Tibet Will Be Free

ALERT: Tendor, SFT’s Executive Director, live on Al Jazeera English’s show ‘The Stream’ today!

2011-08-18T16:59:54Z

ALERT: Tendor, SFT’s Executive Director, will be live on Al Jazeera English’s show ‘The Stream’ today!

The show airs at 3:30pm EST / 1930GMT and can be seen at http://stream.aljazeera.com.

The discussion will be about the recent news on Tibet, including the death of 29-year-old monk Tsewang Norbu and the election of the new Tibetan Prime Minister in Exile, Lobsang Sangay. It will also focus on whether Tibet should be under the autonomous rule of China or if officials should push for complete independence.

PLEASE JOIN THE DISCUSSION!

This program is based solely on social media interactivity. You can participate in the conversation via Twitter and Facebook.

1) Tweet directly to program producers @ajstream or tweet using the hashtag #ajstream.

2) Post your comments and questions on the Facebook site: http://www.facebook.com/ajstream.

You can also view the program on TV in Washington D.C. and New York City, the channel numbers are listed below:

- Washington, D.C. – Comcast Channel 275 | Cox Channel 474 | Verizon FiOS Channel 457

- New York City Region - Time Warner Cable Channel 92

The show airs live at 3:30pm EST / 1930GMT and can be seen at http://stream.aljazeera.com

Join this discussion and help us accomplish two important goals:

1) Demonstrate to the media that there is widespread interest in the Tibetan issue and therefore it warrants more coverage.

2) Advance the case for Tibetan freedom & independence in the global discussion on Tibet.

To read more on the reasons why we should be calling for Tibetan independence, please click here:

http://www.rangzen.net/rangzen-charter/english/

For more background on the legal case for Tibetan independence, please click here:

http://www.rangzen.net/rangzen-facts/independent-tibet-the-facts/

Language Awards, Lhakar, and Tibetan Education

2011-07-26T15:48:58Z

Recently several photos of a language awards ceremony in Lithang County were sent from Tibet. The photos show Tibetan youth being presented certificates and being offered Khatas for their achievements in Tibetan language and study of Tibetan history. The recipients of the awards range in age from 10 to 18. Because the high cost of private schools and the poor quality of state education, young Tibetans often attend community run schools.

“Most people think that because the government gives free education to Tibetan youth, it’s a good thing. But after 5 or 6 years in these schools, they start to forget Tibetan,” the Tibetan source in Lithang said.

When asked if the awards were given as part of Lhakar (literally white Wednesday), the homegrown Tibetan noncooperation movement, the source said “Some people in Lithang do Lhakar. For example, in Lithang the Tibetan alphabet is written on doorways and graffitied on walls. They need a better way to promote Tibetan [language].”

In recent years, Tibetan students attending schools in Xining, Chengdu, Beijing and other Chinese cities often complain of discrimination, inadequate job opportunities, and the absence of meaningful “cultural education.”

Similar actions to preserve Tibetan language and culture have been taken by Tibetans across Tibet. In the name of Lhakar, many Tibetans have boycotted Chinese-owned stores, made special efforts to speak and write in Tibetan, promote Tibetan culture, and engaged in acts of non-cooperation.

For more on Tibet’s Lhakar movement, go to: http://lhakar.org

SFT in DC

2011-07-21T21:27:23Z

Hey everyone! Elyna here.

I know that its been a while since I’ve posted an entry, but we’re all still recuperating from our trip to Washington, DC and the utter chaos that is Kalachakra 2011. Overall, it was a great, stressful, scorching hot success; thousands of people from all over the world came out in the DC heat to support SFT, Tibet, the Tibetan community, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

As a volunteer, I was able to attend some of the teachings. The earth ritual dance – contrary to what Tendor told me – was nothing like “The Lion King”. It was, however, incredibly beautiful. I found myself in sort of a trance as I sat through the dance; other parts of the dance inspired me to meditate. Many people were prostrating toward the mandala, and others I spotted were fast asleep. But despite the faint snoring coming from the upper levels of the Verizon Center, the arena was filled with peace and compassion.

