The Myanmar Times has a story about a project in Burma’s Sagaing Division that is collecting local women’s hair to raise money to rebuild 16 important bridges. They have reportedly received 128 kilograms of hair which is then sold to Chinese traders for between $94 and $380 per kilogram. At an average of, say, $200 per kilogram they have already raised over $25,000.
I assume some of these bridges look a bit like this example from the Kachin State. For that kind of money, I expect that some of the bridges are even more substantial structures. It would be terrific to showcase pictures of some of these bridges, if anyone out there has any to hand.
To get an idea of the terrain where the Sagaing Division bridges are being constructed WikiMapia has a medium resolution image.
2 responses so far ↓
1 Tom // Oct 12, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Here is the update of the “Hair bridges” story (http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/289678,myanmar-womens-hair-finances-bridge-building.html), based on this week’s edition of The Myanmar Times. Not surprisingly it’s still not up on their website, the link is for a version run by DPA and I believe it even made the front page of the Bangkok Post today.
In all, about $200,000 has been raised and some 2.4 tonnes of hair donated. All the bridges will be rebuilt by early 2010 and organisers are now turning their sites to building a medical clinic in the area, the local report said.
2 Moe Aung // Oct 14, 2009 at 5:07 am
A hair raising story no doubt.
Joking aside, hair as an offering has more than pure monetary value. It is personal, indeed the pinnacle of one’s person, and reflects the generosity of and selfless joy the giver receives from this meritorious act, typically and irrepressibly Burmese and Buddhist. The tyrant can’t keep this nation down for much longer.
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