Myanmar Law Ch12, Section 33).
Burma is also notorious for holding political prisoners, and sometimes even torturing them. Amenestyusa.org reports that prisoners were held in dog cells and denied water while in containment. Secretary Hilary Clinton, regardless, has planned her visit to Burma, which has sparked criticism towards the administration, saying in which if the administration would be misguided in doing so, since Burma still harbors over 1,500 political prisoners. Amnesty International also criticizes the visit, saying it would be a hypocritical venture, since the US previously criticized its elections and political standings; a visit, says AI, would be an “informal endorsement”.
Threats to safety aren’t bizarre. Along with arbitrary bomb attacks going off, the government has gruesome history with regards to people’s rights, including most notably in September 2007 when the government arrested 3,000 and killed 30 using volatile weapons such as tear gas and batons against peaceful demonstrators, according the US State Department. The USSD also cites that in 1988, the regime jailed thousands of democratic citizens and refused to recognize election results in the 1990s.
Although circumstances in Burma look startlingly bleak, it doesn’t go without saying changes have been suggested for and proposed. On November 16, 2011, The Human Rights Watch Association declared ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) should set mandatory human rights standards to combat the militaristic regime in Burma. Specifically, ASEAN should monitor new law implementation, hold strong accountability to violent activity and abuse, and allow greater transparency when taking into account of prisoners. Also, the UN has organized and created what is called the Human Development Initiative (known as HDI) and also the Integrated Community Development Project (ICDP) which assists in funds towards projects that impact health, environment, training, and education.
A beneficial project to the citizens of Burma resulting from HDI is the Microfinance for the Poor Project, which according to the UN, services more than 440,000 people. The goal is to service those who do not have banks for credit purposes, and strategize with small businesses to develop them substantially. Although the project has achieved much of its goals, including combating citizen poverty, it still hopes to be a significant sector in the government in the future.
Another project is the Enhancing Capacity for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care Project. This project hopes to spark awareness and provide contraceptives in prevention of HIV. Also, it has funded management training programs for support groups and other skill training specifically for women to improve responsiveness in situations associated with the virus. The UN’s main stance here is to provide ‘social and economic support’ to not only those who have HIV, but to all who live in Burma, under the confidence that everyone has a right to live.

