WARNING- Video is very graphic, so if you have a weak stomach I’d steer clear.

A reader e-mailed me, asking what had happened to a comment of theirs. It was during the initial influx of spammers and CCP backers in regards to articles about the Tibetan Uprising. For some reason the spam detection software here on WordPress must have blocked it, as I did not see it. Either way, they sent me what they had written and I thought it was good enough for it’s own post here. Hopefully it can bring about some more discussion on the subject.

The poster was responding to comments left on the article about Thai Olympian who was to carry the Torch but pulled out.

I’m tired of these posters who are short and “sweet” with insults and cursing! Yet, they give no more information, other than complain about Western colonialism, but praise their own colonialism tactics. I’m also tired of them assuming we know “China” only from CNN or BBC! I don’t watch much TV. I do occasionally watch CNN, BBC, DT, MSN, but I also read from other news sources in the East, and this is the greatness of a democracy. I can watch any news network or read any news organization to get my unbiased information without any internal government censoring. If something doesn’t sound right, I have a right to question and dispute it.

@tigerloong, Only the Tibetan people can tell what is good for them. I wouldn’t want a Chinese to tell me what is good for me, nor would a Chinese want the Japan to tell China what is good for them or vise versa. You only bring up the rioting of the Tibetan people, yet you don’t ask yourself why they rioted or who instigated it. China keeps blaming the Dalai Lama, yet he doesn’t even live there. The Dalai Lama has already denied those claims, and I trust him. How can I trust a government that won’t even let international news agency’s or third party independent verificaitons to clarify information for possible crimes and alleged Dalai Lama activities? Everything is disputed by the Chinese communist government, by default, and they alway’s in everything allege claims are baseless, even regarding the Falun Gong organ harvestings or forced labor camps that probably make your childrens toys.

Rioting is a sign that something is wrong, and we should take notice of that, and ask what is wrong. We all need to ask why this happened, and if you don’t know why asks a Tibetan, not the imported Chinese people to Tibet, but a true Tibetan ethnic person who speaks Tibetan and has a unique culture. However, if your in Lhasa and a Chinese, you may not get a true response because they live in fear of the PAP most of the time.

So instead of pointing out the riots, instead make a point to understand why it happened. Learn to ask why. Don’t just say they did a bad thing because they rioted, so they are “scoundrels.” That doesn’t prove anything, other than show your emotions. It’s disturbing to see a riot, yet no one asks why. Why does Tibet have an anniversary on March 10 every year, a peacefully demonstration? Why did the Chinese PAP decide this year to block that peaceful protest? As a result of that peaceful protest being blocked caused anger among some bystanders that turned into riots. Why did the Tibetan’s only attack Chinese Han and Hui [Hui, many are similiar to Hans] Shops?

There is resentment toward the Chinese coming to Tibet with the support of the Chinese communist government, flooding Lhasa making Tibetans a second class citizen in their own land, especially in their own capital, Lhasa, which should be where the seat of the Tibetan government in exile resides. Why does the CCP snub Tibetan culture like this? Not to long ago Tibetan TV anchors were forced to wear fur, which is a practice not acceptable, another sample of disrespect to the Tibet people.

Why are the Tibetan’s tested in Chinese in their own country? They should be tested in Tibetan not Chinese, and as a result many can’t get jobs, and that is first hand discrimination.

Riots are a sign of deep-seated resentments brought about by discrimination and special privileges by those doing the discrimination. As a result of those discriminations, many of them flee and end up as refugees, and that is another sign that something is wrong with the current government. Discrimination towards their culture, their way of life and the persecution of their religious practice are just part of the deep seated resentments toward the Chinese communist government, not to mention that they have no say on how their own country is developed. We are living in the 21^st century, this stuff shouldn’t be happening, yet it still is. I hear to many comments pointing out old colonial systems, and complaining about what other people or other countries have done, yet China is doing it to Tibet? 150 years ago there was no international law, and it would take 3 months for news to get from the east coast to the west coast, today it only takes a matter of seconds, and international laws came into affect after WWII or most did. China is also part of the United Nations, so they should know better. In 1949, there were a number of laws implemented against genocide, which includes a number of issues that the Chinese communist party has committed toward the Tibetan culture and people. The cultural revolution destroyed many temples and monasteries.

