Alumni in and from Myanmar have reached out and we share their voices
We EWC alumni can contribute to write something about the current situation in Myanmar by reflecting how the military violates human rights and law by detaining our democratic leaders:
Alumni in and from Myanmar have reached out and we share their voices
Myanmar civilians are in a war zone with security forces. People are killed without hesitation. Soldiers shoot into apartments, capture civilians and rob at shops. Their actions are not limited to the protestors, but indiscriminately to civilians, including kids, mothers, and elderly people. Ambulances are shot. Journalists and lawyers are beaten, kidnapped at night, or seized at the scene. Children are shot with catapults and guns even while staying in. Young students, men, and women are shot in the head, neck, and abdomen daily. Sound bombs, gunshots noises, and tear gases are everywhere. Nothing makes sense. It is as if we are trapped in the nightmare of a barbari This is all happening in villages, towns, and the big cities of Myanmar. Imagine a life where you are aware that you or your beloved ones can die any day. Imagine being afraid to walk outside or drive on the road, because you might be shot on the spot, stopped at any moment, captured or beaten up with no apparent reason. (A woman was shot randomly on purpose while she was walking by the road.) Imagine a life where you need to secretly guard your ward in groups at night. You can’t even guard publicly because they will shoot if they see you. Seeking justice is out of the question even when you get killed in plain sight.
Congratulations to the founders of East-West Center Innovation Laboratories (EWC Labs) who applied for and received grants from the Professional Development Program (PDP). One of the requirements of the grants is that the EWC Labs must collaborate with their corresponding alumni chapters. Several incredible experiments have been initiated within their organizations – scaling-up recycling in the rural areas of Myanmar, using nanotechnology to investigate cures to bone diseases in Nepal, and running a theater program for environmental awareness in East Timor. The EWC Lab grantees are building prototype websites to share their work and are seeking input from alumni – find information about the chapter members and videos about the work of each Innovation Lab. View the stories of EWC Lab founders on the new YouTube channel.