London protests for next 2 weeks

Wednesday May 28th

Meet at Burma Embassy for normal daily Burmese protest
12:00-1pm Wednesday May 28th
Myanmar/Burma Embassy 19A, Charles St, London W1J 5DX.
Tube: Green Park | Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2vnnbh

Total London HQ, 33 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0PW
1:30-3:00pm Wednesday May 28th
Tube: Oxford Circus | Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2tylug

Saturday 31st May

Chiswick Total petrol station
2.00pm - 5.00pm Saturday 31st May
Protest at West Four Total petrol station, 137 Chiswick High Road, Chiswick W4 2ED
Tube: Turnham Green Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/yuqvch


Wednesday 4th June

Meet at Burma Embassy for normal daily Burmese protest
12:00-1pm Wednesday 4th June
Myanmar/Burma Embassy 19A, Charles St, London W1J 5DX.
Tube: Green Park | Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2vnnbh

Total London HQ, 33 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0PW
1:30-3:00pm Wednesday 4th June
Tube: Oxford Circus | Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2tylug

Saturday 7th June

Chiswick Total petrol station
2.00pm - 5.00pm Saturday 7th June
Protest at West Four Total petrol station, 137 Chiswick High Road, Chiswick W4 2ED
Tube: Turnham Green Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/yuqvch


Wednesday 11th June

Meet at Burma Embassy for normal daily Burmese protest
12:00-1pm Wednesday 11th June
Myanmar/Burma Embassy 19A, Charles St, London W1J 5DX.
Tube: Green Park | Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2vnnbh

Total London HQ, 33 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0PW
1:30-3:00pm Wednesday 11th June
Tube: Oxford Circus | Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2tylug

Southfields Get Total Out of Burma Protest

From Indymedia:

Six protesters demonstrated at the Southfields Total Station, 262 Wimbledon Park Road on 21st May 2008. They were protesting against the French oil and gas giant's 500 million dollar a year funding for the brutal military regime in Burma. The money just goes to the evil junta not the poor people of Burma. The regime has allocated just 5 million dollars to cyclone relief, whilst it earned 2 billion dollars in gas exports in 2007.

As well as giving out leaflets about French Total Oil's fuelling of oppression in Burma, the protesters also gave out information on how to donate to the charities assisting cyclone relief in Burma (see donation section in article). Approximately 140,000 people are estimated to have died in the recent cyclone and up to 2.4 million people are at continued risk.

Full Article and more photos

Protests in London next week: 21st May Wednesday

21st May Wednesday

Meet at Burma Embassy for normal daily Burmese protest
12:00-1pm
Myanmar/Burma Embassy 19A, Charles St, London W1J 5DX.
Tube: Green Park | Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2vnnbh

Protests against French Total Oil's 500 million dollar funding of the brutal Burma junta:

Total London HQ, 33 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0PW
1.30pm-2:30pm
Tube: Oxford Circus | Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2tylug

Southfields Total Station
5.00pm - 7.00pm (Wednesday)
Protest at Southfields Total Station, 262 Wimbledon Park Road, London SW19 6NL
Tube: Southfields (District Line). Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2eoou7

Burma Cyclone Global Day of Action London Report

French Embassy

US Embassy

Foreign Office

From Indymedia:

Over 100 campaigners, mostly Burmese took part in a protest at the French and US Embassies and the British Foreign Office in London, for the May 17th Global Day of Action for Burma Cyclone Victims. More than 30 events took place worldwide, including in UK, USA, France, Spain, Hong Kong, Thailand, Chile, Australia, Canada, Belgium and Czech Republic. The official death toll has exceeded 140,000 with aid agencies saying 2.5 million people are at further risk.

The protesters called on the French, US and British governments to find ways to aid the Burmese cyclone victims. They were grateful for aid donations given by the international community and the efforts by governments and NGO's to give aid.

