The Streets of Rangoon

That’s not the only thing broken in Burma, I thought to myself. Everything from apartment buildings to taxi cabs seems to be half fallen apart and barely patched together.

Rangoon

That was then; this is now. Burma appears to be on the mend. The differences between a visit in January of 2011 and one in January of 2012 were in many ways like night and day. During this year’s visit, on at least one occasion, we rode in a brand new taxi. While the norm for taxis is still torn seats, broken door handles, and a dashboard full of gaping holes, finding yourself in a new car in Burma was previously unheard of for the casual visitor.

Further, during our recent visit, in Rangoon’s bustling downtown, many stretches of road and sidewalk were in the process of being redone – seemingly for the first time in decades.

Rangoon on the Mend

But the changes were more significant than the condition of the taxis and the roads. On a personal level, my foster daughter had been able to return home after 4-1/2 years in exile in Thailand. When we visited Burma last year, it broke our hearts that she couldn’t go with us. She missed her mom and her beloved Mandalay terribly.  Thailand had offered refuge but all in all had not been particularly kind.

My personal connection aside, no one could have foreseen the exponential rate of positive change that has followed elections held in Burma in November 2010. The elections (and the accompanying new constitution) were widely considered a sham, rigged in favor of the military-dictatorship. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s party didn’t even participate – the opposition leader herself was still under house arrest. By no coincidence, Daw Suu was released only after the elections had been held, and the predetermined outcome – a landslide for the junta party – had been decided.

Keychains

It was less than two months after Daw Suu’s release when we made our January 2011 visit. At that time, the atmosphere at NLD (National League for Democracy – Daw Suu’s party) headquarters in Rangoon was stilted – paranoia seemed to take hold of everyone who entered. Across the street, junta informers kept tabs on everyone who came and went.

On that visit we initially avoided entering the offices – this despite staying for several nights at a hotel just across the street. We walked past several times and I would sneak looks, feeling a strong desire to venture in. I had to resist the temptation, however, because entering would have put our plans at risk.  We were scheming to meet with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi herself at the end of our trip.

Eventually that time came, and we were in the big room downstairs at NLD HQ. Pictures of Daw Suu and Ché Guevara looked down at us from the walls. With our appointed cameraman a no-show, we had an urgent need to use a phone. I was told there weren’t any. When I asked about using a public phone I was told it was not a good idea, as all phones in the area were tapped.

Fast-forward to January 2012. NLD headquarters is a beehive of activity and optimism. People come and go freely and linger out front, in full view of the spies who may or may not still be watching from across the way. The NLD has recently registered for elections, and Daw Suu herself is running for a seat in parliament. A training session for NLD youth is underway in the big room at street level. T-shirts and calendars with Daw Suu’s picture are for sale, and tickets are being sold for an upcoming NLD concert/fundraiser.

NLD Headquarters

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at NLD HQ

My foster daughter met us in Rangoon, and after a few days there we travelled north together by car. In Mandalay, her mom hosted us for dinner. On another night we dined out with her mentor – the founder of an English language school and a master of Burmese puppetry. The previous year we had avoided meeting with either of them, as doing so could have put them at risk with the authorities. One year later, such concerns had evaporated.

Rangoon Tea Shop

In March 2011, Thein Sein – a former general who had swapped his uniform for civilian garb, and run for office – was installed as the President of Burma. At first, no one thought this would have any impact on the dreadful state of human rights in the country. But in October, a remarkable thing happened. The Burmese government suspended a major dam project financed by the Chinese. It appeared they’d conceded to public pressure – something unheard of in a country where tyrannical rulers seemed to operate according to their own whims.

The following month, President Obama announced that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would make an official visit to Burma: the first visit of a top-level American official in more than 50 years. At the same time, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi registered the NLD to participate in upcoming by-elections. The Lady herself would run for parliament.

When Clinton arrived in early December she spent equal time with President Thein Sein in the capital city of Naypyidaw, and with Daw Suu in Rangoon. When we arrived in Rangoon a few weeks later, pictures of the two women together were a common sight – in the newly liberalized press, and in calendars being sold openly on the streets.

Hillary Clinton and Daw Suu

Other visits followed: foreign ministers from Japan, the UK, and France. US Senators came next. Mitch McConnell, John McCain, Joe Lieberman; they all met with Daw Suu, as well as with the President. All of these meetings occurred within the few weeks we were in Burma.

Back at NLD headquarters, I met a video journalist from a French TV station. He had been let into the country with all his equipment: big video cameras that exposed his profession and the reason for his visit. And on the TV in our Mandalay hotel room we watched as Rachel Harvey reported openly from the streets of Rangoon – this following years of filing voice-over reports from her base in Bangkok.

Pyin Oo Lwin

Even George Soros visited the country while we were there. Soros – whose foundations have supported the democracy movement in Burma for 20 years – met with Daw Suu not once, but twice – both before and after meeting with the President.

