Al Jazeera English Covers Team Tibet!

[youtube OiQ5GFg3pqM ]

It’s a sunny afternoon, and like many football fields around the world, there are a couple of teams getting set to kick it about. Here, the sides are made up of lads of Tibetan heritage, and they are playing in a tournament.
They have hopes of winning, but the main reason they are there is to spotlight their cause…
To read the full Al Jazeera article click here

China Throws a Tantrum (Again)

When the Chinese government overreacts in Chinese-occupied Tibet, the Tibetan people suffer (like in the ongoing crackdown against Tibetans celebrating the Dalai Lama’s Congressional Gold Medal). When the Chinese government overreacts internationally, it’s easier to appreciate how childish and ridiculous it is being.

When the Dalai Lama received the Gold Medal, the communist party secretary in occupied Tibet, Zhang Qingli, was livid. “We are furious,” Comrade Zhang said, according to Reuters. “If the Dalai Lama can receive such an award, there must be no justice or good people in the world.”

In the latest event, the Chinese foreign affairs ministry spokesman, Liu Jianchao, threw a tantrum over Canadian Prime Minister Steven Harper’s warm official welcome to the Dalai Lama. “This disgusting conduct has seriously hurt the feelings of the Chinese people and undermined Sino-Canadian relations,” Comrade Liu complained.

This childish conduct is likely part of a “crazy like a fox” strategy, where if the Chinese government throws a temper tantrum, the more “responsible” countries in the world will (it is hoped) give China what it demands. Like the child in the candy aisle being pacified by its parent.

Setting aside how embarrassing such conduct is for an aspiring world power (and impending Olympic host), it simply makes the Chinese government’s position look ridiculous. Especially compared with the dignified, reasonable persona of the Dalai Lama.

Also unfortunately for China, this plan doesn’t seem to be working, judging by the Dalai Lama’s recent unprecedented high-profile meetings in Austria, Germany, the US, and Canada, and his upcoming meeting with the Pope.

Comrades Zhang and Liu better get ready to blow their top again; we hope they remember to take their blood pressure medicine.