Unkie Herb

I’m a little torn over this whole thing. What began as a break over the holidays has extended nearly to February. Why?

The most direct answer is: I don’t know. I’m not sure why I’ve stopped contributing on here. I have a few ideas, though they are unsurprisingly theoretical.

I’ve experienced some fairly encouraging growth in readership in the past four or five months. In August ‘07, I had 873 unique visitors and about 1900 visits, averaging out to about 60 visits per day. In October, thanks in part to the sudden public interest in Burmese issues, this bounced up to over 2000 unique visitors and well over 4100 visits, or about 130 visits a day. (A visit, FYI, is when an actual person behind an actual computer checks the site - robotic internet scanning programs, which exist to aid search engines, mostly, don’t figure in to the numbers.)

Needless to say this was encouraging. The growth in visits had increased slightly since then, though the unique visitor numbers, the number of individual computers who visit during the month, has since sagged. Now, to those outside the blogosphere these numbers might seem impressive. They aren’t, not really, especially considering the sheer volume of traffic that exists online. Technorati, a site that doubles as a search engine and community for bloggers, ranks my site 871,446th.

But wouldn’t it be incredibly vain and selfish of me to stop writing just because I’m not satisfied with my readership? Was I ever expecting to make money off this anyway? Was I really hoping to change the world?

Good questions, all.

I’ve given considerable thought to my life and career, and I still hope that, at least for a time, I can succeed as a freelance journalist/photojournalist traveling the world. Despite my inherent idealism, I understand that this is the dream of many of my contemporaries and, even without the competition, it will take a considerable amount of skill, luck, and perseverance.

As far as I see it, I have these things.

So the plan, loosely, is as follows. Set up a site, probably called evanherbert.xxx (my name, after all) and break it into three parts. One will contain my more professional stuff. Perhaps articles, interviews, news analysis, and so forth. Another will contain professional-ish photography; much of it will be geared toward the articles I write but some will be artistic, landscape-y sort of stuff. The third and final part will resemble what unkieherb.com should have been - a place for me to rant and tell stories and laugh and argue and generally get shit off my chest.

Alas this hasn’t been the case. Nevertheless I am undaunted. The aforementioned perseverance shines through.

This page will not disappear. I have it until next fall which is probably when I’ll begin to set up the newer site. I hope to throw some material up on here every so often, but much more infrequently than before. The months of five day a week writing (inspired by an excellent blogger named david) are over.

If you are reading this… thanks. Feedback is appreciated, as always, but it is enough for me if you smile and believe me when I say that the world will be a better place because you and I have made it so, not because you and I wished it so.

The time for shaking our heads at negative news is passed. The time to appreciate the massive impact, for good or ill, we all have on this planet and the life upon it is at hand.

In the immortal words of Bob Marley:

‘Give a little, take a little, give a little,

One more time, yeah, yeah. ‘

See ya around.

Share This

As I might be the most engaged person you know on this issue, this is a serious admission.

But admission it is. I’m not dropping this heavy shit in an attempt to spark you back into action. Nope, this is just me accepting what I feared weeks ago. The world has lost its interest in the Golden Land’s crisis. Among major international media, only the BBC still seems to be reporting with any real profile, responding to the volume of public (and hence government) outcry in Britain.

To be honest, I’m a little surprised it remained so central for so long. I sort of half expected it to fade off as fast as the hoopla surrounding Meg White’s sex tape. As the coverage continued, however, I had real hope that something tangible was occurring. When over a thousand people attended our rally in Toronto, I was shocked. Ecstatic, but blown away.

We held another event today. Perhaps fifty people turned up. Whereas the leader of a major federal political party spoke then, we had a local city councillor speak today, and several of his dates we off by years.

I haven’t lost hope, though. The situation there will change. Perhaps the pressure will slowly build as the generals age. The slaughter in Sudan is an issue that seems to be maintaining its back-burner profile and, belated and slow as it may be, progress is being made. Perhaps Burma will become a similar case. When something outside the status quo occurs, it will make circulation again. UN resolutions, public statements by world leaders, that sort of thing. Lip service, but it’s a start.

I suppose that my reaction is a natural one. Inevitable when one’s cause, so suddenly launched into the spotlight, finally loses its ‘media darling’ status. I felt so hopeful, then. I had real dreams, inspired by the front page news and overheard conversations. While I knew the bloody crackdown was coming, I thought that change might be possible. That the Burmese might get the international support that was so sorely lacking in ‘88. Perhaps they will, but not in the immediate future.

