My 60th birthday Today is my 60th birthday, it is also the 60th birthday of the first Arab-Israeli war, the Israeli state having been proclaimed the day before. 1948 was a momentous year for lots of reasons in the aftermath of WWII the world was getting a shake up. Israel, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Korea, and Burma become independent and the UN adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The juxtaposition is ironic, in the case of Burma at least, since following independence the Karen soon began to be targeted by ethnic militias. Sixty years on they are targets of a genocide attempt by the military dictators. The same guys who are refusing to let aid into the cyclone victims.

So, we'll celebrate my birthday, with a party that tries to raise money for a school for the children of displaced people in Burma. The photo shows one of the school dormitories, the girls dorm needs a new roof, but the donor who was sponsoring this has pulled out, and the rains are starting... anyone who can't get to the party could always make a donation for the roof, just transfer money to "Partners NZ" at Westpac Bank (Upper Hutt branch) 03 0774 0598181 000 marked "PhoPra roof"

Canadians wishing to obtain a receipt for tax purposes should make donations at the Partners Canada website. www.partnersworld.ca

Americans wishing to obtain a receipt for tax purposes should make donations at the Partners USA website. www.partnersworld.org

Norwegians can find the information needed to make donations in Norway at: www.partnersnorge.no

Australians can find the information needed to make donations in Australia at: www.partnersworld.org.au

UK Residents can find the information needed to make donations in the UK at: www.partnersworld.org.uk

¶ 9:08 AM [to Del.icio.us]

Congratulations!

By  puzz, at May 16, 2008 5:49 AM  

Happy birthday. You know, you have a depressing way of announcing this :)

By  Eric Sowell, at May 19, 2008 2:09 AM  

Sorry, it wasn't meant to be be depressing. And as I'll be writing in a post soon, we raised money that will really help loads of Internally Displaced People's children to have a roof over their heads. The reasons they, and loads of others round the world need help (rather than being fully able to help themselves) are depressing, but I find the fact that a bunch of people do take an interest in them encouraging - after all 59 of the 61 people at the party have never met any of them! And quite a few had never met me bofore either ;-)

By  Tim, at May 19, 2008 9:49 AM  

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