Canadian Friends of Burma
Encyclopedia
Canadian Friends of Burma (Les amis Canadiens de la Birmanie or CFOB) is a federally incorporated, national non-governmental organization founded in 1991.
, democracy
, human rights
and equality
in Burma. Its primary objectives are to raise awareness about the political, human rights and socioeconomic situation in Burma and how it pertains to Canadians as well as to encourage Canadians to take action and to get involved.
and abroad, produces educational materials and monitors Canadian relations with Burma. CFOB maintains an ongoing dialogue with the Canadian government with regard to federal policy on Burma.
CFOB maintains close links with Burmese exiles in Canada and internationally, including Burma's government-in-exile, the student and labor movements, ethnic leaders, journalists, academics and the entire international movement for democracy in Burma. In addition, as much as possible, CFOB acts as a clearinghouse of information about Burma's pro-democracy movement in Canada and works with the Burmese community in Canada.
CFOB is a member of the Halifax Initiative
, a coalition of Canadian
non-governmental organization
s for public interest work and education on international financial institutions
.
. He has traveled extensively and lived in the Far East. Kevin has vast experience researching progressive political movements in Asia and the militarization of U.S. foreign policy. He enjoys leftist authors including, Tariq Ali
, Noam Chomsky
and Robert Fisk
. Kevin is currently researching Canadian investment in Burma.
Kyaw Moe of Media and Burmese Community Relations is originally from Monwaya, Burma. He spent several years in India
, Norway
and England
before coming to Canada. Kyaw Moe is a journalist by profession and is currently working as a settlement officer for Catholic Immigration. He is also the director of Burmese Community Services of Ottawa, which is the first Burmese community service provider for Burmese newcomers to Canada.
Toekyi, the Technical Advisor is originally from Moulmein, Burma. He spent several years in Thailand
, where he was active in the student movement before coming to Canada. He is a founding member of the Burmese Students Democratic Organization (BSDO), a national student activist group in Canada. Toekyi is an IT and networking specialist and is currently working for Compucorps Mentoring, which is an NGO that provides computers and technical assistance to charities and non-profit organizations.
Sam Cartmell, the Director of Public Dissent and Advocacy is a graduate student in International Political Economy at Carleton University
. Sam joined CFOB's board in 2005 and his interests include globalization and human rights, international socialism and revolutionary movements. He is passionate about the need for the removal of the military regime in Burma.
Objectives
CFOB supports the Burma pro-democracy movement in the struggle for peacePeace
Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
, democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
, human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
and equality
Social equality
Social equality is a social state of affairs in which all people within a specific society or isolated group have the same status in a certain respect. At the very least, social equality includes equal rights under the law, such as security, voting rights, freedom of speech and assembly, and the...
in Burma. Its primary objectives are to raise awareness about the political, human rights and socioeconomic situation in Burma and how it pertains to Canadians as well as to encourage Canadians to take action and to get involved.
Activities
CFOB coordinates campaigns and provides assistance to Burma solidarity groups in CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and abroad, produces educational materials and monitors Canadian relations with Burma. CFOB maintains an ongoing dialogue with the Canadian government with regard to federal policy on Burma.
CFOB maintains close links with Burmese exiles in Canada and internationally, including Burma's government-in-exile, the student and labor movements, ethnic leaders, journalists, academics and the entire international movement for democracy in Burma. In addition, as much as possible, CFOB acts as a clearinghouse of information about Burma's pro-democracy movement in Canada and works with the Burmese community in Canada.
CFOB is a member of the Halifax Initiative
Halifax Initiative
The Halifax Initiative is a coalition of Canadian non-governmental organizations for public interest work and education on international financial institutions....
, a coalition of Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
s for public interest work and education on international financial institutions
International financial institutions
International financial institutions are financial institutions that have been established by more than one country, and hence are subjects of international law. Their owners or shareholders are generally national governments, although other international institutions and other organisations...
.
Board of directors
Kevin Angus McLeod, the Campaign Coordinator joined CFOB's board in March 2004. He received his education at Peterborough's Trent UniversityTrent University
Trent University is a liberal arts and science-oriented institution located along the Otonabee River in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.The enabling legislation is the Trent University Act, 1962-63. The University was founded through the efforts of a citizens' committee interested in creating a...
. He has traveled extensively and lived in the Far East. Kevin has vast experience researching progressive political movements in Asia and the militarization of U.S. foreign policy. He enjoys leftist authors including, Tariq Ali
Tariq Ali
Tariq Ali , , is a British Pakistani military historian, novelist, journalist, filmmaker, public intellectual, political campaigner, activist, and commentator...
, Noam Chomsky
Noam Chomsky
Avram Noam Chomsky is an American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, and activist. He is an Institute Professor and Professor in the Department of Linguistics & Philosophy at MIT, where he has worked for over 50 years. Chomsky has been described as the "father of modern linguistics" and...
and Robert Fisk
Robert Fisk
Robert Fisk is an English writer and journalist from Maidstone, Kent. As Middle East correspondent of The Independent, he has primarily been based in Beirut for more than 30 years. He has published a number of books and has reported on the United States's war in Afghanistan and the same country's...
. Kevin is currently researching Canadian investment in Burma.
Kyaw Moe of Media and Burmese Community Relations is originally from Monwaya, Burma. He spent several years in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
before coming to Canada. Kyaw Moe is a journalist by profession and is currently working as a settlement officer for Catholic Immigration. He is also the director of Burmese Community Services of Ottawa, which is the first Burmese community service provider for Burmese newcomers to Canada.
Toekyi, the Technical Advisor is originally from Moulmein, Burma. He spent several years in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, where he was active in the student movement before coming to Canada. He is a founding member of the Burmese Students Democratic Organization (BSDO), a national student activist group in Canada. Toekyi is an IT and networking specialist and is currently working for Compucorps Mentoring, which is an NGO that provides computers and technical assistance to charities and non-profit organizations.
Sam Cartmell, the Director of Public Dissent and Advocacy is a graduate student in International Political Economy at Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
. Sam joined CFOB's board in 2005 and his interests include globalization and human rights, international socialism and revolutionary movements. He is passionate about the need for the removal of the military regime in Burma.