Question – are whales or penguins more important than the Burmese?

The spotlight in the world media today is on the saving of the whales. Saving them from being hunted by bad people. Bad people want to hurt or kill stupid worthless animals for their carcasses and blubber, stupid animals like ... whales. Yeah, whales are the big thing now. I heard that Aung San Suu Kyi is under house arrest in Burma because she wants democracy for her people, but why is it not getting more media attention and who is listening in the media?

In other news in the fantastic media, that we all rely on, serious news is happening. Apparently animal sanctuaries around the UK and other neighbouring countries are bucking the recession trend by getting more aid than ever from their governments. This includes Birds, owls, dogs, horses and fish. Yeah, fish. The Governments are bending over backwards to help a good cause. Like fish. So Aung San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest in her own home country of Burma all because she demanded the return of human rights for Burmese people, who face every rotten day under a ruling military Dictatorship. But out there in the world of journalism... who is listening in the media?

And turning to yet other important news that you simply have to hear, thanks to the incredible work and attention of the media...thousands of people have been marching in major cities around the world in protest against the killing of arctic seals. There have been filmed culls of thousands of seals in the Northern Polar region appearing on TV and people are just horrified! It has been described journalistically as a tragedy. Bloodshed on an incredible scale, apparently. Yeah, seals. I’m dead serious. Meanwhile, over in Burma, munching on her bread and water...Aung San Suu Kyi is still under house arrest, with no sign of the Burmese Junta ever releasing her because she has consistently called for Democracy to be peacefully restored, and her wishes go unanswered and unnoticed by the Burmese Junta. And just who is listening in the media?

Meanwhile, and perhaps finally – we can now report the highly focussed efforts of the highly efficient and attentive media – and how they have been shining a light on the serious issue of democracy and what it means to the under-represented people of a poor central – Asian country.

Yes, it’s Afghanistan and some other troubled countries, and the media has tirelessly focussed on Troops from USA and UK who want badly to help bring democracy to war torn, “failed states”. Or at least the ones that get special attention. But not other failed states. (Not that we are asking what is the difference between some failed states and others...)

And speaking of which – over in the failed state of Burma, where a woman is under indefinite house arrest for the serious crime of having won a political election and the more serious crime of having become the most popular politician in her country, even winning the Nobel Prize for Peace (and rumour has it that President Barack Obama even won it), Aung San Suu Kyi still remains locked up like a common mongrel, and imprisoned in a house in an isolated part of Burma, facing serious crimes. Crimes that include her demanding the re-instatement of democracy and human rights to her people. But of course – WHO IS LISTENING IN THE MEDIA?

And before we go - some sad news. It has been reported (sic) that the two sons of a former political leader of Burma have - for several years now, been unable to visit, write to, phone, email, fax or contact their mother Aung San Suu Kyi who still remains incarcerated and illegally detained in Burma, a country that refuses to allow democratic freedom to flourish within its own borders. A country that is shunned by most well-developed nations of the world. The two sons of Aung San Suu Khi lost their British father Michael Aris in 1999, just as he had finished editing a book of collected written works by his wife Aung San Suu Kyi, a wife of whom he was denied any contact or visits. He never lived long enough to see the book come into print. The Book is titled “Freedom from Fear”. It is published by Penguin. One of the sons was allowed to receive his mother’s Nobel Prize for Peace in her absence, since she was unable to attend. She was unavoidably detained in prison in Burma.

Every country in the world has openly condemned the act of imprisoning Aung San Suu Kyi. Many have cited this as a breach of her human rights. But breaching her rights and those of Burmese people seems pretty routine these days. Especially when the media don’t bother reporting this simple fact. By not reporting it, whoever does the deed gets away with it, and gets away unreported. It’s not a made up story. It’s not even fiction. And it’s not a movie. At least, not yet. It is as unavoidable as any other tragedy you will read or see or hear in the news, provided the story is mentioned or covered. (Not covered up.)

And provided people still care about a small word used by people who advocate freedom and peaceful existence and the right to choose and define their own existence without interference or obstruction. A word that espouses the very essence of what it means to be human itself...a word called Burma. (You thought I was going to say Democracy, didn’t you? Didn’t you? )

The media is considered to be the voice of the people. So the question we put to the media is – when will you shine a light on this person, this Gift to Humanity, this Bedrock of Common Sense, this Angel of Asia – this woman Aung San Suu Kyi, and report the news and the story about the plight of the people of Burma? Or have we arrived at the point now where the media cares more about dumb animals than it cares about real people and the Truth?

Sincerely yours:

Cheeky Girl (inspired by a question posed by Astra Nomik)

Registered Copyright (c) 2010 Cheeky Girl

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