March 10 in India

Dharamshala, India

Organized by TYC, TWA, GuChuSum, NDPT and SFT India

Tsuglakhang (Main Temple), Dharamshala

Kacheri, Dharamshala where Padma Shree Awardee, Dr. Kshama Metre of CORD addressed the gathering.

A young Tibetan waves the Tibetan National flag on March 10 in Dharamshala

Kolkata, West Bengal

Tibetan Students and supporters at a candle light vigil in Kolkata (SFT Kolkata)

March 10 Vigil in Kolkata (SFT Kolkata)

Pune, Maharashtra

Tibetan Students in Pune organized an International Student’s solidarity meeting for Tibet (SFT Kolkata)

March 10th at the United Nations: I am Tibetan Because…

Tibetans assert their Tibetan identity outside the United Nations General Assembly Bldg on March 10th in NYC. I am Tibetan because: I (heart) Tibet.

Tibetans and Supporters Rise Up Across Canada

March 10th: I am Tibetan because

Tibetans in NYC on March 10th express their Tibetan pride. Since the “I am Tibetan” video from Amdo, Tibet uploaded to YouTube, Tibetans around the world have been responding with similar videos and messages. Watch SFT India’s video.

‘March 10 Because I [heart] Tibet’ in the USA

Boston, MA

The Tibetan National Flag flies atop the Boston City Hall

Miami, FL

Florida International University holds an SFT informational table and collects petition for Tenzin Delek Rinpoche

Chicago, IL

Madison SFTers take over Chicago!

I Love Tibet

Thumbprint & signature petition for the release of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche

Portland, OR

March 10th declared ‘Tibet Awareness Day’ by Mayor of Portland

The Tibetan National Flag flies high in Portland City Hall

Washington, D.C.

Tibetans and supporters hold a rally and Candle light Vigil at the Chinese Embassy

Salt Lake City, UT

March 10 Because I Love Tibet

March 10th NYC

This March 10th in New York City, around 1,500 Tibetans & Tibet supporters gathered to commemorate the 51st anniversary of Tibetan Uprising Day. After marching across the Brooklyn bridge this morning to the Dag Hammarskjold Plaza in front of the United Nations, we continued on to the Chinese Consulate. This evening starting at 5pm, we will gather for musical performances and speeches to end the day.

Video & more to come soon!

Press Release: Global Demonstrations Mark Tibetan Uprising Day; New Resistance Movement Takes Root In Tibet Despite Continued Repression

STUDENTS FOR A FREE TIBET

For Immediate Release:
March 10th, 2010

Contact: Tenzin Dorjee, +1 646-724-0748
Kate Woznow, +1 917-601-0069

GLOBAL DEMONSTRATIONS MARK TIBETAN UPRISING DAY; NEW RESISTANCE MOVEMENT TAKES ROOT IN TIBET DESPITE CONTINUED REPRESSION

New York – Thousands of Tibetans and Tibet supporters in dozens of countries will take to the streets today, March 10th, to commemorate the 51st anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day and to show solidarity with a new nonviolent resistance movement gaining momentum in Tibet. Today also marks two years since monks began protest marches in Lhasa, Tibet’s capital, that sparked the largest uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet since 1959. Chinese security forces are now a permanent presence in Tibetan towns and villages and a new “Strike Hard” campaign was launched in Lhasa in advance of this sensitive anniversary with hundreds of Tibetans being interrogated and harassed in recent days.

Tibetans and Tibet supporters in at least 100 cities worldwide, including in the USA, Belgium, Poland, UK, France, Germany, India, Australia, and Taiwan are marking the historic day fifty-one years ago – when Tibetans rose against Chinese rule – with protests, marches, candle light vigils, and government lobbying initiatives. In response to a new “I am Tibetan” campaign originating from Tibet, Tibetans in exile will also be recording messages of support dedicated to Tibetans living inside Tibet as part of their Tibetan National Uprising Day activities (1).

