Total out of Burma

Future Events

2012-02-03T12:30:00.000Z

For information on Burmese Events in the UK please see:

http://burmeseeventsintheuk.wordpress.com
http://88newgenerationstudents-uk.blogspot.com 88 New Generation Students UK (New website)
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/news-and-reports/public-events/all-events Burma Campaign UK
http://www.bdmauk.org.uk Burmese Democracy Movement Association
http://www.bdcburma.org Burma Democratic Concern
http://www.nldlauk.org National League for Democracy Liberated Area (UK)
http://b-m-a.org Burmese Muslim Association
http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=11780 Amnesty UK Burma Events
http://www.csw.org.uk/changeforburma.htm Christian Solidarity Worldwide
http://www.totaloutofburma.org

Sunday 5th February

51th anniversary of Kachin Revolution Day Ceremony

It is well known fact that "the Union of Burma" came into existence after the signing of "Panglong’s agreement" between the ethnic’s minority brethren and the Burman majority led by General AungSan. We, the Kachin voluntarily took part as signatory in the panglong conference with a view that democracy, justice, equality and self-autonomy would be guaranteed through the panglong treaty so that the newly formed "Union of Burma" prospers in peace and harmony.

Following the independence, however, during U Nu-led parliamentary era based on the unitary centrally planned government: no political space is given to the ethnic minorities to exercise their political right contrary to essence of Panglong. In addition, the discrimination, suppression, injustice and many forms of abuses were perpetuated against the ethnic minorities due to the Burman extreme nationalists, and its doctrine of Burmanization. Under these circumstances, the political impasse between the Kachin and the central government became impossible to solve through meaningful dialogue. Therefore, the KIO/KIA was established and took its armed struggle on the 5th of February 1961.

The last five decades have seen our leaders and revolutionary fighters confronting the hardships, miseries and various forms of challenges in the pursuit of peace and freedom. The sacrifices have been made and their lives have fallen. However, our revolutionary spirit would never come to an end. In fact, the emergence of future new generations is to continue its journey of restoring freedom and self-determination.

We, the Kachin National Organization, would like to request of your presence in the ceremony of the Kachin Revolution Day to share our common struggle for freedom and equal right in solidarity.

We look forward to seeing you.

Sincerely yours,

Kachin National Organization- UK

Date: Sunday 5th February 2012
Time: 5-8 Pm The ceremony will start at 5:00PM sharply.
Places: Montague Public Hall, 30 Montague Road, Hounslow, London, TW3 1LD, UK
Map: http://maps.google.co.uk/?q="30 Montague Road, Hounslow"
Tube: Hownslow Central (Picadilly Line)
Photo Exhibition of Kachin Revolution History, Kachin Foods and drinks will be served.
Date: 5th February 2012
Kachin Foodsand drinks will be served.

Sunday February 12th

Food Fair fundraiser for Kachin Refugees

We would like to invite you fundraising event for people from Kachin State, Burma who were affected by Burma military attacked.
We cannot be there to help them physically but we must show them our solidarity that we are here to stand with them.

Date: 12th February 2012, Sunday, Union day
Time: 2pm – 8pm
Venue: St Agnes R C Church, 35 Cricklewood Lane, Cricklewood, NW2 1HR
(on Corner of Gillingham Road)
Map: http://maps.google.co.uk/?q=NW21HR
Train: Cricklewood train station – after station exit turn right towards golders green and third left.
Tube: Kilburn station take Bus 32, 332, 16, 316, 189 and get off in second bus stop.
5 min walk to gillingham Road along cricklewood lane.
Bus: one bus stop from cricklewood lane by 245, 260, 460 towards golders green
https://www.facebook.com/events/365778306769323/

There will be Karaoke, Ethnic Traditional dance and authentic delicious food from Burma. Special treat is Kachin traditional liquor.
Rangoon Band and The Nox will be there to entertain you.
Your support is very important for people of Burma. Use your liberty to support free Burma.
Event is organised by Burmese Community from UK
In Solidarity,

Saturday 18th February

65th Anniversary of Mon National Day Event

We would like to cordially invite all representatives of different communities, organizations, other ethnic backgrounds, friends and families to our upcoming 65th Anniversary of Mon National Day celebration. It would be our delight if you would experience our Mon culture.

Date: 18th February Saturday
Time: 5 pm to 10 pm
Venue: Feltham Assembly Hall, Hounslow Road, Feltham, Middlesex TW14 9DN
Station: Feltham | Map: http://maps.google.co.uk/?q=TW149DN
Free Entry
https://www.facebook.com/events/225483717534259/

Saturday 17th March

Burma Day of Prayer

You are invited to join the annual Burma Day of Prayer at the Emmanuel Centre this March.

Building on successive years of prayer, on the day CSW will combine advocacy insights alongside personal testimonies from representatives of Burma’s ethnic minorities.

Benedict Rogers, CSW’s East Asia Team Leader presenting the latest situation in Burma.

Richard Chilvers, Board member of Partners Relief & Development, speaking about his experiences working with refugees on the eastern border.

Presentations from representatives of Burma’s minority people groups who suffer human rights abuses.

Contemporary worship from Burma’s ethnic nationalities and opportunities for informed prayer.

Resources include video message from Aung San Suu Kyi

A prayer resource for the International Burma Day of Prayer will be available from the CSW website prior to the London event. It can be used to inform church leaders and house groups about the needs of Burma and will unite the prayers of Christians throughout the world during these annual intercessions.

Date: Burma Day of Prayer, 17 March 2012
Time: 2-6 pm (registration opens at 1pm)
Venue: Emmanuel Centre, 9-23 Marsham Street, London SW1P 3DW
Tube: Westminster
Map: http://maps.google.co.uk/?q=SW1P3DW
Website: http://www.csw.org.uk/prayforburma.htm
Sponsors: Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Partners Relief & Development
Burma Day of Prayer Booklet
http://docs-eu.livesiteadmin.com/c8880e0f-f6ed-4585-8f09-4e4b6d11e698/csw-burma-day-of-prayer-booklet-2012.pdf

Check for any further events or changes to events:

http://burmeseeventsintheuk.wordpress.com
http://88newgenerationstudents-uk.blogspot.com 88 New Generation Students UK (New Website)
http://www.bdmauk.org.uk Burmese Democracy Movement Association
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/news-and-reports/public-events/all-events Burma Campaign UK
http://www.nldlauk.org National League for Democracy (UK)
http://b-m-a.org Burmese Muslim Association
http://www.bdcburma.org Burma Democratic Concern
http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=11780 Amnesty UK Burma Events
http://www.csw.org.uk/changeforburma.htm Christian Solidarity Worldwide

LINKS
(For a comprehensive set of Burma links please see the Burma Campaign UK website links page:
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/burma/links/all-links/37 )

News on Burma (in English)
The Irrawaddy www.irrawaddy.org
Widely cited by International News media.
Mizzima News www.mizzima.com
Online newspaper which specialises in Burma related news and multimedia
Democratic Voice of Burma: www.dvb.no
Source of underground documentary video journalism in Burma. Norway based exiled media station. Broadcasts radio and TV into Burma
Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre www.internal-displacement.org
See Myanmar section. IDMC keeps online conflict displacement info for UN.
Burmanet www.burmanet.org/news
Coverage of news and opinion on Burma from around the world
Karen News www.karennews.org
Everyday stories cover a range of crimes against humanity – extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, forced labor, child soldiers, forced displacement, human trafficking. Among the carnage, however, are stories of hope, love and dignity.
Chinland Guardian www.chinlandguardian.com
Chin journalist ethnic news service striving for "free, open and democratic society"
Shan Herald Agency for News www.shanland.org

Campaign Organisations
Burma Campaign UK www.burmacampaign.org.uk
For email petitions, news and events this is the leading Burma focused group for members of the public to subscribe to and support in the UK.
Alternative Asean Network on Burma www.altsean.org
SE Asia networked advocacy. Has lots of info explaining Burma’s election, economy and human rights abuses.
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) www.aappb.org
Provides food and medicine to prisoners. Main source of prisoner info.
EarthRights International www.earthrights.org
Documents and takes legal action against human rights and environmental abuses. Lead the case against Total and Chevron (Texaco) abuses in Burma.
Burma Partnership www.burmapartnership.org
A network of organizations throughout the Asia-Pacific region, advocating for and mobilizing a movement for democracy and human rights in Burma.
Amnesty International UK www.amnesty.org.uk
Campaigns for prisoners of conscience and often holds events about Burma.
Human Rights Watch www.hrw.org
Reports on Burma the human right situation in Burma
Federation of Trade Unions Burma www.ftub.org
Based outside Burma. Forced labour, child labour, migrant workers issues etc
Christian Solidarity Worldwide www.csw.org.uk
Visits refugee camps and lobbies for aid on both Thai and Bangladesh borders.
National League for Democracy(Burma) www.nldburma.org
News and views of Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD campaigning activities.
Burma's Lawyers' Council www.blc-burma.org
Opposing injustice, restoring justice

Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets (UK)
www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/burma.htm

Burmese Activist & Ethnic Human Rights
Ethnic Nationalities Council www.encburma.net
Fostering unity and cooperation between all ethnic nationalities in a transition to democracy
Kachin Development Networking Group www.kdng.org
Kachin Relief www.kachinrelief.org.uk
Charity run by Kachin exiles for Kachin refugee relief
Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK) www.bro-uk.org
Arakan Rohingya National Organisation www.rohingya.org
88 New Generation Students UK www.88newgenerationstudents-uk.blogspot.com
Burmese student activists
Burmese Democracy Movement Association bdmauk.org.uk
Burmese Activists. Started The Little Burmese Tea Shop at Glastonbury.
www.thelittleburmeseteashop.wordpress.com
Burma Democratic Concern www.bdcburma.org
Campaigning to restore democracy, human rights and rule of law in Burma
National League for Democracy Liberated Area(UK) www.nldlauk.org
Exile organization for supporting the NLD
Burmese Muslim Association www.b-m-a.org

Environmental Activist
Burma Rivers Network www.burmariversnetwork.org
Protecting the environment and rights of communities
Arakan Rivers Network www.arakanrivers.net
Salween watch www.salweenwatch.org
Preventing the building of harmful hydroelectric power dams on the Salween River.

Charity
Thailand Burma Border Consortium www.tbbc.org
UK registered charity, 12 international NGO’s supporting refugees on Thai Burma border. IDP Maps on IDMC website are from TBBC.
Free Burma Rangers www.freeburmarangers.org
Sends medical/aid teams to villages under attack. Also documents abuses.
The Back Pack Health Worker Team www.backpackteam.org
Deeply committed to bringing primary health services to the remote and vulnerable populations inside Burma.
Mae Tao Clinic www.maetaoclinic.org
Health services for displaced Burmese populations along the Thailand-Burma border

Tourism
How to travel responsibly in Burma -
www.ecoburma.com/choices/responsible-travel-to-burma-101
Concerns over Tour Operators
www.tourismconcern.org.uk/uploads/Campaigns/How-tour-operators-are-supporting-Burma-regime.pdf
National League for Democracy statement on Tourism
www.nldburma.org/media-press-release/78-press-release/316-nld-statement-no-100511-released-on-20th-may-2011-regarding-tourism-in-burma-.pdf

Network for Human Rights Documentation - Burma
(www.nd-burma.org )
ND-Burma formed in 2003 in order to provide a way for Burma human rights organizations to collaborate on the human rights documentation process. The 12 ND-Burma member organizations seek to collectively use the truth of what communities in Burma have endured to challenge the regime’s power through present-day advocacy as well as prepare for justice and accountability measures in a potential transition. ND-Burma conducts fieldwork trainings; coordinates members’ input into a common database using Martus, an open-source software (www.martus.org ) developed by Benetech; and engages in joint-advocacy campaigns. When possible, ND-Burma also collaborates with other human rights organizations in all aspects of its work.

Broken Ethics: The Norwegian Government’s Investments in Oil and Gas Companies Operating in Burma

2010-12-16T00:01:00.008Z

The Government of Norway is complicit in natural-resource related human rights abuses in Burma, according to an explosive new report released today by EarthRights International (ERI).

The Norwegian Pension Fund-Global (Fund) has USD $4.7 billion invested in 15 oil and gas companies from eight countries operating in Burma. The report finds these companies complicit in abuses such as forced labor, killings, and land confiscation in Burma, putting Norway in violation of its own Ethical Guidelines for responsible investment. The Norwegian Fund is the world’s second largest sovereign wealth fund.

Broken Ethics: The Norwegian Government’s Investments in Oil and Gas Companies Operating in Burma (Myanmar)

Press Release:
http://www.earthrights.org/campaigns/norway-complicit-human-rights-abuses-burma

Excerpts:

"In 2005, the Norwegian Council on Ethics took up one of its first assessments of a company in the Fund’s investment portfolio when it scrutinized the French energy firm Total and the human rights impacts of the Yadana pipeline project in Burma. The Council concluded that Total had likely been complicit in the extensive use of forced labor connected to government-
provided security services and infrastructure construction for the Yadana project, as well as the forced relocation and deportation of villagers, and other violence perpetrated by the military."

...

In late 2008, a villager from Michauglaung explained how he was forced by the Burmese Army to provide security in his village along the Yadana and Yetagun pipelines:
We also have to do nighttime security – one night for three hours, once every two weeks. There are two groups – one in the beginning of the village, the other at the end of the village. If you fall asleep you have to provide [approximately 3 kilograms] of chicken [to the Burmese Army]. Sometimes they beat you up, and [then] you have to do one day of forced labor.

In 2010, the current ILO Liaison Officer in Rangoon Steve Marshall confirmed in writing to EarthRights International that forced labor has continued in the Yadana pipeline area.

As of June 2010, Total had yet to facilitate any complaints of forced labor to the ILO.

Total mislead investors:

The company went so far as to claim that the International Labour Organization (ILO) had certified that it had eradicated forced labor in its project area. From 2003 to 2009, on its website, Total claimed that “according to the ILO, the only region in the country in which forced labor has ceased is the area in which the Yadana gas pipeline was built.”

In fact, forced labor continues in the Yadana pipeline area, as described in detail in the sections above and in numerous EarthRights International reports. Moreover, the ILO has confirmed that it never stated that forced labor had ceased in the pipeline area and that this claim by Total is untrue. As exposed in the 2009 report Getting It Wrong, a senior and former ILO representative in Burma disavowed Total’s claims and noted that the statement that was attributed to the ILO was false and is “not right to say.”

Only in 2009, after EarthRights International exposed the untruth of Total’s statements, did Total quietly withdraw this misleading claim from their website. In 2010, the current ILO Liaison Officer in Rangoon Steve Marshall confirmed in writing to EarthRights International that forced labor has continued in the Yadana pipeline area

Total’s campaign to demonstrate the "benefits":

The Burmese Army has also used forced labor to maintain and repair local roads necessary for pipeline operations. These roads, ironically, have featured prominently in Total’s campaign to demonstrate the benefits brought by their presence. The primary benefit of the roads, however, appear to accrue to the pipeline companies and their personnel. Local people are not compensated for their road maintenance labor, and are then restricted from certain roads because of the potential damage caused by their bullock carts – most villagers do not own other means of transport.

