2008 March « Tomo’s Blog

March 2008: Tibetan Uprising

19 / March / 2008

I’m concerned about what’s happening in Tibet and think that something quite clearly needs to be done. But no country (except for the US) is willing to speak out about what is happening. I find myself in a position I’d never find myself – I am actually in awe of G.W.Bush. If you’d like something to happen and the Tibet issue to be resolved then I’m afraid that you have to get informed, then you must act on Monday 31/March/2008 …

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Actions

Participate in Monday 31/March/2008 demonstrations – check your local Tibet group for more information on what they’re doing and how you can participate or use your skills to help out
Petition the Chinese government to enter into meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama
Petition China to allow journalists access to Tibet
Sign this urgent petition to Mr Rudd to use his influence – and his Chinese language skills – to stand up for the human rights of Tibetans when he visits China in just a few weeks (Australian residents only)
Urge dirty old Brown to meet the Dalai Lama
Write to your MP (UK residents only)
Tell your Congressional Representative to Support Tibet (US residents only)
Urge President Bush to speak out publicly and ask China to show restraint, as well as address the fundamental causes that have led to events of the past week. Or call the President at 001-202-456-1111 (US residents only)
Write to your MP (NZ residents only)
Example letter to MP / Senator
Write to the International Olympics Committee and suggest shooting into crowds of ‘your own people’ is an unexpected characteristic of an Olympic host country
Write a letter to a commercial sponsor of the Beijing Olympics

Pressure government leaders to meet the Dalai Lama
A lot of leaders have chosen to specifically not meet the Dalai Lama in any political sense. It’s only been George Bush Jnr. who has actually met him!! BUSH!! And it was Mrs Bush who was supportive of the monks in Burma. I never thought I’d have any respect for Bush, but there we go – in my face!!

Petition the Chinese government to enter into meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama to move away from brutality and towards harmonious development and lasting stability, before more people get minced. 10/March/2009 will be 50 years since the Dalai Lama went into exile and the ‘Tibetan Uprising’ where after 9 years of occupation the opposition to the Chinese presence lead to a revolt. Combat lasted only about two days, with Tibetan forces being badly outnumbered and poorly armed. An estimated 86,000 Tibetans died.
Urge dirty old Brown to meet the Dalai Lama when he visits the UK in 2008. Get petitioning only if you’re British, I’m afraid.
Helen Clark (New Zealand PM) met with the Dalai Lama in passing at Brisbane airport in June/2007 – she said it was an informal chit-chat and nothing more. But who can blame her for trying to promote trade between New Zealand and China? Relations with China are significant to the economy of any country – what with most manufacturing having been moved to Asian. And that is the crux of the dilemma – cheap pants or high morals?

Police stand guard along a street during a riot in Lhasa, Tibet.

Beijing Olympics
For me at least, the fact that China is hosting it makes a farce of the Olympics and the IOC. Just so much had to be overlooked such as:

Invasion of Tibet and it’s subsequent ‘cultural genocide’ as described by the Dalai Lama
Repeated torture and human rights violations
Environment and health issues – air pollution is at least 2 to 3 times higher than levels deemed safe by the World Health Organization!! The Chinese government is trying to mask the problem by seeding clouds to induce rain several days before the games by shooting thousands of silver iodate pellets into the air using ground-based rockets. Fun!!
70 local laws and decrees would be made before the 2008 Summer Olympics which would banish local people who don’t have a permit, as well as vagrants, beggars, and people with mental illness. A “special holiday” (forcible shutout) will make Beijing citizens stay at home during the Olympics. Any protests during the games have been forbidden.

… ‘Olympic spirit’ my arse … Write to the International Olympics Committee and suggest shooting into crowds of ‘your own people’ is an unexpected characteristic of an Olympic host country.

See the Dalai Lama in the UK in May/2008 and in Australia in June/2008
If you’re interested in seeing the Dalai Lama, here are his gig dates …

Public Talk in London, UK on May 22
Public Talk in Nottingham, UK on May 24 & 25
Teaching in Nottingham, UK from May 26 to 28
Colloquium on Christian and Buddhist Traditions and Prayers in Oxford, UK on May 29
Public Talk in Oxford, UK on May 30
Teaching in Sydney, Australia from June 11 to 15

Support & Information
This is an old issue that’s been around for 50 years now. Because it’s not in the lime-light then it doesn’t attract a lot of support for Tibetan people living in Tibet who are being dumbed down and treated like second-rate citizens in their own country. Here are some reputable groups who are trying to help those people and offer some standard of education and health care to a people who have had the shitty end of the stick for 50 years.