Introduction to the Saffron Revolution before discussion with Stanley from All Burma Student Union. Presented at The Change You want to See Gallery in Brooklyn, New York on April 27, 2009
Subversive Technology: Burma's Struggle for Democracy
1. D
2
@digidem
info@dtwo.org
Subversive Technology
Burma’s Struggle for Democracy
The Change You Want To See Gallery
@NAA_NYC
#thechange
http://www.mogulus.com/notanalternative
Monday, April 27, 2009 1
2. Burma’s “Prophet”
http://www.netcharles.com/orwell/
Eric Arthur Blair
Monday, April 27, 2009 2
3. Burma’s “Prophet”
http://www.netcharles.com/orwell/
George Orwell
Eric Arthur Blair
Monday, April 27, 2009 2
4. Burma’s “Prophet”
http://www.netcharles.com/orwell/
George Orwell
Eric Arthur Blair
By: Shepherds Fairey
Monday, April 27, 2009 2
5. Burmese Days
Colonial Period
1824-1948
Major ethnic groups
▪
Karen
▪
Karenni
▪
Mon
▪
Shan
▪
Chin
▪
Wa
▪
Arakan
▪
Rohingya
▪
Kachin
▪
Burman
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6. Animal Farm: Burma
“Independence”
1948-1989
1948
Aung San
assasinated
1962
U Nu overthrown,
Ne Win begins
“Burmese Way to
Socialism.”
1988
Student uprising
for democracy
Eric Elofson - http://passivepro.blogspot.com/
Monday, April 27, 2009 4
7. Animal Farm: Burma
Animal Farm opened my mind to what kind of government is in
“Independence”
Burma. I can take a lot of parallels in real life with Animal Farm.
1948-1989
(The animals) want to have freedom, but later there is freedom
1948
only for Napoleon. Burma is also like that for the SPDC, the
Aung San
leaders. Before they become leaders, they say all are equal. But
assasinated
after they become leaders they change their minds.
1962
U Nu overthrown,
When you ask ‘Why do you need more education?’ I see a
Ne Win begins
parallel. (In) Animal Farm, the animals, they overthrow the man,
“Burmese Way to
but only a few animals, especially pigs, are educated. The other
Socialism.”
1988
animals (end up) facing the same problems. We are refugee
Student uprising
people, small minority groups. We don’t have an education. So
for democracy
we need education to be aware of this problem.
Kyaw Tway, male, http://passivepro.blogspot.com/
Eric Elofson - age 20, English Immersion Program
Overcoming Obstacles, Creating Opportunities - Section 6, pg 150-154
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8. 1984: Myanmar
Population: 60 million
Religions
Buddhist 89%, Christian 4%
(Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic
1%), Muslim 4%, animist 1%,
other 2%
KHRG
Monday, April 27, 2009 5
9. 1984: Myanmar
Population: 60 million
Religions
Buddhist 89%, Christian 4%
(Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic
1%), Muslim 4%, animist 1%,
other 2%
KHRG
Monday, April 27, 2009 5
10. 1984: Myanmar
Population: 60 million
KEY INDICATORS
worst best
Religions
GDP per capita, PPP (constant 2000 international $) ........ 1,446 3.50
Buddhist 89%, Christian 4%
Life expectancy at birth (years) ............................................. 61 4.19
(Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic
Literacy rate (% of people age 15+) ..................................... 90 6.00
1%), Muslim 4%, animist 1%,
Human development index (out of 177)............................... 130 3.52
Rule of law other 2%
(out of 208) ...................................................... 202 1.87
Voice and accountability (out of 208) .................................. 208 0.69
Digital opportunity index (out of 180) .................................. 176 1.36
Internet users (% of population) ........................................... 0.1 3.07
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Source (by indicator): IMF 2006; World Bank 2006a, 2006a; UNDP 2006; World Bank 2006c, 2006c; ITU 2006, 2004
OpenNet Initiative, Internet Filtering in Burma in 2005: A Country Study, at http://opennet.net/studies/burma/.