According to previous accounts from Zinba Village published by EarthRights International, it appears that the forced maintenance began after complaints from foreign oil company workers about damage to the roads.

...

Testimonies from the pipeline area continue to show that the companies work closely with and aid the local Burmese Army battalions, which are in turn committing systematic human rights abuses against local villagers. A Burmese civilian working as a security guard for Total in 2010 reported to EarthRights International that the oil companies’ private security detail meets “almost every day” with the local Burmese military commander to “talk about the security issue” around the pipeline. The guard added that, “sometimes the army will ask for and use the company trucks to transport their troops or material when they need it, if the army does not have enough trucks.”

Burma's 2010 Elections

2010-09-30T22:34:00.005+01:00

Not Free, Not Fair, Not Inclusive

Youtube video explaining elections:

Burma’s 2008 Constitution:

The military is above the law & military coups are legalized
Federalism is denied. The military has control over ethnic states.
The military occupies 25% of the seats in Parliament.
The military controls 3 key Ministries :

defence (control over their budget and military justice)
home affairs (domestic repression)
border affairs (cross-border trade, access to illicit rackets such as drugs, logging and smuggling, and license to conduct ongoing offensives against ethnic minorities)

The military has effective veto power over constitutional amendments
The National Defence and Security Council further entrenches the military
Basic human rights are still threatened
Political activists are barred from office
The Presidency favours the military
Aung San Suu Kyi is barred from Presidency even if she is freed (under a clause denying spouses or children as foreign citizens).

2010 Election Laws

Excludes Buddhist monks, nuns and members of other religious orders.
Forbids those associated with armed opposition ethnic groups from taking part in elections. (Junta has been threatening ethnic ceasefire groups).
Excludes those convicted of a crime and serving a sentence from being a member of a political party (Aung San Suu Kyi and many other political prisoners would have to be expelled from their NLD party for it to be allowed to stand)

Aung San Suu Kyi's sham trial verdict

2009-08-27T23:05:00.006+01:00

As expected the corrupt regime is keeping Aung San Suu Kyi detained till after their rigged 2010 elections. Burma is the only country in the world with a detained Nobel Peace Prize winner, but there are also over 2,100 heroic political prisoners in Burma.

Aung San Suu Kyi’s trial has provoked a global outcry. World leaders, including Prime Minster Gordon Brown, President Obama and the UN Secretary General have all condemned the actions of the Burmese regime. Now we need to turn those words into real pressure. We are calling for a global arms embargo against Burma.

Please take action now, go to
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/arms-embargo

Also please sign the Avaaz.org petition for the United Nations Security Council to create a Commission of Inquiry to investigate and hold the Burmese regime to account for crimes against humanity.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/jail_the_generals/

The regime is directly defying the United Nations Security Council. 20 years of gentle UN diplomacy, including a visit earlier this month by the UN Secretary General himself, have failed to achieve any breakthrough. It is time the generals faced consequences for their actions, a global arms embargo should be imposed immediately.

Take Action Now

Please take action for a Global Arms Embargo, go to:

http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/arms-embargo

Please take action for investigating the regime's crimes against humanity

http://www.avaaz.org/en/jail_the_generals/

The main website for Burma's Political Prisoners:
http://www.fbppn.net/ - the campaign site
http://www.aappb.org/ - most of the news of political prisoners comes from APPB

Burma Protest over Total Oil at French Embassy

2009-05-23T01:36:00.007+01:00

From Indymedia

Burmese democracy activists protest at the French Embassy about French Total Oil's collaboration with the brutal military junta as heroic democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi's show trial continues in Burma. The Nobel Peace Prize winner has previously condemned Total as "the biggest supporter of the military regime in Burma". French Total Oil funds the evil military regime with approximately 500 million dollars a year from its operation of the Yadana gas pipeline, that is used by the corrupt generals to slaughter ethnic minorities, students, monks and anyone who speaks out for human rights and justice in Burma.

About 30 Burmese Democracy activists organised a demonstration at the French Embassy against Total Oil at short notice on 22nd May, following renewed discussion in Europe concerning Total's notorious investment in Burma. The police were called as they had not been informed of the demonstration, but it was just intended to peacefully express Aung San Suu Kyi's Burmese democracy supporters wish for Total Oil to be included in any further extension of European sanctions and did not last long, as it followed a previous demonstration at the Burma Embassy.

This week France admitted that Total was the sole major European investor in Burma and that sanctions involving Total would be the only serious economic lever Europe had on the regime.

Aung San Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy party, won the 1990 elections with 82% of the vote, but the corrupt military would not honour their own elections. She has spent 13 of the last 18 years in detention. The United Nations has already said her detention is illegal by both international and the junta's own Burmese law. Her current term was due to expire on May 27th, but the cowardly junta with 400,000 soldiers is so afraid of one woman that they will do anything to keep her imprisoned ahead of their fake 2010 elections. They have already written a constitution that ensures their military rule continues and bars Aung San Suu Kyi from even participating.

There have been many statements of support for Aung San Suu Kyi by world leaders following the junta's latest stunt to imprison her and keep her from her Burmese people. However it is the world leaders themselves that are on trial, as their fine statements are put to the test. Will they do anything of consequence to help Aung San Suu Kyi and her people ?

Europe previously agreed not to include oil and gas in sanctions, so that sanctions could be escalated if needed. If Aung San Suu Kyi is further imprisoned as most expect, then Europe's bluff will have been called.

http://www.france24.com/en/20090520-french-oil-firm-would-be-hurt-myanmar-sanctions-minister
"If Europe imposes new sanctions on Myanmar's military regime they would hit the French energy giant Total's operations in the country and have far reaching consequences, France said Wednesday.

Speaking as EU countries mulled action against the junta over its treatment of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Total was the sole major European investor in the country.

"The only serious economic lever would obviously be Total," Kouchner told members of the French parliament"

HELP AUNG SAN SUU KYI - TAKE ACTION NOW
The United Nations and ASEAN must dispatch envoys to Burma to demand the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all Burma’s political prisoners.

Please go to this page where you can email the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon and ASEAN leaders to urge them to send envoys immediately.
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/ASSK_action.html (if unavailable please try Avaaz:)
http://www.avaaz.org/en/free_aung_san_suu_kyi/96.php/?CLICK_TF_TRACK

As you know Burma’s generals will use any excuse to keep Aung San Suu Kyi detained. If strong action isn’t taken, Aung San Suu Kyi could face the rest of her life in jail.

Please take action now. Aung San Suu Kyi could now spend the rest of her life in jail. http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/ASSK_action.html

15th May Protest at Aung San Suu Kyi's Arrest

2009-05-16T18:00:00.004+01:00

From Indymedia

On Friday 15th May, Burmese demonstrated over at the military regime's embassy in London and at the Foreign Office in Kings Charles Street, at Aung San Suu Kyi arrest and detention at the notorious Insein prison. There will be a larger protest on Monday 18th May.

Aung San Suu Kyi has been under detention for 13 of the last 18 years, but the junta has been desperate to keep her detained ahead of the sham 2010 elections in which she is already barred from standing. The UN had already declared her detention illegal under both international and Burma's law, but the dictatorship is so afraid of her they are using the ridiculous excuse of an unwanted intruder in her house that refused to leave, to accuse her of breaking their ridiculous detention law.

Aung San Suu Kyi National League for Democracy party won 82% of the vote in the 1990 elections, but the corrupt generals did not honour the result of their own election. As they have no honour, it comes as no suprise that they will use any pathetic excuse to keep her detained.

On Monday, Aung San Suu Kyi faces trial at the notorious Insein prison, but it is the UN, ASEAN and world leaders that will be on trial. Words are not enough, they must take real actions to ensure that Aung San Suu Kyi is released.

This year ASEAN hailed the creation of a regional human rights body as a historic first step toward confronting abuses in the region. ASEAN should get to work helping to free Nobel Peace prize winning Aung San Suu Kyi and more than 2100 fellow political prisoners in Burma.

HELP AUNG SAN SUU KYI - TAKE ACTION NOW
The United Nations and ASEAN must dispatch envoys to Burma to demand the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all Burma’s political prisoners

Please go to this page where you can email the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon and ASEAN leaders to urge them to send envoys immediately.

http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/ASSK_action.html

Find out more about Aung San Suu Kyi here: http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/burma/campaigns/aung-san-suu-kyi/

More photo's of the May 15th event on Flickr at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/toastyoneuk/sets/72157618291888710/

21st Anniversary of Burma Human Rights Day

2009-03-20T09:45:00.012Z

Protest held at Burma Embassy 13th March 2009

Launch of Free Burma's Political Prisoners Now - Take Action!

Friday 13th March was the 21st Anniversary of the beginning of the 1988 Student Uprising. Burma's Human Rights Day is in memory of Ko Phone Maw and all those who sacrificed their lives in the struggle for Burma's freedom. Ko Phone Maw was the first student murdered by the Burmese junta on March 13th 1988 at a peaceful demonstration at Rangoon Institute of Technology (RIT). It was the start of the 1988 democracy protests in which thousands of demonstrators were later murdered.

On this day a new signature campaign, Free Burma's Political Prisoners Now was launched globally, aiming to reach 888,888 signatures before 24 May 2009, the legal date that Burma's democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi should be released from house arrest. The petition calls on the UN Secretary Ban Ki-Moon General Ban Ki-moon to make it his personal priority to secure the release of all political prisoners in Burma, as the essential first step towards democracy in the country.

Please sign the petition now:
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/fbppn.htm

The target of 888,888 signatures symbolises 8.8.88, the day the junta massacred some 3,000 people who courageously protested in Burma's largest democracy uprising.

Political Prisoners In Burma Facts:

There are over 2,100 political prisoners in Burma.
They are innocent: These prisoners have committed no crime. They have been imprisoned for peacefully calling for democracy and freedom in Burma.
They are subjected to horrific torture: Once in prison, democracy activists face horrific torture, including electric shocks, rape, iron rods rubbed on their shins until the flesh rubs off, severe beatings and solitary confinement.
They endure terrible suffering: Many prisoners are kept in their cells 24hours a day, given inadequate food and are in poor health. However, the regime appears to be systematically denying medical treatment to political prisoners.
These are brave men and women that are at the forefront of the fight for freedom and democracy in Burma.

They need your help. Sign the petition now:

http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/fbppn.htm

For Avaaz memebers there also a petition available on their site:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/free_burma_political_prisoners/

The Global Website for the Free Burma's Political Prisoners Now Campaign is at:
http://www.fbppn.net/
Sign the petition to free Burma's prisoners of conscience today!
http://www.fbppn.net/?page_id=5
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Free-Burmas-Political-Prisoners-Now/72207914501

Total Closure Chiswick West Four Service Station

2009-02-22T16:45:00.002Z

Before

After

Total appear to have permanently closed the West Four Total petrol station in Chiswick. It was one of our most regular protest sites in 2008. We realise there is also a recession on, but we would like to thank the motorists that boycotted Total for Burma and the local shopkeepers that distributed our leaflets about Total's disgraceful involvement in Burma.

First Anniversary of Assassination of Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan

2009-02-14T03:36:00.005Z

The 14th February 2009 was the first anniversary of the cowardly assassination of the greatly respected Karen leader Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan. He was murdered in Thailand by thugs working for the brutal Burmese military regime, as part of a campaign to kill ethnic leaders.

His daughter Zoya Phan is International Coordinator at Burma Campaign UK.

Zoya Phan’s new autobiography, the gripping tale of her life, will be published in April. It is available to pre-order now. Order your copy via the Burma Campaign UK website and help to fund the Burma Campaign UK.

“Uplifting, tragic and entirely gripping, the extraordinary true story of Zoya Phan, forced to flee her country, now a high profile activist campaigning for freedom in her homeland.”

About Zoya: Zoya Phan is International Coordinator at Burma Campaign UK and is one of the leading Burmese democracy activists in Europe. She has met with the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown twice, several senior government ministers, the leader of the opposition party, and is regularly interviewed by national and international media including BBC, CNN, and Al Jazeera. Zoya is from the Karen ethnic group in Burma. When Burmese army soldiers attacked her village, and she and her family were forced to flee. They hid in the jungle for weeks before finding their way to a refugee camp in Thailand. She is now a refugee living in London.

Order your copy via the Burma Campaign UK website here

Some video clips of Zoya Phan on Youtube:

Zoya Phan talks about TOTAL's presence in Burma in French

Zoya Phan speaking about Burma at the Conservative party conference in 2007. Her words brought the audience to their feet.

Union Day of Burma (12/02/2009)

2009-02-13T09:37:00.011Z

Embassy of Burmese Regime

Embassy of Czech Republic

The exile/UK branch of Burma’s National League for Democracy, called for solidarity among all the various democracy loving groups inside and outside the country and held events at the Burma Embassy, UK Foreign Office and Embassy of Czech Republic (rotating EU President). They presented a united front before the regime’s Embassy and relayed a message to the military regime to stop their sham roadmaps and to start genuine efforts for sincere democratization in Burma. At the Foreign Office and Czech Embassy they called for better assistance from the EU and the UN for pro-democracy movements in Burma.

In recent months the military regime has made an even greater mockery of its planned 2010 elections by giving many life sentences to political prisoners. The International community should not recognize the 2010 elections since Aung San Suu Kyi remains in detention and is not allowed to stand and most of her party is in prison. Her party, the NLD received 82% of the vote in the 1990 elections but the cowardly dictatorship refused to respect the will of the Burmese people and hand over power, preferring to wait 20 years for another election they will be careful to fake properly next time.

For more photo's see:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/toastyoneuk/sets/72157613766833647/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/totaloutnow/sets/72157614772953509/

Total Burma protest at Watford Court and Offices

2009-01-24T16:57:00.004Z

From London Indymedia Article:

On 23rd January the opening day of French Total Oil's Buncefield explosion criminal proceedings at Watford Magristrates Court, Burma protesters and supporters remind passers-by of Total's other disgraces and also leafleted at Total's Watford offices just down the road from the magistrates court.

Total Denial and Total Disasters

In January 2008 a French court made French Total Oil pay a large share of €200 million in damages to civil parties for Europe's largest oil tanker disaster. The Erika tanker disaster suffocated hundreds of miles of Atlantic coastline killing or injuring 300,000 sea birds. The court said Total, the world's fourth largest oil group, had failed to take into account the age of the ship and deficiencies in its maintenance. This carelessness had a "causal role in the sinking and, as such, provoked the accident", the judge said.

In October 2008 Total Oil was found guilty of price fixing. The European Commission fined nine firms that had been fixing the price of paraffin between 1992 and 2005. French Total Oil was fined 128.1million euros (the 2nd largest fine of the firms involved).

