Tibet
Travel Location: McLeod-Ganj-(Upper-Dharamsala),India
Free Tibet: you see the stickers everywhere (especially living in Santa Cruz), I get a newsletter from the Dalai Lama asking for money and support almost every month (someone sold my name) but until now Free Tibet was just one more cause that I didn’t have the time or money for. Now that I am in McCleod Ganj, home of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile, Free Tibet has taken on a new meaning. Before I continue, I just want to say that I am well aware that I am only seeing one side of this conflict and I know very little about the history behind it. But I do know a little bit more than I knew before coming here and I would like to share it with you, so that those Free Tibet stickers may take on some sort of meaning for you. For much more info (or just because you’re not in China and you CAN), go to www.tibet.com
In a nutshell, China invaded Tibet in the 50′s and has occupied ever since. Tibetans aren’t allowed to practice their religion, Tibetans fleeing their country have been massacred, and their children are required to have a Chinese education. (As a side note, there are no Chinese citizens allowed in the International and American schools in China- the government won’t allow it- Chinese must have a Chinese education. Many wealthy Chinese buy foreign passports for their kids to get them into the private schools). Tibetans want to be able to live in Tibet and have basic freedoms and the Chinese are not allowing that.
Back in the day, when the US was in the height of the anti-communist policy, the US government trained Tibetan forces (there was even a training base in Colorado), and supplied them with weapons. These operations were pretty successful and the Tibetans relied on the American support. However, China eventually opened up to trade and became too important to the US economically to be on its bad side. Support for Tibet was not possible if the US was going to have good relations with China so US support for the Tibetans abruptly stopped. Despite lack of support from governments worldwide the Tibetans continue their fight.
Soon, President Bush will discuss Tibet with Hu Jintao-http://www.tibet.com/NewsRoom/presidentbush2.htm
Today I walked through town to find a sit down demonstration- the Tibetans protesting China President Hu Jintao’s visit to India, happening in the next few days. Apparently the big protests are happening in Delhi but it was very interesting to be right in the middle of a peaceful protest. A beautiful thing, really, and I feel quite lucky to be here- each day learning just a litttle bit more about the world.
