Free Burma!

This was originally posted here.

I can’t stop, I just can’t.

To say that the current crisis in Burma has become a media darling would not be stretching it. To say that it has become that one hot button – the Darfur, the global warming, the tsunami – would be damn accurate. But when you have experienced the crisis first hand, only to return to the west to hear people say “Uh huh… And where is Burma, again?” seven times a day… Let’s just say you’ll take every headline you can get.

I understand that people are growing tired of it. In our ADD culture we barely even focus on an issue long enough to look at a map, let alone write an email to our representative. The combination of apathy, helplessness and insensitivity is felt by all of us. Would I be such a bitchy activist if I hadn’t been there? Would I even be able to point to it on a globe? Hell no.

But who I am now, what I believe now, is this: every push in the right direction is beneficial. Every baby step we take toward eradicating the countless problems that are simmering and bubbling all around the world is just that: a step. Each step counts. Will we wake up tomorrow to find peace in the Middle East? A democratic government in Burma? Monsoon rains in central Africa? Hell no.

But tomorrow I will wake up and spend another day speaking with people who are interested but uninformed. I will let them know about the rally this Saturday. I will try to describe my experience in the country, to humanize the issue and make it relevant. I will push. I will push my whole life. Right now, this is where I feel I can push the hardest and with the most impact. Perhaps, in a few weeks or so, I will spread awareness somewhere else. What is important is that I do not spend every day concerned only with bettering my life and my situation. I am concerned – every single fucking day – with bettering lives and situations.

Activism is not about solving problems tomorrow. It is not about saving the world. It is about giving every little you have to spare – whether it is money, or food, or signatures, or emails, or letters, or phone calls, or ideas, or two feet and two hands and a mouth all making noise for a cause. I don’t care if it’s a token effort. I don’t care if it’s a nudge. It’s something.

Here – in our rich, spoiled, obese western world – is the power. If everyone were to baby tap the world in the right direction, it would start to spin that way. Tappity tap tap. Get on it.

Support Peace and Democracy in Burma: Toronto Rally: Saturday, Oct. 6th, 6:00pm. We gather at the Chinese Consulate to add to the international pressure on the Chinese government to stop supporting the Burmese regime. We let them know that they must address this and other human rights issues or they should expect a global protest at their beloved Olympic Games.

After rallying there, we march down to Queen’s Park in an attempt to spread awareness and make our voices heard. Please, please join us. Otherwise, find some baby step you can take, and please take it. You’ll feel better about yourself, I promise.

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