This spirit of Kalachakra really translated into our “Free Tibetan Heroes” campaign. I spent most of the time standing next to three huge, 6-feet tall posters of Tibetan political prisoners, getting people psyched on signing petitions to set them free. My success probably had something to do with the silly vest I was wearing to gather donations.

Rungye Adak was the political prisoner I spent the most time gathering signatures for. In 2007, Adak openly announced at the Lithang Horse Racing Festival that Tibet will not be free unless HHDL returns home. He then proceeded to call for the release of the Panchen Lama and other Tibetan political prisoners. Just a few moments later, the Chinese government arrested him for attempting to “subvert state power”. Yeah, right. But with the notion that Tibetans inside Tibet are willing to risk their lives for freedom, we were able to obtain thousands of signatures for the release of Adak, and several other political prisoners, too. To learn more about Rungye Adak and other political prisoners inside Tibet, visit freetibetanheroes.org.

We’re all settling in the office now, getting back into the swing of things. Stef and TenDolkar are preparing for Action Camp in Germany, and there’s going to be a bunch of really awesome Lhakar Wednesday events coming up! Keep coming back to stay posted.

Take care!

~Elyna

Nap time! Tsonam attempts to recover from the Kalachakra heat and hard work.

“Peaceful Liberation” & the Potala Square

2011-07-20T22:49:29Z

On Tuesday morning, 20,000 people gathered in the square in front of the Potala Palace, but not to protest. They were celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the “Peaceful Liberation” of Tibet that took place when the 17-Point Agreement was signed in May, 1951. The stage was erected weeks in advance, much of Lhasa was under construction during the winter and spring, and government officials arrived on Sunday for one week of ceremonies and celebrations–the details of which were kept under wraps.

One thing was a given, that the Potala would serve as the backdrop. The Chinese government loves using the Potala Palace as its flagship image for their Tibet propaganda. Completed in the late 1600s, the building sits thirteen stories high atop a hill overlooking Lhasa, holds over 1,000 rooms, exquisite temples, ancient scriptures, and remains of previous Dalai Lamas. No other buildings in the city rival the Potala’s height. It made the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994, and the Chinese government has plastered the image of the palace on everything from tourism brochures to beer and barley wine bottles and cans ever since. Not only is the Potala Palace a representation of incredible architectural feats and traditional Tibetan design, to the Chinese government it represents the backbone of a feudal society whose serfs were “liberated” by Mao and the People’s Republic of China 60 years ago.

In the early 1900s, the city of Lhasa was largely undeveloped.

View of the Potala Square from the Potala Palace, December 2010

In 2005, the Chinese government cleared the area in front of the Dalai Lama’s winter residence to make way for the new square and the “Tibet Peaceful Liberation Monument” that lay in the center. May 23, 2006 marked 50 years since the signing of the 17-Point Agreement, and the abstract representation of Mt. Everest was unveiled. In front of the monument, embedded under the concrete, are water fountains synchronized with lights and music, giving the square a Disney-esque look and feel for the tourists who visit each night in the summer. Except for this year.

Lhasa has been banned to foreign travelers since June, and an article published on Saturday by AFP noted that the government is now restricting the number of Chinese tourists to the region. The fact that the number of domestic Chinese tourists traveling to Tibet is restricted is a sure sign that the situation is dire. Lhasa is cut off from the rest of the world, showing that there is fear of potential unrest, and most likely an increased military and security presence in the city–which is not something the government wants foreigners to view.

A China Daily article recounted what the government wanted people to see–Tuesday’s event, which included a speech by Vice President Xi Jinping, who claimed that “speeding up development holds the key to resolving all issues in Tibet”. The article launched into accounts of government aide to Tibetans, noting that Xi’s delegation brought pressure cookers and solar-powered TV sets to villages in Tibet. Praise was given for the increased number of cars in towns and cities in Tibet, as well as one man’s opportunity to work in a cement factory ten months out of the year, rather than toil at his previous occupation as a farmer.

What the article omitted were the harsh realities of Tibet’s political and cultural oppression, and the continued economic and societal marginalization of Tibetans, despite the government’s attempt to buy Tibetans’ loyalties. It left out the fact that nomadic communities are being forced off of their land to make way for mining operations that destroy the land and poison the waters that flow downstream to 47% of the world’s population; that nomads are forced to slaughter their animals and move into ghetto-style housing blocks, where rates of depression, alcoholism, and suicide are on the rise; that the grasslands are turning into deserts because there are no nomads grazing their animals, whose traditional practices aerate and fertilize the soil, keeping the grasslands healthy and mitigating the effects of climate change.