In December 2008 Total Oil faced criminal charges over Buncefield, Europe's largest peacetime blaze and the UK's largest peacetime explosion. Total is facing three charges — failing to ensure the health, safety and welfare of its employees; failing to protect persons not in their employment; and causing pollution to ground water in the vicinity of the plant. In October Total finally gave up 3 years of ridiculous denial that they were only liable for damages within 451m of the explosion, putting residents through years of "unnecessary struggle". Ironically Total's partner in Buncefield is Chevron (known as Texaco in UK), the same partner as in Total's Burma Yadana gas pipeline. Chevron (Texaco) and Total are arguing over responsibility for Buncefield : "Chevron, which owns 40 per cent of Hertfordshire Oil Storage Ltd. claims that Total alone should be responsible for the damage claims, on the grounds that the French company controlled Buncefield's employees and day-to-day operating procedures. "Total proposes that the focal point of the current litigation should be to ensure that Chevron, its joint venture partner, properly faces up to its responsibilities,'' the company said."

The Burmese have long suffered from Total Denial with Total financing the military dictatorship with hundreds of millions of dollars a year, but let's hope Total doesn't manage to get away with it for much longer in the UK and the Buncefield victims get total satisfaction in 2009.

References:

Erika tanker disaster - Europe's largest tanker disaster
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jan/17/oilspills.pollution

Price fixing
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7646408.stm

Buncefield - UK's largest peacetime explosion
Total is facing three charges
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article5268763.ece
3 years of ridiculous denial + Chevron (Texaco) and Total are arguing over responsibility
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/2d515930-9407-11dd-b277-0000779fd18c.html?nclick_check=1

Total Denial in Burma
http://www.totaldenialfilm.com/
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/total.php

60th Anniversary of UN Declaration of Human Rights

2008-12-14T22:39:00.005Z

On the 60th Anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Burmese and solidarity groups held a demonstration at the Myanmar/Burma Embassy 19A, Charles St, London W1J 5DX (10/12/2008). There is no justice, freedom or respect for human rights in Burma. The protesters called for the release of all political prisoners in Burma. Ignoring international calls the regime has sentenced many more political prisoners in the last month to sentences as long as 65 years.

For details of Political Prisoners in Burma:

Free Burma's Political Prisoners Now

Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)

LETTER FROM 112 FORMER PRESIDENTS AND PRIME MINISTERS OF 50 NATIONS SENT TO UN SECRETARY-GENERAL URGING HIM TO PRESS FOR RELEASE OF ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS IN BURMA BY THE END OF 2008

Over 200 Asian Legislators urge UN Sec-Gen to travel to Myanmar, secure release of all Political Prisoners

Amnesty International Human Rights Day London Event

2008-12-07T20:14:00.007Z

December marked the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On Saturday 6th December, Amnesty International asked people to gather together in hundreds of locations around the world, holding up a light and forming the shape of the iconic Amnesty candle. The images captured sent a strong message of solidarity around the world, and showed our commitment to making the basic human rights articles laid out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 60 years ago, a reality for us all.

In London 30 AI groups held up a group-made banner representing one of the articles of UN Declaration of Human Rights, with a photo of from around the world of a person not lucky enough to be afforded that particular right. Barnet and Enfield Amnesty group had chosen Aung San Suu Kyi as somebody who does not enjoy the rights for this day. They held up a placard for article 7: "All are equal before the Law". Aung San Suu Kyi clearly does not enjoy this right in Burma as she is now in her thirteenth year of detention. Her party was elected in 1990 with 82% of the vote, but the corrupt Burmese military junta refused to recognise the result of the election that they had organised. Now they propose new elections in 2010 that are far from democratic as the military will retain absolute control and Aung San Suu Kyi is barred from standing in the new elections. Clearly the Burmese junta is intent on continuing to ignore Article 7 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights: "All are equal before the Law", despite Burma having signed it.

Santa Boycott's Total Oil at Marylebone Rd

2008-12-05T12:52:00.009Z

On 3rd December 2008, Santa Claus assisted by some merry elves, boycotted the Total petrol station at Dorset House, 170-172 Marylebone Rd, London. French Total Oil had been very bad all year, funding the brutal military regime in Burma with approximately 500 million dollars a year. Many passing taxis, buses and other motorists beeped their support for the boycott.

Whilst French Total Oil had profited all year from high prices and the misery it caused in Burma and elsewhere, Santa hoped people would remember just how totally disgraceful a year it had been for Total:

In January a French court made French Total Oil pay a large share of €200 million in damages to civil parties for Europe's largest oil tanker disaster. The Erika tanker disaster suffocated hundreds of miles of Atlantic coastline killing or injuring 300,000 sea birds. The court said Total, the world's fourth largest oil group, had failed to take into account the age of the ship and deficiencies in its maintenance. This carelessness had a "causal role in the sinking and, as such, provoked the accident", the judge said.

In October Total Oil was found guilty of price fixing. The European Commission fined nine firms that had been fixing the price of paraffin between 1992 and 2005. French Total Oil was fined 128.1million euros (the 2nd largest fine of the firms involved).

In December Total Oil faced criminal charges over Buncefield, Europe's largest peacetime blaze and the UK's largest peacetime explosion. Total is facing three charges — failing to ensure the health, safety and welfare of its employees; failing to protect persons not in their employment; and causing pollution to ground water in the vicinity of the plant. In October Total finally gave up 3 years of ridiculous denial that they were only liable for damages within 451m of the explosion, putting residents through years of "unnecessary struggle". Ironically Total's partner in Buncefield is Chevron (known as Texaco in UK), the same partner as in Total's Burma Yadana gas pipeline. Chevron and Total are arguing over responsibility for Buncefield : "Chevron, which owns 40 per cent of Hertfordshire Oil Storage Ltd. claims that Total alone should be responsible for the damage claims, on the grounds that the French company controlled Buncefield's employees and day-to-day operating procedures. "Total proposes that the focal point of the current litigation should be to ensure that Chevron, its joint venture partner, properly faces up to its responsibilities,'' the company said."

The Burmese have long suffered from Total Denial, but let's hope Total doesn't manage to get away with it for much longer in the UK and the Buncefield victims get total satisfaction in 2009.

24 hour Hunger Strike/Fast for Burma's political prisoners

2008-12-03T18:00:00.004Z

From Indymedia:

From 9am 26th November to 9am 27th November Burmese held a 24 hour hunger strike/fast in Parliament Square, London. Burmese Muslims, Buddhists and Christians all held prayer services for political prisoners in Burma. The brutal Burmese military dictatorship has recently sentenced student leaders and democracy activists to 65 years in prison. The Burmese were calling on UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon to visit Burma in December.

The event was sponsored by the NLD-LA UK ( www.nld-la.org.uk - National League for Democracy is Aung San Suu Kyi's political party) and supported by Women of Burma - UK, Burmese Muslim Association, Burma Democratic Concern, Rep of NCUB, International Buddhist Monks Organisation and representatives of Burmese ethnic groups and other solidarity groups. The Burmese wore white (or white arm bands) as the prison uniform in Burma is white. Many Burmese visited throughout the day. Passers-by kindly signed a petition that was handed in to 10 Downing Street by the Burmese.

Sadly, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has just said he won't even visit Burma, despite being invited by the regime and a December visit being suggested for months.

The military junta in Burma has sentenced at least 215 political activists, monks, nuns and journalists during November, bringing the total number of political prisoners sentenced since last year's uprising to at least 384.

• Activist and famous comedian Zarganar, who had been organising relief supplies to survivors of Cyclone Nargis, received sentences totalling 59 years.

• Prominent Buddhist monk U Gambira, leader of the All Burma Monks' Alliance, who played a leading role in last year's Saffron Revolution, was given sentences totalling 68 years.

• Twenty-three members of the 88 Generation Students Group, who led the protests against fuel price hikes in August last year, including Min Ko Naing, were given sentences of at least 65 years each.

Ban says he won't go to Burma because there has been no progress, but it is his job to ensure progress happens. He won't bring change to Burma sitting behind a desk in New York. He must go to Burma and negotiate change, including the release of all political prisoners.

On 10th December the UN will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The declaration proclaims "the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people." Surely the best way to celebrate the declaration would be for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to visit Burma and at least try to obtain the release of Burmese political prisoners.

TAKE ACTION: please fax/email Ban Ki-moon asking him not to abandon Burma's brave democracy activists to spend the rest of their lives in jail.

Download a message to fax at:
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/fax_un.html
Or send a message via email:
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/un_action.html

40 Burmese Dissidents Given Prison Terms of up to 65 Years
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=14614

Burmese Online Petition Request for Release of Political Prisoners in Burma
http://www.petitiononline.com/nlduk08/petition.html

LETTER FROM 112 FORMER PRESIDENTS AND PRIME MINISTERS OF MORE THAN 50 NATIONS SENT TO UN SECRETARY-GENERAL URGING HIM TO PRESS FOR RELEASE OF ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS IN BURMA BY THE END OF 2008.
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/pm/weblog.php?id=P407

More Photos of 24 hour hunger strike/fast for political prisoners event:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/toastyoneuk/sets/72157610303806929/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/totaloutnow/sets/72157610593508327/

Full Article on Indymedia with more photos

Kilburn Total Oil Protest (27/08/2008)

2008-08-28T11:00:00.001+01:00

Protest at Kilburn Total station, 409 Kilburn High Rd, Kilburn, NW6 7QG on 27th August 2008 by www.totaloutofburma.org. French Total Oil is responsible since the mid 1990's for massively funding the brutal Burma junta and significantly helping to keep it illegally in power. Aung San Suu Kyi the 1991 nobel peace prize winner has been in detention for 12 of the last 18 years. Her party won the election in 1990 with 82% of the vote but the corrupt Burma junta did not allow her to take power. Why are 400,000 junta soldiers so afraid of one woman ?

A passer-by asks for his photo to be taken with his camera and then poses for our photo. We thank him for his support.

Southfields Total Protest (20/08/2008)

2008-08-22T23:40:00.001+01:00

www.totaloutofburma.org protest at Southfields Total Station near Wimbledon. French Total Oil has played a significant role in keeping the brutal Burma junta in power through funding their oppression with hundreds of millions of dollars a year. The French Total Oil operated Yanda gas pipeline was built with slave labour.

Total Oil Protest Marylebone Road 13/08/08

2008-08-18T19:30:00.001+01:00

There were roadworks at the Total Station making rather a mess, but the 5 protestors still manage to hold up banners for the passing vehicles and hand out leaflets to passers-by. Some of whom we were pleased to learn already supported us and were even on our emailing list. French Total Oil has collaborated with the brutal military junta since the mid 1990's, sponsoring the oppressive regime with 500 million dollars a year in payments from the Yadana gas pipeline. This arms and equips the brutal junta's war against the Burmese people and ethnic minorities.

8-8-88 Burma Protests and Bike for Burma Report

2008-08-18T19:00:00.004+01:00

From Indymedia:

Friday 8th August marked the 20th Anniversary of the 8-8-88 Burma democracy uprising in which at least 3,000 unarmed Burmese protesters were murdered by the Burmese junta. In London the Burmese unveiled a glass memorial at the peace park near the Imperial War museum, held a protest for political prisoners at the Burmese Embassy and in the evening had an exhibition on Burmese political prisoners at the School of Oriental and African Studies. The following day the new generation of Burmese students and exiled activists held a Bike for Burma event around London to remember 8-8-88 and ask people not to forget Burma.

For Full Article, more pictures and news from Burma

Clapham South Total Oil Protest for Burma

2008-08-05T10:30:00.002+01:00

From Indymedia:

On 30th July six protesters from www.totaloutofburma.org held a demonstration at the Ridge Total Service Station, 40 - 50 Balham Hill, Wandsworth, London SW12 9EL (near Clapham South). French Total Oil funds the brutal Burmese junta with 500 million dollars a year from the Total operated Yadana gas field, fuelling oppression and great cruelty in Burma. Next August 8th will mark the 20th uprising of the 8-8-88 protests in which 3,000 peaceful Burmese protesters were murdered by the Burmese junta.

Several vehicles entering the station were put off buying petrol and turned around. Although there were less passers-by than at some other protests, a high proportion were interested in the protest taking leaflets about Totalitarian Oil and about the Cyclone Victims in Burma.

Full Article, More photos and news from Burma:

Chiswick Free Burma Protest against Total Oil

2008-07-27T11:00:00.006+01:00

From Indymedia:

Six protesters from www.totaloutofburma.org held a demonstration at Chiswick West Four Total petrol station, 137 Chiswick High Road, Chiswick W4 2ED on 23rd July. They called for French Total Oil to stop funding the brutal Burmese junta with hundreds of millions of dollars a year from the French Total operated Yadana gas pipeline. Burma earns most of its foreign currency from gas exports and spends 50% of its budget on the military in a war against its own people. Since the mid 1990s French Total Oil has played a significant role in keeping the brutal Burmese junta in power, against the wishes of the Burmese people.

The protesters "BEEP 4 BURMA BOYCOTT TOTAL" banner attracted support from passing cars, including a passing fire engine that beeped in support with the firemen on board waving their approval at the protest. About 400 Total Out of Burma leaflets and the same again for a leaflet in support of Burma Cyclone victims were handed out to passers-by.

At the Chiswick protest and earlier at 33 Cavendish Sq (where Total's UK Holding company is based), passers-by told the protesters they would not buy petrol from Total again.

Day of action for Burma in Chester

2008-07-22T15:26:00.003+01:00

From Indymedia

Wrexham Women for Peace and supporters held a stall for Burma in Chester city Saturday July 19th to encourage people to boycott TOTAL petrol stations, to call for the release of all political prisoners in Burma, and to support those affected by Cyclone Nargis. In the afternoon, there was a demo outside Hoole TOTAL petrol station.

The morning sunshine was punctuated by torrential downpours and high winds, so it was a bit of a challenge to keep the stall upright and the leaflets dry. Nevertheless, Chester was packed with people for the Lord Mayor's parade, so we weren't short of punters.

In the afternoon, in slightly kinder weather, we held a noisy demo outside Hoole TOTAL petrol station. The response to our 'beep for burma' banners and placards was overwhelming. An irate TOTAL worker came out to shout at us for venturing onto the forecourt and to defend her employer on the spurious grounds that Shell - who she used to work for - is just as unethical. Yeah, we know that, but today is about Burma and TOTAL is the main culprit there.

It would be great if these demos were held at a frequency to cause real concern to TOTAL, and with the aim of shutting the petrol station down. Anyone in Chester or nearby up for this?

e-mail: wrexhamwomen_at_yahoo.co.uk

Bastille Day Card - Support Liberty in Burma

2008-07-18T16:09:00.014+01:00

From Indymedia:

On July 14th three members of totaloutofburma.org celebrated Bastille Day at the Institute Francais in London, calling on "Liberty Equality and Fraternity" with the Burmese "liberty" movement and the heroic prisoners of conscience in Burma. A Bastille Day card with approximately 150 signatures was sent to President Nicolas Sarkozy care of the French Embassy in London, highlighting French Total Oil's continuing shameful collaboration with the brutal Burmese dictatorship and calling for liberty for Burma.

