"We risked our lives to save the patient's life"
In the forests of Myanmar medical teams desperately try to save the lives of those injured by Junta attacks. Matt Blauer documents their work, the challenges, risks & heartbreaks they face.
TW: injuries & medical procedures.
#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
www.thedailystar.net/news/banglad...
Another Rohingya refugee boat tragedy. The script is familiar by now - blame the brokers, arrest a few traffickers, call it justice. Then quietly ignore the reality - $7 rations, no right to work, no freedom to move, no future in Bangladesh.
Do love videos of when resistance groups (in this case the KIA) capture Armoured Vehicles from the Junta.
251 schools across five years means the junta in Myanmar bombs a school almost every week. Minab. Weekly.
Please vote for my Darién Gap series (a dream worth dying for) if you have time. i don’t really expect to get recognition for this kinda work, God knows we didn’t for years, but it makes me happy to see more people care about my friends and their stories.
vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting...
An ADSBx map showing N588TN landing in Yangon, Bangkok, and then continuing southeast.
This likely ICE flight operated by Journey Aviation left ICE hub Mesa, AZ, and landed in Myanmar a few hours ago. This would be the first Myanmar deportation I’m aware of since last April. The last group was immediately detained; some were tortured.
Also stopped in Thailand, now airborne.
Indigenous activists in red ribbon skirts other Indigenous regalia and drums reading land back. 4 Indigenous to North America human beings.
Native Americans were the first arrests at ICE in Portland, Oregon for Trump's 2nd term. (2025) Anyone can show evidence of feds targeting culturally Indigenous activists wirh violence, theft and arrests the most.
Picture below in Eugene Oregon yesterday for #MMIP Manuel Bayya
17/17. Sources include JMB Stuart, 1913; M. Aung-Thwin 1990; J. Stabgardt 2013; TF Sonnemann 2015; D. Baillargeon 2018. Links to my previous Burma History Threads & reports are at: www.projectmaje.org. Order my latest book "Where the Mithuns Are" at: blueearbooks.com/where-the-mi...
16. Areas controlled by Karenni anti-coup revolutionaries have particular strategic importance with proximity to coup regime's capital Naypyitaw & its grid hydropower dependence (sabotage/blockade potential.) www.noemamag.com/a-journey-in...
15. 2024 as United Wa State Army took over Tangyan, concerns that UWSA ties to China might revive locally-opposed Salween dam projects. In Sagaing, anti-coup forces seized large Thapanseik Dam late '25; area (not dam itself) recently bombed by coup regime. myanmar-now.org/en/news/myan...
14. Since its 2021 coup, Myanmar regime has sought to revive Myitsone dam project with China, despite opposition by Kachin Independence Org., which is fighting the regime. But China apparently does not actually need the electricity the dam would generate. www.irrawaddy.com/news/myanmar...
13. Controversial 2006 China Power Invest. Corp. project to mega-dam revered Myitsone Confluence north of Myitkyina to generate electricity for China. Opposed locally & nationally, enviro, seismic, cultural reasons. Suspended 2011 but China tries to revive www.irrawaddy.com/news/thousan...
12. Micro-hydro (run-of-the-river) & small hydro projects generate electricity for many villages in Myanmar. Karen National Union was early adapter of micro-hydro. Kachin Independence Organization major supplier of electric power in Kachin State from its small/medium scale hydro.
11. Dam project initiated 2004 on Manipura River, Chin St. border w. Sagaing (land grabbing, logging, flood risks); in 2011 announced on hold. Yazagyo dam in Sagaing built 2003-16 for irrigation & electricity; flood risk & by 2019 was seasonally dry & blocked by debris, silt.
10. Chindwin River flows from Kachin St. through Sagaing to join Irrawaddy River in Magway Region. Tamanthi mega-dam was planned in 2004-2013 with India for power export. Deforestation & relocation of villagers around the site, before project was suspended. www.aljazeera.com/features/201...