Still, the fight won’t stop. I’ll keep it up, as will a vocal minority around the world. I’ll try to keep the heavy stuff to a minimum, though, and I promise not to bore you.

Share This

Watch this.

I have been considering some new methods of putting pressure on the regime. China seems impervious to our pressure, something the West is partly responsible for. India, even more gallingly, has tacitly supported the crackdown by quietly calling for restrained actions on both sides. Both of these nations support the regime through heavy trade. What may strike many readers, however, is this: neither of these resource-starved giants is the biggest purchaser of Burmese products.

No, the leader in Burmese imports is Thailand. Gas is the biggest prize - generating electricity to power the hotels and resorts - though gems, timber and other predictable items make the list. Most important, however, is to remember that as it has leverage with the junta in Burma, so do we lowly citizens of the world have leverage with it.

As a result, I’ve convinced myself that it’s time to start boycotting Thailand. It is a country which depends heavily upon tourism, as well as trade with our countries. Japan lost a citizen in the violence in Burma, and they are the largest bilateral partner. By halting tourism to Thailand, as well as avoiding (or dare I say it, placing sanctions on?) Thai products, we could provide some strong pressure on the junta. Don’t forget that it, along with Burma, is run by a military regime that does not answer to it’s people.

Read this.

Share This

I can’t stop, I just can’t.

To say that the current crisis in Burma has become a media darling would not be stretching it. To say that it has become that one hot button - the Darfur, the global warming, the tsunami - would be damn accurate. But when you have experienced the crisis first hand, only to return to the west to hear people say “Uh huh… And where is Burma, again?” seven times a day… Let’s just say you’ll take every headline you can get.

I understand that people are growing tired of it. In our ADD culture we barely even focus on an issue long enough to look at a map, let alone write an email to our representative. The combination of apathy, helplessness and insensitivity is felt by all of us. Would I be such a bitchy activist if I hadn’t been there? Would I even be able to point to it on a globe? Hell no.

But who I am now, what I believe now, is this: every push in the right direction is beneficial. Every baby step we take toward eradicating the countless problems that are simmering and bubbling all around the world is just that: a step. Each step counts. Will we wake up tomorrow to find peace in the Middle East? A democratic government in Burma? Monsoon rains in central Africa? Hell no.

But tomorrow I will wake up and spend another day speaking with people who are interested but uninformed. I will let them know about the rally this Saturday. I will try to describe my experience in the country, to humanize the issue and make it relevant. I will push. I will push my whole life. Right now, this is where I feel I can push the hardest and with the most impact. Perhaps, in a few weeks or so, I will spread awareness somewhere else. What is important is that I do not spend every day concerned only with bettering my life and my situation. I am concerned - every single fucking day - with bettering lives and situations.

Activism is not about solving problems tomorrow. It is not about saving the world. It is about giving every little you have to spare - whether it is money, or food, or signatures, or emails, or letters, or phone calls, or ideas, or two feet and two hands and a mouth all making noise for a cause. I don’t care if it’s a token effort. I don’t care if it’s a nudge. It’s something.

Here - in our rich, spoiled, obese western world - is the power. If everyone were to baby tap the world in the right direction, it would start to spin that way. Tappity tap tap. Get on it.

Support Peace and Democracy in Burma: Toronto Rally: Saturday, Oct. 6th, 6:00pm. We gather at the Chinese Consulate to add to the international pressure on the Chinese government to stop supporting the Burmese regime. We let them know that they must address this and other human rights issues or they should expect a global protest at their beloved Olympic Games.

After rallying there, we march down to Queen’s Park in an attempt to spread awareness and make our voices heard. Please, please join us. Otherwise, find some baby step you can take, and please take it. You’ll feel better about yourself, I promise.

Share This

If you publish your own blog/site, go here.

Share This

I think I said that exactly seventeen minutes before saying this:

I’ve been banned from Facebook.

Seriously. What? How? Oh, that’s right, for being an event organizer. I sent out a whole bunch of links to the Burmese support rally I’m helping to promote. I guess I sent one too many.

Facebook has strong anti-spam rules, designed to protect us from overzealous promoters and general jackasses. Fair enough. But the vast majority of wall postings and links I sent were on related group sites, or to people who were members of these groups (the ones who are supportive of the protests). The only links I sent that weren’t to people who had already expressed their support and interest in such a rally were the ones I sent to my friends.