The card contrasted the Bastille prison with the notorious Insein prison in Burma, where many prisoners of conscience have been suffering for years. In the recent Nargis Cyclone 36 of the prisoners were shot dead by guards and apparently four more died from torture during interrogation after the shooting.

The Bastille Day card also celebrated the recent release of French hostage Ingrid Betancourt from Columbia and called for Aung San Suu Kyi to be freed. Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for 12 years. Her party won 82% of the vote in the 1990 election but she was not allowed to take power by the corrupt Burma dictatorship that is kept in power by gas revenues from Total's Yadana gas pipeline (the pipeline map was used in back page of card showing displaced/destroyed villages and military camps for the pipeline).

We were grateful for the support of many passers-by, students studying French at the Institute and particularly the French people we met who knew of French Total Oil's collaboration with the dictatorship in Burma and were very critical of Total.

Full article with more picture and news from Burma

Brighton Burma Fest (July 13th 2008)

2008-07-17T22:29:00.004+01:00

Well done to Brighton's Free Burma Group for organising a Burma Fest fund raising event for Burmese Cyclone Nargis victims last Sunday July 13th in Preston Park Brighton. Two Burmese speakers spoke about Burma and their experiences. Talented musicians, great atmosphere and great people.

Brighton Free Burma Group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7420650879

Kilburn Total Oil Burma Protest 9th July 2008

2008-07-10T22:36:00.001+01:00

From Indymedia:

Four protesters braved the rain on Wednesday 9th July to protest at Totalitarian Oil at Kilburn Total station, 409 Kilburn High Rd, Kilburn, NW6 7QG. For many years French Total Oil has been funding the brutal Burmese junta's oppression of the Burmese people, with hundreds of millions of dollars a year from the Yadana gas pipeline. The Burmese don't benefit from the gas exported to Thailand, instead they have suffered from forced labour and the military camps around the pipeline. The junta spends 50% of Burma's budget on the army and uses foreign currency it earns to buy weapons.

Last Thursday 10th July French Total Oil decided not to invest in the Iran South par gas field. Chief Executive of Total, Christophe de Margerie gave the following quote: "Today we would be taking too much political risk to invest in Iran because people will say: 'Total will do anything for money'" See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7498902.stm

When Total began its investment in Burma it knew full well it would be significantly helping to keep one of the world's most horrible regimes in power and that it would lead to the abuse of the Burmese people. In 1996 one Total executive was quoted in the Financial Times as saying "unless the area is pacified, the pipeline won't last". In 1999 a French parliamentary mission reported: "The link between the military presence, the acts of violence against the populations and the forced labour is established as a fact. Total had to be aware of that." Of course Total was aware, many western companies had already pulled out of Burma for ethical reasons, but at the time in Burma Total would do anything for money. It has given the military junta hundreds of millions of dollars a year to buy weapons and crush democracy in Burma ever since.

Full Article and news from Burma

Wimbledon Southfields Total Oil Burma Protests

2008-07-03T12:36:00.009+01:00

25th June

2nd July

From Indymedia:

On 25th June and 2nd July the totaloutofburma.org team held a protest at Southfields Total Oil Station, 262 Wimbledon Park Road, London SW19 6NL. They leafleted the pedestrians attending the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament just down the road from the station. French Total Oil funds the brutal Burma junta with 500 million dollars a year and its gas pipeline in Burma was built with slave labour (see http://www.totaldenialfilm.com).

Over the 2 protests we were able to distribute about 1,000 leaflets to the crowds attending Wimbledon, including many taxis. Some cars did turn away from the Total station and people were shocked to learn of Total's involvement in Burma. We even had a Total employee visiting Wimbledon show us a Total ID card and agree with our protest.

For Full Article more pictures and Burma News

The Real Disaster in Burma is the Government

2008-07-01T01:19:00.002+01:00

The Real Disaster in Burma - animated film narrated by Ricky Gervais

Projection onto Waterloo Station Entrance

Home burned in Te Mu Der village on 4 June 2008

Bullets and shells left behind by the Burma Army after the attack

On the 25th June we joined Burma Campaign UK at Waterloo Station where they were projecting a video of the "The Real Disaster in Burma’, a short animated film narrated by Ricky Gervais, onto the entrance of Waterloo station. The animation makes the point that despite the devastating 2nd May Burma cyclone, the real disaster in Burma is the brutal military government and that they continue to terrorize and oppress the people of Burma.

The reality of the animation is only too clear in recent reports and photos from Free Burma Rangers medical teams: see above photos of a Karen home burnt down by the Burma army on 4th June 2008 during the displacement of 1,000 Karen villagers. The Free Burma Rangers article shows further pictures of land-mine victims and Karen village school children having to hide from the Burmese army. The Karen children are in great danger - a previous Free Burma Ranger article tells of a child they had previously treated being captured in December 2008, tortured, ankle tendons cut open, disemboweled and throat cut by the brutal Burma army. Over 3,200 Karen villages have now been destroyed by the Burmese Army, with 200,000 Karen currently hiding from the Burmese army in the jungles of Burma. Almost 150,000 Karen refugees have been living in Thai refugee camps for up to 20 years. As of October 2007, at least 500,000 people were estimated to be internally displaced in the country’s eastern States. This is, however, a conservative figure as no information exists for several parts of the country.

The Real Disaster in Burma - animated film narrated by Ricky Gervais

http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/therealdisaster.html

Burma Army Attacking and Displacing over 1,000 Karen People on 4 June 2008.

http://www.freeburmarangers.org/Reports/2008/20080620.html

Atrocities Continue in Karen State, Burma (13-year-old son Wilbur Htoo tortured and disemboweled)

http://www.freeburmarangers.org/Reports/2008/20080419.html

Glastonbury Festival: Little Burmese Tea Shop

2008-06-24T13:20:00.007+01:00

Democracy activists from Burma will have a tea stall in the The Green Futures Field at the Glastonbury Music Festival called the "Little Burmese Tea Shop". Tea shops are an intrinsic part of Burmese life - people meet in tea shops throughout the country to speak in hushed tones of the political situation in Burma.

At Glastonbury 2008, the Little Burmese Tea Shop will be focussing on the issue of political prisoners in Burma. Our campaign - to raise awareness on the plight of Burmese political prisoners, and to pressure the military junta to release them - is part of a wider campaign organised by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners for Burma (AAPPB). AAPPB provide valuable and very risky support to political prisoners inside prison, through low profile provision of materials and financial support to their families; enabling the families to visit prisoners who are held far from their loved ones. The stall holders at Glastonbury 2008 are all former political prisoners, and are on hand to speak with visitors to the Tea Shop. Funds raised at the Tea Shop will go to supporting victims of cyclone Nargis which struck Burma in May 2008.

The Tea Shop is also bringing 2 speakers to the Speakers Forum (Friday 15.30 and Sunday morning). Our speakers are Dr Saing and Zaw Zaw Aung. Dr Saing is a medical practitioner who is a long standing political activist in Burma. Arrested in 1974 for political activities as a student, he served 7 years in Insein prison, of which several were in solitary confinement, and during which time he was tortured. After release Dr Saing became active again during the 1988 uprising in Burma, for which he was again imprisoned, serving 7 years of his 20 year sentence. He fled to the UK in Oct 2007, and currently works with Amnesty International. Dr Saing will speak on recent events in Burma, including the monk’s protests of 2007, the recent rewriting of the constitution, as well as his own personal experiences as an activist.

Zaw Zaw Aung was a senior figure in the student body that organised the 1988 uprisings. For this activism he was arrested and served as a political prisoner for 14 years (out of a 20 year sentence) in various prisons across

Burma

, including several years in solitary confinement. Since his release he has played an important role in supporting former political prisoners in both social welfare and on HIV. He also became very significantly active in a new underground political movement inside Burma, called the ‘88 Students Generation’ (people who were key players in the 1988 uprising, have been political prisoners, and are struggling for genuine tripartite dialogue and national reconciliation).

http://greenfieldsinfo.pbwiki.com/The+Little+Burmese+Tea+Shop

http://greenfuturesfestivals.org.uk/glastonbury.htm

http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/

Virginia Water Totalitarian Oil Protest

2008-06-23T23:32:00.002+01:00

Three protesters demonstrated at the Wheatsheaf Total Station at Virginia Water, Surrey GU25 4QE on 20th June. They were there due to the large amount of traffic attending Royal Ascot that passes this station, with many a stretch-limousine filling up.

Despite there not being many pedestrians, we were able to leaflet many cars passing by and leaving the station, most of whom were unaware of French Total Oil being the largest western supporter of the brutal Burma junta, funding them with 500 million dollars. Money that does not benefit the Burmese people but funds the military in a war against the Burma people.

Aung San Suu Kyi Birthday Protest

2008-06-23T23:31:00.007+01:00

From Indymedia:

The Burmese community and Burma Campaign UK marked Burma's democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi 63rd birthday on 19th June with a protest at the Burma Embassy in London. The Prime Minister Gordon Brown later met a delegation of young women from 5 of Burma’s main ethnic nationalities, Burman, Kachin, Karen, Karenni, and Chin, demonstrating the unity of the people of Burma in their struggle against dictatorship.

Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have called for immediate democratic reform in Burma, and the release of pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi.

In a joint letter to Aung San Suu Kyi to mark her birthday, the two leaders praised the leader of the National League for Democracy for her exceptional courage and dedication to the Burmese people. Read the letter:

http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/Page15807.asp

See full article and more photos on Indymedia

Aung San Suu Kyi's 63rd Birthday

2008-06-15T21:54:00.009+01:00

On June 19th 2008, Burma's democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, will celebrate her 63rd birthday. She will spend her birthday alone, under house arrest. She is now in her 13th year of detention. She isn't allowed to see family or friends as all visitors are banned. Her phone line is cut and her post is intercepted.

Aung San Suu Kyi is now serving her third term of house arrest. She was arrested on 30 May, 2003 after the regime's militia attacked her convoy and killed up to 100 of her supporters.

On the day that Aung Sang Suu Kyi celebrates her 63rd birthday alone, the Burmese community and Burma Campaign UK will protest outside the Burmese embassy to highlight her continued detention.

Thursday June 19th - Aung San Suu Kyi's Birthday
2:00-3pm Thursday
Myanmar/Burma Embassy 19A, Charles St, London W1J 5DX.
Tube: Green Park | Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2vnnbh
[Check http://www.bdmauk.org for any changes as times may change]

[Note: This will replace totaloutofburma.org's normal Wednesday protest at the Embassy and Cavendish Square]

Friday June 20th - Total Station Protest
9:15am to 5pm
Virginia Water, Wheatsheaf Service Station
London Road, Virginia Water, Surrey GU25 4QE
Getting there from London by bus:
London Hounslow to Staines: Hounslow, Bell Road / Bell Corner Stop X Take London Bus 203 to Staines, Elmsleigh Bus Station Stand 5 (46 mins)
Staines to Virginia Water, Wheatsheaf: Elmsleigh Bus Station Stand 3 Dicksons Travel Bus 500 towards Frimley Park, Frimley Park Hospital and get off at Virginia Water, Wheatsheaf (SW-Bound) (13 mins)
Plan other routes via: http://www.travelinesoutheast.org.uk (buses, trains, underground and coaches, postcode to postcode)
Google Map of Wheatsheaf Service Station : http://preview.tinyurl.com/4unwg3

Saturday June 21st Aung San Suu Kyi's Birthday Celebrations

Celebrate Aung San Suu Kyi's birthday with Burmese community in a multinational, traditional & cultural event . Entertainment and Burmese food being served available.

Programme:
Date: Saturday 21st June
Time 1800- 2200.
Location St. Matthias Parish Hall, St Matthias Close, Rush Grove Avenue, Colindale, NW9 6EN.
Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/5qgow5

Transport
Tube-Colindale, Northern Line
Bus- 83.183.
Walk: 20 mins from Colindale Station

London protests for next 2 weeks

2008-05-26T21:18:00.000+01:00

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

2008-05-26T21:02:00.003+01:00

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

2008-05-20T21:16:00.001+01:00

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

2008-05-18T21:44:00.001+01:00

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

2008-05-16T21:20:00.001+01:00

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

2008-05-13T21:55:00.009+01:00

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

2008-05-11T08:08:00.009+01:00

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"

2008-05-10T05:01:00.002+01:00

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

2008-05-07T17:30:00.003+01:00

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

2008-05-07T12:30:00.003+01:00

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

2008-05-06T17:11:00.009+01:00

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.blo gspot.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

2008-05-03T14:20:00.001+01:00

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

2008-05-03T03:02:00.009+01:00

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

Kilburn protest against Total in Burma

2008-04-26T04:04:00.004+01:00

From Indymedia:

Six protesters demonstrated at Kilburn Total station, 409 Kilburn High Rd on Wednesday 23rd April. They called on the French oil company to stop funding the military dictatorship in Burma with 500 million dollars a year, fuelling the brutal regime's oppression in Burma. The foreign currency provided by Total enables the regime to buy weapons used to persecute the Burmese people and ethnic minorities.

The protesters distributed hundreds of leaflets to passers-by, many of whom were interested to learn more about events in Burma and discuss human rights in other parts of the world as well as Burma.

Some passing cars also stopped to ask for leaflets, though we were intending to just leaflet the passers-by.

Full Story and Recent Burma News

PROTESTS IN LONDON NEXT WEEK

WEDNESDAY 30TH APRIL

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

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

Hammersmith Total Station protest
5.00pm - 7.00pm (Wednesday)
Protest at Raven Total station, 372 Goldhawk Road, Hammersmith W6 0XF
Tube: Stamford Brook. Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/29w9lu

BURMA CAMPAIGN MAY 16TH PROTEST : Tell TOTAL to pull out of Burma on 16TH MAY
European Day of Action against TOTAL on May 16th Event on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=16050426753 (Host Burma Campaign UK)

Chiswick protest to get Total Oil Out of Burma

2008-04-19T10:53:00.004+01:00

From Indymedia:

Five protesters demonstrated at the Total West Four petrol station on 137 Chiswick High Road on Wednesday 17th April. The protest was against the French Total Oil's support for the brutal Burma junta dictatorship. Burma's democracy leader, Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has said that “Total is the biggest supporter of the military regime in Burma. Total Oil gives 500 million dollars a year to the brutal Burmese dictatorship. Total's Yadana gas pipeline was built using forced labour.

The protesters displayed "BEEP 4 BURMA. BOYCOTT TOTAL" banners and distributed leaflets. They were very grateful for the local support in Chiswick. One of the shop owners took a leaflet, then came back for more leaflets for her colleagues in her shop only to return for even more leaflets for her friends at the neighbouring restaurant. She vowed to avoid Total petrol stations in future.

