Human Rights Day
Event - 10th December 2008
The public event held to mark the 60th
Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on
Human Rights Day was a great success. This was thanks mainly
to the students from Liberties College who provided very impressive
street theatre at the event, enduring the bitter cold as they
acted out their creation. The students, Robert Murphy, Saoirse
O'Brien, David Phelan, Claire O'Neill, Aisling O'Mara and
Jennifer English devised the piece with direction from well
known actress Una Kavanagh. Human rights violations and the
injustices suffered by the people of Burma were portrayed
by the students in very intense and emotive scenes.
The piece was extremely effective and many spectators watched
in stunned silence as the students acted out heart wrenching
scenes. Una and students from Liberties College first became
involved with Burma Action Ireland while researching the situation
in Burma for their forthcoming screenplay 'Mayamar'. Directed
by Una, the show will take place in the Civic Theatre, Tallaght,
in early February 2009.
Burma Action Ireland would like to thank Una Kavanagh and
the students from the Liberties College for their assistance
and support in making this event a success. Thanks also to
the various BAI supporters who attended the event and gave
their support and we look forward
seeing you all again at our next event. |
| 60 Years
of Human Rights Abuse – No Celebration of UDHR in Burma
Fair City actress Una Kavanagh
and students from Liberties College will perform street theatre
at an event organised by Burma Action Ireland. The event will
take place Wednesday 10th December 2008, the 60th Anniversary
of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, from 12.30pm
to 2.30pm at the Central Bank Plaza on Dame Street.
Niamh Rooney of Burma Action Ireland
commented today that, “the 60th Anniversary of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights will be celebrated globally on
this day, Human Rights Day, by many nations and peoples. Burma
and many others countries have no cause to join these celebrations
as human rights is not a concept they are familiar with”.
“Events in Burma earlier this year
highlighted this fact when Burmese victims of Cyclone Nargis
were denied access to humanitarian aid in the immediate wake
of the disaster. The military junta refused to allow emergency
aid organisations into the devastated area at a most critical
time.
Burma has over 2000 political prisoners who are subject to
unlawful arrest and imprisonment, torture, abuse, unfair trials
and sentencing and inhumane prison conditions. Burma also
has the highest number of child soldiers in the world, ethnic
minorities are persecuted resulting in an estimated 2 million
internally displaced people and refugees. Gender based violence
is widespread and the systematic rape of women and children
occurs on a daily basis. Forced labour and confiscation of
land and property by the military is also a daily threat.
Freedom of speech is an alien concept and media censorship
is the norm. These are but a few of the gross human rights
violations faced by the Burmese people”.
Una Kavanagh and students from Liberties
College first became involved with Burma Action Ireland while
researching the situation in Burma for their forthcoming screenplay
“Mayamar”. Directed by Una, the show will take
place in the Civic Theatre in early February 2009. Una has
helped the students to create a piece of street theatre for
the Burma Action Ireland event which will portray the injustice
experienced by the Burmese population. All supporters are
urged to come along to show solidarity with the Burmese.
Note to Editors
· This is a peaceful event.
· It is not a marching protest.
· Burma Action Ireland is a voluntary group established
in May 1996 to raise awareness in Ireland of the current situation
in Burma and the nature of the ruling regime, the State Peace
and Development Council. The association is non-party political,
non-denominational and committed to non-violent means.
For further information contact: Gearoid Kilgallen, BAI Chairperson
- 01 2800866
Niamh Rooney, BAI Coordinator – 087 1261857
|
Wednesday 10th
December 2008
60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Wednesday 10th December 2008, Human Rights
Day, will see global celebrations of the 60th Anniversary
of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Burma Action Ireland will be joined by actress Una Kavanagh
and students from Liberties College, who will perform street
theatre at an event to both celebrate the anniversary of the
UDHR and to highlight its lack of significance to the Burmese
people.
The event will take place from 12.30p.m. to 2.30p.m. on Wednesday
10th December 2008 at the Central Bank Plaza on Dame Street,
Dublin.
All supporters are urged to take part.
