The Burmese junta is now searching out the activists who marched peacefully and hauling them away.
Please go to www.free-burma.org to learn more, as well as the invaluable Global Voices Online.
We have little or no diplomatic leverage over the Burmese government, who is really a client of the Chinese. I'm typing this on a Lenovo notebook; to be honest, if I were shopping today I doubt that I would buy another one - yes I know that virtually all notebooks are made in China - but Lenovo is a Chinese company, and so by withholding our business, we may be able to make them pay attention.
Unocal - the "Union 76" Chevron the gas company - is also elbow-deep in Burma. Gas is easy to find elsewhere, as well.There is a complete list of companies doing business with Burma here.
These are useless and impotent gestures. In reality, it would take the Pacific Fleet to do anything meaningful, and we'd be at war with China. But I'm a warmonger anyway...
Actually, I'm sending the 'dirty list' to all the bloggers I know. I'll also ask each of you to click through, pick a company and write one letter. One letter, please.
Well AL,
No Blood For Oil means no military adventures for Burma.
Since many of the worst governments in the world depend on resource extraction the left has painted itself into a corner.
There will be a few speeches a mild protest at the UN and then nothing.
Victory in Iraq would be a reqmt. for any future "muscular" diplomacy.