Myanmar's population is 49,563,019. The climate varies depending on the area and thetime of year. it has a largely tropical climate with three seasons: the monsoon or rainy season, from May to October; the cool season, from November to February; and the hot season, generally from March to April. During the monsoon season they can have more than 500 cm (200 inch) in upper Myanmar and over 250 cm (100 inch) in the lower regions. Central Myanmar, is the dry zone, and Mandalay, the main city in the area, receive approximately 76 cm (30 in). The mean annual temperature is 27°C (81°F); average daily temperatures in Yangon (Rangoon) range from 18° to 32°C (64–90°F) in January, during the cool season, and from 24° to 36°C (75–97°F) in April, during the hot season. The climate in upper Myanmar, particularly at altitudes ranging from about 300 to 1,220 m (1,000–4,000 ft), is the most temperate throughout the year, while lower Myanmar, especially in the delta and coastal regions, is the most humid.
Information in this post is purely my views on the present situation in Myanmar from a tourists perspective and my deep respect for the people of Myanmar. They are not intended to be discriminatory or inflammatory against any country, but simply the way I view the present day situation in Myanmar.
Brief Background
Information in this post is purely my views on the present situation in Myanmar from a tourists perspective and my deep respect for the people of Myanmar. They are not intended to be discriminatory or inflammatory against any country, but simply the way I view the present day situation in Myanmar.
Brief Background
The embargo and the gem trade
The Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003, which took effect on Aug. 28, 2003, banned the importation into the US of any Burmese product, including all precious stones, jewelery, mineral specimens and pearls, are now prohibited imports. This applies only to new imports. All goods imported before the enforcement of this law may still be legally traded.
Many companies involved in colored stones have a number of Burmese gems in their inventories. Those that were imported prior to Aug. 28, 2003 can still be legally traded.
The interaction of the gem industry with Burma and its politics is not simply a black-and-white issue, but one deserving further thought.
The following excerpt from Amnesty International USA- in relation to Myanmar briefly states the political position of today's Myanmar and I have no doubt that it much of it is true, but there are two sides to every coin.
One Side of the Coin
The other Side of the Coin
There are 2,200 political prisoners in Myanmar and there are over 49,563,019 million people living in Myanmar, which means a majority of the population of 49 million people are feeling the negative effects economically because of the embargo that the United States of America have been instrumental in placing on Myanmar and of course many other countries have followed suit. What we fail to realize is that the United States and other so called democracies have also violated human rights issues, so it appears to be perfectly acceptable for a country like the US to violate human rights and not suffer any consequences but not right for some other countries. Myanmar being one of them.
Most of us of course would prefer to live in a peaceful environment. John Lennon's song "Imagine" sums up what most people of the world wishes for, it is a beautiful song about equality, peace, loving one another no matter what race, creed or color, helping the poor and the starving etc. Unfortunately for the masses we are at the mercy of our government and the decisions they make, even in countries where it is considered to be a democratic society.
Presently many tourists are boycotting Myanmar due to the coming elections for fear of demonstrations or other kinds of trouble and one can't blame them for doing so during this present time.
U.S. Sanctions Against Burma "A Failure on All Fronts
Burma Becomes Public Enemy No. 1
Burma has not traditionally been a top foreign policy concern for Washington, although it does have some limited effect on U.S. economic and strategic interests as well as on counter narcotics policy. Burma was once considered the largest producers of opium. Today Afghanistan is the largest growers of poppies so after ten years of military aid to this country the opium industry is still in full bloom, so what does that tell you? Whilst in Burma today it would be hard to find a poppy field thanks to the efforts of the Burmese army and their commitment to ridding their country of this scourge.
Washington sought to isolate Burma since the State Law and Order Restoration Council came to power in 1988, and especially since it refused to transfer power in 1990 to the National League for Democracy, which had defeated the SLORC in an open election. (Burma's ruling junta officially abolished the
SLORC in November 1997, only to replace it with the equally repressive State Peace and Development Council.)