For further information contact Niamh Rooney, Burma Action
Ireland at 087 1261857 or info@burmaactionireland.org |
Friday 24th October
2008
“Aung San Suu Kyi –
13 Years in Detention”
On Friday 24th October 2008,
Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s pro-democracy leader, will
have reached the end of her thirteenth year in detention.
A candlelit vigil to mark the occasion and to protest for
her immediate release , will be held by Burma Action Ireland
from 5p.m. to 7p.m. on Friday 24 October 2008 at Fusiliers
Arch, St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin.All supporters
are urged to take part. BAI will supply the candles, please
bring a jam jar or other suitable container to hold your candle.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO ATTEND BUT
DON’T LIVE IN DUBLIN??
Why not organise a candlelit vigil in
your area to show your support for Aung San Suu Kyi? It doesn’t
need to be a big event, as long as you are visible and draw
attention to the issue then you will have made a contribution!
Why not call on family and friends for support, ask your local
radio or newspaper to publicise the event? And of course,
don’t forget to contact BAI at 0871261857 or info@burmaactionireland.org
and we will offer any assistance possible and will publicise
your event on the BAI website. |
3th - 12th October 2008
Events at Westport Arts Festival
'Burma: Forgotten Nation - Forgotten
People'
An exhibition of Photographs by Philip Daly
Sponsored by BAI and Simon Coveney, TD MEP
The exhibition comprises 40 photographs taken recently in
the refugee camps on the Thai-Burma border. These camps are
home to thousands of Burmese refugees, who have been driven
out by the violence of the Burmese military regime. They have
fled from political persecution, ethnic cleansing, forced
labour, forced porterage, detention without trial, torture,
rape and summary execution. Some have been living in the camps
since the popular uprisings against the regime in 1988. The
photographer, Philip Daly, has portrayed their lives in the
camp with sensitivity and respect.
The Exhibition has completed successful
shows in various locations around the country and will now
exhibit as part of the Westport Arts Festival at the Wyatt
Hotel, Westport from Friday, 3rd to Sunday, 12th October 2008.
Free admission, all are welcome.
East meets West in The Wyatt
As part of the Westport Arts Festival,
The Wyatt Hotel will host an evening of traditional Irish
and Burmese music on Wednesday, October 8, at 8pm.
The aim of the event, aptly entitled
'From Burma to Mayo', is to present a fusion of Irish traditional
music and music of the Burmese Karen people to a Mayo audience.
Well-known Castlebar singer/songwriter John Hoban has collaborated
with the Karen people and he will play some of their music.
John has also invited some other traditional Irish musicians
to perform on the night.
Those who attend will gain an insight
into Burmese culture. Members of the Karen community will
showcase their traditional dance and sing some traditional
songs in their native dress. There will be a short talk by
Mayo Intercultural Action (MIA) and Burma Action Ireland (BAI).
There will also be a poetry reading and a drumming circle.
The evening will conclude with a question and answer session
for people who want to find out a bit more about the Karen
people who left refugee camps on the Thai-Burma border to
settle in Mayo.
Admission costs €10 per person,
and all of the proceeds from the evening will be divided between
BAI and the MIA.
|
Friday 26th September
2008
DAY OF ACTION
“REMEMBER THE BRAVE MONKS OF BURMA”
A silent vigil in memory of the “Saffron
Revolution”
led by Buddhist Monks in Burma last autumn, and its
savage repression by the military dictatorship, will be
held by Burma Action Ireland from noon to 1 p.m.
on Friday 26 September at the junction of Grafton
Street and St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin.
All sympathisers are urged to take part.
PLEASE TRY TO WEAR A RED SHIRT OR OTHER RED GARMENT
IN SOLIDARITY.
|
EXHIBITION OF PHOTOGRAPHS 2008
Exhibition of Photographs :
‘Burma – Forgotten Nation, Forgotten People’
Tallaght Community Arts Centre, Village
Square, Tallaght, Dublin 24 from 5th June – 20th June
2008.
http://www.tcac.ie
Westport, Co. Mayo from 8th October
2008 - location and full dates to be announced!
A selection of these photographs may
be viewed from the photo exhibition link above. |
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