Promoting Sustainability Literacy In Myanmar Amidst Political Turmoil

Originally published in Eurasia Review

This piece was originally published in Eurasia Review.

Introduction

Myanmar, a nation rich in natural resources and biodiversity, continues to confront unprecedented challenges due to ongoing political turmoil since 1962, intensified by the recent chaos beginning in 2021, which has thrown the country and its citizens into deep uncertainty. On the other hand, Myanmar is one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, susceptible to multiple hazards such as floods, droughts, strong winds, cyclones, tsunamis, earthquakes, landslides, fires, and industrial/technological incidents. Additional localized disasters have occurred in recent years, including lightning strikes and riverbank erosion. The country’s geographical location makes it particularly vulnerable to these multiple hazards, with existing poverty and inadequate infrastructure further amplifying its susceptibility to natural calamities. 

Amidst the political crisis, promoting sustainability literacy has become essential for safeguarding the environment and empowering citizens. Myanmar’s numerous natural disasters will likely persist regardless of the political situation. This is further evidenced by the recent June 2024 flood in Myanmar, which began in areas controlled by ethnic armed groups and has since spread to regions under Myanmar military control.

The Current Landscape 

Since the political instability in February 2021, the State Administration Council (SAC) seized power, implementing numerous new laws and governance guidelines. Consequently, the SAC imposed censorship on major social media platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and WhatsApp, citing political turbulence. This was a significant setback for Myanmar netizens, as Facebook had been the most popular and versatile platform, widely used for personal communication, online marketing, SMEs, and considerable business advertising. Despite the censorship, many tech-savvy youths and adults continue to access these social media platforms using virtual private networks (VPNs). However, the number of users has significantly decreased, particularly among those who are less comfortable with technology. In addition, the instability in the banking sector, fuelled by widespread rumors, led to a banking crisis where most users withdrew their savings in cash concerning bankruptcy. 

Due to the overall political unrest, many international funding agencies and nongovernmental organizations have withdrawn most of their development projects in Myanmar. In contrast, some, including the UN agencies, have scaled down their activities to focus solely on humanitarian aid. The political turmoil also triggered a mass exodus of youths from significant cities to areas controlled by ethnic armed groups, where they began armed resistance against the SAC government. Concurrently, many Burmese academics and professionals fled to neighboring countries and locations worldwide for survival. This dramatic shift created a significant knowledge gap between the youths remaining in Myanmar and the Burmese professionals who have established themselves at intermediate and senior levels in their respective fields. Furthermore, the ongoing civil war between ethnic armed groups and the SAC has fragmented the country into multiple zones with different administrations, severely restricting freedom of movement across regions.

Edu4SD Project

In response, the Shwetaungthagathu Reform Initiative Centre (SRIc) is dedicated to enhancing the sustainability literacy of the youth, targeting this demographic as a primary group for fostering long-term change. SRIc leverages the power of information technology, social media, and various other platforms to disseminate knowledge and promote sustainable practices effectively despite some youths facing internet access by organizing initiatives and creating a platform that connects young Burmese professionals worldwide with the underprivileged youth in Myanmar under the Edu4SD project. As part of its initiative to target the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially under the scope of Sustainability Literacy, SRIc is offering invaluable knowledge and guidance to individuals dealing with daily uncertainties. By doing so, SRIc empowers them to navigate and tackle the complex challenges they encounter, fostering their sustainability literacy, resilience, and sustainable development in their communities.    

Edu4SD Approach

With the voluntary support and collaboration of Burmese and non-Burmese professionals worldwide, SRIc is organizing monthly webinars with the “Sabai Webinar Series,” covering various sustainability topics. These topics include waste management, youth and women-led sustainable development, sustainability finance, and sustainability diplomacy. Additionally, SRIc manages the weekly publication of the Guest Opinion Corner at SRIc – The Sabai Times by accepting articles from professional and young sustainability enthusiasts. This platform invites contributors to write opinion pieces related to sustainable development themes, addressing any of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These initiatives enable Burmese professionals across the globe to share their visions, experiences, and expertise with underprivileged Burmese youth in their native language and English.     

Due to internet censorship concerns, these webinars were initially hosted and recorded on the Microsoft Teams platform. The recordings are then uploaded to the SRIc YouTube channel and Zenodo, a general-purpose open repository developed under the European OpenAIRE Consortium, a Horizon 2020 project and operated by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), for reference. To further expand accessibility and reach, audio recordings are also made available as podcasts on the SRIc website, Apple Podcasts for iOS users, and Spotify for Android users. Meanwhile, opinion articles are published on the SRIc website and the Medium platform. This multi-platform approach ensures that our content is widely accessible and impactful. 

