"How ordinary citizens stepped into the breach and responded to the nation?s worst disaster since Cyclone Nargis. A shirtless farmer trudges up to a semi-circle of singing volunteers. Without a word, he offs his military-issue motorbike helmet and pulls a 1000 kyat (US$ 1) note from the inner-rim, placing it gently on the loungyi (a wrap that often replaces trousers) laid out on the ground in front of a printed vinyl sign: ?Taungoo Artists Group ? Flood Victims Appeal”. He nods at the guitarist and shuffles back to the crowd, gathered to listen intently to songs honouring the victims of the flood written by local musicians and poets. Meanwhile, nine hours southeast a group of 15 students from an English language centre walk through the heavy rain in a small ethnic Karen, Buddhist town outside Karen State?s capital, Hpa-an. They hold a banner urging local residents to come out and donate to support Myanmar?s flood victims, although no insistence is needed..."