All of this paled in comparison with what came next. On January 12, 2012, after more than six decades of ongoing war, the Burmese Government and the Karen National Union reached an agreement to establish a ceasefire. The following day, 300 political prisoners were released, including leaders of the 1988 student protest movement and the 2007 uprising known as the Saffron Revolution. That same day, the US Government announced it was moving to restore full diplomatic relations with Burma.

Bogyoke Aung San Market

Is all this heady change enough? Absolutely not. Many political prisoners remain behind bars, and those released were not released unconditionally. Fighting rages on in the northern region of Kachin state.

Collectively though the changes of the past year constitute a paradigm shift, past the point of no return. The feelings of optimism can be felt on the streets of Burmese cities. While some of the individuals I spoke with remain skeptical, the majority are feeling an undreamed of optimism.

After decades of repression and economic mismanagement, Burma is in need of a lot more mending – and not just the city streets and sidewalks, but all government institutions and civil society as well. I’m wondering if many of Burma’s best and brightest who were forced into exile will return to help rebuild their country. They will be needed.

And as Burma opens up further to tourism, volunteerism, and outside investment from the west, what impact will these changes have on the country and its rich culture?

On the first point – tourism – in 2011 there were about 400,000 foreign visitors, mostly from China and Thailand. Europeans were far down the list, and Americans down even further. As Burma’s image in the west improves, the percentages will shift, and the total number will skyrocket. (Neighboring Thailand, in comparison, had over 14 million foreign visitors in 2011.)

Sule Paya

The “go or don’t go” debate amongst conscientious travelers is a thing of the past. The question now is how to best use travel as a vehicle for cultivating new friendships and supporting positive change.  The opportunities are vast.

As part of our recently released Ethical Destinations 2012 report, Ethical Traveler cited Burma as a “Destination of Interest.” While far from being a candidate for the Ethical Destinations list, the fact that Burma was mentioned in a positive light in the context of travel is remarkable.

Now ET – in partnership with Global Exchange Reality Tours – is in the early stages of planning an “Ethical Journey” to Burma for later this year. As the country continues to liberalize, there’s never been a better time to go.

Whether you go on your own, or as part of a socially conscious tour group, go lightly. As has been said, “tourism is like fire – you can cook with it, or it can burn down your house.”

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For those considering a visit to Burma, an excellent resource for the mindful traveler is Tourism Transparency – http://www.tourismtransparency.org.

For detailed information on political prisoners in Burma, refer to the Assistance Association of Political Prisoners (Burma) – http://www.aappb.org. And if you’re in the US, note that the AAPP’s founder/director, Bo Kyi, will be undertaking a month-long speaking tour in the US starting March 10, 2012 in Oakland, CA. The new film, “Into the Current” – by Jeanne Hallacy, and featuring Bo Kyi – will be screened at many of the tour events. Contact gregg@ethicaltraveler.org for more info.

Walk

If you aren’t pressed for time, the most eco-friendly way to explore a city is to walk. Walking tours are often more affordable than other guided tours because there is less overhead. Not only is walking free, it can also help you experience a place at ground-level in a way that buses, cabs, or trains can’t. As an added bonus, it’s also good for your health. Making a conscious effort to walk or hike while on vacation is a great way to keep fit while on vacation.

Bike

Although flying and driving may be fast and convenient ways of getting around, both are expensive and contribute to air pollution. To reduce your carbon footprint and stretch your budget, consider going on a bike tour of instead of a tour bus. Bike tours can be a fun way to meet other travelers and get exercise on your trip. Renting a bike – or buying one for longer stays – is also an option if you’d like to discover a destination at your own pace or are need a way to get around faster than walking.

Use Public Transportation

Taking public transportation instead of hopping in a taxi or renting a car may require a bit more planning, but trams, subways and other modes of mass transport are much more energy efficient and more affordable ways to get around. Public transportation is also a great way to interact with people who live in the area and to experience places off the beaten path. It can also be a goal in itself. For example, British expat Daniel Tunnard is filming a documentary and writing about riding every city bus in Buenos Aires, while Australian writer and teacher Peter Davies has launched a project to ride every metro line and explore the area around every station in Mexico City.

Lodging

Although eco-lodges are becoming more popular and increasingly more affordable, you can also try to conserve energy at hostels and budget hotels with sustainable practices. Wear multiple layers instead of turning up the thermostat, set a timer for your shower time and ask the owner not to deliver a newspaper to your door. Even if these measures won’t save you money off your bill per night, at least you can find ways to conserve energy without splurging on an eco-lodge if it doesn’t fit into your budget. Camping is also an option if you enjoy hiking and have room to pack supplies. Many hostels will even let you camp on their grounds at cheaper rates than they charge for their rooms.

Food

Much of the food packaging on airplanes, trains and long-distance buses is not recyclable, so if you have the choice of paying for a meal in transit or bringing your own pack granola, cereal, trail mix and even fruits and veggies in a reusable container to save money and spare the landfills. Also, patronize local markets whenever possible. It’s often cheaper to cook your own food from scratch than eating out, and you’ll get the chance to experiment with native produce or spices that haven’t been shipped in.

