I don't ever write about 'political' things here, but something is happening that I need, from my heart, to share with this board. If you are moved to help, thank you. If not, no problem at all.
The worst riots in 20 years are sweeping through what is called the "Tibetan Autonomous Region" of China. It is actually a small chopped up piece of what used to be Tibet. They started as peaceful demonstrations last week in the Capital city of Lhasa, but have become violent and are spreading. Without getting too political - Tibetans and their culture are almost completely destroyed within China , and those who still remain are very poor. If they live in Lhahsa - they don't speak Chinese, they are not educated by the Chinese, they have no access to good jobs, business loans, healthcare, etc. Most of them are farmers living in near squalor in cut-off rural areas.
HH The 14th Dalai Lama, leader of the Tibetan Nation in exile, has said he will resign if the violence being committed by his own people does not stop. He does not seek political independence from China for Tibet (and that has been his public stance for years), but a a small safe 'homeland' for his poor disaffected people, within the country. The Prime Minister of China supposedly said yesterday that he will meet with the Dalai Lama to talk (ABSOLUTELY unprecedented - he swore it would NEVER happen), but tanks and troops are already occupying Lhasa, and are rolling into the entire area as we speak. They are capable of extremely brutal force. In fact, since last week, they have been going house to house, car to car, making massive random arrests, pulling people out of cars, etc. and quelling the riots by 'whatever means necessary'.
The summer Olympics are being held this coming August in Beijing. The eyes of the world are on the Chinese governement in a completely unprecedented way, which is why this is happening I imagine. The ruling party in China cannot control international media right now - not with the global 'open-ness' that the Olympics Games require. Camera phones and other devices also record brutal facts that cannot be disputed finally (though they have now been banned and are being confiscated).
There are protests going on all over the world. New York, London are having big ones. Protestors in Switzerland staged a rally yesterday. Both John McCain and Condoleezza Rice made very bold public statements yesterday - also unprecedented. Italian Newspapers reported this morning that 96% of the Italian population support an Olympic Boycott. I'm sure other countries are getting on board.
This is a cause that has been very close to my heart for almost 20 years. This is a historic moment and may be the best and last chance for the whole world to stand up and protect this peaceful culture. I know there are many people suffering in the world. So many even on our board (I'm thinking of AFM right now, and some others). And I also know that no one life is more important than any other. But this is a chance I never thought would come, EVER, and I thought if anyone else out there was inspired to help, I wanted to let them know.
I'm trying to find conact info for the US and International Olympic Committees. Senators, Congressmen, Presidential candidates - can you help me think of anyone else? I'm going to put a list together and can pm it to anyone who wants it. If you can help me with this list, that would be so great.
Thank you for reading this. And for allowing me to share it here, on a board set up for an entirely different purpose. I'm just so heartbroken, I'm doing everything I can think of. Please feel free to post this entire message anywhere else, if you feel moved to do so.
The worst riots in 20 years are sweeping through what is called the "Tibetan Autonomous Region" of China. It is actually a small chopped up piece of what used to be Tibet. They started as peaceful demonstrations last week in the Capital city of Lhasa, but have become violent and are spreading. Without getting too political - Tibetans and their culture are almost completely destroyed within China , and those who still remain are very poor. If they live in Lhahsa - they don't speak Chinese, they are not educated by the Chinese, they have no access to good jobs, business loans, healthcare, etc. Most of them are farmers living in near squalor in cut-off rural areas.
HH The 14th Dalai Lama, leader of the Tibetan Nation in exile, has said he will resign if the violence being committed by his own people does not stop. He does not seek political independence from China for Tibet (and that has been his public stance for years), but a a small safe 'homeland' for his poor disaffected people, within the country. The Prime Minister of China supposedly said yesterday that he will meet with the Dalai Lama to talk (ABSOLUTELY unprecedented - he swore it would NEVER happen), but tanks and troops are already occupying Lhasa, and are rolling into the entire area as we speak. They are capable of extremely brutal force. In fact, since last week, they have been going house to house, car to car, making massive random arrests, pulling people out of cars, etc. and quelling the riots by 'whatever means necessary'.
The summer Olympics are being held this coming August in Beijing. The eyes of the world are on the Chinese governement in a completely unprecedented way, which is why this is happening I imagine. The ruling party in China cannot control international media right now - not with the global 'open-ness' that the Olympics Games require. Camera phones and other devices also record brutal facts that cannot be disputed finally (though they have now been banned and are being confiscated).
There are protests going on all over the world. New York, London are having big ones. Protestors in Switzerland staged a rally yesterday. Both John McCain and Condoleezza Rice made very bold public statements yesterday - also unprecedented. Italian Newspapers reported this morning that 96% of the Italian population support an Olympic Boycott. I'm sure other countries are getting on board.
This is a cause that has been very close to my heart for almost 20 years. This is a historic moment and may be the best and last chance for the whole world to stand up and protect this peaceful culture. I know there are many people suffering in the world. So many even on our board (I'm thinking of AFM right now, and some others). And I also know that no one life is more important than any other. But this is a chance I never thought would come, EVER, and I thought if anyone else out there was inspired to help, I wanted to let them know.
I'm trying to find conact info for the US and International Olympic Committees. Senators, Congressmen, Presidential candidates - can you help me think of anyone else? I'm going to put a list together and can pm it to anyone who wants it. If you can help me with this list, that would be so great.
Thank you for reading this. And for allowing me to share it here, on a board set up for an entirely different purpose. I'm just so heartbroken, I'm doing everything I can think of. Please feel free to post this entire message anywhere else, if you feel moved to do so.
Comment