Wednesday, December 26, 2012

A Volunteers' Visit to Myanmar(Burma).


Myanmar December 2012

Myanmar is a hot, dusty “dilapidated” but beautiful country with few amenities available to the average citizen. However the country is occupied by the friendliest, open, happy and honest inhabitants who would go out of their way for a stranger without thought of payment. There are many ethnic groups within the country, some fair far better than others. (The generals are all ethic Burmese).70% of all people live below the poverty line; many of these are single rural women with families to support. Although education is compulsory for all children between the ages of 5 and 10 years, we believe we saw many of that age selling items to support their families. Many families rely on the Buddhist monks for a basic education.

It is a very mountainous country with only 18% arable land available for food crops. Although previously it was the rice bowl of Asia, the land now is dry and infertile due to the lack of available water (unless close to the major rivers). The Shan State in the north (or dry zone) is by far the worst

Myanmar has become the global traveller’s (top of the range as well as back packers) most popular destination creating a severe lack of accommodation and causing hotel prices to escalate astronomically. The top end resorts and hotels in the best locations are owned by the ruling Generals, local business people have struggled in the past yet see future prosperity for them in this industry. We only stayed at locally owned places throughout the country.

All major banks are controlled and owned by the government (the generals), these have failed several times in the last 30 years causing inflation rates to run at more than 30% thus forcing local people to “put their money under the mattress” Since the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, people are far happier and prepared to discuss politics, even display photos of her and her father. In the last 2 years independent banks have started to flourish providing increased local confidence. I’m sure improved infrastructure will soon follow.

While there I could not help noticing areas/aspects that outsiders could assist with at little cost.

The orphanage Jim supports caters for around 80 children, the girls and boys are housed separately on two compounds. It now has excellent good new dwellings which are set in large grounds so they can be quite self-supportive with vegetables, fruit, milk and chickens. The new bathroom facilities, dormitories and study rooms are of a most generous standard. Unfortunately the kitchens are very primitive and inadequate for the required needs.

Their educational programme encourages the children to remain at school right through to tertiary level. They have a language lab and computers and are in the process of buying 10 laptops for student use. Girls learn weaving and sewing. Jim helps support 5 girls and 1 boy studying at university level, one of the girls is doing well in her engineering course. It has been difficult to place students, especially boys in training positions if they did not qualify for university.

Through UNDP, Aid organisations introduced Micro Banking to 4 zones within Myanmar in the late 1980’s. These programmes followed the principles of the Grameen Bank; to build, operate and then transfer to local staff.

Groups involved were (US) PACT (Private Agency Collaborating Together),Save the Children, World Vision, CARE( Coop, Assist, Relief, Everywhere-AUSAID helped), GRET (Dutch)

One zone selected was the Shan State, (the highest poverty level and by far the very driest) it was established for farmers, tradesmen and artisans. It is a very stable area and one we visited to see the present results.

The loan aim was to ensure health, food, water, security and education was provided to remote areas.

The loan criteria stated; borrowers must be female, landless and subsistence farmers.

In brief: By 2005,with  440,000 female clients and interest rate at 10%, the results were very mixed because the countries inflation rate was running at up to 40% forcing women to take money lenders loans to help repay first loan.

Because of the government’s heavy restrictions, these organisations had no legal status or regulating ability; private banks could not operate or open and the government placed a low ceiling on interest rates. In fact the government did everything to ensure the failure of any assistance.

In 2008 after the massive damage of Cyclone NARGIS the government was forced to see the need for changes within banking and finance etc. Private Banks entered and became trusted by the people.

By 2009 after negotiations with other AID groups; PACT was the group to survive (following Grameen Banking Principles and working with the other groups in the back ground) but they required an MOU with the government – case by case!! There was no standard MOU- and it depended on the mood of the day as to what happened!!

However all previous unpaid loans were treated as GRANTS- to allow borrowers to have a fresh start. All involved see a light at the end and are acting positively.

