B8: Global Justice for Burma
August 8, 2008
New York, NY; San Francisco, CA; London, UK; Delhi, India
The Global Justice Center, alldaybuffet, Serene Communications, the International Burmese Monks Organization, the '88 Generation Students (Exile), New Words, and the U.S. Campaign for Burma have joined to create Global Justice for Burma. On August 8, 2008, this group will launch a campaign for international political buy-in to bring Burma's General Than Shwe and his criminal regime to justice by referring them to the International Criminal Court. This campaign will kick off with a series of coinciding "B8 Events," held in art galleries in major cities across the world showing contemporary Chinese artists. These events will bring together members of the Burmese, global human rights, activist and creative communities.
The Cause:
The military's violent suppression of the September 2007 Monk Protests and their subsequent denial of aid to victims of Cyclone Nargis exposed to the world the true nature of the brutal regime in Burma. Yet, these were not isolated events; the violent rapes, murders, and acts of torture that this regime has committed against its own people have persisted for more than forty years, and ongoing impunity for Senior General Than Shwe and the military junta is only emboldening criminal actions. It is our responsibility, as a part of the global community, to protect the civilians of Burma. We must stop negotiating and start prosecuting, and our voices need to be heard.
The Events:
The B8 Events will bring together artists, community leaders, and activists. Event guests will show their solidarity with and support for the people of Burma by wearing red. International Burmese Monks Organization representatives will be at each event, showing a short video they produced, and briefly addressing attendees. A rotating slide show will contain images of people all over the world with cardboard signs calling for justice in Burma. Because these events are also the launch for the larger campaign for criminal accountability - including an online campaign, www.globaljusticeforburma.org - there will be ways at each gallery to learn more and take further action. A postcard campaign will call for the UN Security Council to refer 4 SPDC members to the ICC, red ribbons will display awareness about the situation, and laptops and printed materials will be at each location with additional information about the issues, organizations working on Burma, and opportunities to donate to or sign up with the campaign.
For more information about these events, please click here. To see pictures and follow up from B8, please click here.