Appealing to all for help!

Ok, sorry to break up the party and fun, but there’s always more to life than friendships, meet-ups, and commitments, work or otherwise, so here goes…


I’m sure most of you are familiar with the twin disasters that struck Asia in early May; the disasters were perhaps, yet another show of fury by Mother Nature against Man for pillaging her resources. Not surprisingly, it was again the poorest of the region who were dealt with the greatest blow. Yes, the poor, the very people who cannot afford the technology that could have prevented many deaths, the very people who have the least say in capitalism and pollution, and the very people who were the most vulnerable and defenceless. This same tragedy was played out in the devestating tsunami of 2005 and again in this twin disaster.

Yet Mother Nature somehow outdid herself again, by striking Asia twice within the same month, thus contrasting the responses towards China, a rising economic powerhouse, with those received by Myanmar, a country forgotten by most and continues to hold little hope for democracy. The twin disasters had laid bare the hypocrisies of international aid and the media. In the immediate aftermath, international aid agencies rushed to offer financial support to China, an increasingly wealthy nation. While the media, ever eager to criticize China, has been scrutinizing Beijing’s every response to the calamity and tracking every movement of the Chinese Premier. Amidst all these brouhaha over China, the Myanmar story has been relegated to little over 2 pages while the Chinese story occupied almost the entire broadsheet. Just check May’s newspaper if you need further convincing.

Of course, one would oft cite the strict measures imposed by the military junta as impediments to information and aid flow. But even as the junta finally approves of ‘non-politicised’ aid funneled through ASEAN, and even as ASEAN desperately rallies support for the Myanmar cause, the funds raised are still $201 million shy of the target amount.

But is a Burmese life worth less than a Chinese’s? On moral and humanity grounds, the answer is obviously no (sadly on a purely economic ground, the answer might differ, and maybe that's why China is getting on the limelight). I’m not saying let’s not donate to the Sichuan victims, but rather, let’s not forget the Burmese victims too. So I’m hereby appealing to everyone to give generously to Project Burmese – Operation Nargis.

Introducing Project Burmese – Operation Nargis
Project Burmese is a collaboraton between the Burmese students of my school and Phayagyi Mingalar Taik Monastery located in the Phayargyi Village. The main aim of the project would be to procure and deliver supplies to the victims of Cylcone Nargis and to normalize life.

The project proposal has been approved by the school and a recce team has been sent to assess the situation in Myanmar. The team has concluded that what is most urgently required is to help rebuild parts of the monastery, which had served as a home and school to many orphans, as well as to help resume school operations for the coming academic year. The donations will be handled by the school and the students will be returning to Myanmar soon to start distributing the aid and supplies. As the supplies and cash donations will be transported by the Burmese students back to their homeland, it will thus bypass the restriction placed on foreign aid.

How to help:
All cash donations and donations of used textbooks will be welcomed. Please contact me for more details. (do not use the tagboard, pls contact me via sms or msn) If you wish to donate other items, please let me know first and I’ll check with the team for you.

For Cash Donations: Please place the cash in a sealed envelope bearing your name, mobile, and the amount donated and sign on the envelope. I will pass you a s'tand-by' receipt first before collecting your official receipt from the team. Alternatively, you may wish to make a direct donation at the Project Burmese booth located along the SMU concourse (the underground tunnel that links the campus).

For Cheque: All cheques should be made payable to Singapore Management University. On the back, please write "SMU Project Nargis", your name and contact number. You may pass the cheque to me, for which i will also add you a 'stand-by' receipt, or you may send it in to:

Office of Student Life
(Attn: Ms Reneeta Sandhu)
Singapore Management University
Administration Building
81 Victoria Street
Singapore 188065

For Donations-in-kind: Please check with me first on the donations. I will make subsequent arrangements to collect it from you. Alternatively, you may drop it off at the Project Burmese booth located in the SMU concourse.

How your donations will help:
Every donation made will be directed towards:
1) Distribution of relief items
2) Providing textbooks and stationeries
3) Installing a water purification system
4) Assisting in the reconstruction of library and clinic

If you feel that you are unable to contribute any donations currently but still wish to help, please help disseminate the message so that more will know about this project and how to help too.

Here's a rare opportunity to help the Burmese victims, to deliver aid to them without running into all the red tapes. So I hope everyone will give generously and reach out to those who need our help most. Thank you. =]

NOTE: This is NOT part of the project for which I am selling the 2 dollar pledge cards. This project, benefits the Burmese victims directly. Please note as well that I am not part of the team nor will I be visiting Myanmar. However, if you require further information on the project, please let me know, I will try to find out more for you.