After several tense days in which vote totals tricked in and the military government was slow to announce the results, Myanmar’s President, Thein Sein and the other leaders of the military government congratulated Aung San Suu Kyi and her National...

United States Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues, Cathy Russell, and her delegation traveled to Myitkyina, Burma this week to meet with Kachin civil society leaders. Ambassador Russell learned about the role women play in civil society...

Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom David Saperstein is visiting Burma/Myanmar this week (May 2-5 2015). The Ambassador at Large is an advisor to President Obama and Secretary of State and serves as the United States’ chief diplomat...

It is all too often asked, “what can one person possibly do to make a difference?” To help answer that question we need to look no further than to Ms. May Sabe Phyu. May Sabe Phyu is courageously leading efforts to end discrimination against...

In the two years since President Barack Obama last visited in Burma ( click here for more ) much has changed. Economic reforms have privatized some industries, the government has relaxed the censorship of the media, and even once-jailed political dissidents...

In 1990, Aung San Suu Kyi won Burma's last democratic election for Prime Minister. However, Burma's military did not let her take office. And in 2003, the Burmese military cracked down even further on Suu Kyi and her followers - putting...

In the span of less than two years the state of Myanmar has gone from harsh military dictatorship to a much more open society and seems to be on the road to democratic rule with a respect for human rights ( click here for more ). Tomorrow, when...

On Saturday in Oslo, Aung San Suu Kyi will give what is expected to be an emotional acceptance speech for her Nobel Peace prize - which she was awarded 21 years ago. This is the first time in 24 years that The Lady, as she is known, has visited...

The leadership in almost all open countries face a dilemma when in comes to free speech. How far does that freedom go? In weak states, leaders must be even more careful. On one hand, if you take away too much and you kill the freedom, while on the...

Today in his inauguration speech , President Obama gave a big-picture foreign policy summary saying, "We will support democracy from Asia to Africa; from the Americas to the Middle East, because our interests and our conscience compel us to act...

Further violent clashes between Buddhists and Muslims have threatened to undermine political and economic reforms in Myanmar ( click here for more ). A Buddhist mob of around 1000 people set fire to nearly two dozen Muslim-owned buildings in Myanmar's...

Above: Burmar's pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, displays a sign that reads, "I also Love the People," to her supporters. Suu Kyi told thousands of wildly cheering supporters Sunday that she would continue to fight for human rights...

If human rights truly exist, does it not seem that those rights would be available to everyone without conditions? Refugees are often at the center of conflict, concern, and debate. In Myanmar today the Rohingya - who have been described by the United...

Trade plays a central role in our global village. Of course, it is a central facet in globalization and is often a diplomatic tool in political relations among nations. Trade can be used as a "carrot" and or a "stick" in interstate...

Burma is a resource rich state with a large number of people living in extreme poverty. Last week, Google executives (speaking in a Rangoon university) said, Google can help ( click here for more ). Eric Schmidt, Google's CEO, recently said, one...

When asked, not long ago , to rate Burma's openness and democracy on a scale of 1 to 10, Aung San Suu Kyi said, " we're trying to get to 1 ." Suu Kyi has arguably become our village's most well known political prisoner...

If you purchase a vest and or a jacket from the GAP's Old Navy and Banana Republic brands you will likely be wearing Burmese made clothes as the weather turns cooler this fall. Aung San Suu Kyi said, "The struggle for democracy and human...

Perhaps the leadership in China should study with the leaders of nearby Bhutan and maybe even take some notes from the leadership in Myanmar. A successful economy or business environment does not bring happiness and stability to a state and its people...

Last week in Burma thousands of people gained access to the digital revolution. Thousands of $2 mobile SIM cards went on sale throughout Burma making this a significant time in terms of technology, communication, and perhaps justice. Burma...

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra of Thailand and President Barack Obama met today at the Government House in Bangkok, Thailand. The two leaders highlighted the Thailand-United States Creative Partnership, which connects universities, businesses...

Do the people need to understand the raw political power of MNCs, IGOs, NGOs, and governments? Do we need to pay attention to the payments an oil company is making to the government in a poor state? Does it matter in ExxonMobil does not disclose how...

Above: British Prime Minister David Cameron's talks with Aung San Suu Kyi ( Photographer: Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images ). Western notions of basic human rights (the basic civil liberties such as freedom of speech and assembly and the norms...

Relations among the states of our global village are often about finding and keeping friends and partners. This coming week, Myanmar's President Thein Sein will visit the Washington. Aung San Suu Kyi (was at the White House earlier this year) will...

Today in Washington US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton welcomed Aung San Suu Kyi to the United States ( click here for the welcome speech ). As political reforms are implemented and foreign investment floods in some are saying that Burma could be...

Aung San Suu Kyi, flew out of Yangon today to the United States. Burma's pro-democracy opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi,'s trip will be highlighted with awards and meetings with senior U.S. government officials and the those of Burmese community...