DeepInTheForest

The farmers "agreed" to stop farming? Hmm. More like, they acknowledged the inevitable.

Some things are beyond our control, and El Nino is one of them.

Man proposes... and the Mama of us all disposes.

"Myint was coming back a stranger to his own country. Myanmar was no longer ruled by a secretive military government... "

Jeesh...

You have to wonder sometimes at the narratives spun in our vaunted press outlets...

Very well-written article, but it (understandably) focuses on the history of the region centuries ago.

However, recent history may be more instructive as to what's been going on there in the past couple of years. To add a little balance to this discussion, here's some material (from Wikipedia) about more recent events that part of the world:

as a consequence of acquiring arms from the British during World War II, Rohingyas^{[note 1]} tried to destroy the Arakanese villages instead of resisting the Japanese. In March 1942, Rohingyas from northern Arakan killed around 20,000 Arakanese. In return, around 5,000 Muslims in the Minbya and Mrauk-U Townships were killed by Rakhines and Red Karens.^[51]

To facilitate their reentry into Burma, British formed Volunteer Forces with Rohingya. Over the three years during which the Allies and Japanese fought over the Mayu peninsula, the Rohingya recruits of the V-Force, engaged in a campaign against Arakanese communities, using weapons provided by V-Force.^[25] According to the secretary of British governor, the V Force, instead of fighting the Japanese, destroyed Buddhist monasteries, pagodas, and houses, and committed atrocities in northern Arakan.

Before the independence of Burma in January 1948, Muslim leaders from Arakan addressed themselves to Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, and asked his assistance in incorporating the Mayu region to Pakistan considering their religious affinity and geographical proximity with East Pakistan.^[47] Two months later, the north Arakan Muslim League was founded in Akyab (modern Sittwe). It demanded annexation to Pakistan.^[47] The proposal was never materialized since it was reportedly turned down by Jinnah saying that he was not in a position to interfere into Burmese matters.^[47]After Jinnah's refusal, Rohingya elders founded the Mujahid party as a jihad movement in northern Arakan in 1947.^[60] The aim of the Mujahid party was to create an autonomous Muslim state in Arakan.

As long as we are "adding some balance to the discussion", it may be worth pointing out that the article you cite has been flagged by wiki as having "disputed" neutrality.

You did not include, in your cut-and-paste, that the text you have inserted above is taken from the work of "Aye Chan, a historian at the Kanda University". It was part of a master's thesis.

However, as for Mr. or Ms. Chan being a historian, there is some cause for doubt. According to its website, Kanda University is a Japanese language school, started in 1987. Its website makes clear that it does not possess a history department. In 2012, it was reorganized into four departments: English, Asian Languages, Spanish and Portuguese, and International Communication. No history. Topics covered obviously include only language and communications.

http://www.kandagaigo.ac.jp/kuis/english/

http://www.kandagaigo.ac.jp/kuis/english/overview/

http://www.kandagaigo.ac.jp/kuis/english/overview/history/

That implies that the content cited in the wiki article and your post is certainly not peer-reviewed, not part of a academic department of history, and thus of dubious value in terms of historical content. It was probably written to demonstrate proficiency in English. The reader may be well be advised to be skeptical when considering it.

Even the Buddhists are fed up with the fruits of Islam.

Truly one of the more stupid, bigoted and hate-filled comments on a forum that has no shortage of them.

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/05/why-are-the-rohingya-fleeing-myanmar/

"Myanmar has witnessed a disturbing rise in religious intolerance in recent years, often fuelled by hardline Buddhist nationalist groups and directed particularly at Muslims. The Myanmar authorities have largely failed to take action against those who incite discrimination, hostility and violence. Instead, they have sought to introduce new laws and policies which will further discriminate against the Rohingya – among other minorities."

http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/01/23/burma-investigate-new-killings-rohingya

http://www.uscampaignforburma.org/about-burma/conflict-and-human-rights/rohingya-ethnic-cleansing.html

Am waiting for a poster to demand why the Dutch aren't being invited in to offer expert water advice, which would solve everything because they have 1700 years of experience.