Apparently pots and pans and television sets are more important.

www.NomadRights.org

Celebration marks peaceful liberation (China Daily)

Beijing curbs China tourism to Tibet: travel agents (AFP)

EPISODE 10

2011-07-20T21:02:12Z

RENAISSANCE SERIES | Amplifying Everything Banned in Tibet
Episode 10. Nomads’ Rights
July 14, 2011
Washington, D.C.

One year after the Renaissance Series’ debut in New York last June, Students for a Free Tibet hosted their 10th episode in Washington, D.C. The event was held at International Campaign for Tibet’s headquarters, and highlighted the issue of Nomads’ Rights in Tibet.

Take Action for Tibet’s Nomads

Currently, Tibetan nomads are being forcibly displaced from the grasslands they have dwelled on for millenia, and resettled into ghetto-style housing blocks by the Chinese government in the name of environmental preservation and economic development. This is leading to myriad social, economic, and environmental issues. Watch the video and check out www.NomadRights.org to find out more about the situation and ways you can take action:

Tibetan Nomads’ Rights from Students for a Free Tibet on Vimeo.

The Nomads’ Rights Renaissance Series included an introduction by Students for a Free Tibet’s Executive Director Tenzin Dorjee, as well as talks by guest speakers Rinchen Tashi of ICT, and Lobsang Choephel of Radio Free Asia.

Tendor introduced the Nomads’ Rights video, and expanded on the short film afterward by outlining the issues the nomads are facing and explaining why it is crucial to take action now. Next, Lobsang Choephel—speaking in Tibetan with translations by Tendor—walked guests through the typical day of a Tibetan nomad, eloquently describing their devotion to the land and their animals. Following Lobsang Choephel’s talk, a Radio Free Asia clip on the Tibetan nomads was screened, “The Last of the Black Tents.”

Lastly, Rinchen Tashi spoke, mixing jokes and humor into his discussion on the nomadic way of life and the seriousness of the current situation.

The episode ended with a viewing of a clip from the documentary “Dispatches: Undercover in Tibet,” where Tashi, a Tibetan living in England, visited a prison-style settlement camp to interview some of the nomads living there.

Take Action for Tibet’s Nomads

China’s Policy of Displacing Tibetan Nomads Exposed from Students for a Free Tibet on Vimeo.

DAY OF ACTION | REFUTING THE “PEACEFUL LIBERATION”

2011-07-15T17:24:47Z

On July 13^th, while Washington D.C. is abuzz with Kalachakra fever, over 50 Tibetans and Tibet supporters staged a protest in front of the Chinese consulate.

Daily protests continue in Kardze—Eastern Tibet—while the Chinese government is commemorating 60 years since the “peaceful liberation” of Tibet. Students for a Free Tibet called for a Global Day of Action to highlight the true reality of 60 years of failed Chinese policies in Tibet.

Watch AFP’s video coverage of the protest here: http://youtu.be/9wblX_aN3Es

The protest included speeches by former political prisoners Ngawang Sandrol and Phuntsok Nyidron, Amnesty International’s T. Kumar, Dorjee of RTYC, Ngawang Tashi, and Alim Seytoff of the Uyghur American Association.

The International Tibet Network’s “17 Points of Disagreement: 60 Years of China’s Failed Policies in Tibet” pamphlets were distributed.

View, download, and share the pamphlet here: http://www.chinasfailedtibetpolicies.org/

The protest was covered by AFP, and included quotes from SFT’s Executive Director Tenzin Dorjee.

Click here to read the article: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j8JeRJKXvv23NDgu6i6W0RuZH0KA?docId=CNG.561caa8da42ba25c5ee1f3158a926c28.da1

Did you stage a Day of Action for Tibet on July 13th? Send us your stories, photos, and videos for us to post on our blog or website! info[at]studentsforafreetibet.org

TOURISM IN TIBET | OCCUPATION IS NO VACATION

2011-07-03T15:35:49Z

St. Regis Lhasa opened in November near Lhasa's Barkor.

