These last 10 years I have often been living in countries that do not allow dissension... including Tibet, Nepal, Laos,where I am now. In Nepal the last 3 months, anyone, including me, who held silent, peaceful vigils supporting Tibet and the Dalai Lama was arrested, detained, and beaten. This is all because Nepal is being intimidated by the Chinese government. Even in Thailand, when the Olympic torch came through Bangkok three weeks ago, any foreigner who showed support for Tibet was deported and not allowed back to Thailand for 5 years. In Laos, where I am now (for the 7th time in 10 years), no statements can be made against the Laos government, and China just finished a major highway connecting the Yunaan province of China with Laos on to Chiang Rai, Thailand. So I will see these next two weeks what anyone says who may see my Dalai Lama pendant around my neck or one of his books I'm traveling with.

Speaking of dissension, the Laos government, and especially its rural peoples, are reminded constantly of the Vietnam war, as over 400 people are still maimed, injured and/or killed each year from stepping on one of the over 30 MILLION land mines and cluster bombs that the US government/army buried or threw from planes thirty-five years ago! In addtion, Agent Orange victims are still passing on this war nightmare to their children.

As Americans, for the most part, we are allowed to dissent. Compared to what has happened in Tibet, Nepal, and China these past three months, I count my blessings and appreciate ever more that the nature of the people of these countries I love so much (and have lived with 5-7 months out of every year for the last 10 years) are still so full of love and optimism, even though their governments are full of ignorance, fear, and paranoia. Having said this, nothing can compare with the paranoia, greed, and ignorance of the current Burma (Myanmar) regime. The sweet Buddhist people of this ancient land are treated worse than animals by their own government.

I know most of you have been following the devastation of the Cyclone Nargis. Since I have volunteered three separate times to teach English, donate small amounts of money and medicine in the past at the Thai border with Burma, as well as having several Thai Burmese friends, I have a special place for these people. When I have watched Al-Jazeera, BBC, and CNN in the past three weeks, I have been determined to do something to pitch in, especially since I had a ticket to go there on May 22nd. But now that Americans are not allowed in to Burma, I'm taking my help to the border, near where Laos, Thailand, and Burma all meet. Through people I already know and trust, we are delivering medicine, anti malarial pills, and special dysentery tablets as well as cash. Another friend Nikki from LA is bringing over $15,000 she raised in just 10 days from her friends, also to deliver into Burma.

I'm donating 20% of the profitson all art sales from now till the end of summer, in the exhibitions and in the states, directly to the Burmese people who need it most. This includes art from Lotus Gallery currently being exhibited/sold at Soul Food Bookstore in Redmond and Seattle, WA; Body, Yoga and Health Store in Santa Fe, NM; Kali Ma's MahaSiddha Buddhism Centers in Grass Valley and Berkeley, CA; Barb's Lotus Loft; the new Red Lotus Society Gallery in San Diego; and Sondras Tibetan Healing Center in Hillcrest. Please, for any art sold between now and the end of summer, email me the amount of the sale so I know how much money to donate. Later this month, another group of Burmese will be coming to the arranged border crossing. The money raised and medical supplies bought with these thangka sales will be directly delivered to refugees and to a monastery in Rangoon, the largest city. Also, if anyone wants to donate even any small amount like $20 or more, I will deliver it to Burma.

The Nepal elections and tourists fears have still kept Nepal business very low, and the 9 Tibetan artists I have worked with for years cannot get out of Tibet, and of course tourists are not allowed there for now either. Still, the artists keep painting and my Nepali partner and I continue to collect the art from all the artists in Tibet and Nepal. As an optimist, I continue to feel the planet will be a better place in the future. As a traveler, business owner, and American expatriate who has the privilege of feeling the Buddhist nature of my friends in Nepal, Tibet, Thailand, and Laos permeating my being, I feel we must all continue to dissent and express our feeling. We must offer help for those less fortunate who don't have founding fathers and mothers who allow dissent.

Thank you and be sure to forward any queries to me, as I will be online at least every day from Laos, or from the Thai border. For more information on ways to help the resilient people of Burma, click here or email me at jimaplington@yahoo.com.

Blessings,
Jim Applington
Laos, Cambodia
May 23, 2008