Look To The Stars News: Aung San Suu Kyi

Angelina Jolie Awarded At Cinema For Peace Gala In Berlin

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:20:00 +0000

“10 Years of Cinema For Peace” was the theme of the Cinema for Peace Gala on February 13 at Berlin’s famous Gendarmenmarkt Concert Hall under the patronage of His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama, featuring guests of honor Angelina Jolie and Bob Geldof.

For the last ten years, Cinema for Peace has been supporting the fight for human rights, social justice, humanitarian missions, and environmental protection through captivating social film expression. Recognized as one of the world’s most important film events, the Cinema for Peace gala now has partner events in both New York City and Los Angeles, with many projects funded by generous sponsors and private donations.

This year’s Cinema for Peace gala focused on Bosnia and Burma through Angelina Jolie’s directorial debut “In the Land of Blood and Honey”, which was presented with a special Award for Opposing War and Genocide. In November 2011, the Cinema for Peace Foundation opened an office in Sarajevo in Bosnia Herzegovina, as recognition of the 1995 Srebrenica genocide, which is the primary focus of the foundation. The foundation hopes to conduct over 10,000 interviews with witnesses and survivors of the massacre in order to bring clarity to the horrific event. The interviews will be made available in an online library and eventually the subject of documentary. Students, scientists and non-government organizations will provide detailed insight regarding the event of the massacre in Srebrenica during the war in former Yugoslavia. The international criminal court for former Yugoslavia has placed 161 accused war criminals before the court.

Alfre Woodard To Attend Desmond Tutu Book Event

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 17:00:00 +0000

Alfre Woodard, Deborah Santana, Sharon Gelman, Kitsaun King, Marlene Saritzky and noted guests will attend an afternoon of food, drink, enjoyment and a special program on October 30, where Artists for a New South Africa pays tribute from afar to Desmond Tutu.

The event will celebrate the publication of Tutu: Authorized, an extraordinary new book, celebrating eighty years of Archbishop Tutu’s life,

The book features interviews with President Barack Obama, Kofi Annan, Aung San Suu Kyi and ANSA supporters Harry Belafonte, Jackson Browne, Samuel L. Jackson, Quincy Jones, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Hugh Masekela, Deborah Santana, Blair Underwood, Alfre Woodard and many more.

Celebrities Take Part In Seventh Annual Clinton Global Initiative

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 15:10:00 +0000

Last week, during the seventh annual Clinton Global Initiative event, President Bill Clinton welcomed Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Prize laureate, peacebuilder, and general secretary of the National League for Democracy via satellite and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, chairman of The Elders in a first-time conversation between the two visionary leaders.

Suu Kyi spoke about her own struggles for human rights, democratic governance, and ethic reconciliation, while Archbishop Tutu discussed his recent work to end child marriage. The highlight of the conversation was the overwhelming admiration Tutu and Suu Kyi expressed for each other’s efforts to promote world peace and democracy.

“The lives and accomplishments of Aung San Suu Kyi and Archibishop Desmond Tutu are an inspiring testament to the tremendous good than can be achieved by a boundless reserve of courage, humility, and conviction,” said President Clinton. “Suu Kyi and Archibishop Tutu exemplify the positive work of CGI members – who have made 194 new commitments this year, valued at $6.2 billion that will positively impact more than 100 million people.”

Aung San Suu Kyi Asks Burma For Full Participation

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 12:30:00 +0000

Upon release from years of house arrest, Aung San Suu Kyi has begun a balancing act. Recognizing calls by the people for great change, and recognizing the authority of the military junta, Suu Kyi is urging everyone to the negotiating table.

The recent elections, which the government claims as a great success but which are seen elsewhere as greatly flawed, is a top item of her agenda: “I am challenging the decision of the authorities that they can dissolve a party just like this because this is against the law,” said Suu Kyi in a CBC.ca interview.

But she is not prepared to be a one-woman show. “If you want democracy, you have got to be prepared to accept the responsibilities of democracy,” she says. "If you are talking about a government of the people, for the people, by the people, the people have to be actively involved. Nobody can avoid politics. …

Dalai Lama Welcomes Release Of Aung San Suu Kyi

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 12:30:00 +0000

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama has sent a special message of support to Aung San Suu Kyi following her release this week.