Full Story

LONDON PROTESTS NEXT WEEK

WEDNESDAY 23RD APRIL

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

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

Kilburn Total station, 409 Kilburn High Rd, Kilburn, NW6 7QG
5:00pm - 7:00pm (Wednesday)
Tube: Kilburn | Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2e8bb5

Asking Wallace Art Collection not to accept Total Blood Money

2008-04-11T16:30:00.006+01:00

From Indymedia

We visited the Wallace Art Collection at Hertford House, Manchester Square, London on April 9th. They have been considering accepting money from the French oil company, Total that is the largest western sponsor of the brutal military junta in Burma and whose pipeline was built with slave labour. Total seeks to whitewash its dirty image by associating with the Arts.

When last asked Burma Campaign hadn't received a reply to their request to the gallery not to accept sponsorship from Total. At our last visit to the gallery on 19th March a senior member of the gallery had said a final decision had not yet been made. Since then an independent inquiry from an Indymedia reader, appeared to confirm that the gallery was going to accept sponsorship in the form of a "Corporate Membership" scheme for Total.

Several distinguished regular visitors to the gallery were very concerned that the gallery might be accepting Total sponsorship and gave us their full support. One was going to write to the director of the gallery and another who had lived in Burma spoke to the reception staff who denied Total sponsorship but seemed confused about the issue. So this visitor kindly asked the gallery to reply to Burma Campaign if they were not accepting money from Total. This time nobody from the gallery came and spoke to us.

We hope the gallery will help preserve humanity as well as Art !

Full Story and Burma news

Jersey Burma Water Festival Saturday April 12th

The Jersey Burma Group asked us to add news of this event. For anyone in Jersey, come and add to the candle lit vigil at the water feature and at the same time you’ll be supporting Burma Campaign UK and orphanages on the Burmese border. Saturday 12th April is an important date in Burma. It is the start of the Burmese Water Festival, an opportunity for fun and to jokingly criticise problems in the country before their New Year on 17th April.

Date: Saturday, April 12, 2008
Time: 6:00pm - 10:30pm
Location: Liberation Square, St Helier, Jersey
Street: Esplanade / La Route de la Liberation
Email: burmagroup [at] jerseymail (dot) co (dot) uk
Facebook Event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=10647158348

Protests in London Next Week

Wednesday 16th April

[Edited 12th April - Burma Embassy closed all week for Burmese New Year so Cavendish Square protest time has been made earlier]

Total London HQ, 33 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0PW
12.00-2:00pm
Tube: Oxford Circus | Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2tylug

Chiswick Total petrol station
5.00pm - 7.00pm (Wednesday 16th April)
Protest at West Four Total petrol station, 137 Chiswick High
Road, Chiswick W4 2ED
Tube: Turnham Green
Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/yuqvch

Olympic Torch report

2008-04-11T12:51:00.006+01:00

Torch approaches Downing Street with protesters opposite

The totaloutofburma.org group joined with Burma Campaign UK and the Burmese to protest for Burma as the Olympic Torch came to London on April 6th. We were positioned just opposite the gates of Downing Street, next to the Tibetan protesters who must have numbered well over a thousand.

We brought banners asking for a UN Arms embargo against Burma. The British government has stated that it would support a UN Arms embargo, but we need other security council members, particularly China and Russia to support or at least not veto such a resolution. Sadly China gives a lot of support for the corrupt Burma junta supplying weapons and finance and has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that called on the regime to begin transition to democracy.

Indymedia has a summary of the London Olympic Torch protests here: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/395922.html

The Olympic Torch procession originally began in the 1936 Berlin Olympics when it was used for propaganda by the Nazis and taken through countries they conquered a few years later. The BBC has a long history of Olympic protests here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7334362.stm.

We are not anti-China or anti-Chinese and hope that China will achieve humanitarian success in future as well as economic success.

Wrexham crew return to Chester Total garage

2008-04-11T10:58:00.003+01:00

From Indymedia:

Members and supporters of Wrexham Women for Peace and Wrexham Peace and Justice Forum visited the TOTAL petrol station in Hoole, Chester again last night as part of the continuing calls for TOTAL to get out of Burma.

There was a very positive response again to our demo for the people of Burma at Hoole TOTAL petrol station. Only a handful of drivers and passers-by refused to take leaflets, the garage forecourt was empty for most of the time we were there, some drivers decided not to fill up after taking the leaflets, and others drove straight in and out.

The air was filled with supportive 'beeps' and we got chatting with several people, including three young guys who have a friend working in one of the refugee camps on the Thai/Burma border, and a German from Rostock who was in Chester for a conference and said he was surprised to see people demonstrating in Britain!

Surprisingly, there was no resistance from the petrol station to our leafleting drivers on the forecourt this time, although when we invaded en masse, the manager did get onto his tannoy.

For more information about the situation in Burma, see http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/

For more photos from this action, see the original report on Indymedia.

Any Chester-based people like to make this event happen more often? Please get in touch. wrexham woman
e-mail: wrexhamwomen[at]yahoo.co.uk

Olympic Torch protest and next weeks protests

2008-04-04T19:27:00.006+01:00

Sunday 6th April

Olympic Torch Protest against China's support for the Burmese regime

On Sunday the Burma Campaign UK and the Burmese community will be highlighting China's continued support for Burma's brutal regime by holding a peaceful protest as the Olympic Torch comes to London.

Why China?
China arms the regime, supplying weapons, bullets and military vehicles to the brutal army. China finances the regime , by signing deals in the oil, gas, hydro-electric and mining sectors china provides the regime with an economic lifeline. China protects the regime by blocking UN Security Council action on Burma

By providing economic, political and logistical support China is helping to keep the brutal generals in power in Burma.

Time: 12:30-1:30
Location: Opposite Downing Street, at junction of Whitehall and Richmond Terrace.
Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/yv54pt
Nearest Tube: Westminster
See the location here: http://preview.tinyurl.com/yv54pt

Invite your friends to the Facebook event:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=10091604641

The torch is scheduled to pass at 1pm.
Map of torch route

Wednesday 9th April

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

The Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square London W1U 3BN
Sadly despite appeals this art gallery seems to be accepting Total's blood money sponsorship and whitewashing Total's dirty image.
Event Time: 1:30pm - up to 5pm (gallery opens to public 10:00am - 5pm)
Tube: The nearest tubes are Bond Street (Central & Jubilee Lines) and Baker Street (Circle, District, Hammersmith & City, Jubilee and Metropolitan Lines). Oxford Circus (Bakerloo, Central, Victoria Lines) is a 10-15 minute walk.
Map: http://www.wallacecollection.org/visiting/howtoreachus/map
Google Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/29ny5f

Totalitarian Fossil Fools Day

2008-04-04T19:14:00.003+01:00

From Indymedia:

Totalitarian Fossil Fools Day took place at the Dorest House Total Petrol Station 170-172 Marylebone Rd on April 1st. Joining in with the events of www.fossilfoolsday.org the 5 protesters demonstrated against the French oil company's fossil foolishness causing climate change and pollution as well as the usual protest against Total's support of the brutal Burma junta. Total funds the evil junta with 500 million dollars a year and its gas pipeline in Burma was built with slave labour (see www.totaldenialfilm.com).

The heavy Marylebone Road traffic beeped in support of the "BEEP 4 BURMA BOYCOTT TOTAL" banners and many taxi drivers visiting the station requested leaflets about the protest. One passer-by made a point of vowing to the protesters never to get petrol from Total ever again.

In January 2008 Total's fossil foolishness was recognised by the French courts as they convicted Total of France's worst oil disaster over the sinking of the tanker Erika off the coast of Brittany in December 1999. The disaster leaked 20,000 tonnes of oil into the sea, contaminating 400km of coastline. Having tried to deny responsibility Total was fined 375,000 euros (£280,000) and ordered to pay a share of nearly 200m euros in damages. The fine was the maximum penalty allowed. See BBC news article:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7192085.stm

In the UK over 34 actions took place in 18 cities on Fossil Fools Day. For a round-up of protests see:
http://risingtide.org.uk/node/273 and http://www.fossilfoolsdayofaction.org

Full Story

Asking Sarkozy to kick Total Out of Burma at Arsenal Summit

2008-03-29T12:31:00.003Z

From Indymedia:

At the Anglo-French summit held at Arsenal Emirates Football Stadium on Thursday 27th April, protesters asked French President Sarkozy to kick French Total Oil out of Burma. President Sarkozy has previously told Total not to make further investment in Burma, but Total currently funds the brutal military regime with over 500 million dollars a year. In December it upgraded its offshore gas platform whilst asking its corrupt military partners for a maritime exclusion zone around the platform.

The protesters from www.totaloutofburma.org displayed "Totalitarian Oil Out of Burma" banners from the railings of the stadium and also on the famous cannons in front of the Armoury entrance of the stadium. The evil military regime's purchase of weapons for its army in a war against its own people, has been largely dependent on Total's funding as the major source of foreign currency for overseas arms purchases. This week the British Government backed calls for a UN Arms embargo on Burma.

The police wanted us to keep our distance from barriers at the entrance to the underground car park near the Armoury and were concerned we might throw objects or charge into the road. However they were quite reasonable not stopping us from displaying banners on the cannons or stadium and did not block the view of our banners when we held them for the passing diplomatic vehicle escorts.

Whilst we were not allowed to stand on the roundabout in front of the cannons, we were able to stand by the road without barriers, for the exit of the diplomatic vehicles. The French and British really do drive on different sides of the road, as Sarkozy's car and his police escort crossed onto the right side of the road probably to keep their distance from us. Gordon Brown's escort stayed on the left and drove past us properly round the roundabout.

Despite his escort crossing to the right side of the road, we did manage to see President Sarkozy looking at us before he turned away.

In the BBC news article "Brown seeks 'Entente Formidable'" Burma did get a mention in a 36-page joint communique of the summit. It was in the second item the BBC listed from this communique.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7315649.stm

"Promoting peace in Darfur and pushing for greater human rights in Burma"

Full Story with more pictures

Kilburn Protest

We also protested at Kilburn Total petrol station on Wednesday 26th April. We were pleased to meet one French passer-by who had a very low opinion of Total and asked for lots of leaflets to send to all his friends.

Next week we can't resist moving our regular Total petrol station protest to 1st April as Rising Tide ( http://www.risingtide.org.uk ) have designated it Fossil Fools Day ( http://www.fossilfoolsday.org ) in protest at fossil fuel caused climate change. So we'll be having our own Totalitarian Fossil Fools Day in support of Fossil Fools Day and against Totalitarian Oil in Burma.

News from Burma Campaign

http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/pm/weblog.php?id=P338

UK Government Backs UN Arms Embargo on Burma
27 Mar 2008

The Burma Campaign UK today welcomed British government support for a United Nations arms embargo against Burma.

Speaking on Tuesday in the British Parliament during a debate on foreign policy, Foreign Office Minister Meg Munn stated: “We are concerned about the lack of progress (in Burma) and, indeed, in some respects, matters have gone backwards. We would certainly consider pushing for the issue to be discussed further at the UN, and we would support a UN call for an arms embargo.”

Protests in London Next Week

Tuesday 1st April - Totalitarian Fossil Fools Day

5.00pm - 7.00pm
Protest at Total petrol station, Dorset House, 170-172 Marylebone Rd, London NW1 5AR.
Nearest tube: Baker Street. Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2sz7co

Wednesday 2nd April

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

Total London HQ, 33 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0PW
1.30pm-3:00pm
Tube: Oxford Circus | Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2tylug

Asking Wallace Art Collection not to whitewash Totalitarian Oil

2008-03-21T21:35:00.005Z

Wallace Collection entrance

3rd Protest at French Film Festival

From Indymedia:

Four activists held a demonstration outside the Wallace Collection art gallery at Hertford House, Manchester Square, London on Wednesday 19th March. The Art Gallery is currently considering a sponsorship deal with Total so the activists were asking them not to accept sponsorship from the largest western sponsor of the brutal Burma junta. A boycott is not yet called for as it is hoped the gallery will do the right thing and not become associated by Total with oppression in Burma.

Banners were displayed at the entrance to the gallery. The demonstration lasted approximately 2 hours. It was started well before public opening time. Staff were leafleted to request their assistance in stopping Total exploiting the gallery's reputation to whitewash Total. Whilst some staff did not appear to be interested others were very keen for the gallery not to accept Total sponsorship.

Some members of the public arrived early and would have been turned away from visiting the gallery, if the activists had not managed to explain that Total sponsorship was still in discussion, so a boycott was not yet being requested by the demonstration.

Towards the end of the demonstration, a senior member of the gallery spoke to a couple of the activists and indicated that it was less likely that the gallery would accept Total sponsorship, though a final decision had not yet been made. He also mentioned having seen our demonstrations at the Total office at the nearby Cavendish Square.

We hope the Wallace Collection will not tarnish their reputation with dirty Totalitarian Oil and not let themselves be used to whitewash Total's dirty image.

Full Story

Protest at Totalitarian Oil sponsoring French Film Festival

Also on Wednesday 19th March, 6 protesters demonstrated at the French Film Festival at London Cine Lumiere 17 Queensberry Place London. Total was exploiting the French Film Festival and French Arts to try to whitewash their dirty reputation.

The protest was not against the film festival itself or the French films being shown.

It was the last week of the French Film Festival and the 3rd week that there had been a demonstration against Totalitarian Oil sponsoring the French Film Festival.

We were pleased to get support for our protest against Total from the speakers at the event in the previous two weeks: French Director Pierre Salvadori of the film "Priceless" and French director Jean Becker and French actor Jean-Pierre Darroussin of the film "Conversation with my Gardener". We thank them for posing for photographs with our banners and their comments to us in support of the oppressed Burmese.

We hope the French Film Festival will not be exploited by Total next year.

Protests in London Next Week

Wednesday 26th March

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

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

Kilburn Total station, 409 Kilburn High Rd, Kilburn, NW6 7QG
5:00pm - 7:00pm (Wednesday)
Tube: Kilburn | Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2e8bb5

March 15th Protest at Totalitarian Oil sponsoring French Film Festival

2008-03-17T03:37:00.002Z

French actor Jean-Pierre Darroussin (left) French director Jean Becker (right)

From Indymedia:

Nine protesters demonstrated on Friday March 15th at the French Film Festival at London Cine Lumiere 17 Queensberry Place London. They were protesting against Total funding the brutal Burmese military junta with 500 million dollars a year. Total Oil is the largest western sponsor of the evil regime and their pipeline in Burma was built with slave labour. Total exploits the French Film Festival and French Arts to try to whitewash their dirty reputation.

The protest was not against the film festival itself or the French films being shown. Indeed the protesters were joined in their protest by the French director Jean Becker and French actor Jean-Pierre Darroussin of the film "Conversation with my Gardener" being shown. They very kindly posed for a photograph with our "Totalitarian Oil fuelling oppression in Burma" and "Total is the biggest supporter of the military regime in Burma" banners.

