The Best Friend was founded in 1999 as The Best Friend Group of Literature, by two concerned monks with the purpose of encouraging people to become more educated, aware and active in the struggle for peace and freedom in Burma. The main belief is that education can open up people’s ears and eyes and is THE way to eradicate poverty.
Now that we have all had some time to get used to this new year, we would like to update you about what is going on with Burma-related events in the next few weeks at The Best Friend Library and in Chiang Mai!
• "The Shan: Refugees Without a Camp" Book Reading and Discussion, Sunday 30 January at Sangdee Gallery, 6 p.m.
• Burma Health Forum, Thursday 27 January at Chiang Mai University, 1–4 p.m.
• Lifescapes Southeast Asian Film Festival, 3–6 February at Payap University
• Run for Relief, Saturday 26 February at Huey Tung Tao, Chiang Mai, 7 a.m.
• Free English classes for migrants from Burma start soon in Chiang Mai!
Our first library event of 2011 will be a book reading and discussion with Bernice Koehler Johnson, author of "The Shan: Refugees Without a Camp". Bernice's inspirational and informative book tells of her long-term experience working with Shan migrants in Thailand, and also details her visits to Burma. Bernice will be joined by two prominent Shan figures who will give an update on the current situation for the Shan in Thailand and in Shan State: Khuensai Jaiyen, editor of Shan Herald Agency for News, and Charm Tong of Shan Women's Action Network and a Nobel Peace Prize nominee.
The Best Friend Library is proud to be working with the organization Schools for Shan Refugees to have a special edition of Bernice's book printed in Thailand, and we will be selling copies of the book as a fundraiser for these two non-profit organizations. This special event will be held on Sunday 30 January at 6 p.m. at Sangdee Gallery. Sangdee is located within walking distance from The Best Friend Library on Sirimankhalajarn Soi 5.
A few days before the library's book event, Chiang Mai University's Burma Concern group will be hosting a forum on Burma-related health issues titled "A Man-Made Disaster: Implications to Thailand of Burma's Health Catastrophe". A panel of experts from local and international health and human rights organizations will discuss the health crisis in Burma and its cross-border impact on Thailand. The event will include a screening of the documentary "Backpack Video", presentations, and a roundtable discussion. The event will take place on Thursday 27 January from 1–4 p.m. in the 4th Floor Conference Room of the Faculty of Social Sciences Operational Building at Chiang Mai University. Contact rcsd.burma@gmail.com for more information.
From 3–6 February, Payap University will be hosting the Lifescapes Southeast Asian Film Festival. The festival will explore regional issues and human rights struggles, and will feature contemporary documentary and dramatic films from mainland Southeast Asia, including six films about Burma or by Burmese filmmakers. Ashin Sopaka, one of the founders of The Best Friend Library, will lead a discussion following the screening of "In The Middle of the Bridge: Burmese Monks in Foreign Lands", a film he appears in, on Friday 4 February at 2:30 p.m. Visit http://filmfestival.payap.ac.th/ for more information, including the full program schedule.
In addition, Christians Concerned for Burma will be organizing the 7th Annual Run for Relief on Saturday 26 February, and The Best Friend Library is pleased to be participating this year. "For a million villagers in Burma, running is not a choice", and this event is a chance to show our solidarity with them, as well as to help raise money for several important organizations providing essential relief to displaced ethnic villagers in Burma. The run will take place at Huey Tung Tao, off the Canal Road. Registration begins at 7 a.m. with the 5-kilometer run/walk kicking off at 8 a.m. Contact run4relief@gmail.com for more information.
The Best Friend Library's book event and Chiang Mai University's health forum are free for the public. Each screening at the film festival is free for the public, except for the festival's closing night presentation which requires an advance ticket purchase. The Run for Relief has a 200 baht registration fee for participants.
Finally, we would like to let you know that starting on 1 February we will begin offering free English classes for migrants from Burma at The Best Friend Library in Chiang Mai. Due to space limitations, we are starting by offering private and small-group instruction. This makes scheduling easier, so we can be flexible with class times to suit our students' needs. If you know migrants from Burma who would like to practice and improve their English skills, please have them contact Myo at the library. For the time being we are very fortunate to have enough volunteer English teachers, but if you would like to offer your teaching skills on a volunteer basis in the future, you can also speak with Myo at the library (or e-mail him at bio.zero24@gmail.com).
We hope that 2011 will be a great year for you, and also a great year for Burma. Please remember that the struggle for positive change in Burma will only be complete when every individual in Burma enjoys peace, freedom, and self-determination—and there is still a very long way to go to making this a reality. We hope that you will allow The Best Friend Library to play a role in raising your Burma-awareness and helping you realize what you can do to help the people of Burma!
