Update on Burma and metta in action.org
NEWS: Metta In Action now has a website (www.mettainaction.org) where we have posted the various updates on our projects, and have a lovely photo gallery.
There are big changes happening in Burma as some of you may know. Aung San Su Kyi the democratically elected leader of the country, who has been under house arrest for most of the last 20 years, is now free to move about and many political prisoners have been released. So, we have a cautious optimism regarding the possibilities for change. Still things continue to be very difficult for poor people in Burma- most of the population – and pressures are mounting in some areas due to escalating land costs. Economic speculation is on the rise in a dramatic way, and many of the poor families, in the vicinity of Chanmyay Myaing Monastery where we do much of our work, are being forced to move as land gets sold to the highest bidder.
There is a flood of money and investment activity into Burma these days, as things are opening up, but the poor are not too likely to see much of it. Costs continue to go up, but opportunities for the poorest segment of society remain scarce or on-existent. Costs for basic commodities continue to rise, but wages do not. For 2013, we plan to continue supporting the ongoing educational and medical funds we have begun, as well as offering funds for the various nunneries and schools that we have been supporting over the past few years. As always we are on the lookout for new opportunities to bring some small bit of aid to those who need it the most.
Donations to Metta In Action still are not tax-deductible, but as always, 100% of your donation will go to the aid projects – we do not take any funds towards expenses. A little bit goes a long way, and no donation is too small! If you would like to help support this very worthwhile work you can do so in one of the following ways:
1) by check made payable to Metta In Action and sent to:
Gregory Scharf c/o IMS
1230 Pleasant Street
Barre, Ma. 01005
2) to my personal Paypal account (gregoryscharf@yahoo.com)
3) by a cash donation directly to me
Greg Scharf – teacher at IMS