“In spite of China’s repression, there is a powerful new movement being led by the young generation inside Tibet. They are using creative, non-violent tactics to empower themselves and their communities and to challenge Chinese rule,” said Tenzin Dorjee, Executive Director of Students for a Free Tibet. “March 10th is a day for Tibetans everywhere to be proud of being Tibetan – proud of our ancestors who died protecting our homeland, proud of our brothers and sisters inside Tibet who continue to resist Chinese oppression, and proud of the new generation of Tibetans who are raising the flag of Tibetan freedom around the world.”

China has heightened security in Tibet in advance of today’s anniversary with journalists and most foreigners effectively barred from the region. Tibet advocates have also noted increased efforts by the Chinese government to silence international support for Tibet in recent days. Tibetan refugees have been preemptively arrested in Nepal, and in the United States, Chinese officials have attempted without success to pressure municipal governments to revoke annual proclamations of support for Tibet.

“As the Chinese government continues its brutal repression inside Tibet, we call on leaders of free countries to take new, bold and coordinated approaches to help secure a just and fair resolution for the Tibetan people,” said Kate Woznow, Deputy Director of Students for a Free Tibet.”

Note to editors
(1) Examples of the “I am Tibetan” movement include a homemade video from eastern Tibet posted to YouTube in late December, 2009 titled “I am Tibetan” as well as poems and a hip hop music video posted online by Tibetans that have been translated here: http://www.highpeakspureearth.com/2010/03/new-generation-hip-hop-music-video-from.html and here: http://www.highpeakspureearth.com/2010/02/i-am-tibetan-by-woeser.html

-30-

“New Generation” – Hip Hop Music Video from Amdo

High Peaks Pure Earth has translated a new hip hop music video from Amdo. The group who call themselves Yudrug in Tibetan, Green Dragon in English and Qinglong in Chinese, are from Machu in Amdo and they released their new track on their blog on February 5, 2010, as a gift to fans for Tibetan New Year. The video was subsequently quickly re-posted on other Tibetan blogs.


Although they call themselves "green dragon" in English, Yudrug is actually a name of a type of horse. This horse is very popular in Machu and considered a jewel, a source of wealth, as clearly stated in one of their previous songs.

Interestingly, no individual credits are given for the song, it is presented completely as a group effort. Even where the name of the lyricist should be, there is just the description “strong-willed”. The beginning of the video, below the song title, tells us that the song is "…for the hard-headed people out there".

The group however do appear to be very professional, as can be seen in their meticulously edited video and good sound quality. In the past, they have given due credit to the song composers, even crediting well-known Nepal based exile Tibetan singer Tsering Gyurmey for a cover of his song "Dream" that they recorded.


This bold new style of musical expression heard in "New Generation" has been quite controversial in Tibetan cyberspace with Tibetan bloggers praising Yudrug for their outspoken lyrics but some also criticising Yudrug for adopting a style that is seen as “too western”. Whatever your musical taste may be, the song is undeniably powerful and energetic with a rousing chorus:

The new generation has a resource called youth
The new generation has a pride called confidence
The new generation has an appearance called playfulness
The new generation has a temptation called freedom

In an earlier blogpost, High Peaks Pure Earth commented on the upsurge in online activity about asserting Tibetan identity.  “New Generation” by Yudrug demonstrates that this pride in Tibetan identity has translated to music as well. Furthermore, this pride is imbued with elements of cool and confidence. In fact, this “coolness” that Yudrug have was the initial inspiration behind a Tibetan blogger’s blogpost of August 2009 titled “Be Cool, Be Tibetan”, where he stated:

The Yudruk phenomenon shows not only that Tibetans can be cool, but that it is cool to be Tibetan. This is a radical shift. But not only does it show a kind of Tibetanness that is on the cutting edge of cool. It also makes it clear that a Tibetan image can be created and exist entirely outside of the Chinese imagination. This is a kind of Tibetanness that was made by and for Tibetans.

