THE PENDULUM

Patrick Cook-Deegan shared a message of change and hope for the oppressed ethnic groups of Burma in a packed classroom in Koury Business Center.

After traveling around the world as a student and seeing the atrocities taking place in Southeast Asia, Cook-Deegan, a Brown University graduate, decided that something needed to be done.

In 2006, he embarked on a bike trip across the area, gained $22,500 through sponsors to build a school in Laos and provide scholarships for girls.

Specifically, his passion lies with the people of Eastern Burma who are being forced out of their homes and into refugee camps by a military junta.

The Dictator of Burma, Than Shwe, has ruled for 15 years and repeatedly targeted the various ethnic groups on the border of the nation. His goal is to take over all land and subjugate the groups to government rule.

Cook-Deegan spoke with anyone living in the Burmese refugee camps who knew English and was willing to share their story.

A particularly significant story came from a 16 year old boy who had lost a leg in a land mine.

"That's life in Eastern Burma. Walking alone in the woods, having your leg blown off, and not being able to scream," he said.

Upon returning from his trip, Cook-Deegan became an active member of the U.S. Campaign for Burma. This group works to bring the Burmese government before the International Criminal Court in
the Netherlands.

"In order for Burma to move ahead and become a functioning and stable democracy, crimes must be addressed and brought before the public," he said.

Though Cook-Deegan admits that the process will not be easy, he strongly believes that democracy in Burma and the end of genocide globally is an attainable goal.

"My hope is that my grandkids will think the idea of genocide is horrendous. But if people don't rally around the cause, it won't happen," he said.

For Cook-Deegan, student and family education is perhaps the most important key to achieving these plans.

"US students can play a large part in the Burmese democracy movement," he explained.

Cook-Deegan, a strong advocate of the STAND (a student anti-genocide group), knows that with effort there is hope for the Burmese people.

"I don't want you to think that there is no hope," he said. "I work because there is hope."