After the elections of 2010 new defining rules were promised- but not as yet Law. Small borrowers still cannot take loan if no collateral. Therefore donor institutions are working with the government to develop a Microfinance Aid strategy which at this point appear to be working well, thanks to the incredible efforts of Aung San Suu Kyi. Global interest rates and greater accountability are required for greater success within MF schemes.
Jennie and Jim Russell, Melbourne, Australia.
Jennie is President of the National Council of Women of Victoria. Jim is a former Professor of Engineering who has been supporting the orphanage descrined above for a number of years.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Leunig, the tiresome Judeophobe cartoonist in "The Age".


 Melbourne, The Age. 14/12/'12:

http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/-2bcef.html

Letter to the Editor, The Age, in response!(unpublished)
We are used to The Age with Leunig's help creating controversy to sell its papers by publishing one anti-Israel statement after the next. Leunig’s most recent escapade into the world of Judeophobia while claiming innocence was his provocative cartoon using Nazi analogies to make a point about that tiny state of Israel . Nick Dyrenfurth (The Age, 14/12) rightly calls Leunig’s insulting offerings provocative and tiresome, while obviously knowing full well that they won’t be ignored. It is not the 1930s and the Jewish people here or in Israel are not the helpless minorities of yesteryear to keep silent about these insults.
I would strongly suggest that both Leunig and the Age’s editorial staff attend Waleed Aly’s lectures to gain a modicum of understanding of the complexities of Middle Eastern politics. His insight into what is happening currently in Egypt ( Egypt’s soul on the verge of being shredded, 14/12) is a refreshing expose of the turmoil loosely termed “the Arab Spring” which is embroiling the whole Middle East. But for the first time it is the aware Egyptians who understand that changing from autocracy to theocracy is not democracy.
With the masses of WMDs falling into who knows whose hands throughout that region, including in Syria, all possibly aligning towards the only stable little enclave surviving by a thread in a sea of hostility in the ME, Leunig’s ignorant interpretations would be funny if they were not so dangerously racist as well!
MM
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My letter to the Editor, AJN. 
The  Australian Foreign Minister Carr's criticism of Israel and cartoonist Leunig's anti-Semitic cartoon controversy versus the 1938 aboriginal activist William Cooper story (Australian Jewish News,13/12/'12) .

The story about what that amazingly good person, William Cooper tried to do and say in 1938 here in far-off Australia, is a timely reminder and warning to the whole world.

Perhaps both our Foreign Minister and the Age cartoonist Leunig should try to be a similar ‘good friend’ to the Palestinian Arabs’ leadership in Gaza and Ramallah and proffer to them their respective unsolicited advice and insulting criticisms which they  push on to  Israel, its Prime Minister and us Jews who support them.

If the world would not have acquiesced to what Hitler was doing to the Jews in the ‘30s, perhaps a second world war might have been averted in the ‘40s.

This is exactly what the West, except for the US and Canada is acquiescing to right now vis-à-vis Hamas et al.

So  whom are our supposed  ‘friends’ choosing to criticize and insult?

The only stable and democratic nation in a part of the world torn apart by intra-ethnic conflicts.

But Israel’s critics should also be reminded that Jews are no longer the helpless  scapegoats of yesteryear.

That amazingly plucky little nation of Israel has proven that it will overcome the new ‘Hitlers’ in spite of some of its supposed good friends, not because of them.

MM

Non-denominational support for Jewish people.

It is good to see this group forming and attracting some attention. This article was in J-wire (www.jwire.com.au). Ignorance is the root of all evil, particularly when it comes to Israel and the Middle East!

