It’s reported that over 1.5 million people are at serious risk from diseases such as cholera, dysentery and malaria and may die if aid is not delivered soon. It seems that the number of dead cannot be accurately determined at this time, but i am confident that this disaster is on a par with the terrible earthquake in China. It’s rather strange then that China sent 50,000 troops to Sichuan province to help with the aid effort, but is blocking UN sanctions to force the Burmese government to accept foreign aid! I understand the principal that the Burmese should decide for themselves, but i think that when this many lives are at stake – there’s not really much time to look at everyone’s principals.

China broadcasts to the media globally that it would appreciate foreign help; unsurprisingly everyone scrambles to show them how much they can do…and maybe they can get a few new trade agreements next year, but at the same time they block aid from going to Burma! It doesn’t really make sense in my head.

So…what can be done. On Saturday 17th May, the Global Day of Action for Burma’s Cyclone Victims will take place. The emphasis is on getting the rest of the world to enforce aid upon Burma to save literally millions of lives. I don’t agree with this tactic as it will only worsen relations with the government, but then i also do not have a better solution to propose!

Protests are taking place in London as follows:

French Embassy: Time: 12:30 – 13:00
Address: 58 Knightsbridge London SW1X 7JT

American Embassy: Time: 13:30 – 14:00
Address: 24 Grosvenor Square, London, W1A 2LQ

Foreign Office: 14:40 – 15:10
Address: King Charles Street London SW1A 2AH

Click here to view a map of the day’s protests.

Other protests across the world can be found here.

I think you’ll agree that the result is pretty darn good!

TAKE ACTION
The Burma Campaign UK and MTV have joined forces again to call for action by
the United Nations Security Council. Visit http://www.mtvburmaaction.com to email the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the permanent members of
the United Nations Security Council.

TAKE ACTION
Email European Union governments calling on them to agree targeted economic
sanctions that will ensure European companies no longer help pay for the
guns and the bullets used against peaceful protesters in Burma. Visit:
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/eu_sanctions.html

Also, photos are now online of the 10,000+ strong march that took place in London on Saturday. You can see the set here or the slideshow here.