Make a Difference TODAY

As you know, the military junta in Burma has begun its crackdown on the peaceful protesters, most of whom are Buddhist monks. Dozens have been killed or injured and hundreds have been arrested. The eyes of the world are on Burma, yet the violence continues. They have tried to block accurate information from escaping the country, so we outsiders won't see what's really happening. But surreptitious bloggers using cell phone cameras, email, Google and the like are making sure information is leaking out. Meredith has regular information coming into her email from friends and friends-of-friends, folks with whom she had contact before the violence began, that is helping paint a picture of the atrocities that are going on.

All this to say--I have another small way you can help. Other than fervent prayer, which is, of course, vital, please consider signing this online petition. One way we can make a dent is to remove all economic support from the organized "government" in Burma. President Bush has taken a step in this direction by strengthening US sanctions against them and speaking out at the UN assembly. China is starting to be more forceful in their condemnations. But one US-based company remains active in Burma. So let's encourage them to get out, too. Go to www.petitiononline.com/urgeChev/petition.html to read the petition against Chevron. It's easy to sign, you choose whether to make your email public or private and you don't even have to get on the mailing list for the organization that is circulating it (which has offices in Chaing Mai, Thailand, and is operated by a friend of Meredith's). So there are no strings attached, just your name and city, and a feeling that maybe you're helping even in a tiny way, to bring an end to this conflict.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." --Margaret Mead