Edinburgh flies the 'Free Burma' NLD flag

Forthview children love this flag. In fact Sophie made it in beads. I'll show you that tomorrow. Edinburgh councillors have flown this flag since the Council meeting on 25 October 07 to support the people of Burma. Today was Dr Thein Lwin's last day in Edinburgh.

After Sheila giving him a presentation on Emotional Literacy in the car going to Strathclyde/Glasgow University (which made him car sick!), he addressed staff and students, making links that may support Burmese students of education in the future. Then he was off to London for the Westminster debate on Burma.

Metta Sutta, Thein Lwin. Haste ye back, we lo'e ye dearly!

What whirlwind the past two days have been...

Dr Thein Lwin our Burmese exchange teacher finally arrived from being stuck in Germany– but only after intervention from Forthview’s MP, Mark Lazarovicz (thank you again Mark!)

He was whisked away from Edinburgh airport in the Lord Provost’s car by Murray, to a special meeting of the Scottish Parliament’s International Development Group, where he, Ms Laing and exiled Burmese Politician Aung Moe Zaw spoke about Forthview’s link with Hlee Bee; Education for Democracy and Burma; Building solidarity with the peoples of Burma, to over 60 people from all over Scotland.

Afterwards, Ms Laing and Mr Wright had a yummy 'Thai' dinner with them all - along other MSPs, friends from BEST and Unison - where we were all able to relax for what seemed like the first time in weeks!

Next day, we were up early, taking Aung San Suu Kyi’s “Freedom Flag” to the City Chambers, where it was raised for the entire world to see, before visiting James Gillespie’s High School with our guests – some of Gillespie’s cupboards are bigger than Hlee Bee classrooms - followed by a deputation to the full committee of Edinburgh City Council.

Here, after prayers from a Buddhist monk, our Burmese guests, Catlin and Ms Laing told Councillors about our links, whilst we sold Councillors and Officials our saffron ribbons. Councillors voted unanimously to build upon Forthview’s and BEST’s links with the peoples’ of Burma and to look at other ways, which to extend them further.

We then walked down the Royal Mile to the Scottish Parliament, where we were joined by our other Burmese teacher friend Nan Lung and met MSP’s; talking to Alex Salmond, Jack McConnell (who went to school with Murray), Wendy Alexander and others.

One, Margaret Smith MSP, when told by Caitlin that she wanted to become an MSP one day, even invited her and a friend to spend a day shadowing her at the Scottish Parliament – what an excitement!

Back at Forthview we had a full school assembly, where we all met Dr Thein Lwin and he gave Primary 6 and 7 pupils their beautiful cards from Hlee Bee, which Murray had brought back for us from Thailand, before jumping in taxis to another event at the Scottish Story Telling Centre.

Here Scottish Pen (which campaigns for the release of wrongfully imprisoned writers) and BEST were putting on a special event ‘Freedom Writ Large’ where Sarah Boyack MSP read out a special message of support to Scottish Pen and BEST from Prime Minister, Gordon Brown.

Sophie, Jamie-Lee and Lewis read their poems and stories about Burma, in between readings from famous Burmese authors, including Aung San Suu Kyi, read by Mrs Laing, Murray and our other new BEST friends. Jenni from Scottish Pen wants to publish Lewis's poem about Aung San Suu Kyi in a book - he'll be famous!

Beginning to get tired now, we were back to Forthview for our International Families’ Evening. Over 100 parents, pupils, teachers and friends ate fantastic Burmese, Indian and Chinese food – with cheese and ham sandwiches and yummy Polish cake as well.

Ms Laing showed everyone a presentation about our link with Hlee Bee. Chris and Auntie Grace (Chris’s Mum) showed us the amazing etchings of “Our Lives” which he and Primary 6 and 7 have been making all week.

One last meeting and we were finally off home to bed.... well almost.... we had to write this blog first, to let all our friends around the world, share in our special day!

Me and Brandonlee sold hefty ribbons in the cafe, Ms Laing!

What an exciting day P6/7 have had. We all went to City of Edinburgh Council's HQ to see the Aung San Suu Kyi portrait and to meet the new Director of Children and Families, Mrs Gillian Tee. The children told her all about Forthview's link with Hle Bee and about the plight of the people and the monks of Burma. Today Aung San Suu Kyi has been imprisoned for a total of 12 years.