In November 2010, the St. Regis Lhasa Resort opened its doors to guests, boasting 200 luxury rooms, an on-site butler, a spa, numerous restaurants, and countless amenities. This would be considered luxurious in anyplace but in Tibet, a formally independent country occupied by China in 1949. Occupation is no vacation and tourist operators need to understand that business in Tibet is not business as usual.

Under Chinese occupation, Tibetans’ basic human rights are regularly violated, including their internationally recognized right to control their own land and resources. Since 1999, the Chinese government has pursued its “Western Development Plan,” encouraging large-scale migration of Chinese settlers into Tibet and extending business opportunities to foreign companies. This plan is intended to help China consolidate control over Tibet and attract foreign direct investment to finance its occupation.

The operation of the St. Regis Lhasa could exacerbate the abuses that Tibetans face unless immediate measures are taken to ensure business is conducted in compliance with their needs and interests.

Students for a Free Tibet has contacted the CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Fritz van Paasschen, and the owners of the St. Regis property with our concerns. We requested more information on the St. Regis Lhasa’s operation to determine if this luxury hotel could truly be part of the solution in empowering Tibetans in Tibet, rather than part of the problem in contributing to their further marginalization under Chinese rule.

Discrimination and intimidation tactics on the part of Chinese officials has made it increasingly difficult for Tibetan guides and tour operators to compete with Chinese businesses. In 2010, Dorje Tashi, a successful Tibetan hotelier, was sentenced to life imprisonment following a closed-door trial. Chinese authorities have yet to publicly release the details of his alleged crimes. No tourist operator should collaborate with the Chinese government in repressing the basic rights of Tibetans – or others – and Starwood’s executives need to think carefully about the implications operating in a conflict zone could have on their brand name and corporate reputation – especially in the event of another popular uprising in Tibet.

Economic development that brings an end to the decades of marginalization and repression suffered at the hands of the Chinese government and respects their right to control this development is welcomed by Tibetans. However, businesses that fail to both address the deep-seated inequalities Tibetans face under Chinese occupation and respect Tibetans’ political, cultural, and religious rights, will only intensify the injustices that Tibetans suffer. The Holiday Inn, British Petroleum, and KFC are amongst the corporations that have canceled their business plans or withdrawn from Tibet after facing intense public campaigns from Tibetan rights organizations.

We hope Starwood and the St. Regis owners’ will do the right thing.

Tibetans Target Starwoods AGM Over New St. Regis in Lhasa

http://blog.studentsforafreetibet.org/2011/05/tibetans-target-starwoods-agm-over-new-st-regis-in-lhasa/

A Joint Open Letter to Investors of IHG from Free Tibet Campaign and Students for a Free Tibet:
http://www.freetibet.org/campaigns/letter

Tibetans and Tibet Supporters Target InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG)’s AGM

Read more about this effort led by Free Tibet Campaign:

http://freetibet.org/campaigns/no-intercontinental-tibet
http://www.freetibet.org/campaigns/occupation
http://www.freetibet.org/campaigns/resources
http://www.freetibet.org/campaigns/social-responsibility

A Colorful Day in Union Square

2011-06-29T14:37:52Z

Hey readers! My name is Elyna. I’m interning at the SFT headquarters this summer. Just bringing you all up to speed with what we’ve been up to.

If you haven’t already heard of Lhakar (“White Wednesday”), it is a Tibetan-born, non-violent form of protest that promotes Tibetan culture. Every Wednesday – in honor of the Dalai Lama’s soul day – Tibetans make a special effort to, essentially, be Tibetan. This summer, Tenzin and I plan to do celebrate Lhakar by spreading awareness regarding the Chinese occupation of Tibet.

Last Wednesday afternoon, I was standing in the middle of Union Square wearing the Tibetan flag as a cape, and a sign around my neck, reading, “CHINA: STOP FORCING TIBETAN NOMADS OFF THEIR LAND”. It was most certainly not a familiar feeling for me. In fact, I don’t think it was for anyone who passed by me, either, considering how many funny looks I received from the countless New Yorkers passing by. Zaeda and Tenzin wore paper-constructed yak masks along with their flag-cloaks.