The Burmese junta has imposed many obstacles on those wanting to aid cyclone victims, whilst the junta has been more concerned with rigging the military constitution referendum. In the cyclone disaster hit areas the referendum will be held on May 24th, with cyclone victims seeking shelter already having to be moved to make way for the ballot box stations. Head of State General Than Shwe visited the suburbs of Rangoon (not even the devastated Irrawaddy delta region) for the first time after 2 weeks since the cyclone. He already announced the "end to the relief phase" last week and the beginning of a "reconstruction phase". This meant awarding construction projects to the junta cronies for repairs to the tourist sites in Rangoon. After 18 days since the cyclone Nargis hit on 2nd May, aid has only reached a quarter of those in need according to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

The UK, France and US have ships in the area capable of supplying massive relief aid but they have been waiting days for diplomatic negotiations with the junta to permit them to save the lives of thousands of Burmese.

ASEAN ministers met on Monday to agree a limited UN coordinated aid deal with Burma. But the deal doesn't allow in foreign experts from the west who have experience in dealing with crises on this scale, and doesn't allow in foreign military with the capacity and logistical experience to deliver aid in the hard to reach delta region.

Full Story and more pictures on Indymedia

May 17th: Global Day of Action for Burma's Cyclone Victims Facebook Event Page
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=13683417318

May 16th Burmese Embassy Protest

Burmese protested at the Burmese Embassy in London on May 16th, calling on the junta to allow aid workers into Burma to save thousands of lives. A similar protest was held the previous week.

CANCELLED (European day of action against TOTAL May 16th) JOIN Global Day of Action for Cyclone Nargis victims May 17th

Subject: TOTAL Protest Cancelled: Join the Global Day of Action for Cyclone Nargis victims.

The death toll in Burma from Cyclone Nargis continues to rise; over 1.5 million people are now at risk of dying through disease, famine and dehydration . We know that diseases, such as cholera, dysentery and malaria, are spreading across the Irrawaddy delta. If the world does not intervene soon, aid agencies are warning that the death toll could spiral to over 1.5 million people.

No country could cope with a disaster of this scale alone, yet Burma's Generals are shunning the world's offers of help; they'd rather see their citizens die than accept help from overseas.

A Global Day of Action has been called this Saturday (May 17th) to urge the international community, specifically France, The United Kingdom and the United States, to urgently intervene and deliver aid to the 1.5 million people who need our help. Every day of delay is costing lives.

For this reason we have decided to cancel the European day of action against TOTAL and we are instead asking you to join the global day of action. Protests are so far organised in Canada, the USA, the UK and Australia.

We expect many other countries to join in, check this Facebook event http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=13683417318 to find out if people are protesting near you, If you dont see a protest organised near you why not organise one and let us know by emailing burma_action@yahoo.co.uk

Burma Campaign UK

P.S. Find out more about the Cyclone, actions you can take, and who you can donate to here http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/cyclonenargis.php

Find out details of the protests below:

London Saturday May 17th:

Global Day of Action for Cyclone Nargis victims

Protests will be held outside the French Embassy, the American Embassy and the Foreign office. Details are below and on this map. http://preview.tinyurl.com/4kfpw8
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 - 1510 Address: King Charles Street London SW1A 2AH
Transport: You can walk between the French and American Embassy. From the American Embassy to the Foreign office it is a short walk to Bond Street Underground Station, where you can get the Jubilee line to Westminster. From Westminster it is a 3 minute walk to the Foreign Office.
Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/4kfpw8

Other Countries
Protests are being planned from Australia to Chile! For details of protests in other countries click here.
http://www.burma-network.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=40&Itemid=105


Also:

Friday 16th May
Demonstration outside the Burmese Embassy calling for Aid to be allowed in.
Time: 1-2
Address: 19A, Charles Street, London, W1J 5DX
Nearest tube: Green Park
Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2vnnbh

Mobile Protest "Let Aid Experts into Burma" for Cyclone Relief

Photos Courtesy of toastyoneuk

From Indymedia:

On May 10th, 10 protesters dressed in black in mourning formed a mobile protest around various London landmarks. They were protesting against the Burma junta's refusal to allow aid experts into Burma for Cyclone relief. They also protested at the junta's disgraceful preoccupation with continuing the rigged referendum [1] on the military biased constitution on May 10th, rather than cyclone relief. See below for Global Day of Action for Cyclone Nargis victims.

