Free Tibet

Not as common as hearing 'Paper or plastic?', but a somewhat common bumper sticker seen in urban parts of the states reads 'Free Tibet', showing Tibet's glorious flag colors blazing across the sticker. Seattle has a decent sized Tibetan community, partaking in numerous public and cultural events, expanding arm chair and eager world travelers with a more intimate look into this once very private nation. Sadly, they're in Seattle for a reason.

Tibet is under siege again, by more force from the Chinese than they have needed in two decades to keep their 'long lost brethren' tame and quiet. Peaceful protests began on Monday with several hundred monks, on the 49th anniversary of the failed uprising that sent His Holiness the Dalai Lama running to India to escape Chinese persecution and has forever remained in exile. Over 80 deaths have been confirmed by multiple sources. With the threat of no Western witnesses of the 'obedience action' that will unfold there on and beyond Monday this week, this dying culture may vanish before my daughter can say her own name aloud.

I have no sympathy for the Chinese in the Tibetan region. The Han population far outnumbers the Tibetans, for sure, but it still does not mean that the land is theirs. Where I'm sitting now is a one, well, many times, war torn country, where its and its neighboring residents were shifted to this town or that town, helping to spread the empire and weaken the local population substantially, depending on one's military perspective. When the end of the war came, thousands and thousands of people were 're-shuffled' all over this part of Europe, and, namely, the Germans were put back in Germany (or East and West). That must have been an organizational nightmare, but it was accomplished.

I think it can be done again.

The spotlight is on China for hosting the Olympics this year, and it will shine brightly on their many ill humanitarian actions, especially in Tibet. In some ways, sadly, the high Tibetan plateau is not full of tons of oil, gas and gold, so the Western nations don't have a vested interest in securing the area and making the excuse to save one of the world's vanishing exotic cultures.
But the plight is known. It is known across Asia. It is known across the globe. There should be support. There should be amazing support.

I can't be there to help. I can't get there. So what's an American abroad to do?
Well, writing this non-professional level-journalism is one step.

Another is making a personal, financial choice, one that many have done before and many will try in the future, but it's new for me:

Ban "Made in China"

A family did it 2 years ago in the states, and 'suffered' quite a bit, having to spend countless hours researching purchases, talking to salespeople, manufacturers, obtain detailed product manuals to inspect makers of internal parts, etc. ... it was challenging enough that they wrote a book on it. I won't do that but perhaps I'll keep updating yous all on this here blog. Will Jill do it, too? Not sure. I do most of the shopping and Iza can't reach the sales counter top yet.

H. H. Dalai Lama still supports the Chinese hosting the Olympics, but I don't. And I think if the situation gets worse in Tibet, perhaps even some athletes will bow out, maybe whole nations. I know I won't be going to China to watch the Olympics or giving it my attention on the tele, either.

Baby steps lead to toddler steps, which lead to adolescent steps, which lead to marches, which lead to movements.

Please call on your presidents and prime ministers for their support to not just sympathize, but to act.

Free Tibet.



(pic compliments of NYTimes/Getty Images. Monks staging a vigil in Kathmandu)

Update:
there seems to be one last official Western journalist in Lhasa, James Miles from The Economist and TimesOnline.uk His latest account is at:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3564470.ece