The most under the effect of Burma’s unbearable governmental standards extends mostly to children and women, according to Guy Horton, a human rights researcher who reported on the genocide back in 2005 after spending five years there. Ethnic minorities, even children, are brutally murdered and women and villages are raped and pillaged for food and livestock. Hospitals are burnt to the ground, and other support stations are as well. People leave their respective villages because of this and the fear of forced labor and ultimately torture. Horton says, “…the cumulative effect is that people cannon ultimately survive in these conditions. People are not feeling mass killings, as in Rwanda. They are fleeing a situation that is deliberately depriving them of the resources indispensable for survival.” Dr Martin Panter, researcher of human rights, instructed children, some of which are enrolled in school while some aren’t, were asked to draw or paint pictures of whatever they wanted to illustrate; most of these kids drew of their terrifying experiences they have witnessed firsthand. Other stories describe daughters having to leave their families due to a soldier instructing to do so for their hand in marriage; this would be under the threat of having their family and village killed; although some oblige, most villages are destroyed anyway.
The stories described from Horton are horrific, yet nothing truly ground-breaking changes have been made. Horton called for ‘international action’ from the International Criminal Court under the grounds of the 1948 Genocide Convention. This would require Rangoon to declare themselves under the ICC, but puzzlingly have not done so. However, the main problem lies with Britain, the UN, and even some human rights associations themselves, who refuse to declare the situation in Burma to be classified as ‘genocide’.
Horton may be on to something. National Governmental Organizations, such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, are under fire from critics, saying that these organizations haven’t invested their time wisely into Burma’s ongoing crisis, and haven’t donated the appropriate funds to maintain a significant, valiant change. Their time and resources, argues Gerald Steinberg, a political professor in Israel, is cluttered with ineffectual analysis of stable, maintained democracies already in place, rather than those of countries, like Burma and Sudan, who desperately are in need of some human rights organizing and development. He states, that if the head of HRW and AI had done their jobs appropriately, and condemned violence and repression from Burma’s militaristic state, that lives could have been saved.
Although some celebrated, well-funded NGO’s may not have been fulfilling their obligations to citizens of Burma, other Asian NGO’s have took notice and took a humble stance to step in. The Burma Partnership, and other civil and individual society groups, has called in place for a Commission of Inquiry for Burma. The groups were noted to be from Thailand, Cambodia, Japan, Korea, and Singapore. Their main position, said by the Coordinator of Burma Partnership Khin Ohmar, is to prevent all violations, present and future, and to step in for the silent governments that already exist. Doing this would need to be looked after by a country with an established democratic regime, such as the Indonesian government. Also, Ohmar states, that a Commission of Inquiry could drastically circumvent the militaristic culture; the culture in which imprisons its own citizens, pillages land, and commits heinous crimes.
In closing, Burma is in a calamitous situation that requires swift, extensive help from all NGO’s, the UN, the ICC and other councils and associations. It cannot function healthily on its own; a democratic reformation, or revolution, desperately needs to take place. NGO’s and IGO’s have a duty to help maintain essential human rights being belittled by a militaristic, aggressive, and unreceptive government.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Burma consists of an authoritarian government that tolerates very little human rights to begin with, and the right to having a different religion is unsurprisingly restricted. The US State Department has conducted a thorough research report and stated the government of Burma, along with restrictions, has little tolerance for religious foreign gatherings and expressions. Also, the USSD also recognizes that while the government monitors all religious assemblies, it sometimes even promotes other religions, including mostly Theravada Buddhism, over Christian religious practices that still “struggle to obtain permission to repair places of worship or build new ones.” Also, some reports have surfaced regarding suspicion of the placement of orphans into monasteries; it’s documented that it is possible that the placement sometimes favors Buddhist monasteries to Christian orphanages, possibly to circumvent outside religious influence, and to promote the government’s favored religion in doing so. Along with the government supposedly having a favored religion (Buddhism), many of the jobs for top executives for the army and government itself are Buddhists, along with promotion of donations to official Buddhist establishments.
Along with its low tolerance level for other religious institutions, the assumption is that this tolerance level would be fielded with regulations. These regulations consist of strenuous, indirect limitations that discourage and sometimes even ban certain religious practices. One regulation would be of National Registration Cards (NRCs). The USSD notes that these cards are often difficult to obtain if a citizen is an ethnic or religious minority, especially with regards to Muslims. Along with mandated NRC’s, other problems with regulations that citizens have to endure if of a foreign, diverse religion deals with religious literature and proselytizing (conversion) of other citizens. Religious publications that differ from the favored, government approved Buddhist religion has a hard time making headway. This is due to censorship control from the government, even to secular documented aspects. The USSD cites that the importation of famous religious texts, such as translated Bibles, is illegal, along with the Qur’an.
Conversion, different from Buddhist religions, is strongly discouraged. The USSD reports of strong nationalism through schools and hospitals that have affected other religious denominations other than Buddhist monasteries. Also, some Christians and especially Christian ministers have been denied residency permits to move to new towns, in fear they may try their hand in converting Burmese citizens. There is also evidence of encouragement of Christians to convert to Buddhism, where there are accounts of some high schools that had mandates that Christians had to convert or not attend the school. Other reports suggest some Christian children were placed in Buddhist monasteries to have them converted into Buddhist instruction, without parent approval or knowledge. It should be noted that since this report no other incidents of this sort have been reported, although other means have come to light, despite the reports. No foreign religious groups, the USSD reports, have been allowed to operate permanently since 1965.
Although foreign religious denominations have incurred the restrictive wrath of the military-regime controlled government, its main case of religious discrimination references the Muslim culture. Muslims, from China and other Asian nations, have been denied citizenship and have been told they need permission to travel in some cases, the USSD reports.
The Rohingya, a Muslim minority group in East Burma, has been prosecuted with ‘severe discrimination’. These Muslims that were in refugee camps in Bangladesh and other Muslims have been reported to refuse to go back to Burma, in fear of ‘human rights abuses, including religious persecution’. While the reference of citizenship status remains a troubling issue to Muslims, the Rohingyas have an even worse situation with that, noting that they have admission to schools run by the states, and also not allowed to attend universities. This is due to them not being recognized by state itself, since, as the USSD reports, they are treated as illegal foreigners who are ‘stateless’.
Monks from the Sanga, a Buddhist clergy, are also under persecution from the Burmese government. All associations of religious expression are forbidden from political lecture, just like other foreign religious institutions, except that the Sanga aren’t allowed to be members of any political party, nor are they allowed to vote. The USSD cites a documented research from the Thailand-based Assistance Association of Political Prisoners in Burma (AAPP) that over 250 monks have been imprisoned after being arrested in democratic demonstrations. At the demonstrations, it was reported that in retaliation, the government followed with ‘nighttime raids’ at the monks homes and monasteries, firing tear gas and rubber bullets. Some monks were reportedly beat with ‘batons and bamboo sticks’. The monks were punished in jail while having their basic needs trivialized, and some reported to be tortured while under investigation. Some witnesses reported that 11 Muslim community leaders were arrested, and thought that the arrests were a result of the government’s ‘paranoia’ about organized Muslim activity in the vicinity.
In conclusion to the intolerance, indifference, and ultimately hostile acts of activity towards diverse religious associations, the US government, through the USSD, has stated that it has offered its full support to Burma’s local NGO’s and religious leaders. Restrictions on the press, speech, and diplomatic have made it difficult to offer guidance to Burma and also, information on human rights violations and religious persecution is only made known years later after the fact. However, the US has made it clear their stance on the issue, in which they support all human rights and all institutions in relation.
While stating its unanimous support, the US has made clear its opposition to the military regime located in Burma. The US has opposed all financial assistance to the government and has ‘urged the governments of countries to take similar actions’. Also, the US has banned imports and exports of services to the country, along with exports of firearms. It is clear the US has declared no promotion of trade with Burma, and evidently shown it wants no association with the oppressive Burmese government or its practices.

