News Briefs
U.S. unions aid Burmese tornado victims
May 22, 2008 5:15 PM
Even before southern Burma was hit by a catastrophic tornado on May 2, the Burmese military government sat on 48 hours’ worth of prior notice from India’s meteorological department about how severe Cyclone Nargis would be and where it would strike land. The country’s military leaders failed to organize evacuations or take other measures to limit casualties, and they were slow to respond once the tornado hit. The government admits to 22,000 Burmese dead; international relief agencies estimate the number of dead at some 100,000. More than 1 million are homeless, and unknown numbers more are without fresh water, meaning deaths from disease and starvation are inevitable.
In response, the AFL-CIO Solidarity Center has launched an online relief fund, with contributions going not to the military junta but to the Federation of Trade Unions of Burma, which is distributing clothing, medicine and nonperishable food to Burmese workers and their families.
To contribute to the fund, go to www.solidarity
center.org and choose the link for the Burmese campaign.
The Economist, May 8
AFL-CIO Union Voice, May 7
