Go! Take a Stand for What you Believe in
October 4th, 2007 by arvind
It is Arvind here again with my regular musings and photos from sunny London.
The world has been amazed with the courage shown by the monks in Burma over the last few days. They have risked their lives and limbs to protest against the military dictators and sadly many have made the ultimate sacrifice.
I took the above picture of an amazingly calm and peaceful monk in Battersea Park, London on Sunday after the peace march to help support the people of Burma.
Have you ever stepped forward to voice something that you believe in? Comments please.
Free Burma!
International Bloggers’ Day for Burma on the 4th of October
International bloggers are preparing an action to support the peaceful revolution in Burma. We want to set a sign for freedom and show our sympathy for these people who are fighting their cruel regime without weapons. These Bloggers are planning to refrain from posting to their blogs on October 4 and just put up one Banner then, underlined with the words ?Free Burma!?.
http://www.free-burma.org
I’ve just read the above comment as I was going to post mine. What I’ve done seems unimportant compared to these monks.
Hats off to that army major who decided to defect.
Definately a man of action and deeds. Being a Religious lad he refused to go in a beat up the monks he respects.
My play of the day for yesterday - to steal a CNN phrase.
I guess they’ll come through it just the same way the Shaolin lads survived near extinction during the cultural revolution in the PRC.
Now to convince the guys in charge of Thailand (40% of Burma’s trade is with them I believe) and PRC to sort the Junta out.
As for stepping forward, well lets be honest every time myself Gary and AEP do that some wet arsed hippy type criticises us for it, luckily we are strong characters, stick to our guns and back it all up with fact, proof and other real things that most on here deem superfluous.
If the merde ever hits the fan wherever I am in the world I most definately know who I’d like in my camp and it isn’t someone carrying a bag of crystals chanting ‘oooohhhmmmmm’ more likely to be a knight from the dwarf table and a lookalike from Die Hard in a 4 litre 4×4.
GIC you, angry, Gary et al do stand out and stick to your guns but why the GUNS metapohr, why does it have to be holistic?
Great photo of the monk, clearly in the moment.
I’m not sure I understand what the whole protest was about Arvind…..can anyone shed more light on this?
Its a very old metaphor which I certainly did not invent but has been in common usage for a long time.
Am I now held responsible for quirks of the English language?
I should imagine (but am not certain) it has origins in past campaigns where soldiers would have it issued as an order to prevent them deserting their post in the face of an oncoming assault, however since then it has come to mean standing steadfast to a view.
I formulate views based on facts and/or empirical data. I will stand firm until someone can give me tangible proof or evidence that another view is indeed the right one - hence sticking to my guns is a far less exhaustive way of expressing this poarticular quirk of my personality.
Holisitc? Please expand, I don’t see where I was splitting or theorising a relationship between parts and whole, however I am curious to gather your actual meaning.
Sarah
The Burmese Government put up the price of fuel which meant that many of the poorer population were affected - transport, cooking cost etc
Try this site for the background
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7010202.stm
I was about to ask the same Sarah so thanks Mr not so Angry! Great photo of the sleeping monk Arvind. What was the atmosphere like?
Hi Fab and Sarah,
I took 12 quick snaps of the monk and this was the only one that was perfect. He was truly in the moment.
It was actually a sublime moment for me as there I was in front of these dozen or so monks and behind them were around 3,000 marchers.
The atmosphere in Battersea Park (where this picture was taken) was very peaceful and serene.
Whilst on the march from Trafalgar Square, it was surreal as we made our way on the footpaths via startled pedestrians.
You can more about the march on my blog:-
http://www.arvinddevalia.com/blog/2007/09/30/peace-march-for-burma-every-voice-and-step-counts/
As it was an “unofficial” march, the police refused to let us use the roads. Had we tried using the roads, we could have been arrested which have been ironic considering what the march was about.
Imagine the headlines - “Burmese Monks arrested in London for jive walking by British traffic policeman”
There is another march this Saturday in London and many other cities if anyone is interested. More information at http://www.free-burma.org/
See you there.
PS Gary - I am told there may even be more skin heads at hte march on Saturday, trying to impress us with their latest line in saffron robes.
Arvind I may go on that march just to see it kick off. Is there a drink up after? Any gear?
Just watch out for the OB filming and dishing out section 60’s. Are you going tooled up? I’ve got a sparestanley and some CS if they need it.
What on earth are you talking about Gary - on the other hand, I don’t think I should ask as I don’t think I want to know.
Expat Inspirer here. I cannot profess to doing anything as mighty as the monks, but I do get out my soapbox whenever I get the chance to champion how companies can help their employees’ spouses to maintain a portable career whilst on repeated international assignments. The dual career issue is a big one of mine.
And, I guess, when I was the closing keynote at the Families in Global Transition conference in March (www.figt.org) I made a stand about the value of writing a journal and even writing poems as a way of staying sane while on the expat rollercoaster. Afterwards, faced with a sea of men in suits, I waited for the snarls of derision. But I got a standing ovation! Sometimes, you can only make a difference when you leave your comfort zone.