Where are the lovers of Dutch engineering? Have you fallen asleep? You are missing your cue...

"The project is expected to cause minimal environmental effects as the planned route does not cut through water sources, national parks, or any conservation areas."

The thinking here, or lack of it, beggars belief. The above sentence is is what constitutes an EIS, apparently.

A ringmaster recognizes a fellow-ringmaster... one regime agrees not to interfere with another regime... there is a tacit understanding between them.

Greece came up with considerable concessions,including a promise to have their budget 1% in the black in 2015 and 2% in 2016. This would mean a lot of difficulties in terms of the economy, and would certainly cause suffering among the Greek population, but the European credit holders aren't satisfied. Schauble and the rest of the troika hardliners seem, in my admittedly layman's remote view, to be certified nutters whose ideology pushes them to punish, in a very vindictive manner. The pension system is a particular target-- they want a solution that involves less taxation (of the rich) and a much reduced social safety net. It's as if the Euro policymakers, through clenched teeth, are saying "You will not have social welfare!! People must be sacrificed!!" They love austerity so much. It hasn't worked in the past, it's not working now, and it's not gonna work in the future, but you know how the neoliberal mindset operates. The Euro financial elites also want to punish Greece simply for having the temerity to stand up to them, and a have a particular animus to destroy this left-leaning government. Things are very ideological with the troika leaders; it's gone beyond a question of economics now. Were the Greek leaders to cave in to all the creditor demands, they would have nothing to show to the people who elected them. That would probably cause a political and social crisis in Greece.

In the meantime-- speaking of the law of unintended consequences-- Switzerland of all places is starting to feel considerable pressure because of the strengthening of the Swiss franc, which if prolonged, will produce a crisis in their economy as exports dry up. We'll have to see how that plays out.

A Grexit may possibly be more damaging to the EU than to that small country. Greece would be unburdened by the crushing debts that have it pinned today. Yes, it will have to print its own currency, and there will be problems with inflation, and who knows how things will be in the short term. But the EU may find itself in for a series of future crises. The currency union is the most precarious aspect of things. If nations cannot devalue their currency, they will be forever at the mercy of shifts in the deployment of capital, and will be unable to craft a response. Other nations may follow the Greek path, particularly if it is not a desperate failure. And if they have any interest in history, the troika leaders will not want to have the collapse of the EU and its monetary union as their legacy.

We're in the end game now-- only days left before default comes crashing through the front door. The Greek nations owes something less than $2 billion, due on July 1. Such a paltry sum for one of our leading billionaires. You would think one of them would step up and throw down a couple bills as an act of noblesse oblige, with no strings attached. God knows they could afford it.

A few worthy reads below:

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jun/25/greece-blackmailed-eurozone-troika-syriza-common-currency

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/jun/25/weekend-deadline-greece-after-negotiations-draw-blank

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jun/23/deal-heaps-more-misery-greeks

A self-appointed military head of state with a weak sense of civil governance-- should we be surprised? As a fan of democracy, my feelings are definitely mixed. If he were to achieve overwhelming economic and political success... we could kiss democracy goodby for a long while. But that would seem impossible given the complex nature of modern societies and the need for a balance of input from labor, civic groups, and business. Not that that ever happens-- the big money rules these days, the world over.

"Thawat said several of the Dao Din parents are government officials, and they were reminded that their children's behaviour is inappropriate and against the law."

What law have they broken? Not clear to me what illegal activities, if any, they have been involved with. If they have done something illegal, then bring charges and have it settled in a court of law.

"The students' clear objective is to help bring about social wellbeing and democracy. They desire no political power and, we would hope, need none to achieve that objective."

