Caged Freedom

Photo by Jef Aerosol

Nobel Peace Prize winner and activist Aung San Suu Kyi, a key political figure in her native Myanmar (formerly Burma) has been under house arrest for the last 18 years. She entered into politics following the teachings of Buddhism and Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of non-violent protest, while seeking the establishment of a democratic government for Myanmar. In September of 1988 Suu Kyi founded the National League for Democracy and was placed on house arrest a year later. In 1990 she won the position of Prime Minister of Burma; however, she was unable to assume her role because of her detention by the military junta.

On Mahatma Gandhi's birthday; October 2nd, the Mirca Art Group will release Freedom & Art, their landmark collaboration of international artists to raise awareness of Suu Kyi's plight. The book will be released to the public through an event called “Set a Book Free"; all featured artists - including Ladies Lotto's Melissa Steckbauer - will place a copy donated by Internet-based publishing site Blurb.com in a public location to raise interest.

After the release to the public the book will be available at Amnesty International and Amazon.com. Proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to Amnesty International to support efforts being made on behalf of Suu Kyi. A traveling exhibit featuring a selection of the art published in the book is also planned to open in 2009.

8.8.08

B8 Global Justice for Burma is an international affair taking place in Delhi, London, New York and San Francisco on August 8, 2008. B8 hopes to bring attention to the brutal regime of General Than Shwe and to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 8888 massacre. In 1987, the country was thrown into economic turmoil when General Ne Win decided to change the currency based on his astrologer's assertion that "9" was his lucky number. The number was not so lucky for Burmese citizens; many suffered because of this abrupt change in the economic flow. On August 8, 1988 thousands of peaceful protesters including students and monks were slaughtered on the streets of Burma (now Myanmar) as they called for a more stable economy.

alldaybuffet is co-sponsoring an event to bring people -- including the Prime Minister of a government in exile -- together in the spirit of the Olympics, under one banner, to stop the atrocities in Burma. The B8 events will kick off the larger Global Justice for Burma campaign to end impunity for war crimes, torture, and genocide in Burma by calling for the referral of Burma's General Than Shwe and his military regime to the International Criminal Court.

Events will be held in various spaces throughout the world; many will have monks on hand to discuss the situation in Burma.The only requirement is that you wear a bit of scarlet to show your solidarity.

Friday, 8.8.2008
Eli Klein Fine Art
462 West Broadway
www.elikleinfineart.com
7:00 - 10:00 pm

Special New York Details

• At least 19 Burmese monks will be in attendance
• Viewing of Ashin Nayaka's video call to justice
• Surviving members of the 88 student protest will be in attendance
  

Visit the website, facebook, or going for additional details. Spread the word, and celebrate that sense of unity with a call for humanity. It's sure to be a most auspicious night.

There's no doubt Ladies Lotto New York members Nikki Bagli, Jerri Chou and the alldaybuffet crew will attain massive amounts of good karma for helping to put together this amazing event!

Mission of Burma

Above: Buddhist Monk passes through fallen debris


Above: Displaced children whose parents cannot be found.

With the death toll from last week's cyclone in Myanmar (Burma) at over 22,000 and counting, aid agencies are accepting relief donations. For a list of where you can contribute click here.