Garrett Kostin
The Best Friend Library – Chiang Mai
More information here.
Now that we have all had some time to get used to this new year, we would like to update you about what is going on with Burma-related events in the next few weeks at The Best Friend Library and in Chiang Mai!
• "The Shan: Refugees Without a Camp" Book Reading and Discussion, Sunday 30 January at Sangdee Gallery, 6 p.m.
• Burma Health Forum, Thursday 27 January at Chiang Mai University, 1–4 p.m.
• Lifescapes Southeast Asian Film Festival, 3–6 February at Payap University
• Run for Relief, Saturday 26 February at Huey Tung Tao, Chiang Mai, 7 a.m.
• Free English classes for migrants from Burma start soon in Chiang Mai!
Our first library event of 2011 will be a book reading and discussion with Bernice Koehler Johnson, author of "The Shan: Refugees Without a Camp". Bernice's inspirational and informative book tells of her long-term experience working with Shan migrants in Thailand, and also details her visits to Burma. Bernice will be joined by two prominent Shan figures who will give an update on the current situation for the Shan in Thailand and in Shan State: Khuensai Jaiyen, editor of Shan Herald Agency for News, and Charm Tong of Shan Women's Action Network and a Nobel Peace Prize nominee.
The Best Friend Library is proud to be working with the organization Schools for Shan Refugees to have a special edition of Bernice's book printed in Thailand, and we will be selling copies of the book as a fundraiser for these two non-profit organizations. This special event will be held on Sunday 30 January at 6 p.m. at Sangdee Gallery. Sangdee is located within walking distance from The Best Friend Library on Sirimankhalajarn Soi 5.
A few days before the library's book event, Chiang Mai University's Burma Concern group will be hosting a forum on Burma-related health issues titled "A Man-Made Disaster: Implications to Thailand of Burma's Health Catastrophe". A panel of experts from local and international health and human rights organizations will discuss the health crisis in Burma and its cross-border impact on Thailand. The event will include a screening of the documentary "Backpack Video", presentations, and a roundtable discussion. The event will take place on Thursday 27 January from 1–4 p.m. in the 4th Floor Conference Room of the Faculty of Social Sciences Operational Building at Chiang Mai University. Contact rcsd.burma@gmail.com for more information.
From 3–6 February, Payap University will be hosting the Lifescapes Southeast Asian Film Festival. The festival will explore regional issues and human rights struggles, and will feature contemporary documentary and dramatic films from mainland Southeast Asia, including six films about Burma or by Burmese filmmakers. Ashin Sopaka, one of the founders of The Best Friend Library, will lead a discussion following the screening of "In The Middle of the Bridge: Burmese Monks in Foreign Lands", a film he appears in, on Friday 4 February at 2:30 p.m. Visit http://filmfestival.payap.ac.th/ for more information, including the full program schedule.
In addition, Christians Concerned for Burma will be organizing the 7th Annual Run for Relief on Saturday 26 February, and The Best Friend Library is pleased to be participating this year. "For a million villagers in Burma, running is not a choice", and this event is a chance to show our solidarity with them, as well as to help raise money for several important organizations providing essential relief to displaced ethnic villagers in Burma. The run will take place at Huey Tung Tao, off the Canal Road. Registration begins at 7 a.m. with the 5-kilometer run/walk kicking off at 8 a.m. Contact run4relief@gmail.com for more information.
The Best Friend Library's book event and Chiang Mai University's health forum are free for the public. Each screening at the film festival is free for the public, except for the festival's closing night presentation which requires an advance ticket purchase. The Run for Relief has a 200 baht registration fee for participants.
Finally, we would like to let you know that starting on 1 February we will begin offering free English classes for migrants from Burma at The Best Friend Library in Chiang Mai. Due to space limitations, we are starting by offering private and small-group instruction. This makes scheduling easier, so we can be flexible with class times to suit our students' needs. If you know migrants from Burma who would like to practice and improve their English skills, please have them contact Myo at the library. For the time being we are very fortunate to have enough volunteer English teachers, but if you would like to offer your teaching skills on a volunteer basis in the future, you can also speak with Myo at the library (or e-mail him at bio.zero24@gmail.com).
We hope that 2011 will be a great year for you, and also a great year for Burma. Please remember that the struggle for positive change in Burma will only be complete when every individual in Burma enjoys peace, freedom, and self-determination—and there is still a very long way to go to making this a reality. We hope that you will allow The Best Friend Library to play a role in raising your Burma-awareness and helping you realize what you can do to help the people of Burma!
Garrett Kostin
The Best Friend Library – Chiang Mai
More information here.