In addition, to maximize awareness and engagement, we extensively share announcements about these webinars and published articles, along with infographics and videos highlighting critical points from the sessions, across various social media channels. These include Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Telegram, and TikTok, ensuring the information reaches a broad and diverse audience. By leveraging these platforms, we aim to engage users who prefer different media and social networks, enhancing our sustainability initiatives' overall visibility and impact. Notably, YouTube, Telegram, and TikTok are not subject to censorship, providing us with uncensored channels to disseminate our content effectively.

Edu4SD Progress

Since the launch of the Edu4SD project in January 2023, SRIc has successfully organized 14 monthly webinars and published eight infographics and five educational videos. These achievements were made possible through the collaboration of 26 professionals from various fields of sustainability. Among the speakers, 50% were based outside of Myanmar, with 23% hailing from Asian countries, 23% from European countries, 4% from the United States, and the remaining 50% from Myanmar. Regarding gender diversity, 58% of the speakers were female, and 42% were male.    

In the Guest Opinion Corner at SRIc – The Sabai Times, we have broadened our scope to include voices traditionally marginalized in Burmese-led initiatives, such as Rohingya refugees. These contributions have provided unique perspectives and enriched our discourse on sustainability. By actively seeking and accepting articles from ethnic writers, we aim to create an inclusive platform that amplifies diverse voices and fosters dialogue on critical issues. This initiative not only empowers the ethnic communities to share their insights and experiences but also challenges existing narratives and encourages broader engagement with the complexities of sustainable development in the region. Through this effort, we are committed to promoting inclusivity and diversity in our discussions and ensuring that the voices of those often overlooked are heard and valued.

Over ten months (Nov 2023 to July 2023), the Sabai Webinar Series successfully drew nearly 450 attendees (direct beneficiaries) from across Myanmar’s 14 states and regions and from Burmese communities living abroad. Each webinar averaged an impressive 31 registrations, reflecting strong and consistent interest. Among the areas, Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, led with the most participants, with attendance numbers tripling those of Mandalay, the country’s second capital, with the second highest participation. Interestingly, attendees outside Myanmar ranked third in participation, underscoring the webinar series’ broad reach and impact across borders. Given Myanmar’s current challenges, such as limited electricity and internet access, the recorded sessions available on the SRIc YouTube channel have been particularly valuable, amassing more than 3000 views (indirect beneficiaries). Despite the difficult circumstances, this highlights the significant interest and engagement in the sustainability-focused discussions facilitated by the webinar series.  

The demographic breakdown of the attendees highlights female solid participation at 58, while 41% were male, reflecting a diverse audience. The age distribution of the attendees further underscores the inclusive nature of the series, with 44% of participants falling within the 26-35 age group, 35% within the 18-25 range, 17% in the 36-45 bracket, and 5% being 46 years or older. This diverse mix of participants from various age groups and gender identities demonstrates the broad appeal and relevance of the Sabai Webinar Series in addressing critical sustainability issues.  

Conclusion

In Myanmar, virtual engagement is the only solution capable of reaching all parts of the country during these challenging times. However, there are significant limitations regarding internet access and electricity availability, particularly during summer. This is evidenced by data from the Sabai webinar series, which showed a slight decline in registrations in February, March, and April when electricity was severely limited in Myanmar. Additionally, attendance numbers were significantly low in Kayah and Chin states, where intense conflict persists between the Myanmar military and ethnic armed groups. Interestingly, the number of female attendees was considerably higher than that of males, surpassing the gender ratio typical in Myanmar. This discrepancy may be due to the ongoing conflict, with men either being forcibly recruited or voluntarily participating on both sides. Despite the challenges posed by political instability, SRIc remains committed to fostering sustainability literacy and empowering Myanmar’s citizens to create positive change. Notably, more than 75% of attendees were younger than 35, indicating the impact of the Edu4SD project, which primarily aims to enhance sustainability literacy among the younger generation, aligned with the SRIc’s motto, “Advocating Sustainability, Shaping Our Future.”

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Tin Shine Aung is the Consulting Director at SRIc and a Researcher at ITI. He mentors for the YSEALI 2024 Fellowship Program and is pursuing a PhD in Sustainability Science at the University of Lisbon, focusing on "Sustainability Literacy."

“Advocating Sustainability, Shaping Our Future”

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