Deeply frustrated that European Parliament business stopped me from getting to the Duke of York's for last night's Burma VJ (www.burmavjmovie.com) showing. And doubly frustrated that it's only getting a single Brighton showing. The media's interest in decades of brutal oppression seems to have vanished as quickly as it sprang up once the telegenic images of beaten monks (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7635419.stm) were no longer available.

I'm always stunned by the courage of Burmese activists, like these undercover film-makers - it kind of puts my own efforts (http://www.carolinelucasmep.org.uk/2009/07/02/correspondence-about-burma/) to successfully push for an EU embargo on the Burmese regime into perspective. Standing up in the European Parliament (and hopefully
Westminster!) doesn't really seem to compare with evading imprisonment and possible death simply to make sure the outside world doesn't forget what's happening. Still, it's an important reminder to keep doing what I can - sanctions alone will not restore democracy to Burma, but the embargo is cutting off some of the junta's most important revenue streams and it must be kept in place. And I'll keep supporting Amnesty and the Burma Campaign's crucial campaigning work too.

I'll try and catch the film on DVD - but if you get the opportunity to get to a screening do go, and let me know what you thought.