Child kidnapping is also a crime against the Tibetan people especially if that child is noticed as a future leader to the Tibetan people.

We are in a 21^st century world, and news is easily accessible than it was more than 50 years ago. Things have changed the Tibetan government, which fled Tibet to safety in India has also changed in the last 50 years. Its government is not the same feudal government; it is a more democratically elected government. The people of Tibet want their leader the Dalai Lama to return, and they want their own government to return.

The feudal Tibetan system is no longer, and even if the Tibetan government in exile where to return the old feudal system it wouldn’t be allowed because there are to many Tibetan refugees that are raised in a democratic system and would not allow that feudal system to return. To many complaints about the old system, yet the same people who complain about that feudal system make no mention of their own feudal system of slaves and force castration of slaves? Give me a break! The Tibetan government in exile is not a backwards government and the riots occurred because of deep seated resentments for 50 years of discrimination by another group of people that are not even similar in language or culture.

Lets not forget that the Chinese communist government also instigated the riots, and some PAP to help instigate those riots. The riots were initially a peaceful demonstration as it is every March 10 masquerading as Tibetans.

Got an e-mail from a reader this morning about a song they wrote and their thoughts about how music can impact world situations. Here is the message below and links to the bands site as well as a great video they put together for Tibet on YouTube.

My name is Dennis Holmgreen, and I’m the leadsinger, and thus representing, the Danish band: Shire.

We’ve been following the Free Tibet Campaign closely and came to the point where we felt that we had to contribute the best way we can. We write songs - so that was what we did. We are convinced that music can be a powerful tool to spread a message, and the Internet to spread that message worldwide. So we made a video to the song we wrote: “The Identity Beneath Every Tyranny”, and uploaded it to YouTube. The song and video are given away for free to everyone, so you may use it as you please.

Video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=oyCkCOMjeJk
Music: http://shire.dk/album_RB.html

From Irrawaddy

From AFP - IT is being left to Burma’s monks to help residents clear roads of fallen trees and other debris caused by killer tropical cyclone Nargis.

The gathering of cinnamon-robed monks was one of the largest groups seen in Burma’s main city since September when they led mass anti-government protests that were violently put down by security forces.

“We are now relying on monks to clear this road,” said one middle-aged woman who lived in the neighbourhood of western Rangoon.

“Of course we were hoping the authorities would come, but they haven’t shown up yet. These monks came after the storm to help the people to clear the streets and to remove the trees,” she said.

The streets of Rangoon are still strewn with hulking trees that were uprooted by the storm and thrown into cars and buildings. Chunks of roofs ripped off homes lie on the pavements, draped by downed power lines.

Witnesses have reported seeing few soldiers or police joining the relief effort after the weekend cyclone, which killed 22,000 and left 41,000 missing.

“We didn’t see any military at all, just police in armoured cars. On Saturday afternoon, we did see some vans, but most of the guys were standing around smoking,” said 32-year-old Pip Paton, who was travelling in Rangoon with her family when the cyclone struck.

“Military came out with big chainsaws in one or two areas, but mainly the locals were out chopping up trees themselves.”

After the crackdown in September, which the United Nations estimates left at least 31 dead, most monks in Rangoon fled the city.

An abbot leading the monks said monasteries in the city had also been damaged in the storm, but residents had ensured they still had enough to eat.

“People are in difficulty, but they are still making offerings to us. Although our monasteries were damaged, so far we have no difficulties for food yet because people are still offering,” he said.

Buddhist monks in Burma rely on donations from the public for their meals, in an act of alms-giving that earns spiritual “merit” for devotees.

