Tragedy in Burma

Three days ago a powerful cyclone (aka: hurricane) hit the nation of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. As of this morning, 22,000 people are reported dead and another 41,000 reported missing.

You may already be familiar with Myanmar for its military dictatorship and most recently for that dictatorship’s violent suppression of Buddhist monks who took to the streets in peaceful protest. I have written in my quarterly newsletter about my concern for the Burmese people amidst this terror. Now I write for an entirely different reason, to share my modest glimpse of the Burmese people and to encourage all of us who can to step forward and help this nation in the wake of this terrible natural disaster.

I spent a month in Burma back in 1998. I entered the country legally, but evaded the mandatory $250 payment to the military junta. Instead, I traded dollars with merchants and money changers and spent my money with regular folks throughout the country. Ultimately, I spent as much time with Burmese as I did with fellow westerners and had a marvelous time as a result. All in all, I fell in love with the people and with their culture.

This morning, Helen and I made a donation to Save the Children – they already have 500 aide workers on the ground in Burma, they have a 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator and 90% of donations go directly to programs to help children and families. We would be thrilled if you decided to join us in support.