Do you interest in Burmese Refugees?

There is the Burmese Integration class at IPFW. Adam Dircksen who comes from Ft. Wayne, Ind is teaching this class.

The class basically team-teaching, so with him, Hannah Entwisle is also teaching this class. She used to work at United Nation and she asked Dircksen to teach the Burmese Integration class together. Thus Dircksen started to teach this class from about March, last year.

One of purpose of this class is that understanding policies that make Burmese refugees situation.
Another purpose is looking at inner culture communication. For example, since some American people don't know culture differences between Burma and America, they still don't know the differences between refugees and migrant.

Mmigrant come to United State with private reasons. They are joining family members who already live in United State or they are seeking work as economic immigrants.

Refugees are forced to leave their country. They come from refugee camps. Protesting against government with political reason or practicing religions are the reason why Burmese kicked out of their country. And then, they sent to refugees located to Thailand. And people who are not accepted from Thailand government, are sent to third country such as Australia, Europe and America. However Burmese refugees don't know where are they going to go. Thus they even don't know the culture of a place. It is hard for them to adjust to new culture and even find job.

Ft.Wayne government doesn't financially support Burmese Refugees. But they give information for Burmese refugees to get a job. Also, an agency, 'Catholic Charities of Fort wayne' helps Burmese refugees get an apartment, a food and a job. Nowadays, Ft. Wayne govenment doesn't accept Burmese refugees anymore. But if their family already live here, they can come to Ft. Wayne.

But there is the problem. The process refugees go through is extremely hard and complicated. There are lots of differences among Burma government, Thailand government, United Nation and local places with laws and policies. The local places, like Ft.Wayne, Federal court in United State and even volunteer agency have different policy. For example, United State accept of UN's policy but not accept Thailand's one which how do they are allowing refugees.

Dircksen said, how refugees go through this process and how they lead their life are important and American people try to understand that.

We should try to know Burmese Refugees situation and understand that without biased view toward them. They may have hard time in new place and need a help. If you are IPFW students, taking the Burmese Integration class will help you understand the situation.

Earthquake in Myanmar!

The 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit the northeastern side of Myanmar twice.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS short) reported that the 6.8 magnitude earthquake happened in 6.2 miles under water around north-east of Nepido, Myanmar.

Fortunately, since the epicenter of the earthquake came from the innermost part of the interior, there is no worry about the tsunami.

However, the borderland with Myanmar, Thailand and Laos were also able to feel the earthquake. This area called 'Golden triangle' that is an area of around 367,000 square miles that overlaps the mountains of Burma, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. It has been one of the most extensive opium-producing areas of Asia. Most of the world's heroin came from the Golden Triangle.

This second earthquake is huge more than usual earthquake and then the building away 479 miles from Myanmar in Bangkok was shaking.

So far, there is at least 10 people die.

Recently, a portent of a natural disaster around east-asia area often happens. Since the earthquake and the tsunami happened in Japan, the whole world feel scared and sad. If the Myanmar's earthquake occurs another tsunami, that will be very serious situation. I hope that there is no more natural disaster.

Situation with Burmese Refugees.

Burma, known as Myanmar is a country in Southeast Asia. The nation of Burma who used to live in the long distance place from America, now, a lot of them reside America.

Ft. Wayne, IN is not an exception. There are lots of Burmese people. Some of them came here for study abroad but others came from refuges in Burma's border. There are political reasons with latter persons.

Burma's economic regime is capitalism, however, since the country has been controlled by the military government, Burmese people are forced to follow the military's order and decision. For example, Aung San Suu Kyi, the person who is a Burmese opposition politician was detained for remaining imprisoned at home by the government.

Related to this, there was anti-democracy protest against the government in 2007. Like Aung San Suu Kyi, normal people who protested against the government, were kicked out from Burma and sent to the refuge which is located to the border of the country.

In the refuge camp, people receive emergency food and medical aid. Until the time that it is safe for refugees to go back to their country, they can stay in the camp. However, some people who will not able to return to their house can be resettled in "third countries," such as America, Europe and Austrailia away from the border.

American people has some biased mind toward ALL of  Burmese people. One of friend of mine, Su Myahla came from Burma for study abroad in IPFW said, she experienced tha American person treated her really rude and ignored her since the person thought Myahla came from the Burmese Refuges. "The nation in third countries has prejudice to all the Burmese. And of course, all refugees are not rude or has not bad attitude even if they are not educated."

Thus, I think especially an office or department operating something for refugees should try to help American to remove their stereotypical minds about the Burmese refugees by doing social campaign. If that will be happened, refugees don't have to feel discrimination.