I wasn’t even aware of the nomad rights violations taking place in Tibet until the four of us starting researching about it. In 1998, Qi Jingfa, China’s Agriculture Vice Minister, announced “all herdsmen are expected to end the nomadic life by the end of the century”. That goal was not met, but the Chinese government is still doing what they can to force Tibetan nomads – who have lived nomadically for approximately 9,000 years – to settle.

We were able to collect 80 signatures in Union Square supporting Tibetan nomadic rights. Those signatures were signed on postcards, all of which are addressed to Ban Ki-moon, the current secretary general of the United Nations.

We’re planning on doing something a little more creative with the postcards than just simply mailing them, but that’s something we’ll keep you updated on. As far as our Lhakar Wednesday goes, I’d say it was pretty successful. After all, it’s always fun making friends with perfect strangers!

If you’re at all interested in learning more about what’s happening in the world of Tibetan nomads, visit http://nomadrights.org/ for more information.

For more information on Lhakar, visit http://lhakar.org/.

Preparing for take off!

10 Android & iPhone Apps for Tibet Activists

2011-08-20T04:11:43Z

Mobile phones are playing an increasing role in movements for social change. Since the birth of smart phones, documentation of rights abuses, mobilization, and mass communication have been revolutionized. As smart phones get smarter, we have an ever-expanding market of apps to make our work for Tibet more effective.

Apps for Android:

BhoView: Tibetan Text Viewer
BhodView lets you view any Tibetan webpage by using the “Share Via” feature of other apps like Browser, Email or Messaging. Just open a Tibetan website, email, or message and click “share,” then select BhodView. A great app for anyone who wants to view Tibetan on their phone. Free.

Congress
Congress is an amazing app. It’s a pocket directory that allows you to quickly get detailed information (including photos and bios) on your members of Congress, and what they’re up to. With Congress you can follow the latest bills and laws, and see floor activity and votes as they happen.

This is the perfect app for Tibet Lobby Day or for becoming more fluent and up-to-date in US congress happenings and info. A must have. Free.

Tibetan News & Music
A great new app which brings Tibetan video newscasts from Voice of America and Radio Free Asia as well as the latest headlines from Phayul.com to your Droid. As an added bonus, Tibetan News & Music also brings you the best new Tibetan music videos. A big shout out to Digital Vajra for developing this. Free.

uTalk Tibetan
uTalk is a good app for learning basic Tibetan phrases, numbers, and vocabulary. uTalk has an interesting recording and playback function, although it didn’t prove to be too useful. The word games and quizzes are perfect for a long subway ride. Even without Tibetan font support, uTalk displays Tibetan letters. This is a great app for anyone who wants to learn Tibetan or expand their vocabulary. Price $9.71. Also available for iPhone for $9.99

Beiks Tibetan English Dictionary
The Tibetan-English Dictionary is for both Tibetan speakers who need to look up words in English and English speakers who need to look up words in Tibetan. This was my personal favorite of the Tibetan dictionary apps. This app is not in the Android market. Price $12.95.

English Tibetan Dictionary
English Tibetan Dictionary (Romanized) is travel dictionary to translate English to Tibetan displaying a list of words in Romanized Tibetan. The dictionary also translates from phonetic Tibetan to English. The dictionary has an impressive collection of words but also lacks some basic ones. Price $4.02. Also available for the iPhone for $2.99

Free2Work
Free2Work is an awesome app. Free2Work promotes transparency by rating major brands based on their policies to address this human rights issue. With Free2Work, you can easily find specific Companies, get updates from other activists, see the latest video and photos from the field, and share information. Learn how companies like Nike, Adidas, and Patagonia are rated and how they are improving. Also available for iPhone. Free.

Obscura Cam
A “Visual Privacy” photo app developed by The Guardian Project with Witness. Obscura Cam detects faces in photos, then protects the identity of the subjects by obstructing their faces. It also removes EXIF metadata from photos. This is a fantastic app and it’s inspiring to see apps head in this direction. A great app for human rights defenders an d activists living under repressive regimes. Free

Orweb: Privacy Browser + Tor
Enhance your privacy, break through firewalls and communicate more safely. Orbot is the official port of Tor to Android. Tor is a network of virtual tunnels that allows people and groups to improve their privacy and security on the Internet. Devoloped by the Guardian Project and the great folks at Tor. Find more about Tor for the iPhone here. Free.