 

[Harthan]

haha nice try... but I'm gettin my degree in a few wks.. could care whether u believe it or not... but seem to have a problem, I'm from Buffalo, I get back in a couple weeks. PM we can set it up and exchange cell numbers

Yeah, I'll do that.

Degree in what? No, I'm serious what's your degree in, I'm dying to know.

 

[PlayTheGame]

Here comes the pain, Josh Mathews.

 

[nightmare]

if I copied and pasted that u could copy and paste that into google and it will come up... goodluck

Google came up with this:

 

[Big Papa Santo]

Don't worry Josh, after a hard days work of getting your ass handed to you by Brock Lesnar, you can drink that liquor that CM Punk gave you.

 

[It's...Baylariat!]

Obviously, Josh Matthews had some to drink tonight. talking like that to Lesnar.

 

[Richard Blonoff]

So how should I red rep Bull, do I do it with a overly large picture, or a fucked up Gif?

I used poo

Oh and did you just see Brock pulling a Joe West and beating up the announcer?

 

[Brahma_Bull9]

What the hell is this? This is a Raw discussion thread.

Sorry dudes decided to make the thread about me, I asked them not to but everyone wanted apparently

 

[Slowdude]

I shed a tear for our fallen commentator.

 

[Brahma_Bull9]

POTENTIAL BIAS FROM US STATE DEPARTMENT

Potential biases occur everywhere, even in the USSD. Some possible biases are listed below, concerning Burma’s governmental religious persecution through use of the military, and how it is dealt with among NGO’s and the US itself.
First, some of the information posted in the USSD’s report is highly circumstantial. The report analyzes isolated incidents through long, yet anecdotal paragraphs. Burma has an estimated 53 million citizens according to the CIA World Factbook. It often goes into extreme detail of these incidents, more than needed. The case could be made that the USSD could be trying to hard to justify its position of non-association with the Burmese government, and does so in excess.
Secondly, the report also makes known that Christian beliefs are being trampled upon, and promptly discriminated against. The case to be made here, is, the American Religious Survey (ARS), cites that 60 to 76% of Americans identify themselves as Christians. The USSD possibly could be playing a bias towards its fellow citizens, since it later states its own citizen-friendly position on religious tolerance, even though the basis of the report is based on religious persecution and freedom of speech in Burma.
Third, the USSD report also has a detailed stance on why it hasn’t been able to help the country of Burma to begin with, starting with that government restrictions on the speech and press have “made it difficult or impossible to verify” violations of human rights among citizens, including religious persecution. The report notes that “highly authoritarian military regimes have ruled since 1962, and has governed “without a constitution or legislature since 1988. To state that it had no knowledge of human rights violations, is doubtful since it certainly could have been assumed an unstable government was present. Through NGO’s and active and efficient diplomacy, many of these violations of human rights the USSD reports could have been prevented.
Looking back, the bias of this report aren’t exactly easy to find, but cases could be made that do require attention, mostly the cases that involve anecdotal evidence, and isolated incidents. If particular and powerful declarations are to made of a country’s culture and philosophy by a powerful entity, such as the United States, it likely contains an element of biasness. From the articles perspective, the case could also be made the report mainly picks and chooses the dim and bright spots of Burma’s culture, mostly focusing on the elements of lowly aspects, and not the aspects that emphasize what can be done to help the country.