9. From 2010, 3 new major dam projects were planned for Karenni St. incl. China [govt-owned] Datang Corp.’s 4500 mw Ywathit dam on Salween River. Karenni groups & NGOs like Burma Rivers Network raised concerns about flooding, environmental effects, displacement: www.burmalibrary.org/sites/burmal...
8. With Myanmar heavily reliant on hydropower during 2010s, more large dam projects were planned, & during period of civil society openness, publicly opposed. 2016 Shan State doumentary: www.youtube.com/watch?v=utwc...
7. During SLORC/SPDC military dictatorship in 1990s-2000s, Thailand & China planned large dams on Myanmar's "wild" (previously undammed) Salween River, for energy export to Thailand or China &/or divert water for Thailand. Community opposition was clear. www.wrm.org.uy/bulletin-art...
6. During decades of military rule post 1962 coup, Burma (later Myanmar) fell into economic isolation & stagnation. Lawpita (on Balu Chaung) dam complex (Mobye dam, Shan/Karenni border, complete 1970) was major electricity source, but country constantly short of electric power.
5. Newly independent after the devastation of WW2 & needing electricity, Burma engaged Japan to build hydroelectric dam on Balu Chaung (Salween tributary, Karenni State) with war reparations funds. Initial construction w. power plant & transmission lines to Rangoon in 1953-63.
4. Unlike bridges, dams weren't a major strategic focus during WW2 Burma as Allies fought Japanese occupation. But Jan. 1, 1945, crucial Kabo Weir (Shwebo Valley irrigation infrastructure) was captured by Allies, preventing Japanese troops from destroying it.
3. In British-colonized Burma, rivers regarded as transportation routes w. natural floodplains. Erosion & sediment buildup were concerns, w. flooding from burst embankments. Dam for hydroelectric for British mining rejected in 1910s-20s Shan St., waterfall hydroelectric instead.
2. In ancient times, lands which would become Burma built dams to control water for irrigation of crops. Irrigation dams at least as far back as 4th C. (Pyu); also included King Anawrahta's 11th C. projects around Kyaukse plain & elaborate projects by other Pagan Dynasty rulers.
1. This History Thread is about dams in Burma (Myanmar), a country of great river systems, where large dam projects have been locally seen as environmental & cultural threats.
#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar 🌿
a framed photo by Brian Beker of a dancer wearing a long white dress with ruffled hem, dark background with glowing lamps.
Arrived safely: this superb, Sargent-esque portrait of a flamenco dancer by @brianbeker.bsky.social. Printed with such depth & care by the intrepid, extraordinarily talented photographer. 📷 A treasure!
Eid in the Rohingya camps.
Not just crisis. Not “resilience” either.
Something more difficult: life continuing under constraint.
A short photo essay: www.rohingyarefugee.news/p/eid-rohing...
Watch @debbiestot.bsky.social deliver statement on behalf of @fidh-official.bsky.social @altsean.bsky.social @womenspeacenetwork.org & info birmanie at UNHRC session.
Calls for more action to stop flow of money & weapons to Junta in Myanmar, points out rising attacks on civilians by Junta & more.
On March 15th, 2026, even though there was no active armed clash in the area, the Za-Har-village-based artillery regiment launched four artillery attacks to Kha Maung Taung village and surrounding areas, Long Lone Township, Tenasserim Division and the artillery explosion killed a 50-year-old man.
Clive Branson was an extraordinary artist (& not-bad poet) & 20th Century fighter against fascism. He fought in the Spanish Civil War & was killed as a tank commander in WW2 Burma. I wrote his epic story in my new book "Where the Mithuns Are: Essays on War, Art and Beasts" blueearbooks.com
Poster with headline "Revolutionary Myanmar, Women on the Frontlines" illustrated with painting of female Burma medic in mountain landscape.
Revolutionary Myanmar: Women on the Frontlines. Wed. March 18, Broadway Books, Portland Oregon 6:00 PM. Authors @edithmirante.bsky.social & @hedstrom.bsky.social discuss their latest books, with a focus on the roles of women in the struggle against military dictatorship. Presented by @paema.ngo 🌿