And then they began to sell their ribbons, which sold and sold and sold out .... At one point, the children were all shouting, "Ms Laing, Ms Laing, 4 more and it's £200!" Then we sold the 200th ribbon of the day and we all clapped the poor man who bought it. Back at school, they counted the money they made for Hle Bee £444! 'Pure hefty ribbons indeed!'

This morning great news came. DR THEIN LWIN'S UK VISA WAS GRANTED and we must thank Mark Lazarowicz, Forthview's MP, who worked so hard to help resolve the issue with Thein Lwin's visa. Thein Lwin arrived tonight at 6pm, just in time to speak at a cross-party meeting about Burma at the Scottish Parliament. It was so good to hear him.

Welcome to Scotland Dr Thein Lwin.

Forthview Bairns tell the Lord Provost of Edinburgh about their Burmese Friends

Today, Tamara, Thomas and Kagan enjoyed a visit to the office of the Lord Provost of Edinburgh. They told him how Forthview learnt about the people of Burma and about their friends in Hle Bee School, Mae Sot. We showed the Lord Provost the card that Tom Nin Aing from Burma sent Kagan.

We think Tom Nin Aing will be amazed that the Lord Provost of Edinburgh read his card, which he had amazingly written in English. Kaude, Tom Nin Aing! This is Ms Laing's attempts to say, 'Very good' in Burmese!

The children did, of course, sell the Lord Provost a ribbon 'to remember the monks and the people of Burma'.

Sadly Dr Thein Lwin was not able to come with us and meet the Lord Provost as planned as he is still awaiting a UK visa in Germany.

New "BEST" Friends visit Forthview...

Programme for Dr Thein Lwin and Chris Robinson at Forthview Primary School:
22-26 October 2007


Monday 22 October 07

12.30pm Chris Robinson arrives at Forthview
1.30pm Introduction to Forthview staff – teachers, Learning Assistants and Nursery Nurses: "Teaching and Learning for Critical Thinking" – an overview
7-9.00pm Open Meeting with Amnesty/BEST: Teviot Row House Mezzanine,
13 Bristo Square, Edinburgh University

Tuesday 23 October 07

8am Forthview Primary School, tour and meeting children and classes
12.30 Lunch at school
2-3pm Lord Provost George Grubb meets Dr Thein Lwin, Sheila Laing,
Murray Forgie and 4 Forthview pupils with CEC External Relations Officer, Elaine Ballantyne

Wednesday 24 October 07

8am Forthview Primary School Breakfast Club: with Murray Forgie, CEC International Education Officer
9.45am Trip to City of Edinburgh Council HQ with P6/7 and Mrs
Jenkinson and Mrs Fraser and Ms Laing to see David Mach's collage portrait of Aung San Suu Kyi to set up exhibition – and PowerPoint.
10.30 – 11pm Meet Gillian Tee, Director of Children & Family Dept with P6/7
11am Visit tree planted for Aung San Suu Kyi in Princes St Gardens in two groups of 12 with the remaining group selling ribbons and swapping at Waverley Court
4-5.30pm Edinburgh University –Rowena Arshad, academic colleagues and students at Patersons Land
6pm Open Meeting of International Development Group at Scottish Parliament: Presentation and Discussion by Dr Thein Lwin on Education and Democracy – Contributions from Aung Moe Zaw: Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS) and National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB) Aung Naing Oo, the former foreign secretary of All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF)
7.30pm Dinner at Scottish Parliament with GSP party, Sarah Boyack and Malcolm Chisholm, NCGUB and BEST hosted by Unison, Amnesty and EIS

Thursday 25 October 07

8.15am Photo-call with CEC Councillors, Lothian MSPs, Forthview pupils and staff, Gillespie’s pupils and staff, Amnesty, BEST Trustees and Student, NCUB at CEC City Chambers
8.45am James Gillespie’s High School Assembly with Discussion with Suu Kyi Community pupils or whole school with Dr Thein Lwin, Nan Lung and NCGUB guests (tbc) accompanied by Murray Forgie, CEC International Education Officer
10.00am CEC City Chambers: Morning Reflections on Burma at Full Council Meeting – debate on Motion: Burma and Edinburgh – Building Sustainable Links
11.00am Photocall at Scottish Parliament with NCGUB, Thein Lwin, BEST and Amnesty – tour of Parliament
12.00pm First Ministers Question Time
12.30pm Meeting with First Minister
1.15pm Packed lunch at school
1.30pm School Assembly – theme is our link with Hle Bee School and Burmese Peoples and Our Lives exhibition
4-5.00pm Scottish Pen Event at Scottish Story Telling Centre with Lewis Murray, Sophie Doig and Jamie Leigh Brunton
5.30-7.30pm International Family Evening at Forthview for the school community and for Edinburgh’s Burmese community: ‘Sharing Our Lives’

