With Burma VJ now available on DVD, we re-present Danny Fisher’s interview with two of the film’s key players.
I recently had both the honor and the pleasure of interviewing U Pyinya Zawta, a founding member and the executive director of the All Burma’s Monks’ Alliance, for my blog here at Shambhala SunSpace. After spending [...]
Nice to see this on CNN’s homepage this morning: “Demonstrators around the world plan to show their support for Aung San Suu Kyi at rallies celebrating the pro-democracy leader’s 65th birthday[today], while international leaders renewed calls for her release.”
The US Campaign for Burma puts things this way: “Millions Rallied to Free Nelson Mandela and [...]
For more: visit US Campaign for Burma.
See also: “Conversations with Aung San Suu Kyi” – a classic interview from the pages of the Sun. And: our coverage of Burma here on SunSpace.
A founding member and the executive director of the All Burma Monks’ Alliance, U Pyinya Zawta, who spent ten years of his life behind bars for his pro-democracy activities, was one of the leaders of 2007’s “Saffron Revolution”—the nonviolent demonstration by thousands of Buddhist monastics calling for economic and political justice in the military-ruled country.
He’s [...]
February 26, 2010 – 4:59 pm
Many were skeptical when this news broke in late January via the TimesOnline: “Burma’s military government is contemplating the release of the country’s democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, at the end of the year, but only after the anticipated date of national elections, according to reports from Rangoon.”
And with good reason: [...]
January 15, 2010 – 10:04 am
Without question, this week’s theme is “the movies”: A Tibetan filmmaker is sentenced to a long prison stretch for making a film about discontent within his homeland, a Hollywood star puts in a meaningful appearance at Bodh Gaya, a film festival becomes a flashpoint for U.S.-China tensions, and Burma VJ continues its awards season sweep.
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January 2, 2010 – 3:01 pm
“Flip-flopping” and anniversaries head-up this week’s news stories.
On the one hand, Burma’s ruling military junta has been taking steps that would seem to suggest that they are responding to pressure to respect human rights and democratize the country. On the other hand, they’ve also been doing things that seem to suggest resistance to such [...]
December 6, 2009 – 9:36 am
This 30-second spot was initially created as part of the Lancia auto brand’s sponsorship of the 10th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Berlin Nov. 10-11, 2009, for which the theme was “Knocking down new walls and building bridges for a world without violence.” How nice to see Chrysler, a major US automaker, joining [...]
November 23, 2009 – 10:24 am
Leading the Buddhist news items this week were stories of world leaders “stepping out”: U.S. President Barack Obama came to call on China, His Holiness the Dalai Lama offered teachings at a disputed region of India and in Italy, and Burma’s General Than Shwe visited Sri Lanka. The Indian government has also announced [...]
November 11, 2009 – 5:29 pm
“Rule-breakers” lead the news stories from the Buddhist world this week: chief among these would be His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who is visiting Arunachal Pradesh state in India (a region claimed by China as their own) this week, and Ajahn Brahmavamso in Australia, who performed a bhikkshuni ordination in Perth and was subsequently disavowed [...]
November 1, 2009 – 10:21 am
A Buddhist holiday is our top story this week, dear readers. That’s right, it’s time once again for Kathina—the Theravada Buddhist holiday marks the end of the rains retreat, and is the main time for alms-giving in the tradition. We point you to stories this week about observations in locations as far apart as [...]
October 25, 2009 – 11:10 am
The question of progress on human rights issues in various parts of Buddhist Asia (continue to) dominate much of the news this week. With important new reports, bodies, and findings making headlines, the stage is clearly set for conflict or change in certain areas. Will the ruling military junta bow to international pressure [...]
October 12, 2009 – 11:02 am
Looming large in this latest round-up from our resident Buddhist world-news newshound, Danny Fisher:
The G-20, the Nobel Peace Prize, U.S. foreign policy, freedom of the press, and China. Plus, a “gigantic” lost Buddha, and more.
September 28, 2009 – 4:29 pm
Burma remains the major source of news this week, what with major changes in U.S. policy toward the country, Buddhist temples destroyed in earthquakes, and reports that effectively nothing has changed for the sangha two years after the quashing of the “Saffron Revolution.” Plus: more on Thich Nhat Hanh’s community at Bat Nha Monastery in [...]
September 21, 2009 – 9:26 am
To be honest with you, dear readers, there’s not a lot of particularly good news this week.
Yes, some political prisoners were released from Burma this week…but only a very small handful of a possible 2,200. Yes, President Obama will meet with His Holiness the Dalai Lama…but only after the Commander in Chief visits China [...]