“I welcome the release of fellow Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and extend my appreciation to the military regime in Burma,” he says. "I extend my full support and solidarity to the movement for democracy in Burma and take this opportunity to appeal to freedom-loving people all over the world to support such non-violent movements.

“I pray and hope that the government of the People’s Republic of China will release fellow Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo and other prisoners of conscience who have been imprisoned for exercising their freedom of expression.”

Aung San Suu Kyi Freed From House Arrest

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 11:30:00 +0000

Following Myanmar’s elections earlier this month that forbade Aung San Suu Kyi from running, the country’s military junta has just released her from house arrest.

Although the period of house arrest has just expired, in the past the military has been proficient at finding reasons for extensions and/or new detentions that have kept one of the world’s most prominent political prisoners in her home’s compound in Yangon for the majority of the past two decades.

But her detention has not silenced her, nor has it changed her resolve to bring democracy to her country. In fact it may have strengthened it – she says she became a “totally political animal” because it was her whole existence.

Will Ferrell Films Charity Video For The US Campaign For Burma

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 15:30:00 +0000

The US Campaign for Burma has announced that a video by actor Will Ferrell is kicking off a 30-day campaign to help the campaign build one million voices of support for human rights and democracy in Burma.   

Every day for 30 days you will be able to tune into the campaign’s website www.uscampaignforburma.org or www.burmaitcantwait.org (or YouTube, Myspace, and many more sites) to watch a new celebrity video about Burma. Instead of watching one single video with limited information, viewers will be able to learn a great deal about the people of Burma’s courageous struggle for human rights and democracy. Each video is different — some are deadly serious while others have a light touch. Most of these are meant to be different than a typical public service announcement — more like a short movie or skit.  

The videos include many of the top actors in Hollywood and others in music, such as Jennifer Aniston, Woody Harrelson, Sylvester Stallone, Julie Benz, Eric Szmanda, Anjelica Huston, Ellen Page, Sheryl Crow and more.

Aung San Suu Kyi Receives Unanimous Support

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi received her sentencing last week: 18 more months of house arrest for breaking the terms of her current detention when she allowed a stranger into her home for two days to recover from swimming across a lake to her property.

The outrage at the verdict is unanimous amongst western world leaders:

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown: "I am both saddened and angry at the verdict today, 11 August, following the sham trial of Aung San Suu Kyi. The news – that she has been found guilty and sentenced to three years hard labour but that this has been “mitigated” to a suspended sentence of 1.5 years under house arrest – is further proof that the military regime in Burma is determined to act with total disregard for accepted standards of the rule of law and in defiance of international opinion. This is a purely political sentence designed to prevent her from taking part in the regime’s planned elections next year."

Bono Pays Tribute To Aung San Suu Kyi

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:00:00 +0000

U2 singer Bono included a special tribute to imprisoned Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a concert at Wembley during the weekend.

“An extraordinary woman has spent 20 years under house arrest,” the singer told the 88,000 strong crowd. “Her only crime is if she had run for election she would won have that election. Her name is Aung San Suu Kyi. I send a prayer from London to Burma for her safety.”

The band then encouraged the crowd to wear masks of the pro-democracy leader as they launched into ‘Walk On’ – a song they wrote for her – while volunteers marched onstage.

U2 Make Political Statements In Dublin

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:00:00 +0000

U2 marked the Global Day of Action for Iran by showing footage from the country’s civil war during a show in Dublin on Saturday, July 25.

The Global Day of Action for Iran was organized by United4Iran and saw people in over 60 countries show solidarity with the Iranian people in their struggle for human rights.

The Irish rockers performed Sunday Bloody Sunday in front of a screen showing images from Iran.

Birthday Wishes For Aung San Suu Kyi

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:30:00 +0000

People from all over the world have put down 64 words on a new website in support of Aung San Suu Kyi for her 64th birthday .

Burma’s junta has held the pro-democracy leader under house arrest for over half of the past two decades and, charged in May for breaking the terms of her house arrest, Suu Kyi is now facing trial.

