Panties for Peace

Rights and Democracy and the Quebec Women’s Federation are coordinating Canada’s “Panties for Peace” movement, launched yesterday to urge women to mail their undergarments to the Burmese Embassy in Ottawa.  (The launch coincides with the Burmese junta’s renewal of house arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for another year.)

The Panties for Peace initiative was started in October 2007 by Lanna Action for Burma, an activist group based in Chiang Mai, Thailand, after the junta’s brutal crackdown on protests for democracy led by monks.  According to organizers, the members of the junta, in particular its leader, General Than Shwe, believe that any contact with women’s panties or sarongs will make them lose their strength.  Burmese embassies in Thailand, Singapore, Australia, UK and other European countries were targeted in the initial campaign.

This is a powerful, non-violent way for women to empower themselves against a brutal, repressive and superstitious military regime.

Here’s the address to send your underpants (preferably used) in Canada:

Embassy of the Union of Myanmar, Ottawa
85 Range Road, Suite 902-903
The Sandringham, Ottawa
Ontario KIN 8J6
Telephone: (613) 232-6434
Facsimile: (613) 232-6435
Email: meott@magma.ca

UN Day Burma Freedom March & Rally – 24 October 2007, San Francisco

 According to Dr. Tint Swe, a National League for Democracy (NLD) Member of Parliament in exile in India, the military junta killed over 200 monks and citizens at large and detained over 6,000 people in the latest brutal crackdown to suppress peaceful pro-democracy protests throughout Burma. (The government reports that only 13 people were killed.) Reports filtering out of Burma claim that the military continues its night-time raids, rounding up monks, activists, and anyone else suspected of having anything to do with protesters, protests and rallies, including families of suspected activists and returning Burmese who may have participated in actions overseas!

If you are in San Francisco, please join the rally tomorrow – UN Day and sign the petition listed below:

Wed Oct 24, San Francisco
4:00p – 5:00p — Rally & Meditation at the Chinese Consulate, 1450 Laguna (@ Geary)
5:00p – 5:40p — Peace March to United Nations Plaza, Market St (between 7th & 8th )
6:00p – 8:00p — Multi-faith Prayer Service and Rally at United Nations Plaza

Wear maroon (or red) in honor of the Burmese monks.

http://badasf.org/2007/BurmaFreedomMarchOct242007.htm

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Sign the petition..
“The United Nations is Failing Burma!”

Please sign before Wednesday.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/the-UN-is-failing-Burma