A Pistol On The Table: The Weight Of The Trigger

A scholar unpacks forgotten histories, revealing how myth, modernity, and devotion intertwined in meditation’s evolution.

How a broken state, blocked banks, and border crackdowns force Myanmar’s migrants to invent lifelines that keep whole communities from collapse.

Displaced Karenni civilians return home to a deadly landmine legacy

Learning Stillness in a Moving World

Five experts trace Myanmar’s collapse and resilience—revealing how food, energy, education, and truth endure under tyranny. 

When the quake struck, she thought it was a bomb—because in Myanmar, it often is.

On Identity, Curiosity, and the Edge of Two Lands

The Empire Writes Back

No Shoes, No Empire: Dhammaloka's Rebellion Against Colonial Rule

Nicholas Coppel’s tenure as Australia’s ambassador to Myanmar (2015–2018) provides a unique lens on the country’s transition toward democracy, as well as the enduring challenges posed by military dominance. Serving during the historic 2015 elections, Coppel witnessed the National League for Democracy (NLD) rise to power under Aung San Suu Kyi. Yet despite the optimism surrounding the election, the military’s entrenched authority under the 2008 Constitution continued to hinder reform. Retaining control of key ministries and 25% of parliamentary seats, the military ensured an enduring imbalance of power, despite the civilian government’s best efforts. Coppel’s engagement was largely with the civilian government, as the military remained resistant to diplomacy. Australian programs like English language training for military officers aimed to bridge gaps, but he acknowledges their limited impact. Coppel’s reflections highlight how this lack of meaningful dialogue with the military constrained international efforts to anticipate or mitigate future conflicts, including during and after the 2021 coup. Coppel outlines the difficult balance the international community faces in responding to Myanmar’s post-coup environment. He notes that symbolic gestures like refusing to appoint ambassadors are clear signals of disapproval but do not exert meaningful pressure on the military regime. He warns that some well-intentioned actions, such as corporate withdrawals, have produced perverse outcomes—like increasing the military’s revenue share in sectors such as oil and gas—while simultaneously harming ordinary civilians, such as garment workers losing jobs. Rather than blanket disengagement, he encourages a more thoughtful approach: supporting efforts that sustain the people of Myanmar without empowering the military, including initiatives like exile media, telehealth, and distance education. Technology, according to Coppel, plays a dual role in Myanmar’s crisis. While it enables resistance through fundraising and information sharing, it also facilitates military surveillance and propaganda. Despite these challenges, he remains cautiously optimistic, believing that change will come from the resilience of Myanmar’s people. “I would encourage your listeners to remain engaged with Myanmar. I would hate to think that the country and our attention on it, and our interest in it is diminished because of the actions of a military general,” Coppel urges, emphasizing the importance of global support for the people of Myanmar.

The former State Counsellor of Myanmar’s health is reportedly in decline as she serves a controversial prison sentence that began with the military coup of 2021. Tricycle correspondent Joah McGee writ...

A scholar unpacks forgotten histories, revealing how myth, modernity, and devotion intertwined in meditation’s evolution.

Displaced Karenni civilians return home to a deadly landmine legacy

Uncovering stories across Southeast Asia, one frame at a time

Learning to Listen Beyond Blind Spots: A Monk’s Search for Wholeness

On Identity, Curiosity, and the Edge of Two Lands

The Empire Writes Back

From wonder to warning, from flight to fright; a creative exhibition turns skyward dreams into grounded screams.

Error 404: Justice Not Found

Behind the Scenes of Exile — An Actor’s Real-Life Drama