New England Burma Roundtable / July

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Subject: New England Burma Roundtable / July 97

New England Burma Roundtable / July 97

1. July Roundtable Meeting
2. Events in New England
3. News Briefs: European Commission Prepares to Take Massachusetts Burma
Law to the World Trade Organization
4.  Get Involved Locally!
5.  About Those T-shirts

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1. July Roundtable Meeting June Roundtable Meeting: Tuesday, July 8, 7pm 

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, 130 Prospect Street, Cambridge.
Take the Redline to Central Square T stop, or the Number 1 bus. The UUSC
office is on the corner of Prospect and Harvard streets, a 2-block walk
from Central Square. Use the buzzer outside the front door to gain entry
into the building; take the elevator to the first floor.

Agenda: Chris Cox, Boston Herald reporter and author of Chasing the Dragon,
a book about the drug trade in Burma will be the featured speaker.

2. Events in New England

The Burmese Water Festival is Saturday, July 19, 11am - 5pm. Join the
"Second Annual Burmese New Year Celebration."  This festival, held in April
in Burma, celebrates the end of summer and welcomes the monsoon season.
For three days, water is joyously and generously poured on everyone to
cool, cleanse and renew friendships.   Experience the tastes, colors and
sounds of Burma and make new friends. 

Bring your favorite dish for a potluck buffet from 11:00am -1:00pm.  The
potluck will be accompanied by Burmese music, which will be followed by
Burmese theater from 1:00pm -3:00pm.  The day will end with water play
until 5:00pm. Address: First Parish Church, 382 Walnut Street, Brookline (a
short walk from the Green Line Brookline Hills T-stop?from Rt. 9W take a
left onto Cypress St., and a right onto Walnut St.).  For more information
call Daw Kyin San (617) 770-1217, Andrew Kyi (617) 427-7349, or Tin Tin Lay
(617) 388-0038. 

3. News Briefs: European Commission Prepares to Take Massachusetts Burma
Law to the World Trade Organization

The European Commission (EC) is moving forward with its formal complaint at
the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the Massachusetts Burma
selective purchasing law. On June 20, the EC requested "formal
consultations" with the United States under the WTO dispute settlement
procedures. Under WTO rules, an aggrieved party must undertake three rounds
of formal consultations before requesting that a dispute panel be convened.

However, we are starting to generate significant opposition to the EC?s
decision, both in Europe and the United States.  Thanks to the hard work of
the Burma Center Netherlands and several European Parliament members, the
European Parliament recently passed a resolution unanimously asking the
European Commission not to take action against Massachusetts at the WTO.
This provides clear proof that the European Commission lacks support in
Europe itself for its stand against the Massachusetts Burma law.

In Massachusetts, we have generated scores of letters to Governor Weld,
Attorney General Harshbarger and Massachusetts state legislators. This is
already encouraging our elected state officials and legislators to stand
firm and defend the Burma law.

This month's new action alerts will include actions for both Massachusetts
residents and people from out-of-state. If you have already written, please
distribute the action alerts to your friends, family and co-workers. Let?s
keep up the heat on this summer!

4.  GET INVOLVED LOCALLY!

One excellent way to support the Massachusetts Burma law is to enact
similar Burma selective purchasing in your home town. Helen Poland
(617-773-0261; Email: hpoland@xxxxxxx) is working on a selective purchasing
ordinance in Quincy. Ken Parker (617-965-3723: Email: kkparker@xxxxxxx) is
the contact for a similar effort in Newton. If you live in these towns,
contact these activists to write letters and testify. For more information
on how to enact a municipal Burma law, contact Simon Billenness at Franklin
Research at (617) 423 6655 x 225. 

5. About those T-shirts

The T-shirts sold by Burmese students to benefit their democracy
organization sold like...sticky rice! However, the 100% cotton, M, L and XL
shirts ($12 apiece, plus mailing) may be available soon. Call 617-388-0038
for sales and information.

Send us your news and we?ll publish it here for all to admire and emulate!

Simon Billenness
* for the New England Burma Roundtable *
Franklin Research & Development
711 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 423-6655 x 225
(617) 482-6179 fax
sbillenness@xxxxxxxx
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