Raising Our Voices For Tibet

Every year on March 10th, the anniversary of the initial Chinese invasion of Tibet, there are protests by Tibetans all around the world. This year things are different. The protests are bigger and bolder in China, perhaps because of the coming of the Olympics.

China’s profile is higher in the eyes of the world these days - they’re ‘on the radar’ so to speak. The coming Olympics in Beijing have raised the profile of the country even more. China wants to look good in the eyes of the world, but even though they’ve worked hard to block the information getting out, the world is finding out about the arrests, beatings and killings of Tibetans in China and Tibet over the past week.

My friend in McLeod Ganj, India (also called Upper Dharamsala, the Dalai Lama’s home) says McLeod that there are hunger strikes going on there. They are all very worried about the violence and fear that anyone who makes the least peaceful protest in Tibet or China will be hurt.

What can we do to help? One thing we can do, whichever western country we live in, is to write to our federal leaders or federal members of parliament, and implore them not to send dignitaries to the opening events of the Olympics. That will send a strong message to the Chinese but won’t prevent the athletes from competing.

The following is the newsletter I wrote and sent out while travelling in India last fall; you may have missed it. It’s called ‘Am I My Sister’s Keeper’

The other 2 links are background on the protests by Tibetans in China and Tibet, and coverage of the protest rally that took place today in Ottawa, Ontario.