Ready to Sacrifice Anything

“At this point, they will sacrifice whatever is required: blackouts, lack of electricity, lack of food, poverty, detention, fleeing to border land areas, taking up arms. They will do whatever it takes, if they think this time change will come.”

These words from Jeanne Hallacy reflect her understanding after working for many decades as an ally and activist for democracy and human rights in Myanmar. Soon after the coup hit, her documentary team went to ground in Yangon, producing what would become "Padauk: Myanmar Spring," a stunning camera-verite style that captured the feeling of the early protest movement through several protagonists.

As the conflict stretched on, Jeanne flew the Thai-Myanmar border, where she has become even more engaged in reporting on the developing situation while also providing aid and support to vulnerable communities.

Her takeaway after a year of resistance and several decades of advocacy: the Burmese people are now seeing this current moment as the Endgame, and they are willing to put up with any degree of discomfort or hardship to finally rid their land of evil. The Tatmadaw, or Burmese military, has been characterized as a kind of mafia terrorist outfit, and there is no difficulty too painful that the people are not willing to endure in order to finally retain their freedom. And Jeanne is standing by them in any way that she can to help them succeed.