Panties for Peace
First there was Code Pink..
In an action aimed at discomfiting the military junta in Burma, the Guardian (UK) reports,
“Activists exasperated at the failure of diplomacy to apply pressure on Burma’s military regime are resorting to a new means of protest against the regime’s recent crackdown: sending female underwear to Burmese embassies.”
The inspiring call to action was started by the Lanna Action for Burma:
“After a day of tri-panty dialogue, deep in the golden triangle due to the popular demand, the panties are back. Make sure your panties reach the intended target, SPDC. You can post, deliver or fling your panties at the closest Burmese Embassy any day from today. Send early, send often!
This is your chance to use your Panty Power to take away the power from the SPDC and support the people of Burma.
Address For Thailand:
Myanmar Embassy
132 Sathorn Nua Road
Bangkok
Finally, a productive way to dispose of all those old undies with holes that have lost their elastic!
Filed under: Uncategorized, Sheroes
I’m not sure what the rationale of this form of protest is (and I couldn’t access the Lanna Action for Burma site to find out more) but it reminds me of an Indian practice that I’m uncomfortable with: sending/presenting/alluding to bangles to indicate weakness (especially in politics). As a former editor of mine wrote while commenting on General Pervez Musharraf’s use of the language of bangles to suggest that he would not be intimidated by India back in 2001 (Standard of Political Debate: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20011109/edit.htm), “The metaphor of bangles is, indeed, a common one in colloquial conversation in North India and Pakistan, flowing out of a culture of male chauvinism.” I hope the use of panties in this instance doesn’t come from a similar mindset.