Perhaps in a fantasy world, my dear mr. or ms. editorial writer... Why is it that the taking of power by citizens is always construed as something dangerous or reprehensible? How can democratic social change occur without people empowering themselves? I don't necessarily mean taking seats in a legislative or executive body. Any group of citizens who are active and organized around an issue can be said to possess some degree of political power.

Thanks so much for this post, Jonathan. I saw this trailer years ago and wondered if the film would ever be finished. A can't-miss for me.

Why is it that the music was so compelling at that time? I have no idea, really. Perhaps because we try to defy death by choosing celebration and life in the midst of war and chaos.

We now live in different, but similar times, and the war gods and destructive nature of our economy are running rampant. Music can soothe, heal, inspire, and create.

Unfortunately, it cannot do the hard work for us. That is a much more gritty and grinding task... of organization and struggle against the machine.

The Cambodian musicians and people-- their liveliness and vivacity-- stand out in these clips.

another link:

http://www.austinchronicle.com/screens/2015-06-19/combat-rock/

To be honest, I knew nothing of Cambodian rock and roll (and still don't) until I stumbled upon that article purely by chance. However, the music isn't half bad.

I wouldn't mind watching the film.

Anyone know anything about Cambo rock and roll of today?

I do not have any connection with Cambodia itself these days, but there is always youtube. Many of the offerings are sort of syrupy love songs or generic-sounding power ballads which don't do much for me, but there are some videos that may get to you. Here's one I enjoyed, despite the lamentable sound effects. The rhythms in the song are great. And the shots of the countryside may make it worth a look.

You might also be interested in the East-meets-West band Dengue Fever, out of Los Angeles. Their singer is the Cambodian lady Chhom Nipol.

There is a can't-miss short documentary (link below), there are also many links available on youtube.

California has seen a little bit of a Cambodian music renaissance. The mixing of eras, styles, and worldviews is not without controvery. Here is a vid by Bochan Huy that updates the classic "I'm 16" by Ros Sereysothea:

A look into her art, here:

http://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2014/08/17/340647451/the-death-and-uneasy-rebirth-of-cambodias-psychedelic-rock

Anything by Ros Sereysothea is worth a listen. There are lots of tracks on YouTube.

Although no one seems to know exactly what happened to her, she disappeared during the Cambodian holocaust and was not been heard from afterward. One of millions. What a voice!

Once while travelling in Siem Reap, I watched a troupe of acrobats perform at a sort of theme park. Afterward, other performers were hanging around, and I heard a young woman begin singing a capella. Not as part of the performance, just singing out to the world-- love songs, I think they must have been. I have no idea what the lyrics of the songs said, but I knew exactly what she meant. You know? It was emotionally piercing, gripping stuff. We don't sing this way in the West. There were microtonal things going on, complete vocal virtuosity. The artistry was so evident. A lot of love and study went into it, obviously.

I've never forgotten.

Thanks so much for this post, Jonathan. I saw this trailer years ago and wondered if the film would ever be finished. A can't-miss for me.

Why is it that the music was so compelling at that time? I have no idea, really. Perhaps because we try to defy death by choosing celebration and life in the midst of war and chaos.

We now live in different, but similar times, and the war gods and destructive nature of our economy are running rampant. Music can soothe, heal, inspire, and create.

Unfortunately, it cannot do the hard work for us. That is a much more gritty and grinding task... of organization and struggle against the machine.

The Cambodian musicians and people-- their liveliness and vivacity-- stand out in these clips.

another link:

http://www.austinchronicle.com/screens/2015-06-19/combat-rock/

As a species, we better figure out how to decrease our power consumption. We're dooming our descendants to a lot of turmoil, and lousy lives.

oby, this is demented stuff. "They" like to kill people? Who was doing the killing here?

There have been countless misbegotten raids that result in civilian casualties around the world (all of whose victims are initially labeled "insurgents"), and yet the people don't get the message. The insurgencies don't go away.

Funny that.