Full Story

Protests in London Next Week

Wednesday 19th March

The Wallace Collection (http://www.wallacecollection.org/), an art gallery with French 18th century art, is currently considering a sponsorship deal with Total so we will be asking them not to accept sponsorship from the largest western sponsor of the brutal Burma junta.

The Wallace Collection,
Hertford House, Manchester Square London W1U 3BN
Event Time: 8:30am - 10:30am (gallery opens to public 10:00am - 5pm)
Tube: The nearest tubes are Bond Street (Central & Jubilee Lines) and Baker Street (Circle, District, Hammersmith & City, Jubilee and Metropolitan Lines). Oxford Circus (Bakerloo, Central, Victoria Lines) is a 10-15 minute walk.
Map: http://www.wallacecollection.org/visiting/howtoreachus/map
Google Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/29ny5f

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

Protest at Total sponsoring French Film Festival
(the protest is against Total, not the film festival or films being shown)
5:30pm - 6:45pm
LONDON CINE LUMIERE
www.institut-francais.org.uk
Institut Francais
17 Queensberry Place London SW7 2DT
Tube: South Kensington Map: http://preview.tinyurl.com/yvfrbz
LA FRANCE (15) 6.15pm + Q & A Serge Bozon (followed by Barbara Carliotti Concert)

Burma Human Rights Day March 13th

2008-03-17T03:17:00.005Z

From Indymedia:

About 40 Burmese and their supporters, held a demonstration outside the Burmese Embassy on March 13th in memory of Ko Phone Maw and all those who sacrificed their lives in the struggle for Burma's freedom. Ko Phone Maw was the first student murdered by the Burmese junta on March 13th 1988 at a peaceful demonstration at Rangoon Institute of Technology (RIT). It was the start of the 1988 democracy protests in which thousands of demonstrators were later murdered.

The Burmese held banners they had made for the protest, calling on the regime to "Stop killing innocent people", to "Stop Torturing innocent people" and to "Boycott unlawful referendum constitution".

After 14 years of farcical "discussions" on a proposed constitution, the military junta has announced that there will be a referendum on it in May. However Burmese have so far been unable to even read or get full information on the constitution they are supposed to be voting on. The details released so far, makes it clear that the farce will continue:

Anyone who distributes leaflets or makes speeches against Burma's constitutional referendum can be imprisoned for three years. [1]

Monks, nuns, high-ranking Christian and Hindu leaders are not eligible to participate in the referendum.[1]

The President must have served 15 years in the military. [2]

25% of the seats in the new parliament are reserved for armed forces personnel. [3]

In a blatant reference to Aung San Suu Kyi, the President can not have a foreign spouse.[3] Her party won 82% of the vote in the 1990 elections, but the junta would not transfer power. She has been in detention for 12 years and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. Her British spouse died in 1999.

Although the junta pretends to want multi-party elections, it excludes so many people and groups from the election that the UN special rapporteur on Myanmar Paulo Sergio Pinheiro recently remarked "If you believe in gnomes, in trolls and in elves, you can believe in this process of democracy in Myanmar”.[4]

Burmese villagers are being tricked into signing statements supporting the constitution. Officials collect names, identity card numbers, and parents’ names and addresses whilst obscuring the contents of statements they make the villagers sign. [5]

Notes

Full Story

Protest at Total sponsoring French Film Festival

2008-03-07T02:46:00.013Z

French Film Director Pierre Salvadori shocked at Total sponsorship of French Film Festival

From Indymedia:

Eight protesters demonstrated on Tuesday March 4th at the French Film Festival at London Cine Lumiere 17 Queensberry Place London. The protest was against Total sponsorship as the largest western sponsor of the brutal Burma military junta, not against the festival or the French films being shown. "Priceless" was the first film being shown and its amiable director Pierre Salvadori was shocked to learn that Total was sponsoring the festival.

We were able to leaflet those attending the film and Total was not very popular amongst some of the French attendees who already knew of Total's support for the junta.

The director Pierre Salvadori was speaking at the showing of "Priceless" and came out of the cinema to chat to us. He was very gracious about our protest and pleased to see our banner had a tick in favour of French films. He was shocked to learn that Total was a sponsor of the French Film Festival and sympathetic to the plight of Burma. We were able to further chat with him at a nearby pub later and he very sportingly posed for us with the "Don't Forget Burma" cartoon bubble. We thank him for his support and wish him every success with his films.

See Full Story

News from Burma Campaign

http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/pm/weblog.php?id=P333
Willis Ceases Cover to Burma, Pressure Mounts on Insurers Operating in Burma.

The Burma Campaign UK welcomes the undertaking by the world's third largest insurance broker to end their involvement in Burma.

Protests in London Next Week

Wednesday 12th March

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:

Total London HQ, 33 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0PW
1.30pm-3:00pm
Tube: Oxford Circus | Map:

Thursday 13th March (updated from bdmauk.org website)

Burma Human Rights Day
[Remembers the first student Maung Phone Maw murdered by the junta
on March 13th 1988 at a peaceful demonstration at
Rangoon Institute of Technology (RIT) at the start of the 1988
democracy protests in which thousands of demonstrators were later murdered]
(see http://burmadigest.wordpress.com/2006/03/07/ko-phone-maw/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7012158.stm)

BDMA-UK are holding a commemoration in memory of Ko Phone Maw and all those who sacrificed their lives in the struggle for Burma's freedom.
(Check http://bdmauk.org for any changes )

BDMA-UK Burma Human Rights Day Events:
(1) Offering food and alms to monks and a brief presentation about Signature Campaign for all political prisoners in Burma.
Time: 10:00 to 12:00
Venue: London Vihara (Wembley Monastery)
1 Old Church Lane London NW9 8TG
Tube: Wembley Park | Map:

(2) Masked Demonstration
Time: 15:00 to 16:00
Myanmar/Burma Embassy 19A, Charles St, London W1J 5DX.
Tube: Green Park | Map:

Friday 14th March

Protest at Total sponsoring French Film Festival
(the protest is against Total, not the film festival or films being shown)
5:30pm - 9pm
LONDON CINE LUMIERE
www.institut-francais.org.uk
Institut Francais
17 Queensberry Place London SW7 2DT
Tube: South Kensington Map:
(Two Films being shown: JUST ABOUT LOVE (15) 6:30pm
CONVERSATION WITH MY GARDENER (12A) 8.30pm
+ Q & A Jean Becker and Jean-Pierre Darroussin
(Speakers are for 2nd film see h ttp://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0825244/ )

Hammersmith Goldhawk Road protest

2008-02-29T21:52:00.004Z

From Indymedia

Seven protesters demonstrated at the Raven Total station at 372 Goldhawk Road, Hammersmith against the French oil company on Thursday 28th February. Total's pipeline in Burma was built with forced labour and the company has for years been the largest western sponsor of the brutal regime, funding the military junta with hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

Even before the protest had started, the driver of a car at a nearby road junction, spotted a poster being put up and vowed not to use Total petrol stations in future. Several other drivers shared this view later and turned around or just drove through the station promising not to buy petrol from Total.

As the evening rush hour traffic built up, long queues at the traffic lights formed and many cars beeped at the two "Beep 4 Burma. Boycott Total" banners we held up. Many drivers wound down their windows to request leaflets as the queue became stationary/very slow moving.

There were more pedestrians than we were expecting and a very high percentage were interested in the leaflets we were handing out.

Full Story

French Film Festival

We've noticed that Total is sponsoring the French Film Festival which is taking place in London and also Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness, Birmingham, Didsbury, Warwick (see http://www.frenchfilmfestival.org.uk/2008timesENGLAND.html). So we'll be at the first film being shown on 4th March in London though our protest is against Total sponsorship as the largest western sponsors of the brutal Burma military junta, not against the festival or the French films being shown.

Protests in London next week:

Tuesday 4th March

Protest at Total sponsoring French Film Festival
(the protest is against Total, not the film festival or films being shown)
6.00pm - 7:30pm
LONDON CINE LUMIERE
www.institut-francais.org.uk
Institut Francais
17 Queensberry Place London SW7 2DT
Tube: South Kensington | Map
(First Film being shown PRICELESS (15) 7.00pm + Q & A Pierre Salvadori
http://www.frenchfilmfestival.org.uk/2008timesENGLAND.html)

Wednesday 5th March

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:

Total London HQ, 33 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0PW
1.30pm-3:00pm
Tube: Oxford Circus | Map:

Marylebone Road protest against Total Oppression in Burma

2008-02-24T01:44:00.002Z

From Indymedia:

Ten protesters held a demonstration at Dorset House Total petrol station at 170-172 Marylebone Rd on Thursday calling on the French oil company to stop fuelling oppression in Burma with hundreds of millions of pounds a year to the brutal regime. Total has for many years been the largest western supporter of the military regime. Villagers forced as slave labour to build Total's gas pipeline nicknamed the soldiers oppressing them as the "Total Battalions".

A large "BEEP 4 BURMA. BOYCOTT TOTAL" banner was displayed for the heavy traffic along the Marylebone Road. Many vehicles beeped in support showing that they had not forgotten the suffering in Burma.

Full Story

Protests in London next week:

Wednesday 27th February

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:

Total London HQ, 33 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0PW
1.30pm-3:00pm
Tube: Oxford Circus | Map:

Thursday 28th February

5.00pm - 7.00pm
Protest at Raven Total station, 372 Goldhawk Road, Hammersmith W6 0XF
Tube: Stamford Brook. Map:

Eiffel Tower protest climb

2008-02-20T18:42:00.003Z

Mike Robertson's Eiffel Tower climb to protest against Total's actions in Burma in November 2007. A film by Nicoletta Fagiolo.

Total's Gain Burma's Pain

2008-02-14T17:30:00.012Z

From Indymedia:

Whilst Total announced that its fourth-quarter profits had risen 62 per cent to 5.23 billion US dollars exploiting high oil prices, eighteen protesters at Total's London HQ on February 13th, announced the real results of Total's exploitation of the oppressed Burmese in Totalitarian Burma.

The eighteen protesters, many of them Burmese held banners detailing the consequences of Total's £225 million per annum funding of the military regime, as the largest western supporter of the brutal junta.

In 2007 the military junta were able to crush the democracy protests, raid 52 monasteries, killing and imprisoning many monks. The number of Karen villages destroyed in the junta's ethnic cleansing reached 3,200 with over 1 million people displaced from all parts of Burma. The number of political prisoners jumped by hundreds to 1,864. Aung San Suu Kyi spent her 12th year under arrest, as the junta continued to ignore the international community's call for her to be released. Burma already notorious for massive forced labour and having the most child soldiers in the world, was ranked as the most corrupt country in the world in 2007. The torture of prisoners, unfair trials, rape as a weapon of war against women and children in ethnic communities continued.

Full Story

Protests in London next week:

WEDNESDAY 20TH FEBRUARY

Prayer Service for Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan, the General Secretary of the Karen National Union (KNU) who was assassinated on February 14th. There will be no Burma Embassy protest this Wednesday. See bdmauk.org for further details.
Colindale Monastery, 83 Booth Road, Colindale, London NW9 5JU
10:00 to 13:00
Tube: Colindale | Map

Total London HQ, 33 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0PW
1.30pm-3:00pm
Tube: Oxford Circus | Map

THURSDAY 21ST FEBRUARY

5.00pm - 7.00pm
Protest at Total petrol station, Dorset House, 170-172 Marylebone Rd, London NW1 5AR.
Nearest tube: Baker Street | Map

Don't leave Burma to Rambo

2008-02-14T17:07:00.009Z

Photos by toastyoneuk: http://www.flickr.com/photos/toastyoneuk/

From Indymedia:

Rambo is just a fantasy hero, but the violence and villains depicted in the latest Rambo movie are a reality in Burma. At the UK premiere of Rambo, the pro-democracy Burmese community thanked Sylvester Stallone for helping to raise awareness of the genocide and atrocities of the Burmese military junta.

The US Burma Campaign has a Questions and Answers article putting parts of the film into their real context.

Full Story

Brighton video

2008-02-12T23:58:00.001Z

From Indymedia:

A video clip from the Brighton Total Out of Burma crew.

Bristol update

2008-02-12T23:14:00.000Z

From Indymedia

"Over the last 2 months, activists tired of the lies and corporate whitewash have taken direct action to hit Total where it hurts them most - in the pocket.

"All 4 garages in the bristol area have been targetted. Horfield, Congresbury, Lawrence Weston, Yate. North, South, East, West. Windows were smashed, equipment disabled, and propaganda sprayed or posted so customers knew why the damage was done."

Article continues here

Please note, the inclusion of this entry does not imply an endorsement of the tactics used, but merely to inform of actions being taken in protest at Total's activities in Burma.

This week's London events

2008-02-09T21:38:00.000Z

TUESDAY 12 FEBRUARY
Rambo Film Red-carpet Premiere

From 5.30pm (Premier guest arrivals expected at 6:30pm)
Vue West End, 3 Cranbourne Street, Leicester Square, London WC2H 7AL
Tube: Leicester Square | Map

(Film set in Burma, Burmese and supporters will be calling for a Free Burma rather than specific campaigns. In Burma people are risking jail just to see this film. Sylvester Stallone writes, directs, produces and stars as RAMBO, filmed on location in and around Chiang Mai, Thailand, with the backdrop of the world's longest-running civil war, the Burmese-Karen conflict.)

WEDNESDAY 13 FEBRUARY
Total 4th Quarter Results (note change from normal Total weekly protest times)

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

1.30pm-3:30pm
Total London HQ, 33 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0PW
Tube: Oxford Circus | Map

Back in Kilburn

2008-02-08T09:03:00.000Z

From Indymedia:

One non-car owning passer-by even vowed not to buy their daily Mars bar from the Total station. As well as not shopping at Total stations pedestrians can also avoid well known brand names owned by Total eg. Blu-tack, Bostik, Evo-Stik, Araldite glue, Spontex gloves, Sovereign paints.

Total's 4th Quarter results will be out next week on 13th February. We expect Total to again make huge profits at the expense of oppressed Burmese and other oppressed regions Total likes to exploit, not just the motorists!

