In Burma it's not just a natural disaster--it's also a catastrophe of bad
leadership.
Burma's brutal and corrupt military junta failed to warn the people,
failed to evacuate any areas, and suppressed freedom of communication so
that Burmese people didn't know the storm was coming when the rest of the
world did. Now the government is failing to respond to the disaster and
obstructing international aid organizations.

Humanitarian relief is urgently needed, but Burma's government could
easily delay, divert or misuse any aid. Today the International Burmese
Monks Organization, including many leaders of the democracy protests last
fall, launched a new effort to provide relief through Burma's powerful
grass roots network of monasteries--the most trusted institutions in the
country and currently the only source of housing and support in many
devastated communities. Click below to help the Burmese people with a
donation and see a video appeal to Avaaz from a leader of the monks:
[https://secure.avaaz.org/en/burma_cyclone/6.php?cl=86411362]
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/burma_cyclone/6.php?cl=86411362

Giving to the monks is a smart, fast way to get aid directly to Burma's
people. Governments and international aid organizations are important, but
face challenges--they may not be allowed into Burma, or they may be forced
to provide aid according to the junta's rules. And most will have to spend
large amounts of money just setting up operations in the country. The monks
are already on the front lines of the aid effort--housing, feeding, and
supporting the victims of the cyclone since the day it struck. The
International Burmese Monks Organization will send money directly to each
monastery through their own networks, bypassing regime controls.
Now, as tens of thousands die, the junta's response is slow and threatens
to divert precious aid into the corrupt regime's pockets.

The monks are unlikely to receive aid from governments or large
humanitarian organizations, but they have a stronger presence and trust
among the Burmese people than both. If we all chip in a little bit, we can
help them to make a big difference.