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Ross pledges Burma help
A LOCAL man who visited Burma earlier this year has set up a foundation to help the people affected by the ongoing conflict in the country.
Ross Paxton (26), who lives in Robin Hood's Bay, visited the country while on a round-the-world trip with friend Adam Purcell in February.
It had such a profound effect on him that he is now trying to sell the photographs he took there to help out the people who were so kind to him.
The pair have now founded the Burmease Foundation to distribute money to the poor and underprivileged schools and will raise funds by selling the pictures Ross took on the trip.
The whole world has watched on in shock as monks and protesters took to the streets in a show of strength against the military junta which controls the Asian nation.
The protests turned bloody when government troops fired on the peaceful protesters and it led to condemnation from governments around the world.
Ross said he made friends in the country and was even taken in by monks when they ran short of money.
He said, like many people, he had watched in horror as the events unfolded on television.
"Obviously I have no way of contacting people out there so I don't know if the people I met are involved or have been caught up in the trouble," he said.
When he was in the country he made a conscious decision not to give money to the government, which limited the places he and his friend could stay.
He said: "There are no cash machines in Burma so when you run out of money that's it really.
"When we were in the north of the country we were taken in by a lady who took us to see a local school and it was clear she was asking for help raising money for a proper roof.
"That was where the idea came to raise money by selling photographs but now the situation has changed and if they want to use it to survive then they can.
"I want to make sure the money I raise goes directly to the people, not to the government and I have some contacts in the country so I know it is possible."
He is even planning more fund-raising efforts, such as climbing the three highest peaks in the UK.
"Burma is the most amazing country I have been to and the people were so nice to me, really the friendliest I have met anywhere in the world and I want to help them any way I can," he added.
"When we stayed with the monks in the north it was obvious the respect people had for them and I'm not surprised they were the ones to lead the protest."
While in the country, Ross experienced first hand the level of government influence and fear they have over the people of the country.
"It was mainly the younger people who would come up to you and tell you how they felt about the government," he said.
If you want to buy any of these pictures, e-mail Ross at mrrossidesign@hotmail.com “The monks did not really speak about them and the older people we met too seemed wary of speaking as they were afraid of the repercussions.
“I used the internet at the hotel and I logged onto Google using a secret shortcut the staff showed me then a message flashed up onto the screen to say I was going to be visited by the government.The staff said it happened all the time.”
Ross is currently working for architecture firm BHD Partnership and hopes that when he has completed his training, he could return to the country in the future to oversee the building at the schools.
If you would like to buy or view Ross’ pictures or help him collect money for the people of Burma, email him at mrrossidedesign@hotmail.com
l See more of Ross’ pictures at www.whitbygazette.co.uk and click on the link from the story.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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