This One Story Shows Why Burma Has To Stay In The Headlines

Just over one week ago, I launched the Burma NewsLadder in pretty quick order to help folks aggregate stories, photos, blog posts and more about the situation in Burma; a country I know relatively well because of my father's experiences there in the State Department.

The response to the Burma NewsLadder has been encouraging to say the least with people posting amazing stories from all around the world; linking to everything from the official newspaper site of the Burmese government to shocking photographs.

One story that was posted from Europe stunned me considerably. It's about the ongoing cremations the Burmese government continued long after the first wave of riots stopped, literally, as they burned the evidence of dead monks.

"Secret cremations hide Burma death toll." ">Here's the story.

Here's one of the more tragic quotes:

The secret cremations have been reported by local people who have seen olive green trucks covered with tarpaulins rumbling through the area at night and watched smoke rising continuously from the furnace chimneys.

There was one more thing I noticed as the week wore on. The international press kept covering the story, offering deeper and deeper analysis and discussions of the continuing worldwide efforts to stop the violence.

Our domestic press here, slowly, but surely, has dropped the story. It is just a trickle now. And this is one of the nice added benefits of the NewsLadder concept, we all get to decide what the news is.

So if Burma is still important to you, join me over at the Burma NewsLadder. Because it still matters to me.

(P.S. Did you know that U2 wrote "Walk On" in honor of Aung San Suu Kyi? Neither did I.)

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Comments

[HighPlainsAg]

I'm sympathetic to the need for more press regarding Burma, but I have to say that MY local press is not ignoring the story. There have been pieces almost daily in both the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News -- neither of them a notably Progressive venue. Also had no trouble keeping up with the story at Yahoo and NYT.

Yes, more, but let's not exaggerate.

[Purple Girl]

How is it that theatrocities to the most peaceful religion ( they hate to even step on an ant) has not brought more outrage from othe rreligious leaders. that's right they're not christians, or Muslim or Jews- more Heretics. Plus Buddhism shines a bright light on these religions corrupt doctrines. Go dforbid should we hold all tha twe have been given by God or Nature in higher esteem then the leaders of these religions (false idols). but his goes with their war cries in general. If your a humanitarian but do not bow before their alters you aren't woth a sh*t. they don't want you to praise a god- they want you to praise (and give your money to) the heads of the 'churches, temples, mosques'. If this were not true they'd all be spending more time & energy talking about this atrocity than if creationism should be the only thing taught in public schools.People have lost religion because religion lost people long time ago they are now Corporations with a philosophy of fear to control the masses- and their making bank.

[peonyharp]

I know I am repeating myself, but thank you, James Boyce! Thank you for offering the conduit of your NewsLadder so that I may discover the truth from the rest of the world and ACT on it. We cannot let this tragedy slip away due to MSM apathy.

Keep the light on, glaringly bright.

[James Boyce - Huffpost Blogger]

thank you :)

[peonyharp]

You're very welcome. ;)

[freespeach]

Nice to see someone trying to keep working to end this mess.

I have focussed my attention on Chevron as the best way to have some sort of impact as Russia and China are well beyond our reach.

Read more about Chevron if you like and boycott, and tell your friends.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/100307S.shtml

Thanks again for your efforts James Boyce.

[sorenmeetsdylan]

You don't give a rat's ass about foks in Burma. Until the shit hit the fan, you were entirely unacquainted with Ms. Su Kee (sic), but now you are on the case like stink on shit. Spare me your latter day concern for Burma. JUst as you had no concern for Iraqis being murdered by Saddam. You are a fashionable human rights activist, no more.

[James Boyce - Huffpost Blogger]

please go to www.burma.newsladder.net, and read about my father's service in Burma.

thanks

[James Boyce - Huffpost Blogger]

Please go to www.burma.newsladder.net and read the personal story behind my interest in it. I guess my father dying there in 1984 is not enough history for you? Also, work on your tyiping.