Beijing Wide Open

The Hong Kong authorities blocked 3 of my colleagues from entering the territory on the eve of the Olympic torch relay run. They were going to hold a press conference to focus attention on the deteriorating situation inside Tibet, which many are describing as reminiscent of the dark days of the cultural revolution, and show that taking the Olympic torch through Tibet at this time will certainly provoke protests and is already contributing to an increased climate of fear.

Despite this minor setback, we went ahead with the press conference as planned at 2pm Hong Kong time via live webcast with Tsering joining from Toronto and Matt from London.

You can watch the broadcast here: http://blog.studentsforafreetibet.org/live/

IOC allows China to take the torch through Tibet from Students for a Free Tibet on Vimeo.

I guess my Chinese friends flagged the “IOC: No Torch in Tibet” video enough times because Youtube took it down after more than 3,000 views saying “content inappropriate.” The same thing happened to the very original TV video footage of the Chinese shooting Tibetans at Nangpa Pass near Mt. Everest after it was viewed over 100,000 times.

A lot of crazy stuff gets posted on Youtube and doesn’t get taken down because Youtube cannot monitor it all and nobody cares enough to complain. But when it comes to pro-Tibet videos there’s an army of people just waiting to “flag” anything and everything they possibly can in the hopes that Youtube will remove it.

Not to worry, we’ll post that video in 100 other places. It’ll be back soon and many more people will see it. That’s the beauty of the internet and free societies - you cannot block people from the truth.

WARNING: This video includes graphic content.

The photos in this video are hard to look at. They are of Tibetans shot and killed inside Tibet over the past month. This is the reality of Chinese rule in Tibet and what Chinese authorities do to Tibetans who dare to protest. This is what we can expect if the IOC allows China to take the torch through Tibet in May and June. The IOC doesn’t seem to get it?! Maybe this video will help them see the reality.

Thank you Majora.

Thank you Andrew.

This morning, just near the British parliament, 2 climbers unfurled a massive banner on Westminster bridge reading, “One World, One Dream: Free Tibet 2008.” They were arrested along with 2 other Tibet independence activists. These young people of conscience, including a man of British and Chinese descent, took this daring action to show their solidarity and support for the Tibetan people’s struggle for freedom. At this moment, when the Chinese government is brutalizing Tibetans inside Tibet, their action is like a ray of light in the darkness. I cannot say enough to thank them for their courage and their commitment to justice in this world.

I am in London now and doing continuous interviews about China’s controversial Olympic torch relay which arrives here on Sunday. Each time I speak I try to explain why Tibetans will be protesting. I try to clarify why sports and politics cannot be separated, especially when it comes to China. Over and over again, I say that the torch must not be taken to Tibet and I attempt to explain why this is wrong. But I cannot express this in a few second sound bite. Read more »

Please help us send the truth about China’s torch far and wide around the world. With your help we can convince the IOC to cancel plans to take the Olympic torch through Tibet while Tibetans are suffering under a violent military crackdown.

http://NoTorchInTibet.org/

Pass it on…like a baton!

This Avaaz petition in support of the Tibetan people has reached over 1.3 million signatures from every country in the world. Please sign it and forward it around and help us reach 1.5 million signatures by Monday, March 31st the Global Day of Action for Tibet.

At a time like this, when a people is suffering so terribly at the hands of a brutal military regime, it can be hard to see how individuals can help. But this world is full of caring people - people of conscience - who can make a difference if they just take action and speak out at once. Your voice matters. It’s not just decision-makers in free countries who care what you think. The Chinese government, and Chinese people, care too. Just read through the vitriolic attacks some are posting on this blog and you will see how much they care. Read more »