The Beginning

So this is the beginning of my blogging adventure.

As a newbie this whole online blogging phenomenon, to document of my thoughts and opinions is a little overwhelming and almost seems strange. However the opportunities that are available to me online are countless and according to my school librarian, Mrs Luca, a blog is the beginning of a learning adventure and so here I am.

To date, a place that’s really been on my mind is Burma. I have a very close friend who’s family are currently over there. She grew up in the old capital, Rangoon and her family has countless investments which now hang in the balance after cyclone Nargis. As you can imagine her family that is still in Burma are fairly stressed with their homes damaged and a shortage of food and water. I was lucky to be in touch her over the past few days and apparently things are improving. The area where her family lives now have communications and the market has reopened but there is a shortage of food and water. I really feel for the Burmese people.  With the crisis escalating everyday due to stalling of foreign aid.

However this brings about the issue, should the West invade Burma in order to deliver the aid to needy civilians? During debating on Tuesday night this was our topic and the general consensus in post-debate discussion was that the West shouldn’t invade but rather should continue to pressure the Junta to allow more aid into the country before water-borne diseases begin to accelerate their infection rates. Where does your view lie? Should the West invade for the people’s benefit or respect the measures the Junta have put in place and wait?

Personally this conflicts with my personal beliefs on many levels leaving me undecided. I believe people in crisis should be helped and richer states should feel a certain degree of obligation to help their neighbours but to what extent does a government give without expecting to recieve. For example, say Australia’s $25million aid contribution is accepted do we expect anything in return like better relations with Burma, possible trade deals or co-operation with Australia in the the international arena, like our application to become an ASEAN member state.

I often wonder, do the West often overestimate the true amount of power they weild?

 

If you wish to help out the Burma Cyclone victims check out, Shelter Box it’s one of the only aid resources the Junta have allowed to enter the country.