Climate change is making its presence felt in Burma. We are deeply saddened at the new levels of suffering inflicted on so many of our people by Cyclone Nargis, and compounded by the inappropriate and wholly inadequate response of the authorities.

Just in the past 18 months Rangoon has been hit by massive flooding, a tornado, and now a catastrophic cyclone. People in Burma are now starting to die as a result of climate change in unprecedented numbers. If global warming continues to increase, the impacts and realities of climate change will become even more devastating.

These changes are a consequence of environmental destruction, conversion of Nature's resources into commodities and the resulting pollution. Carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) are the two greatest contributors to the enhanced greenhouse effect that is causing global warming, and in turn climate change. More frequent and more powerful cyclones, floods, droughts and other extreme weather are the direct result of increasing quantities of CO2 and methane pollution being released into the sky. This is scientific fact.

The trillions of cubic metres of natural gas that the regime is selling to Thailand and China - from the very areas severely hit by the cyclone - will contribute substantially to climate change. Some of this huge amount of natural gas, otherwise known as methane, will escape directly into the air. All the rest will be burned and will become CO2 pollution.

Destroying the forests is another major cause of CO2 pollution, with the remnants of Burma's once great forests going to China, Thailand and others. Vast areas of forest and grassland burn every year, releasing incalculable quantities of CO2, in addition to destroying soil organic matter and the water-retaining ground cover. Clearing huge areas of land to grow plantations of jatropha for biofuels and export crops - rubber, sugar cane and corn - also adds to the problem.
 
The more than 20 giant hydropower dams which the regime and neighbouring countries plan to build will also contribute to the pollution load. Thousands of square kilometers of land will go under water, causing the flooded vegetation to rot, releasing methane gas.
 
These are all examples of the unsustainable and harmful development that the military regime represents. The regime has shown a complete lack of vision or understanding of the concept of sustainable development, or the very real threat of climate change. Their insistence on holding the constitutional referendum despite the tragedy that continues to unfold is yet further proof of their total lack of concern for the welfare of Burma's people.
 
As with Hurricane Katrina in 2005 in the US, this year's punishing snowstorms during China's New Year holiday, and unusually severe weather events elsewhere in the world, Cyclone Nargis must serve as our country's wake up call.
 
On May 10th the regime is attempting to force the people to legitimize its roadmap to "disciplined democracy" – which will inevitably lead to further resource plunder and ultimately to environmental collapse. Nature itself appears to have already cast a "no" vote – we urge the peoples of Burma to do the same.
 
Media contact:

Aung Ngyeh: + 66 84 363 6630                        
Sai Sai: + 66 89 755 7354

 Shan Sapawa shansapawa@gmail.com