Today is National Poetry Day, for which the theme is Dreams. You can read my previous NPD posts for 2004, 2005 and 2006.

With election preparations in full swing, I’ve not had much time to blog and have a growing backlog of posts to write (a backblog?). I’ve also only had a few minutes to spare to write my annual piece de resistance, which, as today is also International Bloggers’ Day for Burma, is on that subject – and quite short.

How do you solve a problem like Myanmar?

How can the West get real traction
Against a long-lived autocracy?
Diplomacy or military action?
Sanctions: buy none, get one free?

Should the UN be interventionist,
Demand the Junta cease and desist?
Will Russia’s and China’s reticence see
The prolonged house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi?

Whatever action we could be taking
Let’s at least be in favour of making
The UK Government’s commitment firmer
To democratic rule in a new, free Burma