KHRG
from USD0.75 in 2004 and USD0.95–1.50 in straints. As in other areas, however, the state’s
8
Monday, April 27, 2009 5
11. 1984: Myanmar
Population: 60 million
KEY INDICATORS
worst best
Religions
GDP per capita, PPP (constant 2000 international $) ........ 1,446 3.50
Buddhist 89%, Christian 4%
Life expectancy at birth (years) ............................................. 61 4.19
(Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic
Less than 1% mobile phone &
Literacy rate (% of people age 15+) ..................................... 90 6.00
1%), Muslim 4%, animist 1%,
Human development index (out of 177)............................... 130 3.52
Rule of law other 2%
internet market penetration
(out of 208) ...................................................... 202 1.87
Voice and accountability (out of 208) .................................. 208 0.69
Digital opportunity index (out of 180) .................................. 176 1.36
Internet users (% of population) ........................................... 0.1 3.07
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Source (by indicator): IMF 2006; World Bank 2006a, 2006a; UNDP 2006; World Bank 2006c, 2006c; ITU 2006, 2004
OpenNet Initiative, Internet Filtering in Burma in 2005: A Country Study, at http://opennet.net/studies/burma/.
KHRG
from USD0.75 in 2004 and USD0.95–1.50 in straints. As in other areas, however, the state’s
8
Monday, April 27, 2009 5
12. 1984: Myanmar
In Exile: ~4 million
Sophisticated network of
community based
organizations
KHRG
Monday, April 27, 2009 6
13. Our Research
Overcoming Obstacles,
Creating Opportunities
Youth Perspectives from the Thai-Burma Border
www.newwordsmedia.com
Youth Perspectives from the Thai-Burma Border
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14. www.newwordsmedia.com
Key finding
Young Burmese with access to the internet were
more likely to identify themselves as activists
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15. Saffron Revolution www.uscampaignforburma.org
Mobile phones were used by monks and other citizen
journalists to send information to the outside world.
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16. constrained context.
OpenNet Initiative, Pulling the Plug: A Technical Review of the Internet Shutdown in Burma, at http://opennet.net/research/bulletins/013.
Figure 1. Timeline of Events,
Aug. 19, 2007 - Oct. 13, 2007
Saffron Revolution
Internet in Burma
Willfrom Burma are always asking forthat silencing mobiles andand assistance
governments learn information as well as requesting for help the
“People
internet are a necessary step in any crackdown?
from [the] outside world but very little of their voices reach the world and most are lost in the endless
state of the government vacuum.” — Burmese blogger
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17. How information travels
Actions are recorded with
mobile phones, uploaded to
flash drives, taken across
borders, uploaded to
servers, sent to trusted
contacts.
Is there a better way?
www.newwordsmedia.com
Monday, April 27, 2009 12
18. Burma and its Borders
In Burma the cost of a “normal”
GSM sim card is 2.5 million
kyat.
This equals approximately
$2000 on the black market
conversion rate.
At the official rate this is
approximately $393,400.
A new pre-paid sim costs Dollars Local Currency
between $20-$50 US dollars. 4.18 250
Bangladesh
7.77 300
India (Delhi)
6.84 200
Thailand
Use restricted to 1 month 14.6 100
China (Yunnan)
50
Burma
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19. Current Situation
Bloggers imprisoned
Increased sophistication from authorities
China’s support
2010 elections
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20. Current Situation
Bloggers imprisoned
Increased sophistication from authorities
China’s support
2010 elections
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21. Handheld Human Rights
a secure hub for groups around Burma’s borders
documenting human rights abuses
http://www.developmentseed.org/
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22. Problem Solution
Regional instability Cross-border communication
World’s longest running civil Networking among
war traditionally divided groups
Rampant use of child soldiers Providing 21st century
education
Over 3.5 million internally
displaced persons and Connecting refugees with
refugees their resettled communities
Severe censorship Freedom of information
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23. D
Digital Democracy
2
Working with local partners to connect people
through new technologies that encourage
education, communication and civic participation.
Mark Belinsky - MBelinsky@dtwo.org - @mbelinsky
All Burma IT Student Union
ABITSU stands against the Burmese Military Regime and
work to remove the Military Dictatorship, to generate
more IT skilled personnel and build the infrastructure for
a future democratic government of Burma.
Stanley - info@abitsu.org
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24. What you can do:
• Donate money
• the economy is hard for everyone but conversion
rates between currencies is currently in US favor
• Donate your skills
• are you a designer, programmer, or have other skills
that you can provide? tell us and help grassroots
organizations make change
• Sign Free Burma's Political Prisoners Now! Petition
• http://www.fbppn.net
DTWO.ORG
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