Burma: the Basics
- 2. 5,000 miles from Britain, it has borders with five countries and the Indian Ocean
- 3. Burma’s cities – including the capital Rangoon (Yangon) – lie on the great plains; these are surrounded by mountains and jungle
- 6. River - Irawaddy The huge Irawaddy river runs through Burma from north to south
- 9. Cafes Burma has a strong culture of tea shops and cafes.
- 10. The people of Burma are massively diverse in terms of ethnicity and language. Many minority groups live in the mountainous areas above the plains.
- 12. Weather – kids & monsoons The monsoon season brings with it torrential rains and flooding everywhere.
- 13. Burma is poor Most people in Burma are poor; the World Food Program estimates over a third of children don’t get the food they need
- 15. The military have governed Burma since 1962 when they took over to bring stability to the country after independence.
- 17. Aung San Suu Kyi was elected leader of Burma in 1990 but was never allowed to govern.
- 18. She has been under house arrest for 15 of the last 20 years. Recently she was released again.
- 19. A bookseller in Burma. Books critical of the government or supportive of democracy are banned.
- 20. Education in Burma is very basic. There are a few universities, which are sometimes shut down because of student activity.
- 22. Some of those who provided footage for the film‘Burma VJ’ are now in prison
- 23. Amnesty International and the Burma Campaign UK estimate 2,200 people remain in Burma’s prisons because of their beliefs.
- 24. Independence – Ne Win Many of the minority ethnic groups in Burma have been forced to flee as refugees
- 26. Monks In 2007 Burmese monks led protests against the Military, which brought worldwide attention.
- 28. Some ‘western’ countries still invest in Burma, though many companies have pulled out due to pressure from campaign groups
- 29. Travel & Tourism Many celebrities have taken up the cause of the people of Burma