Friday 26 October 07

8am Forthview Primary School, discussions and teaching in classes
Meeting with Mark Lazarowicz, Westminster for Forthview
11am Elaine Morris, Councillor to City of Edinburgh for Forthview
1pm Discussion with Forthview staff on the way ahead for our school partnership/other school partnerships
2.30pm Meet with Patricia Herbert (Prospect Burma)

Saturday 27 October 07

12-2.30pm Fundraising Bring-a-picnic Lunchtime Concert:
Short illustrated Presentations by BEST; Forthview Teachers and Pupils; Dr Thein Lwin; BEST Students and Former Political Prisoners; and Auction at Newbattle Abbey College
6.30pm Soroptomist International: Reception for BEST and Barnado’s
7-9pm Amici String Quartet: Concert for BEST and Barnados,
Mayfield Salisbury Church, 18 West Mayfield, Edinburgh
Tickets £10 at door – Children free

Monday 30th October 07

10.30-12.30pm Presentation to joint Education Faculties of Strathclyde and Glasgow Universities on Education for Democracy and Critical Thinking in Burma
12.30pm Lunch in the Anne McAllister Room, Main School Building, Jordanhill
2.30pm BBC Media spot at Pacific Quay with Philip Dundas

Every picture tells a story...

Emails and blogs are a wee bit like a sneaky chocolate - instant pleasure just popped in your mouth.

Cards and letters are more like homemade, toasted fruit scones - baked with care, kept fresh in a tin and savoured with a cup of tea and your feet up!

Forthview children gave me a huge bundle of letters and cards, each made by hand and written with care, to deliver to their friends at Hlee Bee School. Inside a wee message of “Metta Sutta” – loving kindness - from the edges of Pilton to the borders of Burma.

Beautiful bright colours, funny wee cartoons, cheeky questions - shared hopes and dreams!

A week later and 6000 miles away, forty children in Mae Sot each patiently waiting for their names to be called out by their teachers as their were twinned with their Scottish pals.

Struggling with the pronunciation of names very different from their own, solemnly accepting their envelopes and carefully, oh so carefully, peeling them open with nimble fingers. Fearful that they should tear their precious contents and saving the colourful wrappings – as valuable to them as the card inside!

Each card and letter came with a Pilton child’s photograph holding their Hlee Bee pal’s name – just as Forthview children had received their cards and photos from Ms Laing and our Burmese teacher friends, just the month before…

Same excitement, same questions about the messages within – every picture telling a story and personally connecting kids to each other across the world.

Shyness dissolving into laughter, as they showed each other their new pals’ photos and cards.

Another week has passed – torrential rain in both countries temporarily flooding the areas outside both schools. Kids in both communities sheltering inside, until the storm clouds pass…

The beautiful cards they made for me to take back home to Edinburgh, waiting to be delivered by hand to their Pilton pals, are sitting on my desk, waiting until the Forthview children are back to school after their October break.

Their reciprocal photographs and messages may be appearing here on a blog they can only sometimes see, yet their cards, ribbons and envelopes remaining treasured new possessions pinned to the walls of our classrooms and houses as daily reminders that they, and we, are not alone.

From Forthview to Hlee Bee!

From Hlee Bee to Forthview!

And now with children as far away as Australia having read our blogspot, making saffron ribbons to show their families, friends and communities, that they too are supporting the Burmese peoples’ dreams of peace and democracy.

Thinking of communities like those of our friends in Hlee Bee and Rangoon, just as they are thinking about us!

All uniting - thinking globally… acting locally…

A bright light from a wee window...

Before I left Chiang Mai for Bangkok, I revisited Dr Thein Lwin’s Teacher Education and Migrant Worker Learning Centre in Chiang Mai, having been told that one of my former students is now working there as a computer teacher, whose sister it was who visited Forthview in August.

The Learning Centre has 240 students who work in and around Chiang Mai for often very low wages; because their employer knows that they have no papers or legal rights to be in Thailand, having had to leave their home very quickly, often with only their clothes and a small bundle of possessions.