The protest had not sought permission, so kept to a maximum of 10 members in a mobile protest. It assembled at Parliament Square and visited Downing Street, the Horse Guards, Trafalgar Square, Burma Embassy, US Embassy, Millennium Wheel, HMS Belfast and Tower Bridge.

For full article and more photographs

Burmese Cyclone protest at Burma Embassy "Let Aid Experts In"

From Indymedia:

Appalled yet hardly surprised at the junta's callous indifference to the deaths of up to 100,000 citizens and 1.5 million more destitute, the Burmese community protested passionately at their embassy on May 9th for aid experts and aid to be allowed into Burma. Whilst getting away as always with giving the international community the run-around, this time playing games over frustrating aid shipments - the brutal junta has been more preoccupied with rigging its military biased constitution referendum for May 10th.

Whilst international aid agencies desperately try to get the aid experts into Burma, the BBC say the junta's visa staff have gone on a 3 day holiday.

For Full Story and more photographs

Willesden Lane Total Station Protest

On 7th May three protesters demonstrated at Willesden Lane Total Station, 290 Willesden Lane, against Total Oil keeping the brutal Burma junta in power for many years as the largest western support of the evil regime. Total funds the military junta with 500 million dollars a year.

We were able to leaflet many of the cars leaving the station. Some passers-by had already previously seen us at Kilburn in earlier weeks and we had some interesting conversation as they expressed sympathy with the plight of the Burmese.

As well as leafleting people about Total's disgraceful involvement in Burma we also gave them a new leaflet directing people to http://burmacampaign.org.uk/cyclonenargis.php where Burma Campaign lists links to major charities helping with Burma cyclone relief.

The junta has been more concerned with rigging the results of the May 10th military constitution referendum

Quote from May 6th 2008 The Times Editorial Comment Page 16:
'It was bad enough that the military intended to ensure a "yes" vote through a combination of bribery, intimidation and straightforward rigging that makes Robert Mugabe appear an amateur. The notion that it is still seriously considering continuing with its scheme despite the manifest impracticality of doing so in these circumstances is utterly obscene. The world must do its best to help the Burmese people through this immediate natural disaster. It can only be hoped that in time they will be liberated from the man-made disaster that is their military Government as well'

Total Oil's real 1Q2008 Results

Total First Quarter 2008 results were out on Wednesday 7th May. The French oil and gas company's net profit jumped 18 percent on record energy prices to 5.6 billion US dollars.

The fruits of Total's real results however were evident in Burma's twin disasters. The natural cyclone disaster made even worse by the man-made junta disaster that Total has played a large part in keeping in power and has been an accomplice to the exploitation of Burma's resources. The junta allocated just 5 million dollars to cyclone relief whilst it has over 2 billion dollars from gas export earnings in 2007. It was more preoccupied with rigging its May 10th military constitution referendum and frustrating the entry of foreign aid experts. The Burma visa department even went on a 3 day holiday !

French Total Oil funds the selfish brutal junta with 500 million dollars a year, that does not go to the Burmese people but funds the generals and the military in a war against the Burmese people. Total Oil is the largest western supporter of the military junta. The junta keeps a ludicrous official rate of 6 Kyat : 1 US Dollar, whereas the real market rate is 1,000 Kyat: 1 US Dollar enabling massive corruption by the junta.

Cyclone Nargis 22,000+ Dead

So far the death toll is 22,000 but this is expected to rise to over 100,000. In one town Bogalay, 95 per cent of houses were destroyed with 10,000 dead. The cyclone hit the major rice growing region of Burma.