Outraged by the Burmese military’s actions, people are using the 64 for Aung San Suu Kyi website as a protest platform.

Carla Bruni Protests For Aung San Suu Kyi

Wed, 27 May 2009 15:00:00 +0000

France’s first lady, Carla Bruni, has written an open letter calling for Burma’s junta to free the country’s opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.

Under house arrest in Burma for nearly 13 of the past 19 years for her pro-democratic and human rights campaigning, Suu Kyi allegedly violated the terms of her house arrest by allowing a man into her home after he swam across a lake to her property. As a consequence, she is now on trial in Rangoon and faces up to five years imprisonment if found guilty.

Ms Bruni fears that, due to recent reports that Suu Kyi’s health is poor, imprisonment could be the end for her. However, the military opened up her trial last Wednesday to reporters and diplomats, and Associated Press reports that she seems to be doing well according to Joselito Jacinto, a diplomat from the Philippine Embassy: “We saw Aung San Suu Kyi, and she appeared very strong. She sat listening intently and alertly to what was going on. She exuded a type of aura which can be described as moving, quite awe-inspiring.”

George Clooney Makes Statement Against Imprisonment Of Nobel Prize Winner

Mon, 18 May 2009 13:00:00 +0000

George Clooney joined Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and many others on Friday in calling for the immediate release from prison of Myanmar’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Along with Bono, Madonna, Steven Spielberg, Nobel Laureates professor Elie Wiesel and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former US secretary of state Madeleine Albright and US Senator John McCain, the group released a statement protesting about the fact that Aung San Suu Kyi – who has been under house arrest for 19 years – has now been moved to a prison facility.

The only Nobel Peace Prize recipient currently imprisoned, and leader of the National League for Democracy in Burma, Suu Kyi is a noted prisoner of conscience and advocate of nonviolent resistance.

Peter Gabriel Talks About The Elders

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:30:00 +0000

Rock star and humanitarian Peter Gabriel has commented on the inspiration behind forming The Elders, the group of public figures he established with Richard Branson to solve global figures.

“People have lost trust in a lot of institutions around the world, but they still have faith in certain of key individuals,” said the 58-year-old. “We felt that if we could get a group of elder statesmen and women together, they could have an influence and leverage and help on a few situations. We went to Nelson Mandela and he set it up a couple of years ago. We have Desmond Tutu, Kofi Annan. They can connect people on the ground who are suffering with people who can make a phone call.”

The Global Elders group was set up in 2007 to bring “almost 1,000 years of collective experience” to work on solutions for seemingly insurmountable problems like climate change, HIV/AIDS, and poverty, and “use their political independence to help resolve some of the world’s most intractable conflicts.” There are currently 12 active members, including Jimmy Carter and Aung San Suu Kyi. They have launched peace missions in Darfur, the Middle East, and Zimbabwe.

World Leaders Ask For UN Help In Burma

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 13:30:00 +0000

A massive group of former world leaders, presidents, and prime ministers – including Mikhail Gorbachev, Jimmy Carter, Tony Blair, and George Bush Sr – have written to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to ask him to secure the release of all political prisoners in Burma by the end of this year.

“We write this letter to applaud your public consideration of traveling to Burma, also known as Myanmar, before the end of the year,” the leaders wrote in the letter. “We encourage this trip because it would illustrate for the world whether or not the Burmese military regime is serious about making changes called for by the United Nations Security Council and your good offices.”

The Burmese military regime is currently trying to silence the people of Burma through a major crackdown on human rights activists, but the leaders from 50 countries have joined the effort to set them free and make their voices heard.

Will Ferrell Launches Human Rights Awareness Month

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:30:00 +0000

Funnyman Will Ferrell launched Human Rights Awareness Month earlier this week with a passionate plea to help Burma.

“You know when you hear about something happening in the world that is so awful, so violent and terrible and evil and wrong and you think wait – I have to do something about this,” he said in a PSA. “But it just seems too big… this month, all that is going to change for you. A human rights crisis is happening right now in the South East Asian country of Burma… Today we’re launching a 30 day campaign for human rights and democracy in Burma.”