Here they learn computing, English language and Thai language, hoping that this will improve their chances of getting a better job in the future.

What a small world it is - and how glad he was to read and now hear of his sister’s experience at Forthview; and also relieved, knowing that she will be safer here in Thailand rather than in Burma.

He and other students have been reading Forthview’s blogspot and I am constantly stopped by people everywhere I go, pointing at my lapel and asking about the badges and the saffron ribbons: in Maesot, Chiang Mai and Bangkok.

I have given so many badges away to Burmese people who work invisible to Thais and tourists alike: staffing hotels and restaurants; selling goods in the markets; everything from maids to musicians, hiding their Burmese identity for fear of being sent back to a place no longer safe to call home.

They see and pont at the badge: “Daw Suu good person – very good person…” – then after checking no-one was listening: “I’m from Burma – I worry about my family”.

They take a badge and hear Forthview’s story and share theirs with me – sometimes proudly pinning it on their shirts, or simply slipping it in their pockets to show their friends later on.

One man told me how he and his family had walked for ten days to cross secretly into Thaland – walking only at night – hiding in the jungle during the day from the patrolling soldiers who had burnt their village after stealing all their food and belongings.

All that is left of their homes wrapped in cloth bundles and carried on their backs as they waded across rivers,

Once they finally managed to illegally cross the border to relative safety, they were now getting help from local Thai monks and other Burmese migrants, who had made similar dangerous journeys, who shared their food with them so that the children wouldn’t go hungry.

I also went to a meeting where representatives from the UN gave an update on current events inside Burma – or as much as they knew or could say!

Hearing the experience of Diplomats and comparing this to the stories I was hearing from Burmese friends on the border, helped me gain a clearer picture of what is actually happening. Sadly theirs is a story that receives little accurate coverage in the media here or at home.

This blogspot is a wee window on a very human story of suffering, courage, hopes and fears of people, who we are so proud to call our friends.

It is a window that Forthview, along with countless others around the world, are making sure stays open as a reminder to our leaders that the Burmese people must not be allowed to suffer alone again.

Computers are for learning - not just for playing games...

Imagine how difficult it would be to go to school and study, with no access to computers....

At Hlee Bee, I was able to take my laptop, so the children and teachers could hear themselves singing on "Radio Scotland" and see pictures of Forthview's assemblies.

They don't have a computer of their own at Hlee Bee, but Mrs Laing gave one teacher a laptop, which he keeps safe; charges up the batteries; and brings in to school - as he need to keep it in his house in case police come to the school at night and take it away.

Yesterday I spent the day with a group of 14 Burmese nursing students whom BEST supports, studying at university in Thailand.

They are all from inside Burma and are a small, desperately under-funded group, who are struggling with their course work because their Thai Teachers' English language skills are poor.

They have to compete with 2000 ‘ordinary students’, who also vie for the time-limited use of the 20 computers in the University Library they need for their studies.

They have difficulty accessing the internet safely after long hours study and professional practice at the teaching hospital – which is an hour-long bus journey from where they stay.

Their days start at 04.00 in the morning and finish sometimes as late as midnight!

One thing they identified that would really help them to study safely and better manage their time, would be an individual computer and printer each. This is something their friends, who come largely from middle-class Thai backgrounds, all have with unthinkingly, with access to money and resources.

The Burmese students ‘get by’ on less than £100 per month to live on, after their basic university costs are paid! A simple computer and printer - nothing fancy - here in Thailand costs £325.

They have sacrificed so much already to study. They have the complexities of securing visas to study as Burmese in Thailand, as well as the separation and loss of contact from their families back home.

Now that phone lines and internet have been switched off by the soldiers in Burma, they fear the worst, but still hope desperately for change.

They have all chosen to become nurses because the Burmese military government chooses to spend most of its money on guns - not books and medicine - so poor people cannot get help when they are ill or have to hide in the jungle, and nurses cannot get proper qualifications inside Burma.

BEST are going to try to raise this extra money to help them.

BEST are having a fundraising lunch at Newbattle Abbey College on Saturday 27th October, where our Burmese friends and some Forthview children will be talking about our experiences and what we are doing in Scotland to support the Burmese people on the Thai-Burma border.

We will post more details here and on BEST's blogspot nearer the time!

