Kilburn protest against Total in Burma

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. http://burmadigest.info/2008/02/27/myanmar-to-jail-referendum-disrupters/
2. http://viss.wordpress.com/2007/07/17/how-the-new-burmese-government-will-work/
3. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7280473.stm
4. http://burmadigest.info/2008/03/15/un-rights-expert-says-no-myanmar-visa-after-all/
5. http://english.dvb.no/news.php?id=1052

Full Story

Protest at Total sponsoring French Film Festival

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 http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0825244/ )

Hammersmith Goldhawk Road protest

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

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

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

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

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

From Indymedia:

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

Bristol update

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

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

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

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

Kilburn targeted again

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

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

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

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

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

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

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'

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)