Comments on: Break the silence, buy radios for Burma

By: marie

marie — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 23:24:51 +0000

Have gladly paid for one radio. Can’t believe the absolute elitist, first world tosh posted here as excuses for not donating. Don’t want to, then don’t post. We in the first world are rich in every way – but the most important is freedom of speech. To read comments arguing or demanding other options is to induce despair at what price our own freedoms were fought for. My father fought against tyranny in WWII and a secret radio was one of the most powerful tools in the underground resistance which aided him and hundreds of others. WTF how these radios operate as long as they do the job. Leave it to the experts, those on the ground. Well one good thing has resulted from these selfish self-righteous postings – I shall now donate another radio. And FYI I am retired on a limited income – but still rich in every way compared to those who live under repressive regimes wherever in the world. In memory of my father and the longest day June 1943.

By: Rosalind

Rosalind — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 23:05:50 +0000

I love this idea. Not just because people will be able to be more politically informed and aware of what’s going on outside their villages. In Burma, one of the worst deprivations is the lack of education, and the radios will help here, where very little else is available.

I’ve donated for one as a present for someone else – as well as for me.

Great, imaginative and thoughtful campaign. Thanks AI!

By: Still time to help buy radios for Burma « Protect The Human

Still time to help buy radios for Burma « Protect The Human — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:03:53 +0000

[...] Read more about the background to the campaign and join the discussion [...]

By: Radios for Burma: An Update « Protect The Human

Radios for Burma: An Update « Protect The Human — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 08:58:17 +0000

[...] Protect The Human Taking action together for Human Rights « Previous [...]

By: chris usher

chris usher — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 23:01:49 +0000

for your CAF cheques this is the address of AIUK

Amnesty International UK
The Human Rights Action Centre
17-25 New Inn Yard
London EC2A 3EA

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 09:07:57 +0000

I’ve made my donation but I would like to add to the debate about windup radios. For me this is not an environmental issue but a practical one. How easy is it to buy batteries in Burma? Is there a reliable electricity supply outside of the cities (or within cities for that matter) where radios can be plugged in once the batteries fail? The ‘beauty’ of wind up radios is that they are not reliant on intermittent electricity supplies. The issue of sourcing 4000 windup radios is irrelevant – surely sourcing 4000 radios of any variety will be suspicious.

I think the comments posted here show our ignorance (and I include myself) and our need for information on the situation in Burma just as much as this project is attempting to help the Burmese get information

By: Liz Murray

Liz Murray — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 20:37:24 +0000

I note that this request has come from the people we all want to support. Can we not give them credit for knowing their own situation? They’ve asked for what they need. I don’t think it’s right for us to decide that they actually need something different. Yes, wind up radios are more environmentally friendly, but there is no way to import them without attracting unwelcome attention. These radios are going to be bought locally, in quantities that don’t attract suspicion. Wind up radios aren’t readily available in Burma and the few that there are, will be expensive. In an ideal world, the people of Burma would have access to wind up or solar radios, but then, in an ideal world, they wouldn’t need this campaign anyway…..

By: Aaran Aardvark

Aaran Aardvark — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 15:30:10 +0000

In discussion with a supporter of the Break the Silence campaign I suggested that supplying a few netbooks or DX equipment could have the effect of breaking the silence without providing propaganda channels to… the CIA for example or the BBC World Service, or whoever the recipients of the radios actually end up listening to.

Since western organisations like these champion freedom of speech in Burma whilst contributing to the suppression of it at home, perhaps they should really be providing the their own propaganda tools, rather than asking for contributions toward them from you and I?

I am all in favour of breaking the silence, but judging from our own media in the UK you have to ask with what and for whom I think?

By: Jimbo

Jimbo — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:30:57 +0000

Great idea; yes it could be tweaked but it’s happening which is the important thing. Thank god we’re not all naysayers. Keep it up AI and have a radio on me, wish I could do more to help.

By: Casinò

Casinò — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:22:11 +0000

We shall contribute $12.00 for democracy.