Full story

This way for your Total War Cash

2008-02-07T21:50:00.000Z

Photo by toastyoneuk: http://www.flickr.com/photos/toastyoneuk/

Kilburn targeted again

2008-02-03T18:42:00.000Z

From Indymedia:

Nine protesters demonstrated at Kilburn Total petrol station on 31st January at 409 Kilburn High Rd, calling on the French oil company to stop being an accomplice to the theft of Burma's resources by the corrupt military junta. The National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Aung San Suu Kyi, won 82 percent of the seats in Burma’s 1990 election but the corrupt regime refused to hand over power. Full story

Next London demos:

WEDNESDAY 6 FEBRUARY
Total London HQ, 33 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0PW
8.30am-10.30am
Tube: Oxford Circus /Bond St | Map: http://tinyurl.com/2tylug

THURSDAY 7 FEBRUARY
Kilburn Total station, 409 Kilburn High Rd, Kilburn NW6 7QG
5pm-7pm
Tube: Kilburn (jubilee line) | Map: http://tinyurl.com/2pvh4k

Chiswick Total garage demo

2008-01-27T22:14:00.001Z

Twelve protesters held a demonstration at the West Four Total Oil petrol station at 137 Chiswick High Road on January 24th, calling on the company to stop giving the brutal military junta hundreds of millions of dollars a year, as the largest western supporter of the military regime.

Article continues here

Next London demos:

WEDNESDAY 30 JANUARY
Total London HQ, 33 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0PW
8.30am-10.30am
Tube: Oxford Circus /Bond St | Map: http://tinyurl.com/2tylug

THURSDAY 31 JANUARY
Kilburn Total station, 409 Kilburn High Rd, Kilburn NW6 7QG
5pm-7pm
Tube: Kilburn (jubilee line) | Map: http://tinyurl.com/2pvh4k

Please come along and join us.

Chester targeted again

2008-01-27T22:13:00.000Z

Wrexham Women for Peace and supporters held another demo at Hoole TOTAL petrol station on 26 January in support of the people of Burma.

Full article and more photos here

Marylebone Rd Total protest

2008-01-19T19:09:00.000Z

From Indymedia:

Protestors held a demonstration at the Dorset House Total petrol station at 170-172 Marylebone Rd on Thursday, calling on Total to stop funding the brutal military junta in Burma with hundreds of millions of dollars a year. A large banner "Beep to get Total out of Burma" was held for the heavy traffic.

Two policeman accompanied the protest and one of them very kindly took the first photograph for us! Full story

Plus upcoming protests in London and Oxford...

WEDNESDAY 23rd JANUARY
Total London HQ, 33 Cavendish Square,
London W1G 0PW
8.30am-10:30am
Tube: Oxford Circus | Map

THURSDAY 24th JANUARY
5.00pm - 7.00pm
West Four Total petrol station, 137 Chiswick High Road,
Chiswick W4 2ED
Tube: Turnham Green | Map

SATURDAY 2ND FEBRUARY
2.00pm-4.00pm
Oxford Burma Solidarity will be carrying out another picketing of the TOTAL garage at 43-44 Garsington Rd, Cowley, Oxford OX4 2LG
Map: http://tinyurl.com/38mard

Join us this week in London

2008-01-14T09:00:00.000Z

WEDNESDAY 16TH JANUARY
Total London HQ, 33 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0PW
8.30am-10:30am
Tube: Oxford Circus | Map: http://tinyurl.com/2tylug

THURSDAY 17TH JANUARY
Protest at Total petrol station, Dorset House, 170-172 Marylebone Rd, London NW1 5AR
5.00pm - 7.00pm
Nearest tube: Baker Street | Map: http://tinyurl.com/2zg4qf

Kilburn protest against Total Oil support for Burma dictatorship

2008-01-11T23:01:00.000Z

From Indymedia:
Seven protestors held a demonstration at the Kilburn Total petrol station at 409 Kilburn High Rd on 10th January, calling on the company to stop being an accomplice to the crimes of the military dictatorship, as the largest western investor and financial supporter of the brutal corrupt regime. Full story

Total protests restart in London

2008-01-07T02:21:00.000Z

It's an unhappy new year for Totalitarian Oil in London, as protests restart this week. Why not make a new year's resolution to join us?

WEDNESDAY 9TH JANUARY
Total London HQ, 33 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0PW
8.30am-10am
Tube: Oxford Circus | Map: http://tinyurl.com/2tylug

THURSDAY 10TH JANUARY
Kilburn Total station, 409 Kilburn High Rd, Kilburn NW6 7QG
5pm-7pm
Tube: Kilburn | Map: http://tinyurl.com/2pvh4k

(Graphic: Milena Kaneva, maker of Total Denial, the story of human rights abuses along the Yadana gas pipeline, see www.totaldenialfilm.com)

TOTAL in Chester told: 'Get Out of Burma'

2008-01-06T12:33:00.000Z

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/01/388893.html

On Saturday 5 January, in solidarity with the Burmese National League for Democracy (NLD), the Burmese monks and the oppressed people of Burma, members and supporters of Wrexham Women for Peace held a demonstration at the TOTAL petrol station on Hoole Road, Chester, calling for a general boycott of TOTAL until it severs its links with the Burmese military junta.

(article continues)

All we want for Christmas...

2007-12-15T18:29:00.001Z

An A3 size Christmas Card with over 100 signatures has been posted to Total Holdings UK at 33 Cavendish Square. Sporting a picture of the Nov 24th Baker Street protest and surrounded with "holly", the message inside reads: "Dear Total All we want for Christmas is Total out of Burma. See you in 2008."

A lot of Burmese signed it on Monday at Parliament Square, including the leader of the 88 Student movement just arrived from Thailand and also Ben Rogers of Christian Solidarity Worldwide who has made many visits across the border to "displaced" Burmese and ethnic minorities (see interview here).

33 Cavendish Square refused to accept the card at the front door at Wednesday's protest and their post delivery room at the back of the building was closed for a "book fair" just after they received a phone call from the front desk when we asked them. So yesterday, the card was posted from Redhill, where Total coincidentally have their offices for gas supplies in the UK.

Chiswick latest protest target

2007-12-15T18:17:00.000Z

From Indymedia:
For the second week running, the Total garage on Chiswick High Road was targeted on Thursday as eight protesters campaigned against Total's funding of the repressive regime in Burma.

Motorists were turned away from the station, pedestrians accepted leaflets and helped sign a petition. Some pedestrians also joined protesters in signing a "Christmas Card" to Total to tell them to get out of Burma. Full story

No Fuel for the Burmese Junta

2007-12-12T17:24:00.000Z

Far from the headlines, the crisis in Burma continues--fueled, in part, by international oil corporations like Total Oil and Chevron/Texaco. These corporations don't just fund the junta; they lobby on its behalf in capital cities around the world. These are the same companies many of us fuel up with. That means our pressure as consumers has the power to force change—and it's our responsibility to act.

Will you pledge to join the global boycott of Chevron and Total? The boycott will last until the companies withdraw from Burma, or until the Burmese junta begins a genuine democratic transition and frees all political prisoners--including Aung San Suu Kyi. We'll deliver all the pledges and comments straight to the top management of Chevron and Total. You can see what brands to avoid in your country and take the pledge, at:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/burma_corporate

Total Denial trailer

2007-12-05T20:02:00.000Z

See: http://www.totaldenialfilm.com

Total to enhance Yadana production

2007-12-05T00:46:00.000Z

From Irrawaddy:

The French oil and gas company Total has enlisted the help of the Burmese military to guard its drilling installations in the Gulf of Martaban while it carries out improvement work.

[...] Now the company is about to install new equipment in Yadana to enhance production and has secured the help of the regime in establishing an exclusion zone around the field as a “precautionary measure and a temporary decision,” a Total spokesperson told the French news agency AFP. The work is said to involve installation of a compression platform.

Industry insiders suggest the company may have sought the exclusion zone—barring other ships from entering the area of the platform site—out of concern those anti-regime activists may try to disrupt the work. Full story

Brighton demo, 24 November

2007-12-05T00:26:00.000Z

From Indymedia:

As part of the November 24th day of action against Total Oil's involvement in the Burmese Junta, 15 Brighton based students and residents descended on the Total Oil garage in Kemp Town. Full story

Totally Out of Order: A Day of Action

2007-11-25T15:46:00.001Z

(From our press release issued 25 Nov. Further details and photos from the various protests will be posted soon.)

On Saturday 24 November, protests were held at 36 Total petrol stations across the UK. The protests called upon Total Oil to pull out of Burma and stop financing the Burmese military regime [1]. Protest locations included Bradford, Brighton, Chatham (Kent), Cardiff, Guernsey, London, Manchester, Oxford, St Albans and Virgina Water (Surrey).

Blockades occurred at some stations, with several lasting for an hour or more. In Camden 10 protestors blocked the York Way Total station for an hour, while 15 students in Surrey blockaded the Virginia Water petrol station for more than 2 hours. Throughout the UK the protests received support from motorists and pedestrians alike. Many drivers turned away from the petrol stations upon seeing the protests, some informing protestors that they would not to buy from Total again. At all the targetted petrol stations business was noticeably slow, and in some cases virtually non-existent, during the protests.

Paul Golding, one of the protestors, said, "Total’s investment in Burma is the largest in Europe. By paying millions of dollars to the Burmese dictatorship every year they are helping keep it in power. If the West wants to help end the oppression and ongoing human rights abuses in Burma, then quite simply, we must stop our companies from funding the oppressors."

In London, protests took place at 14 Total petrol stations during the course of the day. The final protest in London attracted over 30 supporters and took place at the Baker Street petrol station on Marylebone Rd, NW1, from 4pm to 6pm. In Guernsey, campaigners protested at all 14 Total stations on the island, and picketed the main station on the island for 3 hours. [2]

More photos can be viewed at http://www.flickr.com/photos/toastyoneuk

Contact: totaloutofburma[at]gmail.com

The day of action was part of a growing global campaign calling on French oil company Total to stop funding the Burmese junta:
- Boycott: Last week, the global internet advocacy website Avaaz.org launched a global boycott of Total, as well as US oil company Chevron, for their presence in Burma – with nearly 50,000 signing up in ten days [3].
- Divestment: European pension funds withdrew almost £110m in investments from Total in a matter of days in protest at the company's involvement in Burma. [4]
- Popular protests: Since October weekly protests have taken place in London outside Total Oil's offices. Other spontaneous protests have occurred outside Total garages around the UK. [5]

NOTES FOR EDITORS:
[1] Total Oil has had a joint business venture with the Burmese government since 1992. Its major project is the Yadana gas project in southern Burma, which earns the military regime hundreds of millions of dollars every year. Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s democracy leader, has said that “Total is the biggest supporter of the military regime in Burma.” For more information about Total Oil's investment in Burma see the Burma Campaign UK website: http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/total.php.
[2] A full list of protests on 24 November, plus further information about the campaign, can be found on this blog.
[3] See http://www.avaaz.org/en/burma_corporate/. Total’s products in the UK include its network of petrol stations, as well as such brands as Bostik (makers of Blu-tack) and Spontex cleaning products.
[4] See http://observer.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,,2204744,00.html
[5] See reports on this blog.

Day of Action- Sat 24 Nov (updated)

2007-11-23T12:29:00.000Z

TOTAL OUT OF BURMA
DAY OF ACTION
SATURDAY 24 NOVEMBER 2007

Join the protests at TOTAL petrol stations around the UK calling for TOTAL to pull out of Burma. TOTAL's investment in Burma is earning the dictatorship hundreds of millions of dollars every year. Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma's democracy leader, has said that "TOTAL is the biggest supporter of the military regime in Burma".

Please show your support by attending one of the protests listed below. All those listed ARE due to take place. You are welcome to just turn up. Banners, placards and leaflets will be provided.

Information below:
1. Confirmed protests on Sat 24 November (updated 23 Nov)
2. Details of how to get involved and how to organise your own protest

If you have any queries please email us.

The Total Out of Burma Team
totaloutofburma[at]gmail.com

--------------------------------------------------------
1. Confirmed protests on Sat 24 Nov (updated 23 Nov)
--------------------------------------------------------

BRADFORD
Vigil against Total
5.00pm - 7.00pm
Centenary Square, Bradford
contact: Chris on 01274 727 034

BRIGHTON
Kemp Town Total station
Meet at the Pavillion Bus Stop at 11.30am

CARDIFF - Cathedral Road
Cathedral Road Total station, 34 Cathedral Rd, Cardiff CF11 9HA
11.00am - 1.00pm
contact: totaloutofburma[at]gmail.com

CARDIFF - Cardiff Bay
Cardiff Bay Total station, 235 Corporation Rd, Grangetown, Cardiff CF11 7AS
11.30am - 5.30pm
contact: totaloutofburma[at]gmail.com

GUERNSEY
Protests will be happening at Total stations across the island.
contact: Kev on burma[at]landofkev.com or 07911 770 017

LONDON - Baker Street
4.00pm - 6.00pm
Dorset House Total station, 170-172 Marylebone Rd, Westminster NW1 5AR
nearest tube: Baker Street
contact: totaloutofburma[at]gmail.com
(note: this is the final London protest of the day - all welcome)

LONDON - Camden
11.30am - 1.00pm
Camden Town Total station, 109-113 York Way, Islington N7 9QE
nearest tube: Caledonian Rd or Kentish Town
contact: Jonathan on jjjstevenson[at]fastmail.fm or 07818 651 124

LONDON - Chiswick
2.00pm - 4.00pm
West Four Total station,137 Chiswick High Road, Chiswick W4 2ED
nearest tube: Turnham Green
contact: totaloutofburma[at]gmail.com

LONDON - Hammersmith
11.00am - 2.00pm
Raven Total station, 372 Goldhawk Road, Hammersmith W6 0XF
nearest tube: Stamford Brook
contact: totaloutofburma[at]gmail.com

LONDON - Kensal Green
1.00pm - 3.00pm
Kensal Total station, 904 Harrow Rd, Kensal Green NW10 5JU
contact: Steph at fifth_state[at]yahoo.co.uk

LONDON - Kilburn
12.30pm - 1.45pm
Kilburn Total station, 409 Kilburn High Rd, Kilburn NW6 7QG
nearest tube: Kilburn
contact: Dan at dviesnik[at]yahoo.co.uk

LONDON - Manor Park
1.00pm - 3.00pm
Manor Park Total station, 893 Romford Rd, East Ham E12 5JT
nearest tube: East Ham or (rail) Manor Park
contact: Paul on paul[at]riseup.net or 07939 975 085

LONDON - Newham
10.30am - 12.30pm
High St North Total station, 409-419 High St North, Newham E12 6TL
nearest tube: East Ham
contact: Paul on paul[at]riseup.net or 07939 975 085

LONDON - Southwark
2.00pm - 4.00pm
Thomas Beckett Total station, 233-247 Old Kent Road, Southwark SE1 5LU
nearest tube: Elephant & Castle or Borough
contact: Danae on papakura2000[at]hotmail.com or 07731 956 415

LONDON - Whitechapel
10.00am - 12noon
Vallance Total station, 112 Vallance Rd, Tower Hamlets E1 5BW
nearest tube: Whitechapel
contact: Danae on papakura2000[at]hotmail.com or 07731 956 415

LONDON - Willesden
11.00am - 12.15pm
Willesden Lane Total station, 290 Willesden Lane, Willesden NW2 5HS
nearest tube: Willesden Green
contact: Dan at dviesnik[at]yahoo.co.uk

OXFORD
from 9.30am
Cowley Total station, 44 Garsington Road, Cowley, Oxford OX4 2LG
contact: Dennis at dhambridge[at]btinternet.com or 07804 433 602

ST ALBANS
meets outside Barclays Bank, St Peters Street at 11.00am
moving on to Total garage at 12noon.
contact: totaloutofburma[at]gmail.com

--------------------------------------------------------
2. Details of how to get involved
--------------------------------------------------------

There are two ways to take part in the day of action:

1. Join a garage protest (see list above). You can get in touch with the contact listed or you can just turn up on the day and offer your support.

