Life in Myanmar
A Life Less Fortunate
Myanmar, formerly known as Burma neighbours India, China and Thailand. It has been in the media spotlight for all the wrong reasons, not for the people, the food, stunning scenery and beautiful temples but for the ruling military government.
Myanmar has a population of some 50 million, they have an average life expectancy of 60 years and of every 1,000 children a 105 will die before they reach their 5th birthday.
As with most news stories the plight of these people and the treatment of their revered Buddhist monks is no longer newsworthy, there are elections in the US, rain in England and a cricket match in Australia, oh, and Britney Spears of course.
Many of you, I hope, will have taken the time to follow Karen Coates and Jerry Redfern on their wonderful travel blog, Rambling Spoon. Their writing on the situation had a lasting effect on me and prompted me to take a closer look at the suffering of the Burmese people and realise my own good fortune.
I first became aware of Burma through reading Katherine Sim’s account of travelling through South East Asia in her 1963 book, ‘Journey out of Asia’. I cannot have been more than twelve years old when I first read it, my Father would take me to the local library after dinner one night a week where I would dash to the travel section hoping to find inspiring stories of faraway places. Years later I searched high and low for a copy of that book because as best as I could remember it served as the begining of my fascination with Asia, its people, religeons, history and eventually, its food.
She wrote of the temples of Rangoon: ‘At the top of the stairway the visual impact of the vast sunlight marble terrace is tremendous. As one emerges into the brilliant sunlight, the terrace sparkles with its mass of gold leaf, twinkling glass mosaic, and countless pagodas. It was all so vivid against the hot pearly grey sky that the sight of it took my breath away’
This was the picture of Burma I had firmly fixed in my young mind. Today Rangoon is called Yangon and 20km from there is a small town called Hlaing Tharyar. The population is made up of migrants from the surrounding countryside, most are unskilled and poverty is rife. HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis are spreading, many of the children are malnourished and 22% of the population do not have access to safe, clean water.
Somewhere in that town is a girl called May Mi Mi Kyaw, she will be four in March. She is sponsored by a bloke in England who lives a comfortable life and had the chance to go to a library every week.
Miles
You’ve got a way of getting things across !
A great post - really it is
Rod
January 17, 2008 @ 9:07 am
Miles,
I look at Karen’s site from time to time and find that it transports me for a while.
Your post is very interesting and sparked off the question of sponsoring children in these poor environments. When considering this I have always held back because of doubts whether the money will actually get where it needs to be or indeed is intended to be. I am aware that some are done through known individuals in a particular area. I guess it is a case of finding a trusted channel.
When one sees these under privileged places they serve as hard reminders how lucky and spoiled we are. You are right, they may be mentioned today and forgotten tomorrow and lucky us for living here.
Elsie.
January 17, 2008 @ 11:46 am
Rod,
Many thanks, I think we all need a reality check from time to time.
Miles
January 17, 2008 @ 5:19 pm
Elsie,
You are quite right, I do know of cases where the money hasn’t gone where it is supposed to but this is a good organisation and it has my confidence.
Miles
January 17, 2008 @ 5:22 pm
Miles,
In this day and age when we are fighting against all manner of adversity, it is sobering to remember that there are many people in this world who don’t even have the very basic requirements of life.
Cid
January 17, 2008 @ 6:23 pm
Cid,
With all of our advances in technology you would think that the major powers could combine to ensure clean water for everyone at the very least.
Failure to do so will be this generations ultimate legacy.
Miles
January 17, 2008 @ 6:34 pm
We’re too busy developing arms and implements of war.
It’s good business - the impoverished countries can’t get enough of them.
The sad cynical truth in so many cases
January 17, 2008 @ 7:26 pm
Rod,
It does come down to money in the end, I don’t see anyone rushing to liberate the suffering people in Zimbabwe. Could it be that it has no real valuable resources of note to offer a ‘liberating force’?
Miles
January 17, 2008 @ 7:34 pm