Funding a Revolution
Insight Myanmar20 Feb 2023

Funding a Revolution

Episode #149: Nandar Min Swe is a fundraiser for the government in exile. She helped sell NUG bonds, as well as facilitating the sale of subdivided plots of land owned by Min Aung Hlaing and other the military, which can be redeemed upon a successful end to the revolution. These days, she is working on facilitating a cryptocurrency which can circumvent the military regime’s control over the national financial system.

Nandar identifies a developing problem, however, in that most fundraising efforts are directed at Burmese donors. “Why are we digging deeper into our own pockets, and our own pockets are not that deep enough, no matter how much we dig into?” she asked herself. She thinks this is due, in part, to Burmese cultural values. Nandar agrees with Phillipp Annawitt, who expressed on a recent Insight Myanmar podcast episode that the “culture of sacrifice” that has long existed within Burmese democracy movements is not a sustainable form of governance, and this is reflected in the Burmese focus of fundraising efforts—the same people give over and over until they can’t, while volunteers are beginning to feel overwhelmed. Nearly two years into the attempted coup, the Burmese diaspora still continues to have to shoulder nearly this entire burden, unable to find a way to break through to a wider audience beyond their own bubble.

Going forward, Nandar makes clear she is seeking a new and better country, rather than advocating for a specific party or policy. “I'm not an NLD supporter or a Daw Aung San Suu Kyi supporter. I feel myself to be more like someone who wants to liberate Burma any way I can. And the only way I can right now is by fundraising.”

Avsnitt(517)

A Lifetime of Advocacy

A Lifetime of Advocacy

Michael Haack’s lifelong advocacy for Myanmar had a fortuitous start. With a growing interest in the divestment movement, he took advantage of an opportunity to take alternative winter break during hi...

16 Juli 20211h 58min

A History of Violence

A History of Violence

Lynn wants to know if anyone can suggest something that hasn’t already been tried.In contrast to many other protesters whose political consciousness was raised only after the coup, Lynn’s own professi...

11 Juli 20212h

Bhikkhu Bodhi on the Crisis in Myanmar

Bhikkhu Bodhi on the Crisis in Myanmar

How can a dedicated meditator maintain the five precepts when encountering armed soldiers with orders to abduct, rape, torture, or even kill? How should devoted lay supporters of the Saṅgha respond wh...

4 Juli 20211h 29min

The View From France

The View From France

In more normal times, Thiri Nandar would look for a way to balance her love of music with a spiritual practice. But the challenges of this current crisis make it impossible to either enjoy her music, ...

28 Juni 20211h 43min

Courage in Chinland

Courage in Chinland

Today we are joined by Mark, a Chin from the Zomi tribe. For Mark and his fellow Chin Christians, the military coup represents not only a loss of basic political freedoms, but also a loss of religious...

23 Juni 20211h 47min

Whatever It Takes

Whatever It Takes

Thaw Htet is juggling a lot these days: a donation platform, running two free medical clinics, and supplying defense teams. On top of this, he’s also created two anti-military Facebook pages that have...

16 Juni 20212h 24min

Act with Courage, Pray with Faith

Act with Courage, Pray with Faith

Doh Say’s life work has been leading to this moment. He became involved with the Free Burma Rangers through his longtime friendship with David Eubank, the founder of the group. The Rangers are a human...

9 Juni 20211h 39min

Gratitude and Growth

Gratitude and Growth

This is the third episode in our ongoing series “Love Letters to Myanmar.” Our recent run of longform interviews has tried to realistically portray the terror and suffering that so many Burmese people...

4 Juni 20211h 50min

Populärt inom Politik & nyheter

aftonbladet-krim
svenska-fall
p3-krim
fordomspodden
rss-expressen-dok
rss-krimstad
flashback-forever
rss-sanning-konsekvens
motiv
aftonbladet-daily
rss-vad-fan-hande
spar
rss-krimreportrarna
grans
blenda-2
rss-frandfors-horna
rss-flodet
olyckan-inifran
krimmagasinet
dagens-eko