Ferrell announced that over the next month, special videos featuring stars such as Jennifer Aniston, Woody Harrelson, and Jackson Browne will be featured on the US Campaign for Burma YouTube page, to talk about the Burmese fight for freedom from an unjust and violent military regime.

Mia Farrow To Discuss Political Rights Of Women

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:30:00 +0000

Actress Mia Farrow is to attend a special seminar next week to discuss the political-rights crises faced by women in Thailand and Burma.

The seminar – to be held in Thailand’s Chiang Mai University on July 21 – will be led by Nobel Peace Laureate Jody Williams, and will feature female activists from all around the world. Organized by the Nobel Women’s Initiative, the seminar will cover a range of issues relating to the treatment of women in the political arena, and will include video testimony from Aung San Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel Peace Laureate who has been under house arrest in Burma.

“We don’t have such a special event very often in Thailand, let alone Chiang Mai, so I do hope that it will create interest, more understanding and support for women’s causes,” said Virada Somswasdi, president of the Foundation for Women, Law and Rural Development. “The efforts of NWI members and other women involved in the delegation to Thailand are not only to keep alive the issues of peace with justice and equality, which include violence against women and the crisis of political rights, but also to highlight the importance of a just and peaceful global community for women.”

Aung San Suu Kyi - Birthday Wishes That Can't Be Heard

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:38:00 +0000

On June 19, Burma’s Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi will spend her 63rd birthday as a political prisoner in Burma (Myanmar). And to mark the occasion, the US Campaign for Burma have organized over 200 events to help Americans learn more about her and the struggle for human rights and democracy in her military-led country.

Aung San Suu Kyi is a brave and courageous woman whose face is now more well-known than her name. But it is a face etched with sincerity, a face that has retained its youthful vigor despite the hardships it has endured, despite the years spent watching her fellow people suffer, and the lines that now run over it only add a look of wisdom and determination to her dogged drive and dedication.

Hers’ is an incredible and powerful story in a country that is struggling – a story of an academic based at Oxford University in England who returned to her native Burma to oppose the brutal military regime in her homeland, risking her life and leaving her husband and children behind. She led the National League for Democracy to a staggering win – with 80% of the votes – at the 1990 elections, only to have her post as Prime Minister nullified, and she has been imprisoned almost ever since. She even had to wait under house arrest when her husband was diagnosed with cancer. She was prevented from seeing him before he died, not allowed to comfort him at his bedside or help her children through their pain.

Time's 100 - Peter Gabriel By Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu

Fri, 16 May 2008 10:57:00 +0000

Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu wrote about Peter Gabriel’s contributions to humanity for this year’s Time 100 list:

“I did not know Peter Gabriel from a bar of soap when I met him for the first time on his friend Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island in the Virgin Islands. But within moments, he had charmed me. I heard him sing his Biko, which still moves me to tears each time I hear it, as we stood round the piano he was playing. He volunteered to give me my first swimming lessons and was a great hit with two of my grandchildren who met him there.

“What is his secret? He has a heart—in our part of the world, we would give him our highest accolade and say, “He has ubuntu.” It is that marvelous quality that speaks of compassion and generosity, about sharing, about hospitality. Peter founded WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance), presenting 50 festivals in more than 40 countries and conducting workshops in schools around the globe. He is a passionate human-rights advocate who participated in the 1988 Human Rights Now tour, and he co-founded Witness, which provides cameras and computers to activists.

Celebrities Raising Voices For Burma

Wed, 07 May 2008 10:46:12 +0000

Will Ferrell and Jennifer Aniston have joined the US Campaign for Burma, and are asking others to do the same for the Burma: It Can’t Wait Campaign. Stars are on a mission to raise one million voices in 30 days against the human rights atrocities occurring in the Southeast Asian country.

The people of Burma are being attacked by their own government, and, just as the world stood together to demand the freedom of Nelson Mandela, the campaign is asking people to speak up for the leader of Burma’s democratic party, Aung San Suu Kyi. The world’s only imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Suu Kyi has been deprived of her freedom for 12 of the last 18 years. She has appealed to people around the world, saying, “Please, use your liberty to promote ours.”