1.3 million people and counting…
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.
And don’t be disheartened by what they say, or how entrenched they may appear. Firstly, these individuals do not represent all Chinese people. Tibetans have many Chinese friends the world over. Some have even spoken out and put themselves at risk in China itself. Just check out the blog of this one Chinese artist who has written a very emotional piece entitled Tibet: Her Pain, My Shame.”
Secondly, remember that every freedom movement in history has had it’s nay-sayers and those who insist that change is not possible. Even up until the moment an empire falls apart, there will be people who insist that fighting for freedom and rights is “not realistic.” As my friend Josh wrote in response to one of these people recently:
“History is full of these detractors and their collective ennui — they’re the same ones who told Gandhi there was no way a single man could overthrow the worlds biggest empire. They’re the ones who urged ‘diplomacy’ with Apharteid and told Dr. King to quiet down. Well…I’d urge you to read up on your history. Protests do work, despotic empires — yes, even really big ones — are toppled, and those who say ‘don’t bother’ generally get left behind as activists shape the course of history.”
Posted: March 30th, 2008 under News.
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Comments: 10
Comments
Comment from drew
Time: March 30, 2008, 8:15 am
Away with china, up with TIBET. Typical chinese always trying to get their greedy little fingers onto anything that is not theirs and never let go.
Comment from someguy12345678
Time: March 30, 2008, 11:41 am
Why did the Tibetans maim loads of chinese and render some paralyzed for life. The protests surely are not peaceful.
Comment from Tian
Time: March 30, 2008, 6:44 pm
Thank you Lhadon for posting this editorial piece by Tang Danhong. It has deepened my understanding of the situation. Interestingly the main points of my proposed solution was clarified in her writing.
However, although I agree with her from a moralistic standpoint, I do not agree with her from an economical one. Like I said earlier, I wonder how an independent Tibet could possibly sustain itself economically in our modern world.
Unless Tibetans open up and develop their resources in the same way that the Han settlers are doing now, there’s no way they could sustain their present standard of living. This means “scarring the sacred mountains with mines” and other defilements of the landscape. They could not possibly sustain themselves through tourism.
Also, nations in our world still resolve issues through wars (U.S.-Iraq). If Tibet becomes a fully independent entity without any outside help, it would be like a lamb in a world of wolves. If China doesn’t invade, some other nation will in the future in order to get its resources. Don’t think that the U.N. will come to Tibet’s aid. The U.N. certainly did not help Iraq or Afghanistan.
So the point is, unless Tibet develops its military it will be conquered by someone else anyway. But you Tibetans are non-violent, scientifically backward, and economically weak. From a realistic, rational standpoint, you guys are in a very bad position.
In this sense, I believe Tibet should still remain as a part of China if the Chinese government adopt a more liberal policy toward that region. This means giving Tibet more autonomy and reinstating the Dalai Lama. This way, there can be a true solution to the problem. The Han dominated government will provide limited funding and military assistance to Tibet and in return the Tibetan people can help their neighbor Hans on religious matters so that the latter’s society will not dissolve.
Interestingly, this is exactly what the Dalai Lama proposed. Reestablishing the former relationship between the Tibetan and Han governments. He did not advocate for full independence.
Comment from Ben Wikler
Time: March 30, 2008, 8:28 pm
Great post, Lhadon–your work gives the world hope.
Comment from Lazare
Time: March 31, 2008, 6:16 am
Why having a Global Day of Action on a Monday? Why not a Sunday? Sundays are “slow news days”, where news organizations might pick up the story. Mondays are filled with news stories for the coming week, chances that the tibetan story will be buried. Not to mention the difficulty of assembling large crowds on a Monday rather than a Sunday, when people are off work. The Tibetan movement needs a wide support, beyond the tibetan and tibetan activists.
Comment from Dawa Tenzin
Time: March 31, 2008, 1:46 pm
someguy12345678 :
Are the Chinese polices and the government itself peaceful? Look what’s in store on your plate before commenting!
Comment from Luis
Time: March 31, 2008, 2:33 pm
Channel 4 in the UK showed an excellent and shocking documentary (Dispatches) on life in Tibet.
I will post a link to the actual film if I find one.
The Channel 4 synopsis of the film is as follows:
“As Tibetan protesters take to the streets in the biggest and most bloody challenge to Chinese rule in nearly 20 years, Dispatches reports on the hidden reality of life under Chinese occupation after spending three months undercover, deep inside the region. Dozens are feared dead after the recent clashes and crackdown by Chinese troops, but with reporting so rigidly controlled from the region little is known of living conditions inside Tibet.
To make this film, Tibetan exile Tash Despa returns to the homeland he risked his life to escape 11 years ago, to carry out secret filming with award-winning, Bafta-nominated director Jezza Neumann (Dispatches Special: China’s Stolen Children). Risking imprisonment and deportation, he uncovers evidence of the “cultural genocide” described by the Dalai Lama.
He finds the nomadic way of life being forcefully wiped out as native Tibetans are stripped of their land and livestock and are being resettled in concrete camps. Tibet reveals the regime of terror which dominates daily life and makes freedom of expression impossible. Tash meets victims of arbitrary arrests, detention, torture and “disappearances” and uncovers evidence of enforced sterilisations on ethnic Tibetan women.
He sees for himself the impact of the enormous military and police presence in the region, and the hunger and hardship being endured by many Tibetans, and hears warnings of the uprising taking place across the provinces now.”
http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/dispatches/undercover+in+tibet/1824047
Comment from Luis
Time: March 31, 2008, 2:36 pm
http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/dispatches/undercover+in+tibet/1824047
Comment from Rangzen
Time: March 31, 2008, 8:10 pm
someguy12345678 - please look far beyond this recent Tibetan National Uprising or you call it “riot targeting Chinese interest”. It is March 10, the day Lhasa, capital Tibet fell to Chinese Communist Army. It is about Tibet’s Freedom and Chinese government’s rule of terror for last 49 years. Chinese have been killing our men, women, children since its occupation in 1950. Tibetans are forced to resort violence because of Chinese govt’s misguided policies in Tibet.
Comment from David
Time: April 1, 2008, 10:59 am
I read many posts on this website, and seen very few people writing their posts with a rational mind–read the stories from the both sides and form your own independent opinion.
I saw a lot of emotional words with prejudice and hatred towards to the Chinese regime and Dalai Lama on this website. The opinions in many posts have only arguments without evidence or numbers. I understand everyone can say anything they want, that is freedom. But when you try to convince others, your argument lose its power when your reasoning is not objective, complete, or rational, especially when your opinions rely on some biased propaganda machines, not matter whether they are Dalai Lama’s or the Chinese government’s.
I will leave this forum, because I learned nothing about Tibet from this website. It makes very hard for me to join the signature movement because I don’t want to make mistakes and lose my mind.
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