October 4th, Free Burma blogger campaign!

Bloggers worldwide have started a campaign to support the pro-democracy efforts in Burma, which have turned deadlier over the past few days. They are inviting all bloggers, website owners and commenters to participate by not blogging on October 4th. Instead, they propose that all participants post a "Free Burma" banner on their blog/website with the words "Free Burma" underneath the banner. Detailed info and links for banner graphics can be found here and the official Free Burma site here. I encourage everyone to take part. I know I will.

In the meantime, there were demonstrations, of solidarity, in D.C on Friday and Saturday, in front of the Myanmar Embassy, and Kate over at Colombo-Americana's Perspective has some great photos, as does John of This Aint Hell. Lady Vorzheva also talks about the demonstration they had in Spain, and the Putin/Zapatero connection regarding their views on Burma.

It's now estimated that there have been far more killed then reported, but there is no way to know, for sure, as Internet service has been curtailed, and cell phone service has been disrupted. Much of the information, pictures and videos were being transmitted overseas via Internet and cell phone. Kate has some great updates here and here.

A great inside source of information is Abitsu.org (All Burma I.T. Students' Union). They report that General Than Shwe and his family are staying at the Burj Al Arab, in Dubai (U.A.E) a hotel that rates itself as the best hotel in the world. The cheapest rooms for one night in February 2008 are $2,274 per night on one travel website. With your own chauffeur driven Rolls Royce, what a bargain! For more candid photos by guests staying there, click here. Although I can't confirm if, indeed, Than Shwe and others are actually there, I wouldn't be surprised. Isn't this what most despots do, live in the lap of luxury while their own people suffer?! It's no wonder they refuse to give up power. But it makes it all the more foul.

U.S. Campaign for Burma also has some interesting info, including a video by Jim Carrey calling for U.N. action, and a copy of a letter sent to U.N. Secretary Ban Ki, by 25 Hollywood celebs (and yes, including some of our favorite loud mouthed leftists) asking for his personal intervention in securing help for Burma and Aung San Suu Kyi's release.

Whether any of this makes one iota of a difference, at least those of us who participate can feel that we at least did our part.

UPDATE:

In spite of the imposed censorship, Burmese bloggers both there and abroad keep on blogging. According to this blogger, Internet is back on line, so he continues to receive reports from the area. Here's another report re. General Than Shwe claiming he is in a Singapore Hospital.

H/T: Theospark