I’ve been seriously slacking on the blog lately, and I’m sorry to those of you that come to view new articles, news, etc. Life has thrown me a curveball lately and I’m pretty lost right now. The only real comfort I have is when I’m home with my wife and kids. It seems like my creativity has wheened and it’s reflecting in many parts of my life, including work. As a graphic designer it’s important to have a mind that is fresh and full of ideas, in my case that’s not happening. I wish I could get to the core and figure this out but I can’t. I’d like to blame it on various things like the price of gas killing my wallet, the ever growing bills and other pains in life, but I can’t single one item out. Anyway, I won’t bore you to death with these things, just wanted to get a post up here to let you know what was going on and why the blog hasn’t been as frequently updated.

Hope you are all well and talk to you soon!

It’s day two in the 30 day campaign for Burma… and thus, here is video #2…

Yesterday I installed Google Analytics onto a site I designed/ maintain. I was wondering if you might drop by there. You don’t have to spend more than a second or two on the site, I just want to see if the Google Analytics picks up the hit. Please and thank you!

The site is http://buzzardsbayhabitat.org/

This is video 1 in a series of 30 (one hitting the web each day for 30 days). I got this from an e-mail sent by the US Campaign For Burma…

We are thrilled to announce that today, a video by actor Will Ferrell is kicking off a 30-day campaign to help the US Campaign for Burma build one million voices of support for human rights and democracy in Burma.

Every day for 30 days you will be able to tune into our website www.uscampaignforburma.org or www.burmaitcantwait.org (or YouTube, Myspace, and many more sites) to watch a new celebrity video about Burma. Instead of watching one single video with limited information, viewers will be able to learn a great deal about the people of Burma’s courageous struggle for human rights and democracy. Each video is different — some are deadly serious while others have a light touch. Most of these are meant to be different than a typical public service announcement — more like a short movie or skit.

The videos include many of the top actors in Hollywood and others in music, such as Jennifer Aniston, Woody Harrelson, Sylvester Stallone, Julie Benz, Eric Szmanda, Anjelica Huston, Ellen Page, Sheryl Crow, and more. Make sure you come back each day to find out who are all the celebrities helping us.

Since you already know about Burma, can you tell as many people as possible to watch the videos and join our effort? They are a fantastic tool to educate people and spur them to take action.

Every single video closes by encouraging viewers to join the US Campaign for Burma’s one-million person effort for Burma.

Why do we want one million people to sign up? Here is why: we are facing a military regime that has locked up the world’s only imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi, brutally cracked down against hundreds of thousands of peaceful monks and civilians, recruited more child soldiers than any other country in the world, and destroyed 3,200 ethnic villages — bordering on genocide. Yet, too few people have taken action to stop these abuses, and not enough have basic knowledge about Burma.

We have seen in history what happens when not enough people take action. Nelson Mandela was locked up in near-obscurity for nearly two decades before millions of people rallied to the cause of freedom for South Africa. We shouldn’t wait that long to build a strong effort for Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi has called on us to help, saying “Please, use your liberty to promote ours.” Just as millions of people — including celebrities — came together to help free Nelson Mandela and South Africa in the 1980s — we are asking for your help now.

Tell your friends about these videos, watch them on one of dozens of sites on the internet, including our website www.uscampaignforburma.org or at www.burmaitcantwait.org. Then, encourage them to sign up to be one of the million. After they sign up, they will receive timely alerts from us asking them to email people in the US Congress or United Nations, host film screenings, and consider organizing events for human rights in Burma. Working together, we can be a powerful force for change.

As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Supporting human rights does matter, and together we will do our part to help Aung San Suu Kyi and the people of Burma. It can’t wait.

Sincerely,

Aung Din, Jeremy Woodrum, Jennifer Quigley, Thelma Young

Sorry that there hasn’t been much new here for a while. The past couple weeks have been rather hectic and finding extra curricular time is virtually impossible.

Will bounce back soon though.