Gibberbot
Another great app by the Guardian Project. Gibberbot is a secured chat client capable of firewall and filter circumvention, surveillance blocking and end-to-end encryption. Free.

Twitter
Share instant updates with your friends, favorite organizations, and the world. Twitter has been successfully used for organizing protests, and keeping the world updated as events are happening. It has played a key role in revolutions and freedom struggles. As citizen journalism becomes increasingly important, Twitter is an essential app for any activist. TweetDeck makes it easy to link and post to all your social networks. Twitter and TweetDeck are also available for iPhones. Free

Qik
Qik Video makes it easy to shoot video and have it stream live to the web. Many Androids come with Qik built in. For long live-casts, use apps like Ustream. Also available for iPhone. Free.

Apps for iPhones

PhayulNews
Phayul News’s iphone app is a great way to read headlines from the Tibetan world. News is updated hourly Free.

AiCandle
AiCandle is Amnesty International’s iPhone application. Read the latest international human rights news and share news and actions and with your friends, colleagues and fellow activists via Facebook and email. A true activist app. Highly recommended. Free.

Human Rights Watch
This app brings you the week’s foremost human rights news from around the world as well as Human Rights Watch’s in-depth reports, allowing you to learn more about current challenges and opportunities to create change. Highly recommended. Free.

Tibetan Dictionary
The Tibetan Dictionary combines several dictionaries into a single app. Words can be searched for in both English and Tibetan, taking advantage of the Tibetan language support added in iOS 4.2. This is definitely the best Tibetan dictionary for mobile phones. Free.

MyCongress
MyCongress is a portal to detailed information about your elected U.S. Congressional officials. Track their news, video and Twitter feeds. Look up their official Open Congress profile or contact them directly. MyCongress helps you get in touch with your government. Great for Tibet Lobby Day. Free.

TibetanReading
TibetanReading is a great app by Sonam Chusang. It is designed to help Tibetan language students to read Tibetan letters correctly, based on Lhasa or Central Tibetan dialect. What seems to be difficult task of reading Tibetan syllable is explained with simple and clear steps together with simple examples. This application covers all the aspects of Tibetan consonants, vowels and complex combination. It also has some cool audio features. Price $3.99. Tibetan Amdo Reading is also available.

Writing Tibetan
This cool app is also by Sonam Chusang. It is designed to learn step by step strokes as one learn how to write Tibetan letters and vowels. Price $1.99.

For more Tibet related apps, take a look at http://buddhistapps.com run by Thupten Chakrishar. Also, take a look at the work of Nathan Freitas and others to bring Tibetan to Android phones. More information on Tibetan dictionaries for Android phones can be found here.

If you have reviews for these apps or additions to make, please use the comments section below.

-Updated 8/20/2011

NEW PHOTOS, NEW PROTESTS, AND A NEW GENERATION

2011-06-24T19:15:39Z

Last week photos of a brave protest in Ngagrong County in Kham from April 2010 were released by the Central Tibetan Administration.

Especially for those of us who have walked the streets of Tibet, the images of the 3 monks throwing handfuls of pamphlets in the air and waving homemade Tibetan national flags, are both inspiring and chilling.

What’s probably most inspiring about the photos and video is the age of the young monks. All under 23, they risked everything to send a message to the Chinese government that Tibetans are not happy under Chinese rule, that Tibetans want the return of the Dalai Lama, and that Tibet’s new generation will take action.

The fate of the four monks, Khu Tashi 22, Tsering Gyaltsen 19, Tsering Wangchuk 22, and Ringzin Dorjee is unknown. The prison where they are being held, their condition, and their harrowing story may never be heard. But their courage, sacrifice, and message was. To Khu, Tsering, Rinzin, and Tsering, we heard your brave cries.

Similarly last week in Kardze, Eastern Tibet, up to 20 monks and nuns staged protests. Like the 4 monks from Ngagrong, their brave sacrifice was heard.

All 17 monks and nuns from Kardze, like the monks from Ngagrong, are part of Tibet’s new generation, a generation of brave, brilliant, and restless youth who feel the “temptation of freedom.”