Forthview and BEST are trying to dowhat we can, listening to what Aung San Suu Kyi says when she asks of us: "Please use your liberty to support ours!"

We hope that other people will try to help us, help them, too!

P7 writing for Burma

This poem and report are written by 2 Forthview P7s at home in their own space and time this week. I am struck by the breadth of their understanding of the Burmese people's stories. First a poem by Jamie Leigh, who started off this blog way back on 28 March 07, when she gave me 80 bhat to take to Hle Bee School.

SAVE BURMESE PEOPLE

Saving lots of children's lives
And giving things to the poor
Very important things are happening
Every day in Burma

Burmese children are escaping to Thailand
Under the bridge people are hiding
Remember them forever in your hearts
Monks are praying for peace
Everyone now joins in to help them out
Someday they will be safe from soldiers
Everyday Forthview will sell orange badges

People from Scotland are helping Burma
Everyday monks will sit in front of soldiers
On Ms Laing's birthday, Hle Bee waved to her
People try to see Aung San Suu Kyi
Love and care from everyone
Everyone is buying bands to support monks

Then a report from Chelsea called, THE STORY ABOUT BURMA

The story about Burma has been shocking. For the last few weeks people are being killed. Monks are being killed and Aung San Suu Kyi has been locked up in her house for lots of years. People in Burma are worried of what might happen to them. The children in Hle Bee ran away from Burma adn now they have nothing to do or play with and every day when they go home they do work. At Hle Bee they only have 1 toilet and Forthview has 39! Ms Laing went to Thailand and she went into Hle Bee and at the school the chairs sunk every 5 minutes. So Ms Laing put a floor for them and it cost £137. Now it will stop the children from sinking every 5 minutes. The nursery has about 46 children in it and in the nursery children sleep in the afternoon on the floor. Forthview children went on the radio and told everyone and now the whole world knows about whats happened. Forthview Primary has put a blogspot on the Internet so people can look at it. Now Forthview has been making ribbons that are orange to make us remember the monks. Now people will remember about what's happened now we've told them.

Forthview meet Burmese friend

The article in the Herald with our Burmese refugee friend which you can find on http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.1723476.0.0.php was taken at school on 28 September. The photographer sent these photos of the children after interviewing them. They are seen here with their letters for Hle Bee School.

"Animal Farm" has moved!

'Animal Farm' has moved to a new blog site where Murray Forgie of BEST will be posting his own news and reflections. Please visit and encourage him at:
http://www.murrayatbest.blogspot.com/
Happy blogging Murray
Wishing BEST all the best.

Forthview ribbons

Forthview children have sold £420 worth of ribbons since last week. Our Enterprise Co-ordinator has suggested we sell them to other Edinburgh schools.

The children are delighted to be doing so much for the Hle Bee School and the people of Burma. This afternoon 4 children and Ms Laing are going to give a presentation about our link with Hle Bee School to Tollcross Primary School.

This is a great experience for the children to develop their skills as enterprising citizens.

Mingalaba from Mae Sot - Finally got this wretched blog to work...

Murray Forgie writes from Mae Sot:

I am good at many things - but computers ain't one of them...

I have spent an inspiring few days in Mae Sot with Hle Bee staff and pupils this week, handing over letters from Edinburgh, extending 'Metta Sutta' to individual Burmese children from P6/P7 from Forthview Primary pupils.

We listened to the BBC "Good Morning Scotland" Forthview broadcast on my lap-top and the children and teachers were amazed to hear themselves singing on Scottish radio!

As I don't speak Burmese and my English speaking friends were busy taking photographs of each child receiving their letters, I had to draw over 40 cartoons, which explained the gist of what each Forthview pupil had written to their new friends - ranging from love of drinking orange Fanta; pet rabbits; and the unusually large number of twins in Forthview families.

They were so pleased to know that we were all thinking about them and lobbying for support from Scottish people for the peoples of Burma.

They particularly liked my drawing of a wee boy - you know who you are - sinking to the bottom of a swimming pool, blowing bubbles up to the surface, having eaten too many hamburgers!

It was VERY wet and rainy and they were so excited and proud to show me their new brick floor - meanwhile my shoes had filled up with water, as I left them outside, with all their sandals and flip-flops, to keep the floor clean and dry from all the mud outside!