 

[Nate DaMac]

Brock is so bad ass.

 

[GI Cake]

I used poo

Oh and did you just see Brock pulling a Joe West and beating up the announcer?

At least Brock could pull it off.

 

[AnvilForever]

So...there's a no drinking policy in the WWE, the company who's biggest superstar in the 1990s was known for drinking beers in the ring.

 

[Vega]

Sorry dudes decided to make the thread about me, I asked them not to but everyone wanted apparently

You can make a seperate thread and post every piece of work you ever wrote there. People care.

 

[Brahma_Bull9]

After the November 2010 elections in which the military Junta reported a 99.4% voter turnout and claimed victory of 75% of the seats, the government did something unpredictable, reportedly begin turning over responsibilities to a civilian government. Part of what has hampered U.S.-Burmese relations is the lack of communication between the two sides. Since 1997, the country has been largely isolated in the wake of sanctions. However, those sanctions prove to no longer be beneficial and it may be best for both nations to attempt to restart relations. A bold, but good show of faith by the United States could be recognizing calling the nation Myanmar. The American policy of referring to Burma has essentially been splitting hairs and is a unique problem to English. The two words are both used in Burma to refer to the nation, without hostile feelings. By doing so, the American government would not be alienating the people of Burma, and a show of a little change in attitudes could go a long way.
Despite growing investment in other natural resources fields, agriculture remains the largest sector of the Burmese economy. It would be a great victory for relations if Burma can be included in the Doha round of free trade negotiations extending to agriculture; the potential is there for the export of rice to become a staple of the Burmese economy for some time. Less than half of the arable land is being used in Burma.
American foreign policy goal of plainly stated regime change has created an atmosphere of fear inside the ruling government. Isolating Burma from the United States, and a large part of the world. It has proven to be counteractive to the goals of improved human rights and a democratic government. According to one analyst, David Steinberg, “The goals of US policy—regime change and/or reform, and the seating of a civilian government—have not been reached in two decades. Instead, that policy has produced a nationalistic reaction and the fear of invasion that, however unrealistic to the outside world, is palpable in Myanmar among many senior [officials]”(21). The U.S. holds the power to make this fear dissipate. By lifting sanctions preventing Burmese use of American banks, and American business investment in Burma the nations can begin to adjust each other’s views toward the other. Investment of neighboring nations has proven to go further towards that goal, and the U.S. would be wise to adopt the same policy. By repeated interactions with the regime, and a stake in it, the United States would appear less adversarial and far friendlier. Increasing the wealth of the people in Burma can weaken the regime.
American foreign policy since the warranted 1997 sanctions has been detrimental, however, to the relations since then. Guilty of over-reaching, and making hastily decisions, for example in 2007 the United States brought to the UN Security Council a resolution calling for Burma to be censured as a threat to regional peace. The Burmese government struggles with keeping itself in power, it is ridiculous and inflammatory to move for such a thing. It was greeted by vetoes from China and Russia, two countries of growing prominence in the region.


