In the midst of a massive humanitarian crisis in Burma in which 1.5 million people are at risk of dying from disease, local government officials in Rangoon have been selling aid and bribing residents in order to turn a profit, according to sources in Rangoon. It has been eight days since Cyclone Nargis wiped out [...]
Add Comment The most frustrating aspect of Saturday’s cyclone in Burma, which left 22,500 dead and 41,000 missing, is all the ways the junta running the country makes the relief process more difficult.
UN relief workers are ready and willing to bring aid and medicine into the country. But the Burmese government hasn’t yet issued them visas. Foreign [...]
The Burmese government has rigging votes down to an art. In the aftermath of protests demanding political reform, the Burmese junta is holding a referendum on its new constitution. The vote represents the junta’s way of appeasing the international community by pretending to enact democratic reforms. The referendum will be May 10, and advance voting [...]
This photo is from Thingyan (Water Festival) to celebrate the Burmese New Year. The festival was April 13, 2008, in Monterey Park, Los Angeles. To see more photos, click here.
In Burma, all businesses, shops and restaurants close for the week to celebrate the holiday. Burmese society is typically conservative - except on Thingyan. Young people [...]
When I was living in Rangoon my boyfriend Morning (now my husband) brought me along to a birthday party for his friend’s daughter. I was excited to meet more of my Morning’s friends, and I thought this would probably become another interesting cultural experience. I would get to see how Burmese celebrate their children’s birthdays.
Soon [...]
We’re strongly committed to the cause… at least as long as we’re still running for office!
I know a brilliant, young Burmese woman who recently moved to the States. When she lived in Burma she was always strong and courageous, never acting apathetic or disillusioned despite the overpowering junta that runs her country. She wants to return home one day, so I cannot give her credit and use her name. But [...]
This is the body of a *monk* found in a creek in Burma. The photos were on MoeMaKa Media, a blog covering the demonstrations.
This is a government that kills not only its own people, but also its religious leaders.
I have not put up other disturbing photographs from the crackdown, like one of a [...]
Read Reality. »
About 500 people, including 11 monks, gathered for a vigil in Monterey Park in L.A. County today to show their support of the Burmese uprising. The monks leading the service spoke about the atrocities being commited by the Burmese junta on their own people this past week. They mentioned the rumors that the junta has [...]
Life under the Burmese junta: Looking from the inside with outside eyes. A photo journal.
The Burmese junta cut off all internal access to the Internet on Friday morning as its crackdown on the demonstrations continues. The government has not allowed foreign correspondents into the country, so journalists have relied on the people inside Burma to smuggle out information, photos and videos. Their stories— mostly sent out by email— have [...]
It was August 27, 2004, the Friday night before the Republican National Convention was coming to New York City. I was dating Danny and he liked bikes, so I joined him on the monthly Critical Mass bike ride around Manhattan.
Later, as the officer put on the plastic-flexi cuffs, I shouted, “What are you doing? This [...]
Pushing Off
Dissent is at the heart of democracy. But I never want to be cuffed, starved, intimidated by the cops again.
The Burmese junta continues to order troops to beat up monks and protesters as it cracks down on the mass demonstrations in Burma (renamed Myanmar by the regime). Reports coming out of Burma say that troops attacked people at a monastery in Rangoon Thursday morning and then arrested about 100 monks and laymen. An American [...]
On my second day living in Rangoon, Burma (renamed Yangon, Myanmar, by the ruling junta), I visited the blockaded American Embassy. After my passport was passed from person to person to person, I got in.
It was August 2003. Burma had been ruled by an oppressive, military dictatorship for more than 40 years.
I was [...]
Money 101: Tara Graham breaks down the current economic crisis, complete with history and analysis for your addled eyes (and pocketbooks).
Brian Frank went to the McCain-Palin rally in Carson and lived to tell about it.
For gay couples, neither candidate in Thursday’s VP debate offered anything remotely resembling change. Tara Graham takes them to task.
Mark Evitt takes a hard look at the recent Village Voice firings and the state of print media in general.
Ryan Barrett takes you through her own person Spin Room on last week’s Vice-Presidential debate.
Tara Graham hits you with the week in gossip. Catch up on the brain candy.
Emily Henry takes a look at the new import HBO sketch-comedy series Little Britain USA
Missed your dose of gossip last week? Tara Graham rounds up all of the juicy tidbits. (Spoiler: Clay Aiken is gay)
Confused by the pro-corn syrup commercials you’ve been seeing lately? You’re not alone. Mark Evitt breaks it down for you.
Samantha Page previews the Hullaboo fundraising fest for the Silverlake Conservatory of Music
Chris Nelson weighs in on Obama’s candidacy, the punditry poison, and the speech from Invesco Field.
Max Zimbert interviews some political heavyweights on the Dem’s chances in Ohio and Iowa.
The P+P crew gives a Cribs-style walk-through of their sick DNC digs.
More on the epic Wyclef performance from Chris Nelson, including a sick photo gallery and descriptions of the electric vibe at the event.
Torey Van Oot gets ex-Fugee Wyclef Jean to share his thoughts on courting the Latino vote for Obama.
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