I told them that BEST and Forthview will be asking if the City of Edinburgh Council could fly Aung San Suu Kyi's 'Free Burma flag' from the City Chambers to demonstrate Edinburgh's ongoing committment to the struggle for peace and democracy in Burma.

They thought this would be really cool and loved the saffron coloured ribbons Forthview pupils have been making!

They also liked hearing about Forthview's Burmese visitors and kept asking if all Edinburgh schools were like this...

The Hlee Bee children have made beautiful printed cards using flowers and leaves on hand-made paper replying to all the Forthview children who have written to them, which I am keeping safely until I return the week after next!

Several other Primaries - and Secondaries - in Mae Sot would like to form similar partnerships with schools in Edinburgh or elsewhere in the UK and I met with both the Thai Ministry of Education and the Coordinators of Migrant Worker/Refugee Learning Centres in Tak Province, to look at ways in which other schools could make similar links in the future.

I also visited Dr Thein Lwin at the Teacher Training and Lifelong Learning Centre in Chiang Mai, who is very excited about his visit to Edinburgh later this month.

The news has not been good from inside Burma, with many more people - especially monks - fleeing across the border into Thailand.

People here are very afraid - but feel a wee bit less alone, knowing that their friends in Scotland are trying to find ways to show their support!

Edinburgh's Day of Action for Burma Vigil

200 - 300 red clad people gathered at 3pm on Saturday 6 October 2007 at the tree for Aung San Suu Kyi in Princes Street Gardens. A lovely vigil with readings and chanting followed.

Download a 'powerpoint' presentation from here:
http://www.lovehart.demon.co.uk/Vigil.zip
(The music was recorded at the Vigil)

Lewis and Helena from Forthview read poems and a report on Forthview's links with Hle Bee School. Lewis, Helena, Ross and Bethany sold £291 worth of saffron ribbons to remember the monks and to raise funds for Hle Bee School. Well done to the 4 of you - what 'responsible citizens' you are!
Here is Lewis' new poem for Burma.

FOR BURMA
Be at peace in the love of your friends
U know you can trust them, their love has no ends
Remember this county, Let's shout its name
Myanmar, Thailand the soldiers made them tame
Always remember this last sacred name
BURMA

Another amazing poem from an 11 year old Scottish child. He is now offering to raise money for Hle Bee school by writing poems for others in Forthview school. For 20p he will write a poem for a first name, for 50p he will write a poem for a first and second name! Great thinking and a great way of using your talent, Lewis.

Just found an inspiring blog on YouTube with a Vietnamese video called The Wind of Change from Vietnam to Burma. Check it out on
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4qVXR5L1BU&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fbbwob%2Eblogspot%2Ecom%2F

Edinburgh for Burma - vigil on Sat 6/10/07 at 3pm

Around 100 people turned up to a public meeting called in Edinburgh today for people who want to do something to support the Burmese people and increase pressure on the military junta. This will start with a vigil at 3pm on Saturday 6 October 07 at the tree planted for Dau Aung San Suu Kyi in Princes Street Gardens by the cuckoo clock.

Our children knew about the meeting and said I should take some ribbons to sell so 'people remember the monks'. I took and sold 20 ribbons and was overwhelmed by the generousity of folk who gave £63. This money is for our school in Hle Bee and I can't wait to tell the children of Forthview tomorrow and the children of Hle Bee in an email - right now!

See you on Saturday.

Tie a saffron ribbon.....

"Civil society throughout the world has been made aware of the situation inside Burma this time, with a saffron thread of common humanity that, across nations and faiths, binds us together - and it has lit the darkest corners of the world: human rights are universal and no injustice lasts forever!": Gordon Brown, Prime Minister.

With those heartening words and with the inspiring vision of the brave monks, the idea came to Forthview.....

Let's make orange/saffron ribbons to show our common humanity and to show our support for the brave and suffering Burmese people...

So Forthview bought many metres of orange/saffron ribbon. John Lewis Dept Store, Edinburgh donated more ribbon for which we thank them. And Forthview got working.....

Now we are selling the ribbons for £1 each to raise money for our Hle Bee School. These are easily posted so if you want some email sheila@lovehart.demon.co.uk and I will pass your orders on to P5, P6, P7, who are loving making them.

Mind you, we may have to say, 'Sorry if we get too many orders!' However this is an idea that could catch on around the world so if you read this, get some orange ribbon and go for it but remember you read it here first!

[originally posted during Burmese protests, Sept 2007]