Different walks of life in Myanmar hold activities in cyclone relief fund raising

Different walks of life in Myanmar have been holding various activities to raise relief funds for cyclone victims as a charity move.

According to this week's issue of the local 7-Day News, vocalists serving in Myanmar's State Radio Broadcasting Station will take part in more live show sponsored by the country's national-level Musicians Association to raise fund for the relief and resettlement of cyclone survivors.

As a follow-up of several other music shows held earlier by the association in Yangon and Mandalay, about 20 noted radio vocalists will participate in the event scheduled for October-November.

As a latest move, Thai entrepreneurs investing in Myanmar will hold market festival in Yangon later this month to raise relief fund for the storm victims.

In cooperation with the Thai Embassy, the activity will take place at the Thai-invested Kandawgyi Hotel on Sept. 21, according to earlier reports.

At special reduced prices, the items to be sold include Thai-manufactured garments, costumes and various kinds of Thai food, the report said, adding that fashion shows will also be attached.

The proceeds from the market festival are set to be donated to storm-hit regions.

Other local reports said German artists will hold auction in Yangon for their paintings on Saturday to help raise fund for storm survivors.

Meanwhile, 12 Myanmar famous artists have been invited to participate in a mobile international painting auction, organized by one of the world's famous auction companies, Sothebys and Christices, touring around four big international cities -- Hong Kong, London, San Fransisco and New York.

The event designates each artist to present two paintings for auction, half of the proceeds are set to be donated to Myanmar's cyclone-hit regions.

Many noted and rich entrepreneurs from these big cities will be invited to bid for the paintings in the auction, it said.

More painting show, aimed at raising relief fund for the cyclone-damaged Mawlamyainggyun township in Ayeyawaddy delta, was held in Myanmar's former capital of Yangon last week, in which 95 artists from Yangon and Mandalay took part.

Meanwhile, amateur artists from the Myanmar-Chinese community also held the first ever live show of its kind in Yangon on Aug. 30, sponsored by the Myanmar-Guangdong Music Band and involved eight other local Chinese cultural associations, to help raise relief funds for cyclone survivors and for reconstruction of the storm-ravaged regions.

The show, also attached with auction of electronic goods for donation to disaster-hit regions, was overwhelmed by cheering audiences.

Deadly cyclone Nargis, which occurred over the Bay of Bengal, hit five divisions and states -- Ayeyawaddy, Yangon, Bago, Mon and Kayin on last May 2 and 3, of which Ayeyawaddy and Yangon suffered the heaviest casualties and massive infrastructure damage.

Official death toll showed the storm has killed 84,537 people and left 53,836 missing and 19,359 injured.

Source:Xinhua