U.S. Campaign for Burma
Encyclopedia
The United States Campaign for Burma (USCB) is a U.S.-based membership organization dedicated to empowering grassroots
activists around the world to bring about an end to the military dictatorship
in Burma. Through public education
, leadership
development initiatives, conferences, and advocacy campaigns at local, national and international levels, USCB works to empower Americans
and Burmese dissident
s-in-exile to promote freedom
, democracy
, and human rights
in Burma and raise awareness about the egregious human rights violations committed by Burma's military regime.
The leadership of USCB is composed of human rights advocates, with experience both inside and outside the U.S. government. The board and staff, which include former Congressional staff, former Burmese political prisoners, and experienced advocates, seek to increase the profile of Burma and help find solutions to the country’s decades-long conflict. The core strength of USCB is its collaboration between Americans and Burmese dissidents-in-exile.
Anyone may participate in USCB. They receive updates, emails, and participate in campaigns simply by signing up through the web page. In order to be a full voting member of USCB or run for the board of directors, one must join as an individual.
ends its support for Burma's ruling military regime.
Grassroots
A grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...
activists around the world to bring about an end to the military dictatorship
Military dictatorship
A military dictatorship is a form of government where in the political power resides with the military. It is similar but not identical to a stratocracy, a state ruled directly by the military....
in Burma. Through public education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, leadership
Leadership
Leadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...
development initiatives, conferences, and advocacy campaigns at local, national and international levels, USCB works to empower Americans
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Burmese dissident
Dissident
A dissident, broadly defined, is a person who actively challenges an established doctrine, policy, or institution. When dissidents unite for a common cause they often effect a dissident movement....
s-in-exile to promote freedom
Freedom (political)
Political freedom is a central philosophy in Western history and political thought, and one of the most important features of democratic societies...
, democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
, and human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
in Burma and raise awareness about the egregious human rights violations committed by Burma's military regime.
Mission
The mission of USCB is to build a broad based coalition of grassroots and institutional support for freedom in Burma. USCB's objectives include:- To strengthen the position of the rightful leaders of Burma, 1991 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Daw Aung San Suu KyiAung San Suu KyiAung San Suu Kyi, AC is a Burmese opposition politician and the General Secretary of the National League for Democracy. In the 1990 general election, her National League for Democracy party won 59% of the national votes and 81% of the seats in Parliament. She had, however, already been detained...
and the democratically elected National League for DemocracyNational League for DemocracyThe National League for Democracy is a Burmese political party founded on 27 September 1988. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi serves as its General Secretary. The party won a substantial parliamentary majority in the 1990 Burmese general election. However, the ruling military junta...
, by cutting the political and economic lifelines of the ruling military junta; - To organize and advocate for international intervention in Burma; and
- To inform grassroots citizens, international media and policymakers about Burma’s political, social and economic crisis.
Structure
U.S. Campaign for Burma is fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)3, tax-exempt, organization, so all donations are tax-deductible. The organization is composed of paying members, though fees can be waived by for those who cannot afford to pay. There are ten members of the board of directors: five are appointed and five are elected annually by the membership. Only USCB members can run for the board and vote in board elections.The leadership of USCB is composed of human rights advocates, with experience both inside and outside the U.S. government. The board and staff, which include former Congressional staff, former Burmese political prisoners, and experienced advocates, seek to increase the profile of Burma and help find solutions to the country’s decades-long conflict. The core strength of USCB is its collaboration between Americans and Burmese dissidents-in-exile.
Anyone may participate in USCB. They receive updates, emails, and participate in campaigns simply by signing up through the web page. In order to be a full voting member of USCB or run for the board of directors, one must join as an individual.
Olympic campaign
In 2008 the campaign urged people to turn off the Beijing Olympics unless ChinaPeople's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
ends its support for Burma's ruling military regime.
Controversy
The organization has come under considerable controversy with accusations of anti-democratic behaviors, the removal of members' voting privileges, an inadequately engaged Board of Directors, and an attempted campaign to create rumors of homosexuality within Burma's military regime leaders as a form of activism. Nearly every departing staff person has been denied references and has rebuked former ties to the organization. There have been further accusations made that the organization has a heavily "anti-Burman" and "pro-Karen" tilt to all commentary. It is unclear as to why the organization has taken this turn since its original form of founding by Jeremy Woodrum and Maung Zarni.External links
- U.S. Campaign for Burma main page
- USCB Student & Community Action page Petitions, flyers and event listings
- Australian Campaign for Burma Tracking news and events around Australia