What an odd way of thinking...that increasing the price of a product and providing monetary support to the producers will increase competitiveness. Are there any cases elsewhere in the world where this has proven true?

The likely result will be that increasing the price will lower sales, and giving monetary aid to the producers will remove their motivation to become more competitive.

"Are there any cases elsewhere in the world where this has proven true?"

Ah, the gentle person who does not yet know about agricultural subsidies...

No mention in the article of the downside of SEZs -- the associated social costs. They are wonderful for those who own the manufacturing processes. Wages are kept extraordinarily low and depend on rural labor new to the industrial workforce. Taxes are pretty much done away with, resulting in gutting of social programs and huge and increasing inequalities worldwide. Environmental regulations are largely nonexistent. Worker protections? Forget it. On top of all this, they are usually accompanied by land grabs and corrupt deals made with local powerful elites. All so that disposable clothes and throwaway electronica can be gobbled by mall-strolling consumers...

How crazy is this? The company has now provided documentation of its toxic effects, so now they can continue.

There is no justice...

This effort is all very well, and organizers deserve kudos. But there are two elephants in the room.

One is the local pollution issue, which resulted in the 2013 triathlon being abruptly cancelled due to poor water quality. The beach at times has been covered with bright green algae. This is the result of nutrient loading, the main source of which is Klong Pakbang, which discharges itself at the southern end of the beach. Monitoring is underfunded. The water is tested for bacteria only once every two months. Unless this issue is addressed, transplanting coral will be futile. As fans of the endangered Great Barrier Reef know, excessive nutrient runoff from the land encourages algal growth that can smother coral reefs.

The other elephant is global warming, and the continued acidification of the world's oceans. Unless human CO2 emissions are reduced dramatically, the seas will continue to acidify (they will continue to increase in acidity, anyway, due to slow absorption of atmospheric CO2). When the seas reach a certain pH level (between 7.4 to 7.6; scientists are still learning about this), the calcium carbonate that houses the coral organisms will dissolve, and then, it's adios, coral reefs. Interestingly, it's believed that this has happened before in our planet's past, and that coral organisms have survived in a "soft" form. But it's something to be avoided-- huge numbers of fish and other organisms depend on reef structures.

Perhaps the biggest contribution the posted event makes is to raise public awareness. That's no mean feat, and organizers and participants are to be applauded.

http://www.thephuketnews.com/international-triathlon-event-in-phuket-cancelled-40082.php

http://www.coralscience.org/main/articles/climate-a-ecology-16/reefs-at-low-ph

"... nightclubs and entertainment venues are encouraged to report any inappropriate behavior."

Why didn't someone think of this approach before? This may be a very lengthy report, but I am sure that the authorities will use it effectively to solve this problem.

"Gen Prayut was furious, however, when asked to comment on report of an attempt to hold campaign to encourage the public to wear red shirts every Sunday."

Some things aren't worth getting upset about. Ya know? Having said that, though, can't wait to hear how we will address the issue of what color to wear on Sunday.

"In addition, he stated that individuals who have made public dissenting comments will be asked to report themselves."

Well now, that should work rather well and be extremely effective, I would think.

1) May as well get used to it, as much as is possible. While no one event can be pinned on global warming, these extreme weather events will increase with the rise in ocean temperature/heat energy. Witness the recent recurring typhoons devastating the Philippines.

2) The costs will make it obvious that we would have been better off to keep fossil fuels in the ground for use at a later date. In fact, this is still something we should do. That, of course, is not the path favored by large transnational companies and the economic establishment, who have collared the US government-- causing the biggest obstacle to progress on the issue.

3) The biggest costs will be borne by the poor and lower classes of the world, who do not possess the resources to avoid weather disasters. This makes it all the more imperative that taxation of wealthy individuals and corporatins in order to address social issues should be reimposed. (The current tax-dodging is over-the-top.) As wealth inequalities have increased globally, social and environmental priorities and concerns have gone down the toilet.