Water

Bring your own water bottle instead of paying for bottled water everywhere you go, and ask to refill the bottle at casual restaurants instead of using paper cups. If you plan to travel to a country where tap water isn’t always safe to drink, consider investing in a water bottle with a built in purifier or filter that you can reuse multiple times before replacing. You’ll save money on bottled water, which carries a hefty 4,000% markup.

It isn’t difficult to stick to a budget when you’re committed to eco-friendly travel; in fact, if you choose to be environmentally conscious while traveling, you may be surprised at how easy it is to save money.

Tom Lalampaa

As it turned out, his brother’s choice wound up changing not only Tom’s life but also that of the Samburu community and the land they call home. As community development manager for the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT), Tom is now a key player in efforts to protect Kenyan wildlife and improve the lives of his people and others who inhabit this beautiful but often unforgiving place.

The savannas of northern Kenya abound with wildlife, including several endangered species, notably the Grevy’s zebra (only about 2,500 individuals remain in the wild, the majority of them in Kenya) and the Hirola antelope (whose wild population is probably no more than 400 animals, making it Africa’s most endangered antelope). Yet problems have been widespread: poaching of elephants for ivory, the killing of a variety of species for bush meat and cultural reasons (wearing lions skins is a key part of traditional ceremonies), and general environmental degradation from human use and migration. Add to that a porous border with the Sudan to the north and a high level of conflict and mistrust between different ethnic groups in the area, and you have a region where conservation challenges have long outweighed successes.

Since 2004, however, all that has been changing. That’s when the nonprofit Lewa Wildlife Conservancy joined with representatives from the Kenyan government and local stakeholders including private and community conservation initiatives to create the Northern Rangelands Trust. Formed to coordinate previously fragmented conservation efforts and promote cooperation rather than conflict between different ethnic groups, the NRT is “a home-grown institution aimed at addressing home-grown problems and creating long-lasting local solutions,” according to its website. It unites different interest groups “with a goal of collectively developing strong community-led institutions as a foundation for investment in community development and wildlife conservation.”

Hirola antelopes, photo courtesy of Northern Rangelands Trust

The NRT links conservation and development through community conservancies, which are community-led initiatives that work to meet conservation goals in ways that also benefit local residents. Conservancies engage communities in conservation efforts and natural resource management while simultaneously developing wildlife-based sources of income.

Since the establishment of the NRT, “security in northern Kenya has greatly improved,” Tom Lalampaa says. “Security for people, and security for wildlife.” Local conservation staff are now equipped with VHF radios, enabling them to report violations or other problems quickly. Increased communication between ethnic groups has greatly reduced intertribal conflicts. “Eight different ethnic groups are getting to work together, plan together, and to trust each other,” Tom explains.

On the conservation front, NRT successes have included improved grassland management (benefitting both wildlife and livestock) and an intensive aerial survey of the Hirola antelope population (efforts are now underway to secure funding to develop a predator-proof sanctuary to safeguard a breeding population of the species). The organization was also instrumental in the recent reintroduction of the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe to areas where it had not been seen for 40 years – an effort that involved a dramatic and complicated transfer of eight giraffes on a barge across Lake Baringo to a community-owned wildlife sanctuary on the opposite shore.

Transferring giraffes across Lake Baringo, photo courtesy of Northern Rangelands Trust

In the past, conflict has kept most tourists away from northern Kenya, but now visitor numbers are increasing. Six community-run lodges provide revenue for community development, and other tourism-related enterprises are taking root. Many local women have received microloans to establish businesses making and selling handicrafts. Traditionally wealth was concentrated in the hand of the men, but now, Tom says, “the dynamics are really changing. Women are getting their own resources, their own voice.”

Other community development initiatives have included cutting out middlemen in order to enable locals to command higher prices for their cattle, and building a water pipeline to save women from having to walk for hours every day to fetch water. Educational opportunities have also increased: In 1990, Tom was the only person from his village to go to university; now there are 43 students from the community pursuing higher education.

“When I look back to where we were some time ago in the community to where we are now, it’s amazing,” Tom reflects. “People are now seeing wildlife as a resource and taking responsibility for their lands. There is dialogue where there was conflict.”

A recent study of NRT conducted for The Nature Conservancy by researchers at the University of Southampton supports these claims. The researchers found that “[c]ommunity conservation has significantly enhanced both livelihoods and habitat condition in northern Kenya” and concluded that “community conservancies may provide a framework for integrating conservation and development at the local scale.”

The NRT currently supports 18 community conservancies that protect 2.4 million acres (971,000 hectares) of land, with more communities clamoring to join. Ultimately, Tom dreams of having 10 million acres of land in conservation. It’s a big goal, but he is undaunted: “I look at my past, I look at where I am, and I look at where I’m going, and I think the future is bright.”

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Note: This story originally appeared on ET News Editor Annika Hipple’s blog.