Magic Statistics

Renewed attacks by the Burmese Army in eastern Myanmar have driven thousands of Christians and others from their homes.

The Karen, Karenni and Shan people of Burma are despised, persecuted, tortured and displaced and yet when asked what they most need they say, “Love!”

Second on their list is the desire for the outside world to know of their plight, they do not want to suffer silently.
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Using brute force and systematic annihilation strategies, the Burmese military leaders send their soldiers in to destroy village after village, killing and displacing hundreds and thousands of civilians as they go.

This merciless war endorses rape, torture, enforced slavery, human sacrifice and landmines. The aim is to keep the displaced people on the run, with no place to settle in safety and no opportunity to rebuild what was lost.

A few days ago, a young Myanmar woman spoke at a UN conference on state-sanctioned rape.

Cheery Zahau, Co-ordinator of the Women’s League of Chinland, presented evidence of the widespread, systematic use of rape by the Burma Army throughout the country. She referred to past reports of the use of rape in Shan, Karen, Karenni and Mon states, and presented fresh evidence of rape in Chin State. She highlighted 38 cases of rape by the Burma Army against Chin women, five of which involved girls under the age of 18, including a victim of 12 years of age. Almost half were gang-rapes.

Ms Zahau urged Security Council members Russia and China to support a statement censuring Burma, which both vetoed in January.

News has arrived from the Voice of the Martyrs USA that Myanmar’s military government has set fixed Christian worship times and prohibited Christian meeting at other times.  It has also demanded lists of all Christian assemblies, pastors, leaders, members, and families, including children.  The purpose of the lists was not disclosed.

Source of map: Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre

Previous related post: Programme to destroy the Christian religion in Burma

Thousands of young doctors set to graduate from a new British training programme have been told there are no jobs for them.  Another example of far-sighted management at Britain’s National Health Service.

As much as £2 billion has been spent on the training of up to 8,000 doctors who find themselves without a new job under a Government initiative.
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It costs £250,000 to train a doctor and the [training system] "shambles" is said to be blighting the careers of dedicated young men and women who may now leave the NHS. Many are also saddled with debts of more than £40,000 after funding their training.

London’s Daily Telegraph has posted several letters from doctors complaining of shabby treatment and an incompetent online job application system.  Many say they will emigrate.  Hold that thought for a moment.

Also today comes news that British nurses and other health workers are threatening to strike after the government offered a pay raise below inflation, currently running over 4%.

Union leaders threatened industrial action after health staff were promised a 2.5 per cent increase to be paid in two stages in April and November, which they say is worth just 1.9% per year.

Nurses leaving hospitals tonight described the rise was a "slap in the face" and claimed many could now leave the profession.

To those unemployed British doctors, I say: Come to Canada, where physicians are in high demand all across the country.  To British nurses looking for decent wages and better working conditions: Don’t leave the profession, come to Canada.  We have scads of unfilled nursing positions in all areas.

Doctors: Canada has been trying to attract more doctors for years.  It was only a few days ago that Ontario Medical Association recommended a renewed effort to lure physicians to that province at the centre of the universe Canada.  If you set up a practice in my fair city of Whitehorse, you could probably get your name in the local newspaper.

Nurses: Competition for nurses in Canada is so intense that a recent recruitment drive by Calgary Health Region was greeted with cries of “poaching” from health officials across the country.  Unlike UK nurses, moreover, Canadian nurses are receiving generous pay raises.

The NHS has obvious and severe management problems.  Less than two months ago, a government report stated that Britain will face severe shortages of nurses and GPs within five years.  Yet, they won’t pay enough to keep the nurses they have, and they won't fund jobs for physicians trained at huge expense.  Good reasons for medical professionals to move to Canada.

Previous related posts:

• Calgary accused of “stealing” nurses, giving StatGuy an excuse to rant
• “Staffing time-bomb” at Britain’s National Health Service
• No jobs for UK nurses? Come to Canada
• Health care’s problem not lack of funding but lack of personnel