2. Organise your own action - there are several hundred TOTAL petrol stations in the UK to choose from. Follow these three easy steps:

a. Find out where your local TOTAL garage is by using the handy Service Station Finder at http://www.total.co.uk or check the google map of UK TOTAL garages being created at http://tinyurl.com/2ftvdf.

b. Get some simple visual materials together, plus some leaflets or petitions, and publicise it to your friends, contacts and local press. If you want the details listed publicly (e.g. by email and on the blog) email them to totaloutofburma[at]gmail.com or call Paul on 07939 975 085.

c. Hold the protest! Take some pictures, post a report on Indymedia.org.uk and send the link to totaloutofburma[at]gmail.com. Plus write to TOTAL's head office telling them what you've been up to.

Basic placard designs, petitions, leaflets and a model press release are available via this blog (see right column).

TOTAL ‘given the boot’ at Wembley

2007-11-22T17:39:00.000Z

Three activists braved the rain to stage a demo at a TOTAL petrol station near Wembley Stadium on Wednesday evening (21st November 2007), before the England v Croatia football match, to highlight the company’s ongoing support for the military dictatorship in Burma.

Two people held up a banner reading “TOTALitarian Oil Out of Burma NOW”; whilst another circled around the perimeter of the garage, holding up a large placard featuring a machine gun, reading “TOTALitarian Oil – fuelling the oppression in Burma”. Their protest aroused the curiosity of the throngs of England and Croatia football fans who had gathered near Wembley Park tube for their teams’ final Euro 2008 qualifier, as well as passing motorists. The demonstration passed off peacefully, lasting around 1 ½ hours. Police were in the area, but did not approach the protesters.

The weekly demo at TOTAL’s head office at 33 Cavendish Square, near Oxford Circus - ongoing for nearly two months now - also took place as usual that morning, with some of the protesters continuing on to the daily lunchtime demo outside the Burmese embassy in Mayfair, attended by around a dozen people, mostly Burmese.

The purpose of the demonstrations is to highlight French company TOTAL’s continued involvement with Burma’s oppressive military regime. This is opposed by the country’s democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, under house arrest for the past 12 years. The regime is thought to earn hundreds of millions of pounds annually from TOTAL, the fourth largest oil company in the world, due to its operation of the Yadana natural gas pipeline to Thailand. It is thought that France continues to block tough EU and UN sanctions against foreign investment in Burma under the military junta because of a desire to protect the interests of TOTAL.

One of the Wembley protesters commented: “I feel for the Buddhist monks and ordinary people of Burma. They have again peacefully risen up against their oppressors after over four decades in power; yet to date there seems to be little improvement, despite the immense courage they have shown. The world mustn’t forget their plight.

“Despite spurious arguments defending the position of companies like TOTAL and Chevron/Texaco, I personally find it unacceptable for foreign companies to continue to profit from this brutal regime so long as it continues to defy the will of its own people and the international community, which demand as a minimum basic human rights and respect for the democratic process.”

The regular Thursday evening demo at the Total garage near Baker St tube station will continue this week (5-7pm, Dorset House, corner of Marylebone Rd (north side) and Gloucester Place).

This weekend (Saturday 24th November) will see a National Day of Action against TOTAL, supported by Burma Campaign UK, with protests set to take place at TOTAL garages all around the UK.

See also:

Burma Campaign UK's info on Total Oil

http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/total.php

Facebook group - Get Total Oil out of Burma
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6833508763

Picket at Wrexham garage

2007-11-18T23:12:00.000Z

Source: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/11/386057.html

wrexham woman 17.11.2007 15:52

Wrexham Women for Peace and supporters held a demonstration at a local TOTAL petrol station in support of the people of Burma (Myanmar) this morning in advance of a national day of action against TOTAL next Saturday 24 November. Campaigners targeted the petrol station on the A483 Ruabon by-pass to draw attention to the links between French-owned TOTAL Oil and the Burmese military junta.

Banners were hung on nearby bridges, placards displayed on the roadside and leaflets handed out to motorists on the petrol station forecourt in a peaceful action designed to raise awareness of this issue and to encourage a boycott of TOTAL petrol stations until the company severs its links with Burma.

Burma's democratically-elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi - who has been under detention or house arrest for the past 12 years - has said that TOTAL is the biggest supporter of the Burmese junta and should pull out of Burma immediately. There is also a call for TOTAL to give up its interest in the Yadana natural gas pipeline to Thailand, constructed using forced labour, which it operates in conjunction with another oil giant: Chevron-Texaco.

Less than two weeks ago, European pension funds withdrew over £100 million of investments in TOTAL following protests over the company's involvement in Burma.
( http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/nov/04/oilandpetrol.news)

A spokesperson for Wrexham Women for Peace said:

"Burma is a country rich in natural resources, yet its people are poor and hungry. Almost half of government spending goes on the military; very little is spent on health and welfare. There are more child soldiers in Burma than in any other country. Rape is used as a weapon of war. Many of Burma's political prisoners are tortured by the regime.

"Meanwhile, companies like TOTAL profit from links with this oppressive military dictatorship which has recently been guilty of violent suppression of peaceful actions by Buddhist monks and pro-democracy activists, and the military regime in turn profits from Total.

"We support the Burmese people in their peaceful struggle for self-determination and call for Total to pull out of Burma and end its support for the regime now."

The demonstration comes one week before a national day of action against Total's involvement in Burma on Saturday 24th November.

People can pledge their support for the campaign by signing a postcard to Total asking it to pull out of Burma. Visit this website:
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/total.html

To contact Wrexham Women for Peace or to join in the national day of protest in the Wrexham area, email: wrexhamwomen[at]yahoo.co.uk.

Wrexham protest - Sat 17 Nov

2007-11-16T00:52:00.001Z

There will be a peaceful action on Saturday morning 17 November near Wrexham in support of the Burmese people in advance of the "TOTAL Out of Burma" national day of action on 24 November, when it is hoped to do another.

If possible wear something red (no obligation) and bring your own placards, banners etc. although don't let it put you off going along. This action is being organised by Wrexham Women for Peace. Men and women are welcome.

Call Genny on 0845 330 4505 or email wrexhamwomen@yahoo.co.uk for more info.

Total garage in Manchester blockaded

2007-11-13T15:41:00.001Z

From UK Indymedia - http://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/11/385756.html

Max 13.11.2007 14:44

Yesterday, up to 20 human rights campaigners blockaded a TOTAL garage on Oxford Road, Manchester. This was in protest at Total Oil's investment in the military regime of Burma.

The activists, many of them students, blockaded the entrances to the petrol station successfully with the aid of 3 arm tubes. A large banner was displayed reading "Totally Out of Order - Fuelling oppression in Burma". Leaflets were given out resulting in a number of supporting comments from people walking past.

Police attended the protest but had made no attempt to remove those who were locked to each other with arm tubes by the time I left. There was also some mainstream media attention, notably from the Manchester Evening News.

Weekly Brighton Total demo

2007-11-12T22:40:00.000Z

Reposted from Indymedia:

There is a weekly action outside the Total Garage in Kemp Town, Brighton as part of the Total out of Burma campaign. Come down and join us. 11.30 PAVILLION BUS STOP EVERY SATURDAY MORNING

Tux

Protests in London this week

2007-11-12T18:51:00.000Z

Please join the weekly protests against Total Oil's involvement in Burma, at Cavendish Square and Marylebone Road in London. All welcome.

Wednesday 14 November
8.30am - 10.30am
Protest at Total Oil HQ, 33 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0PW
Nearest tube: Oxford Circus. Map

Thursday 15 November
5.00pm - 7.00pm
Protest at Total petrol station, 170-172 Marylebone Rd, London NW1 5AR. Nearest tube: Baker Street. Map

Londoners join global Total protest - Wed 7 Nov

2007-11-12T00:52:00.000Z

Wednesday's die-in outside Total Oil's London headquarters in Oxford Circus was part of a global day of action against Total called by the Burma Global Action Network.

It took place on the day Total's third quarter profits were announced, with net profits rising 29 per cent to £2.17 billion.

Demonstrators in Cavendish Square dressed in blood-soaked bandages and displaying a giant globe held placards reading: “Total out of Burma now" and "Free Burma".

They also unveiled some alternative 3rd Quarter Results for the company, detailed the impacts of its support for the Burmese regime. It comes ahead of a UK-wide day of action outside TOTAL forecourts on Saturday 24th November.

US oil workers call on Total, Chevron to withdraw

2007-11-09T11:48:00.000Z

Delegates to the United Steelworkers (USW) national oil bargaining conference unanimously approved a resolution this week calling upon USW employers, CHEVRON and Total, to pull out of Burma and denounce the military dictatorship.

"It is unethical and immoral for CHEVRON and Total to continue doing business with the brutal military dictatorship that has run Burma for over 40 years," said USW International Vice President Gary Beevers.

The USW is the largest industrial union in North America and represents over 1.2 million workers and retirees. In the oil sector, the USW represents 30,000 workers in the U.S., Canada and Aruba. Full story

Edinburgh students criticise Total link

2007-11-08T01:21:00.000Z

From BBC News online:

Students have voted in favour of a motion calling on the University of Edinburgh to withdraw its investments in an oil company with links to Burma.

The university owns 16,640 shares in Total, which account for less than half of one per cent of its investment fund.

The motion was passed by 360 votes to three at the student AGM. They hope it will put pressure on the university to end its involvement with the firm.

See also the Ethical Investment Ediburgh blog

Protests in London this week

2007-11-05T22:49:00.001Z

This Wednesday Total Oil announce their third quarter financial results. Please join the weekly protests at Cavendish Square and Marylebone Road to help highlight Total's continued funding of the Burmese junta.

Wednesday 7 November, 8.30am-10.30am
Protest at Total Oil UK headquarters
33 Cavendish Square, London W1. See map.
Nearest tube: Oxford Circus

Thursday 8 November, 5.00pm - 7.00pm
Protest at Total petrol station
Dorset House, 170-172 Marylebone Rd, London NW1. See map.
Nearest tube: Baker Street

TOTAL Out of Burma Day of Action - Sat 24 Nov

2007-11-05T14:25:00.001Z

On Saturday 24th November there will be a UK day of action against TOTAL oil. Petrol stations around the country will see protests calling for TOTAL to pull out of Burma and stop funding the Burmese junta.

There are two ways to get involved:

1) Organise your own demo: use the handy store finder at www.total.co.uk to find your local Total garage, make some leaflets and visual materials (or download them from the right), and go along on the day. For a map of TOTAL garages within the M25, see http://tinyurl.com/2ftvdf. Let us know when and where you're going to hold the protest and we'll add it to this site and other publicity.

2) Register your interest: email totaloutofburma@googlemail.com with your location and we'll let you know where your nearest garage protest is taking place. For Londoners, if you're able to commit to coming and don't mind where you go, let us know that too and we'll allocate you to a garage. The more people express an interest the more garages we can cover!

You can now also register your interest in the event and this campaign via Facebook:
Day of action event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=5910458217
Get TOTAL OIL out of Burma group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6833508763

Activists in attack on financiers' profits from Sudan and Burma

2007-11-05T13:01:00.000Z

From the Observer:
"It seems a new phase of campaigner activism is making headway. Two weeks ago, European pension funds withdrew almost £110m in investments from French oil company Total in a matter of days in protest at the company's involvement in Burma. The boycott is being led by pension funds in Denmark, which acted after Danish foreign affairs minister Per Stig Moller called for European Union sanctions on investment into the country." Full article

Waltham Forest Council ‘invests in junta’

2007-11-05T11:06:00.000Z

BURMA'S repressive military regime is being supported by Waltham Forest Council, according to campaigners.

Information obtained by the Green Party shows that in the past three months the council has invested an undisclosed portion of its employees' pension fund, which has net assets worth £496m, into oil company Total, Europe's biggest investor in Burma. Full Story

London protest shackles Total station

2007-11-02T00:47:00.000Z

During Thursday rush-hour a dozen protestors caused a 24-hour Total petrol station in central London to close.

The peaceful protest, at the Marylebone Road petrol station, consisted of banners, placards, leaflets and a petition. One protestor wore shackles to signify the oppression of the Burmese people. Within 10 minutes of the protest beginning staff closed the station, blocking off the forecourt and switching off the lights. Even the accompanying shop was shut. The police were called and protestors were instructed to remain off the forecourt or risk arrest.

After an hour the station re-opened. The protest continued for a further hour. Report and pics on Indymedia

Burma junta's exports lose sparkle

2007-10-31T23:15:00.000Z

From the Financial Times:
The oil giants Total and Chevron have rejected calls to divest their business interests in Burma. However, other western businesses have been re-evaluating their links with the regime. Jewellery firms Cartier and Bulgari are to boycott gems from Burma, and Jewelers of America, which represents US retail chains, has called on Congress to close a loophole in a US ban that allows Burmese gemstones to enter through third countries. Rolls Royce has stopped servicing aero engines for Burma's state carrier, causing it to suspend flights. Full story

Protest targets Oxford petrol station

2007-10-31T02:01:00.000Z

From the Oxford Mail:
Human rights campaigners in Oxford are targeting a city petrol station in their fight to raise awareness of oppression in Burma.

Protesters gathered outside the Total petrol station in Garsington Road, to publicise links between the French company and Burma's military regime.

Campaigners were out in action on Saturday and handed out flyers to passers-by.

Jane Alexander, a carer from Headington, said: "Total is the fourth largest oil company in the world and one of the biggest foreign investors in Burma, so it's a logical target." Full story

Total HQ and petrol station targeted again in London

2007-10-28T10:41:00.000Z

Protesters again picketed Total's London HQ in Cavendish Square on the morning of Wednesday 24th October. The date marked the 12th anniversary of Aung San Suu Kyi's detention. One activist lay in a bodybag for over an hour, attracting the attention of passers by.
Several of the protesters subsequently joined the quite large demonstrations that afternoon outside the Chinese and Burmese embassies, and a vigil in Parliament Square.

On Thursday evening, the protesters returned to the Total garage near Baker St station, where they had the previous week managed to get the 24-hour station temporarily shut down.

There will be another action at Total's HQ on Wednesday 31st October, 8.30am - 10.30am, outside 33 Cavendish square (Oxford Circus tube), which is between Starbucks and the Royal Bank of Scotland, very near the back of John Lewis. There may also be an additional action next week.