Google Banned by Myanmar Govt., Still Donates $1 Million to Cyclone Relief
Despite being banned by the government of Burma (also Myanmar), Google has said that it will donate up to $1 million USD to assist victims of Cyclone Nargis.
Google has offered to match donations made to UNICEF and Direct Relief International for all donations made at Google’s Support disaster relief in Myanmar page, up to one million dollars.
Internet users in Burma reported that access to Google and Gmail had been blocked by the strict military junta governing the country in the summer of 2006. By this time, Yahoo and Hotmail had already made the censored IT blacklist.
Go to Google in Burma and you’ll get: “Error Number 1045 Access Denied.”
The ban, of course, was put in place before the government crackdowns on popular uprisings that left many dead or imprisoned. Some of the last words to leave Burma were from observers there who described nighttime kidnapping raids on the homes of Buddhist monks. The monks were involved in the popular uprisings against the government. On mornings after a raid, only blood would be found in the empty house.
Since the crackdowns, the flow of photos and information from Burma has all but completely stopped. No information gets in. None gets out. A political black hole where a country used to be.
While we all like to see our donations doubled, giving to cyclone relief through Google is, of course, only one way to go. For more ways to help those affected by the cyclone in Burma, see this list of organizations accepting donations and possibly volunteers.
If you feel less than comfortable sending money into a country whose government would ban and obstruct the same groups trying to help its people, consider that you can also donate money directly to Buddhist monks in Burma. During the crackdown, the monks were the most visible targets of government brutality. Avaaz.org donates money directly to the International Burmese Monk Association, which will use the money to provide grassroots support to cyclone victims. Visit the site for a video from the U. Uttara, the General Secretary of the Burmese organization.
Lastly, for those wondering why all this is on a site otherwise dedicated to the environment, it’s a good question. In response, consider that most people tend to prioritize the environment after their immediate wellbeing and that of their family. (Unless you’ve chosen to live in a tree, in which case wellbeing is relative. But that’s a different story.) Only after these immediate needs for safety and wellbeing are met will the majority of people take action to help the planet. So lend a hand and hopefully you’ll get a helping hand in return.
Jonathan, That’s good news. Thank you. It seems that the most reliable way to get information from within Burma is from people like you who have been there.
Will the victims ever see the money though?
No information gets in. None gets out. A political black hole where a country used to be.
Brilliantly written. Thanks for this piece.
OK. This may be controversial.
Myanmar bans Google as it bans many other things - cell phones, laptops, etc. This is in response to the western world putting sanctions on the country for many years. No US or European companies are allowed to do business in Myanmar. This policy is championed by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for over 10 years.
However, what if the West did engage Myanmar? What if we let the companies do business there and let the corrupt government make money? Wouldn’t this money “trickle down” to the poor and the nation will slowly develop as a whole? Right now there is little infrastructure, very little external communication, and everyone (except the military gov’t) is extremely poor.
The Myanmar government has adopted a stance of total distrust of anyone outside. It’s like that really bad kid in school. All the teachers and other peers ignore him and berate him. Then he breaks a leg, and when they try to help him, he yells “I can take care of myself. I… DON’T… NEED… YOU!”
I would be surprised if the government had actually let the aid workers in. During Tsunami, Sri Lanka welcomed help ASAP, whereas Indonesia was very tentative for similar reasons as Myanmar.
I think economic engagement would have been a better policy for Myanmar. I hope this will happen going forward… for the sake and future of all the Myanmese that have survived.
This is yet another class act by a classy company. To those who say that the money will go directly to the government, do you think Google will just hand over a check to the government? There are some really intelligent people working at Google. I’m sure they will donate in such a way as to ensure that the food, water, supplies, etc, actually makes it to the victims.
+1 Google
David
http://tributetogrr.blogspot.com
There is a neutral web site which tries not to be banned in Myanmar, and which also provide news. Run by a local company there. Not frequently updated though. Good stuff. It is http://www.myanmars.net
This is from USA for UNHCR via Change.org:
The first UN Refugee Agency land convoy arrived in cyclone-hit Myanmar on Saturday to bring urgently-needed tents and plastic sheets to some 10,000 people made homeless by the disaster.
“This convoy marks a positive step in an aid effort so far marked by challenges and constraints,” said UNHCR Representative Raymond Hall, in Thailand. More than one million people are estimated to have lost their homes.
DONATE YOUR STIMULUS REBATE MONEY TO BURMA….or to any of the other worthy charities out there. It’s not just corporations like Google that can give in a big way.
I started a campaign called 08Donate and we are trying to get 1% of the stimulus rebate money donated to charities. That 1% represents $1.5 billion. OUR REBATES REALLY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Check out our web site.
well.. apparently gmail is no longer blocked because i have relatives there who uses them everyday at cafes
THis is what happens when the wrong person gets too much power!