Faith in Action!!
Responding to the Recent Disasters in Burma1 and China
TCMF believes that Faith is more than a list of statements you agree with or even base your life on, but rather that it is an influence in your life so strong that you have to live it out in your words and actions — a journey that we walk with one another and with God.
Our faith has led us to seek the most proper and helpful way to serve the people affected by the recent cyclone in Burma and earthquake in China — individuals who are children of God. Thus, we invite you to join us in a process of discernment that begins with educating ourselves and our communities about what is going on. Below are a few recent articles, videos, and radio reports that will help you get started. Please also embark on a journey of faith to see what else you can find out, and where God may be leading you this day.
Burma1
BBC: Country profile: Burma May 6, 2008
BBC: Mangrove loss 'put Burma at risk' May 6, 2008
BBC: Burma's cyclone death toll soars May 7, 2008
CNN: Myanmar tries to get out the vote as aid deliveries languish May 10,2008
CNN: Myanmar's junta leader visits cyclone refugees May 18, 2008
CNN: [Video] Tuesday rescues as emphasis turns to relief May 19, 2008
CNN: Starvation threatens in once fertile Myanmar May 20, 2008
BBC: UN to fly aid to Burmese victims May 20, 2008
NPR: Myanmar considers aid from Asian neighbors May 20, 2008
CNN: Myanmar agrees to accept ASEAN cyclone aid May 19, 2008
CNN: Official: No World Bank aid for Myanmar May 20, 2008
BBC - Women's Hour: [Radio] Interview with Aung San Suu Kyi May 18, 2002
BBC - Women's Hour: [Radio] How Save the Children is responding to the Burmese Cyclone May 20, 2008
NPR: A Buddhist vision of the Myanmar cyclone May 19, 2008
China
CNN: One villager's lament: 'I have lost everything' May 17, 2008
CNN: Millions left homeless by China quake May 17, 2008
CNN: Aftershock rattles China rescue efforts May 18, 2008
CNN: China begins mourning as toll mounts May 19, 2008
NPR: China begins three-day mourning period May 19, 2008
NPR: Aftershock warning sets Chengdu on guard May 20, 2008
NPR: Experts keep close eye on quake-damaged dams May 20, 2008
BBC: China earthquake toll tops 40,000 May 20, 2008
Both
CNN: Emergency response: A tale of two disasters May 15, 2008
NPR: Juggling disaster in Myanmar and China May 18, 2008
Further Resources
BBC World News, RSS Feed2 Daily
Buddhism, Gender and Non-Violence course page
Notes
1Why "Burma" rather than "Myanmar"??: When the military junta that rules the country to this day took power in 1962, they changed the name of the country to Myanmar. Most of the actual people living in the country, who are oppressed (or at least suppressed) by the junta, continue to call the country Burma, and refer to themselves as Burmese.
2What's an RSS Feed??: An RSS feed is a way to receive updates as they occur, such as news stories, blog posts, or other alerts. The BBC World News RSS Feed lists the most current world news stories. You can either subscribe to them with your favorite feed software, attempt to view the whole list with your browser, or download Safari (for Mac or Windows) that handles feeds very intuitively.