Burma Campaign has a web page on the crisis, with donation links to major charities helping victims of the cyclone eg. Christian Aid, Oxfam, The Red Cross, Islamic Relief and CAFOD.

http://burmacampaign.org.uk/cyclonenargis.php

The US Burma Campaign changed their donation page, to specify whether donations should go to relief aid for the cyclone.

US Burma Campaign Cyclone Relief Donations

Many Burmese in London have been unable to contact their families in Burma. The Burmese democracy community in London is organising its own appeal on
www.freeburmafunduk.blogspot.com - the Funding is supervised by the International Burmese Monks Organization (UK). Details are:

Bank Name : Barclays Bank (uk)
Account Holder Name : Mr A Candobhasa
A/C 90 00 28 36
S/C 20 80 71

Mobile: 078 77 297 205

To use PayPal Account Please Pay to

ashinucandobhas

a [at] yahoo [dot] co [dot] uk

For security, you should independently check the above details at well known Burmese websites eg.

www.bdmauk.org Burmese Democracy Movement Association

www.ko-htike.blogspot.com a widely read Burmese blog

Other Burmese donation appeals

www.bsouk.org - The non-political Burmese Student Association is organising its own appeal

Don't forget the many refugees needing assistance at the Thailand Burma border. Their numbers are bound to be increased with further refugees from the cyclone hit area. Charities assisting them were already having to ration rice due to the high world prices. Donations to help with refugees can be sent on this link to the Thailand Burma Border Consortium. This is a UK registered charity and an consortium of 11 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from nine countries providing food, shelter and non food items to refugees and displaced people from Burma. They had previously had to impose rations in April due to lack of funds and high rice prices.

The British Government has announced £5m in humanitarian assistance for cyclone victims in Burma. We hope this is additional aid and not redirected aid from an existing aid budget.

Burma: It Can't Wait

Hollywood Stars Team up with the Human Rights Action Center to Launch Campaign on Behalf of the People of Burma

Will Ferrell, Anjelica Huston, Jennifer Aniston, Ellen Page, Judd Apatow, Mana, Sylvester Stallone, Eric Szmanda, Sarah Silverman Part of 30-Day Call-to-Action to Free Imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize Recipient Aung San Suu Kyi

WASHINGTON & BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Human Rights Action Center and the U.S. Campaign for Burma have joined together to create “Burma: It Can’t Wait,” a first-of-its-kind, 30-day campaign using influential celebrity voices to help build a million-person movement to free Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi and the people of Burma.

For videos see www.burmaitcantwait.org

Hammersmith Goldhawk Road get Total Oil out of Burma protest

From Indymedia:

Six protestors demonstrated at the Raven Total station, near Stamford Brook subway station on 372 Goldhawk Road, Hammersmith, 30th April. They called on the French oil company to stop funding the military dictatorship with 500 million dollars a year. Total has long been an accomplice of the corrupt junta's theft of Burma's resources, funding their brutal oppression of the Burmese people and the genocide of ethnic minorities. Total's pipeline was built with slave labour.

There were road works causing slow traffic near the station. The weather was bad but the protesters were in good spirits and held a "Beep 4 Burma. Boycott Total" banner, to which many passing cars, including buses beeped in support of the protest.

The police briefly chatted with the protesters after stopping a passing car. The nice policeman we spoke to was sympathetic with the plight of the people in Burma and our protest, even suggesting larger banners.

Full Story and recent Burma News on Indymedia

Protests in London next week

7th May Wednesday

Meet at Burma Embassy to join daily protest
12:00-1pm
Myanmar/Burma Embassy 19A, Charles St, London W1J 5DX.
Tube: Green Park | Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2vnnbh

Total 1st Quarter 2008 Results
Total London HQ, 33 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0PW
1.30pm-2:30pm
Tube: Oxford Circus | Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2tylug

Willesden Lane Total Station Protest
5.00pm - 7.00pm (Wednesday)
Protest at Willesden Lane Total Station, 290 Willesden Lane, Willesden NW2 5HS
Tube: Willesden Green. Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/3g2loe