Dear friend

Thank you for your support over the recent months. Your campaigning is making a difference.

Campaign success – DFID doubles aid to Burma
In October we asked you to email the Department for International Development (DFID) to call for increased aid to Burma. Thousands of you took the action and following our campaign, DFID have announced that they will double British aid to Burma from £8.8 million this year to £18 million by 2010. This will save hundreds of thousands of lives. Thank you to everyone who took the action.

New EU Sanctions
On 15 October EU Foreign Ministers finally agreed to strengthen targeted sanctions against Burma’s military regime. The new measures include a ban on investment in, and imports of, Burmese timber, metals and gems. It is also considering a ban on all new investment if the regime does not enter into genuine dialogue with the democracy movement.

These are the first sanctions by the EU that will actually hurt the regime and cut off an important source of income. However, the EU needs to continue to increase pressure on the regime by imposing the investment ban as soon as possible and increasing targeted sanctions, such as a ban on financial transactions. We will be contacting you in the New Year for action on this.

New Burma Campaign T-shirts
Burma Campaign UK has teamed up with THTC to create a great new T-shirt. The T-shirts are certified fair trade, organic, and are made of 55% organic hemp and 45% organic cotton. All profits go to the Burma Campaign UK.

Order online here for men and here for women. £25 + P&P

Peace Walk from Marble Arch to Trafalgar Square – 5 January 2008
On the 60th Anniversary of Burma’s Independence, the Burmese community will be leading a Peace Walk in London from Marble Arch to Trafalgar Square

The walk will be followed by a Prayer Service in Trafalgar Square, led by The International Burmese Monks Organization (UK) and supported by Pray for Freedom Volunteers Programme.

5 January 2008
Meet at 11:30am at Marble Arch Hardstanding
Nearest Tube: Marble Arch, exit 3

Begin Peace Walk led by monks at 12:30pm
Arrive at Trafalgar Square at approximately 2pm for Prayer service led by Buddhist monks.

Thank you again for all your support this year and here’s to successful campaigning in 2008.

Anna Roberts
The Burma Campaign UK