High Peaks Pure Earth would like to thank our own "Green Dragons" firstly for drawing our attention to this video and also for their help with this difficult translation. Thank you.



Below are the lyrics to “New Generation” in full:

"New Generation" by Green Dragon
…for the hard-headed people out there
Lyrics: "Strong Willed"
Composition: Green Dragon
Vocals: Green Dragon and Blue Moon

The noise of vehicles has woken us
Among the crowded tall buildings
Our dreams and belongings have all been packed

See the polluted sky and know
We can't afford to wait for tomorrow's sunrise
Now wake up...

It's already time to walk on the road
It's time to walk, time to think
Our bare shoulders wet with sweat
Our long hair tangled by the wind
Our faith and lives are adorned by freedom
Our collective path is determined by individual choice
As much sweat as you shed
That much result shall you reap

So said our great forefathers
But our forefathers are long gone
We don't have to keep quiet

The owner of karma has left me like a toy
With strength and talent I need to somehow respond
Even the old lady neighbour says I'm spoiled
With power and ability I'll prove them all!

The new generation has a resource called youth
The new generation has a pride called confidence
The new generation has an appearance called playfulness
The new generation has a temptation called freedom

The new generation has a resource called youth
The new generation has a pride called confidence
The new generation has an appearance called playfulness
The new generation has a temptation called freedom

At one time I thought that love was everything
Then love turned me into nothing
A girl I loved so much
Has given me a very beautiful gift
Now I haven't lost her
The dream of love has not been lost

Deceit and cunning!
In a society where people are deceived by money, fame and power
Will I ever find a meaningful love?
Will i ever find a definite pledge?
Who among us will?

We are caught up in our thoughts of pain and of mere fashion
We wrote our own darkness and we're scared of living
We embody the pride of youth and search for future aspirations with full willpower

Search!
Search!

We are the new generation of today

As I achieved what I wanted to achieve
My dreams don't waiver in the night
As I said what I wanted to say
I didn't turn into a mute
I did it for me only!

As I achieved what I wanted to achieve
My dreams don't waiver in the night
As I said what I wanted to say
I didn't turn into a mute
I did it only to represent myself!

Get used to me!
I am the decadent breath of your uncontrollability

Get used to me!
I am under your limitless uncontrollable watch

Get used to me!
I am the manifestation of today and the substance of tomorrow

I am very light, in your imagination
I am very small, in your vegetable patch

Does your advanced theory wish to blow up my head?
Does your forced bullet wish to shoot through my heart?

I am just an old and damaged vehicle
The horse of time departed early morning
The small flame under your saddle
The blood and bodies frozen in the ice are bound to fade

We are the sharp wisdom that your speeches and lectures haven't reached
We are the smooth darkness that your flame and power hasn't absorbed
We are the response with playfulness that makes your heart ache
We are the infection and fright to your livelihood!

The new generation has a resource called youth
The new generation has a pride called confidence
The new generation has an appearance called playfulness
The new generation has a temptation called freedom

The new generation has a resource called youth
The new generation has a pride called confidence
The new generation has an appearance called playfulness
The new generation has a temptation called freedom

Our story has not ended here
It's just the beginning
We never fall asleep but are awake forever

Get used to dreaming
Get used to unlawful damage and uprisings
Get used to this way of living
Get used to moving forward

To our beloved and proud new generation

Translation: High Peaks Pure Earth

March 10th, 2010 Updates via Twitter

Please share your updates, mobile photos, breaking news, or inspiring moments from March 10th, 2010 (or the lead up to). Use the #m10tibet hashtag in your tweets and your updates will appear on the M10 twitter wall above.

Example: 500 Tibetans and supporters just arrived at City Hall to commemorate 51 years of resistance to China’s occupation of Tibet. #m10tibet

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March 10th: Because I Support Tibet