Thanks Arvind, ever-inspiring on your virtual soapbox!
Sorry but I watched the news and all I saw was a group of skinheads in sheets getting lippy with somepoor blokes just doing there jobs.
If you are going to act up then don’t moan when it comes on top.
With them being skins I reckon they could be racists as well- I am amazed Arvind is sticking up for the far right.
Gary,
The plan is to infiltrate the far right and then to enlighten them into smelling flowers
By the way, talking of skinheads, I saw some on Oxford St, London last week. THEY were showing off their range of Orange Robes and kept shouting and jumping around.
I think they thought they were dancing and singing.
I just about made out some words - something like “Harry Harry Keeshhnnaaa”
They sound like they could be combat18 Arvind. Orange robes and that- Loyalist paramilitaries no doubt.
Are the burmese mob going to give them a pasting as well?
I bet you the Harry Keeshhnnaaa chanting orange robed skinheads turn up at Saturday’s march to mingle with the Saffron skinhead brigade.
I have been asked to help out as a Steward.
So Gary I might just have to borrow all that gear from you.
If you are coming then I will look out for you in your battle gear. We can have a drink afterwards. Unless you are heading off early to Euston for a sauna?
Looks like its kicking off!
For gods sake Arvind, get some dwarves involved, lets really have it.
Better still Dwarf Skinheads coated in Sunny Delight.
I honestly saw some Dwarfs on the march last Sunday, so maybe there will be there again on the march this Saturday.
Perhaps one of them has graduated to a skinhead in saffron robes.
If so, I am sure to take some pictures and post them on here.
There is also an online petition to be sent to the United Nations in support of the Burmese protesters - details at
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_burma/u.php?cl=21751031
Thanks Diane for this link (I signed) now that I understand what it was all about so thanks for angry to!
Beautiful image, by the way, Arvind, such a serene expression on his face.
Thanks for this post Arvind! Lets hope it doesn’t kick off TOO often, maybe speakers corner on Sunday :0)
Unrelated to the Burmese monks, I occasionally speak up about something I truly believe in, which is that people should reduce the amount of plastic-packaged things that they buy. Speaking up about plastic doesn’t sound hard to do, I know, but sometimes it’s very difficult, especially because people don’t want to recognize that plastic might not be such a good thing.
For example, there was an article about bottled water in my newspaper not so long ago and I brought it up around the lunch table at work. I mentioned how it was insane that people would spend so much money buying cases and cases of something that is totally free and comes sparkling clean out of their tap (at least where I live in the U.S. that’s the case). Then I brought up the fact that Americans used more 33 billion single-serve water bottles in 2006. But most of my typically socially conscious co-workers didn’t seem to care…and I really don’t know why. Still, it is worth it to me to say something, especially if there’s the possibility that I reached one person, ya know?
Until taxation and legislation is put in place this will be the case Penguin.
Like I said, consumers drive industry but we can’t rely on them. Taxes are the way forward but unfortunately George B, Gordon B, Angela M, Nicholas S and co seem to be dodging this one.
Rainypenguin, 33 BILLION, seriously?
Lemmy,
They (USA) have about 260 million population (I think, haven’t checked exactly).
That would mean
33,000,000,000/260,000,000=3,300/26=127 bottles per person.
With 365 days in a year this is about 1 bottle every 3 days for each citizen.
I think its entirely feasible and maybe a touch on the conservative side. When you factor in soft drinks (or soda as I believe they call them) then you can see they may easily break the 100 billion mark for plastic bottles.
Then beer bottles, milk cartons……… oh god my brains starting to hurt, I am supposed to be on holiday too.
Thanks for doing the math on that Gareth. it seems that one bottle every three days wouldn’t be too crazy here in the States, especially since there are lots of people who never drink tap water. Well, I should rephrase that. Many people drink tap water, but they prefer to have it bottled by coca-cola and resold to them at, I’m guessing here, 1000 times the cost.
Great image and thanks for the post Arvind. It is always good to bring awareness to people. We are all so busy with our lives that we tend to forget what is happening with others.
Crikey good logic and quickly done as well Gareth. You had best drink from the tap on your hols. Anywhere nice, Ah, Borocay I guess, never heard of it myself, is it in China?
Philippines, one of the best beaches I’ve been on and great food, nightlife.
Google it and have a look. I mainly come for the kite surfing but the other bonuses;
100 Pesos in a pound - no complex maths here with conversions
Everyone speaks English
They are about the most honest/genuine people I’ve ever met, heart on the sleeve and all that.
Highly recommend it, certainly far superior to Thailand and Malaysia in my humble opinion.
Also why the surprise about the good logic, its what me Gary and AEP do, bring sense to the confused, bring vision from the mist of confusion and hearsay, bring clarity from the buzz of urban myth and hippyspeak.
Laterday saints really.
Bring forth your children and I will baptise them into the real world.