I find it an irony that the United States who still encourages sanctions on Myanmar has the largest (NEW) Embassy in South East Asia in Yangon. The "Overseas Security Advisory Council's" advise on traveling through Myanmar state the obvious, what country is without crime, there is probably less crime there per capita than most other Western or Asian countries. Then they go on about the taxis, yes it is true, most taxis don't have windows and most are probably 20 years old and for most of their lives go unserviced. Most of these taxis are cars that have been brought into Myanmar through the Thai Border illegally, after so many years of sanctions the average person in Myanmar can only dream about a new car. But you will find this situation mainly in Yangon. Taxis in other tourist destinations like Bagan and Inle Lake are old but mostly in fair to good condition, I might also mention that most taxi drivers are very careful with their foreign cargo as they don't want any trouble.
Since 1990 the U.S. policy of isolating Burma has been rejected by America's trade partners in Asia, who happen also to be Burma's major trade partners, but it has received some symbolic backing from Washington's Western allies.
The following excerpt from Amnesty International USA- in relation to Myanmar briefly states the political position of today's Myanmar and I have no doubt that it much of it is true, but there are two sides to every coin.
One Side of the Coin
The government of Myanmar announced today that it will be holding the country’s first elections in 20 years on Sunday, 7 November, 2010.
However, unless immediate action is taken, people’s ability to speak out and organize themselves freely will continue to be severely restricted; political prisoners will remain behind bars; and any opposition to the government on the streets could be violently suppressed.
There are more than 2,200 political prisoners in Myanmar today – double the number of political prisoners since the start of the "Saffron Revolution" of September 2007 – a huge indictment of the grim human rights situation there. The vast majority of political prisoners are being punished for merely exercising their rights to the ‘3 Freedoms’ – of expression, assembly and association.
At the same time the Myanmar government has simply not taken any steps to improve its poor human rights record – on the contrary, things have only become worse.
The other Side of the Coin
There are 2,200 political prisoners in Myanmar and there are over 49,563,019 million people living in Myanmar, which means a majority of the population of 49 million people are feeling the negative effects economically because of the embargo that the United States of America have been instrumental in placing on Myanmar and of course many other countries have followed suit. What we fail to realize is that the United States and other so called democracies have also violated human rights issues, so it appears to be perfectly acceptable for a country like the US to violate human rights and not suffer any consequences but not right for some other countries. Myanmar being one of them.
Most of us of course would prefer to live in a peaceful environment. John Lennon's song "Imagine" sums up what most people of the world wishes for, it is a beautiful song about equality, peace, loving one another no matter what race, creed or color, helping the poor and the starving etc. Unfortunately for the masses we are at the mercy of our government and the decisions they make, even in countries where it is considered to be a democratic society.
Presently many tourists are boycotting Myanmar due to the coming elections for fear of demonstrations or other kinds of trouble and one can't blame them for doing so during this present time.
U.S. Sanctions Against Burma "A Failure on All Fronts
Burma Becomes Public Enemy No. 1
Burma has not traditionally been a top foreign policy concern for Washington, although it does have some limited effect on U.S. economic and strategic interests as well as on counter narcotics policy. Burma was once considered the largest producers of opium. Today Afghanistan is the largest growers of poppies so after ten years of military aid to this country the opium industry is still in full bloom, so what does that tell you? Whilst in Burma today it would be hard to find a poppy field thanks to the efforts of the Burmese army and their commitment to ridding their country of this scourge.
Washington sought to isolate Burma since the State Law and Order Restoration Council came to power in 1988, and especially since it refused to transfer power in 1990 to the National League for Democracy, which had defeated the SLORC in an open election. (Burma's ruling junta officially abolished the
SLORC in November 1997, only to replace it with the equally repressive State Peace and Development Council.)
I find it an irony that the United States who still encourages sanctions on Myanmar has the largest (NEW) Embassy in South East Asia in Yangon. The "Overseas Security Advisory Council's" advise on traveling through Myanmar state the obvious, what country is without crime, there is probably less crime there per capita than most other Western or Asian countries. Then they go on about the taxis, yes it is true, most taxis don't have windows and most are probably 20 years old and for most of their lives go unserviced. Most of these taxis are cars that have been brought into Myanmar through the Thai Border illegally, after so many years of sanctions the average person in Myanmar can only dream about a new car. But you will find this situation mainly in Yangon. Taxis in other tourist destinations like Bagan and Inle Lake are old but mostly in fair to good condition, I might also mention that most taxi drivers are very careful with their foreign cargo as they don't want any trouble.
Since 1990 the U.S. policy of isolating Burma has been rejected by America's trade partners in Asia, who happen also to be Burma's major trade partners, but it has received some symbolic backing from Washington's Western allies.
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