 

Adelaide support for Israel
December 17, 2012 by Shirlee Finn
Read on for article
A newly formed non-denominational group has been established in Adelaide to support Israel.
adelaide-400
Protesters
Behind South Australians Supporting Israel are Ben White, Virginia Snape and Tania Fenwick.
Snape hosts a blog informing readers about the real situation in Israel and White disseminates information about the historical and political situation in the region.
Together with Fenwick. Tania all three are active on Facebook, posting comments about issues in Israel.
They noted in the weeks before Israel actually took action during Operation Pillar of Cloud that rocket attacks were increasing and nothing was being said in the media. When the media became obsessed with Israel again, White suggested that they create a pro-Israel group and rallied to get support.
Fenwick, who has visited Israel said: “ I have witnessed the inclusive and multi-cultural society of Israel and spent considerable time in Jordan and Israel, mostly in my archaeological pursuits. I am a field archaeologist who has worked with the University of Adelaide, Israeli Antiquities, Associates for Biblical Research and a private contractor. I have a great interest in the history of Israel and find that the archaeological proofs back up that the Jews have indigenous connections to the land. I have Jewish Israeli and Arab Israeli friends and along with Ben and Virginia are proud supporters of Israel.”
The three have connected with members of the Adelaide Jewish community.
Fenwick developed a plan to hold a rally in support of Israel.
She said “I ordered posters to be printed and learned the process as none of us had ever been part of a rally like this. I informed the Adelaide City Council and Parliament house and contacted the police who were very supportive. Christopher Pyne has indicated that he will attend a future rally, as he is a great supporter of Israel but was unable to attend on that day.
Fenwick spoke at the rally earlier this month. She said: ” Although it was a small group, all were enthusiastic. The rally took place on the steps of Parliament House. Members of the public waved and cheered from their cars and many told us they supported Israel. We handed out flyers and the whole thing was non-confrontational but underpinned that Israel wants peace, but it is impossible when Hamas and others are full of hate and have declared that they will never make peace. Other pro-Israel rallies have done the same and I hope the peaceful sentiments speak louder than the aggression shown on the other side!”
She added: “It went well – and I think it is a great building base for the future.”
Fenwick has confronted BDS protesters in Adelaide’s Rundle Mall and says “when questioned it was obvious that they know nothing of the real situation. We are not political activists, but find the anti-Israel and antisemitic undertones intolerable and feel that voices are needed at this time to support Israel.”
She said that a pro-Palestinian protester had as to why she had visited Israel. She said “ I told him about being a field archaeologist and then he asked me if I was Jewish or Israeli. When I told him I was neither, he was lost for words – this bloke was a real goose!”
White said: “ It was wonderful to see a dream that Tania had had several weeks ago turn into reality! Plenty more to come yet from SASI !”
The group is looking for funds to assist them bring speakers to Adelaide. J-Wire will pass on any offers of help. Please contact us at adelaide@jwire.com.au

Sunday, December 2, 2012

FAMILY HOLIDAYS AND NEWS

HAPPY HANUKKAH, December 8-15, from E. & M.

Our Hedy and Gary are off on the 9th,- to India and Thailand respectively.
We wish them enjoyable 3 weeks and we pray that they return safe and sound!

The Paul and Gloria Malinek family are expecting a new addition to Mandy and Baron's brood,- a new sibling for Blake; the Mitchells are off to Disneyland before the arrival of their new cousin; and so  we shall be farewelling and celebrating with the family at a pre-Hanukkah bar-b-que this week.

A first-night candle lighting will be on at Kathy Kaplan's on Saturday complete with ponchkes (donuts) and latkes (potato pamcakes).

Christmas Day lunch as usual at the Rozens in Shoreham, then New Year's Eve at the RACV Club in the city. Our holidays will start on Australia Day when we shall sail across to Davenport on the Spirit of Tasmania to celebrate our 55th Wedding Anniversary at Cradle Mountain with the Balints and the Gordons! A visit to the MONA Gallery is also planned.

Some of our friends are not so well, so we wish them all a speedy recovery. We all look forward to happy and enjoyable events which we pray will go ahead as planned.

2013 should be an active year in many respects, including in the various National and International Women's Councils in which I am involved! I am really snowed under at the moment, so am looking forward to a restful period over the coming holiday period.

Let us know your comings and goings over this coming period.