The best course of action for the United States in Burma is to support the people. By supporting the people, when the current military regime finally falls we will be greeted friendly. However, it is that very goal of seeing a democratic civilian government in Burma that has made slow progress and more efficient ways may be able to present themselves.
Prior to 1988, when aid was cut, the United States was strengthening the regime making payments to it almost yearly for thirty years. In that time, minimal improvement and taking into account environmental deterioration, things may have gotten worse for the average Burmese person. The U.S. needs to focus on strengthening the people and its relationship with the people in order to get rid of the military Junta, and create a new friendly democratic nation.
In the wake of deadly Cyclone Nargis, upon government refusal, the United States airlifted aid directly to those in need of it. A similar practice maybe needed to provide economic relief to the oppressed people of Burma. Micro-financing is a tool that could be used effectively in Burma. Many people, for example in the Lake Inle region, turn to floating gardens for income. These gardens require poisonous chemical fertilizers and pesticides that are harmful to communities, and the lake ecosystem. This is because small farmers cannot afford the land to grow the amount of crops needed organically. The fertilizers and pesticides are needed to keep yields high and for farmers to skate by.
Additionally, women, who have struggled in Burma are another group of people who should be sought out for micro financing. Many Burmese women are exploited in various form of work including prostitution. The government has shown no desire to fix the conditions for women, and action must be taken.
In order to implement such actions, it would be required that the U.S. lift some sanction on the Burmese government. If not opening up the American banking system to the whole country, at the minimum allowing, private citizens of Burma to use American banking functions. Additionally, wide spread business investment appears to be taking off now. Removing sanctions banning American business from investing from Burma could also help contribute to creating a modernized culture in Burma. By bringing Burma into the modern world, it will put the government under increased domestic pressures much like nations in the “Arab Spring”. With the infiltration of technologies in the nation, Burma appears to lack internal organization and ability to muzzle and prevent wide spread anti-military sentiments.

 

[Harthan]

This is a personal best. I've broken someone into posting a research paper on Burma that they wrote because I criticized their typing skills.

I'm going to paint a little ****** on the side of my laptop, now.

 

[Brahma_Bull9]

The current situation in Burma, the culmination of failed western policies must be accounted for by the U.S.. The current government that western nations rail against gained its very legs from Western powers. Under the Japanese rule of Burma during World War 2, the Anti-Fascists People’s Freedom League, who helped Japan invade British Burma, helped Britain expel the Japanese. From the beginning the group showed itself, or portions of it, to be more concerned with their own well-being than Burma’s. Upon gaining independence the group assassinated the proclaimed “father” of modern day Burma Aung San in a power grab.
The following decade saw power trade between two competing factions in the Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League, U Nu, who was more popular, and General Ne Win. Win ultimately rose to power in a coup in the early 1960’s. This is where the United States made a critical mistake. It continually pledged not to be supporting the military government, while offering it large amounts of foreign aid that undoubtedly made its existence much easier. The U.S. appeared to overlook human rights requirements on numerous programs, including an IMET defense training program which trained some 800 Burmese troops. By vowing loyalty to the people, and showing loyalty to the Junta the United States absolutely canceled any foreign policy success out. Any gains in popular support were wiped out by stabilizing the regime that is now 50 years into ruling. With the success of installing a government, be it ideal or not, the U.S. eliminated any possible trust and influence by stating continued goals of regime change.
The damage dealt to the Burmese people goes further than just the last 50 years. A century ago, Burma was one of the wealthiest colonies in Asia. Since that time, the standard of living has declined with a large portion of the population living on $3 a month. In 1915, Burma exported the fifteenth largest amount of oil. Today it is down to twenty three. Britain started Burma down the path, and in wake of U.S. sanctions banning investment into the country and Burmese use of American banks, started the process over again.
As neighboring countries developed faster, they have greater influence they can exert over Burma. After losing much of its Foreign Direct Investment in the later 1990’s, Burma has turned to exploiting itself for survival. Resistance groups contribute to already alarming rates of deforestation by selling illegal timber to neighboring countries. Burma is a leading source of precious gems, which has triggered investment by Asian nations. Additionally, great natural gas reserves and an abundance of water triggered investment also. All of the goals, while procuring minimal improvements for the Burmese do far more to advance the investing nation. By lifting sanctions, the U.S. could bring back investment and slow the bleeding of Burmese natural resources.

 

[The Dragon Saga]

Why is there some cunt copying things from Google and pasting them in the live discussion for Monday Night RAW? If you want to live a false life, please, use the medium of norm, Twitter.