Why WRTC? : because of the "connect

[nin@xxxxxx]

Subject: Why WRTC? : because of the "connectedness of life"

Dear BurmaNet readers,

Today, my eyes ran towards hit 'a parable' that wonderfully turned out
to be 'the best suited answer' to the lasting question that I have been
constantly and repeatedly asked by many people, including colleagues, 
teachers and fellow activists, since I aired my wish to establish the
'Water, Research and Training Centre (WRTC) for a new Burma'. 

If I may recall, this idea first visited in my tiny little brain in
1991, but then, many parameters ..., I was aware of the fact that 
even to speak out about 'this seemingly impossible idea', I have to 
build up my own capacity first. I worked on it quietly, gathered some 
knowledge, experience in many different disciplines including in the
political and diplomatic arenas and, most importantly courage and
self-confidence. In early 1994, I tested my ground. I expressed 
the idea for the first time in my life to few people. Do you want to 
know how many had supported me then? One! :-)
Only one person supported me. No, no, no, I am not going to tell you 
who she is. One day, . . . you will find out by yourself.

To make a long story short, holding 'this person' in my mind I sailed
through my journey with the wind, without the wind and against the 
wind. Yes, indeed, although many came to support the said idea
during 1995 and ever after the number of supporters constantly
increased by time, some discouraged me ideologically and afew 
practically :-); very practically! 

Thus having to experience a bit of anti-climate at some stages during 
the process unavoidably, by the way, this is very normal for every new 
endeavor, I believe. I therefore never mind for that. 

Against all odds, some sensible and influential figures (both Asians
and Westerners) backed me up. The WRTC came to exist in June 1997. I 
will not name them here one by one, but express my heartfelt gratitude 
and respect for them. They are ten in number, the governors of the WRTC.
Same amount of gratitude and respect are due to all my friends, 
colleagues and teachers from near and far who accepted me just as who 
I am without any wish to modify or demand from their side while 
supporting the WRTC.

Two years later, the WRTC has been very well accepted by the 
Internationally well-known water organizations/professionals, community
development organizations/professionals, some National Governments,
some United Nations Agencies, numerous NGOs, People's Assembly of
the United Nations, Academics and Universities, Human rights
organizations/activists and, has also been actively taking part in the
Regional consultation processes for South and Southeast Asia and Global 
water related activities such as World Water Forum II, Global Water 
Partnership, mainstreaming gender issue in important topics etc. and, 
has been initiating to create a green house environment towards 
creating learning communities for a new Burma. And so on . . . . 
you will see more comprehensive information on our new web site 
which will be launched before year 2000. 

However, these activities of the WRTC somehow accelerate the frequency 
of 'THE very question' that I have mentioned at the beginning of this
posting. It is this in two parts. (a)"Why do you want to give away all
your knowledge, experience, thoughts, strategies and *plans* including 
a broader access to scholarship and research grant opportunities in 
the non-discriminatory manner? (b)Don't you think that some 
'mean people' could take advantage of the WRTC's services?"

Well, I did answer at my best ability, however, I kept/still keep on
trying in order to come up with the better answer day after night. I 
sometimes woke up with different presentations to answer this very 
question. So that I keep asking myself 'WHY?' as well. I also tried in 
my dreams, on the train, plane, ferry boat, in the care, even when I was
on my bike that induced some falls, of course, what do you expect :-).
Also when I gazed at the ripples on the lake's surface or in the river, 
at falling autumn leaves, at moving clouds through the window of the 
plane; I always came up with 'one explanation' at each time. Still, 
I want to have a better, clearer and profound answer.

This morning, when my eyes ran towards hit the 'Corn and Community' 
parable, I felt 'this is it'!

Please enjoy. [Thanks are due to our online forum called 'Cooperative
Community Life-Long Learning Centers (CCL-LLCs)]

The parable reads as follows.
# James Bender, in his book "How to Talk Well" (New York: McGraw-Hill Book
# Company, Inc. 1994) relates the story of a farmer who grew award-winning
# corn. Each year he entered his corn in the state fair where it won a
# blue ribbon. One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned 
# something interesting about how he grew it.

# The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his
# neighbors. "How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your
# neighbors when they are entering corn in competition with yours each
# year?" 

***
# the reporter asked. "Why sir," said the farmer, "didn't you know? 
# The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from 
# field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination
# will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good 
# corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn."
***

# He is very much aware of the connectedness of life. His corn cannot
# improve unless his neighbor's corn also improves. So it is in other 
# dimensions. Those who choose to live well must help others to live 
# well, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. 
# The welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all.

# The lesson for each of us is this: if we are to grow good corn, we 
# must help our neighbors grow good corn.
 ....END PARABLE.

I hope, I have answered 'THE question'.

With metta and respect,
Dr. Khin Ni Ni Thein
WRTC
 .................................................................
The Water, Research and Training Centre (WRTC) for a new Burma is 
a non-governmental, non-profit, educational foundation, explicitly
apolitical in nature, working for the Burmese peoples by promoting 
and improving their access to research and training opportunities 
and education in the water and rural sector in Burma and abroad.
P.O. Box 118, 2600 AC Delft, The Netherlands. 
http://wrtcburma.org
Tel. +31-15-2151814, Fax +31-15-214 39 22, E-mail nin@xxxxxx
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