What is so sad about this development is that I was just beginning to appreciate how, given the right people and circumstances, facebook can be a wonderful tool to expand awareness and create support for a cause. I witnessed how minute by minute people were posting developments of the violence all night. I saw how tens of thousands of people voiced their concern by joining a group and asking each other about how to help, who to contact and where to march. It was inspiring.

And now this. It’s like facebook has put the junta-styled kaibosh on my protests. I’m no monk, mind you, but still.

As for the EVENT: RALLY in support of BURMESE monks and people.

Where: City Hall (Nathan Phillips Square @ Bay and Queen) in Toronto.

When: September 27th (Thursday) @ 6:00 pm.

Why: read my “Myanmar” section.

Who: Olivia Chow, federal representative in Parliament for the Trinity-Spadina riding will speak. We have confirmed that Burmese, Sri Lankan and Thai monks will all make appearances, among other groups and organizations. More details to follow.

Here is the now infamous link to the facebook event. If you would like more info check out the “Contact” link on the sidebar and give me a shout.

Tell your friends.

Share This

Here is a letter I wrote to Stephen Harper (Prime Minister) and Maxime Bernier (Minister of Foreign Affairs):

Mr. Harper, M. Bernier,

With all due respect, and I have much for a person in your position, it is time for this country to take advantage of its position of power in the world. I am deeply troubled by the development of violence in Myanmar (which I prefer to call Burma). Indeed, I am losing sleep over it as I write this to you. I traveled there, independently, for a month last March, and the experience changed the way I see the world.

I am not advocating invasion nor sanctions, as the former would increase bloodshed with no surety of success while the latter would simply be ineffective. I am, instead, advocating a continuation of your government’s relationship with China. I have proudly supported your strong tone with China on issues such as Tibet, human rights, and climate change. I’m sure I don’t need to inform you on the position of influence China holds with the Burmese regime, but I feel as if you have underestimated the position of influence we hold with China. While they are a massive power on a scale this country will never reach, they thirst desperately for the resources our country provides.

This is where our power lies. While limiting (or threatening to limit) Canadian commodity exports would result in tariffs or cut offs of Chinese exports to Canada, this country needs to regain its position as a human rights defender. While the pockets of Canadian businesses or consumers may suffer temporarily, it is a sacrifice we must make. There is no doubt in my mind that, while China supplies many essential materials and products, their dependence on our natural resources far exceeds our taste for their processed goods.

I trust that these are issues you are already considering. I trust that you are following the news from Burma as closely as I am. I trust that this letter will be among many your government receives on this issue.

Thank you for your time, and best of luck.

Evan Herbert.

And here is a letter I wrote to the friends and family I blind CC’d the letter to:

Hi there.

You may be wondering why I blind CCd you on my letter to Harper and Bernier (foreign affairs), and why I sent it in the middle of the night.

As you know, the country was an incredible experience, and I empathize deeply with the people there. Even compared to the other buddhist nations I visited, the Burmese were peaceful, happy and genuinely helpful. Despite being ignored and generally forgotten, they loved foreigners and, without a shred of greed or self-interest, wanted to help me on every step through their country.

And now this.

I’ve always been pron to insomnia, but lately things have been stacking up and it’s getting worse. I recently secured a great job, one I figured I had already slam dunked, only to have it fall through last minute. I’ve caught a bug that’s going ’round, and my throat is killing me. To add to the fun, last night was a veritable steam bath. And so. bored and restless at four am, I popped on BBC and the Globe’s sites to see the shit going down.

I went on Facebook and joined one of those “feel good about yourself but really do nothing at all” support the Burmese monk groups. I was blown away to see that Burmese refugees were using the group’s wall as a means to publish the reports their friends and family were sat phoning and emailing (cell phone service was shut down) out of the country. Every minute or so a new post would come up from a few people on the beatings, shootings and arrests. It was amazing. They were pleading with people to do whatever they could to begin the international outrage. I felt compelled to help.

I hope you do too. We are free, we can write our government and, what with the likelihood of a federal election approaching, threaten action. Use your power.

Even if you just want to copy my letter or write a brief note, add your name to our collective vote. We all know that Harper and Bernier will probably never come close to reading the letters anyway, but if their inboxes start to fill up, their aides will be letting them know. You can also forward something to your local MP, who is more likely to listen (and feel the threats).

Thanks for putting up with me,

Evan.

Share This

Though I’m tired of being right. Here.

Share This