China is oppressively successful at keeping a lot of this out of the news:


Tibetan men in 'first self-immolations in Lhasa'

... It is hard for China convince the world that its rule in Tibet is benign when people carry out such desperate acts as these on the streets of the Tibetan capital.


Detentions reported in Tibet capital after immolations

Reports from Tibet say Chinese security forces have launched a wave of detentions in Lhasa following two self-immolations there on Sunday.

Witnesses to the immolations had been arrested and Tibetans from outside Lhasa sent home, the reports said.

The two Tibetan men set themselves on fire outside the Jokhang temple in an apparent anti-China protest.

There have been several such incidents in Tibetan areas outside Tibet but these were the first in Lhasa. ...


And that is just a recent example... And so it continues? Meanwhile, the world merely watches as Tibetan culture and Tibetans themselves are destroyed...


All in our one world,
Martin

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Something that the Chinese figureheads and leaders could never do, and something that the Nobel Peace Prize honoured His Holiness the Dalai Lama cannot do in Tibet or China:


Russell Brand comperes for Dalai Lama in Manchester

Comedian Russell Brand has fulfilled his role as an unlikely compere for the Dalai Lama in Manchester, as part of the Tibetan spiritual leader's UK tour.

Brand introduced the Dalai Lama's address entitled Century Of Dialogue - Stand Up and Be the Change.

The Dalai Lama's tour aims to spread the 76-year-old Buddhist's teachings of peace and understanding to youngsters.

Brand told the audience he had just met the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate for the first time and found him "amazing". ...

Brand described the Dalai Lama as "intense and sort of mellow, which is what you expect of someone who meditates five times a day".

He then said: "Going from junkie to Shagger of the Year...three times... to now introducing the Dalai Lama. It has been an interesting journey."

The Dalai Lama described Brand's introduction as "completely informal", and Brand responded: "Did you pick up any spiritual tips?"

The Dalai Lama replied: "I think your openness transfers wonderfully." ...



There should always be hope.

All in our one world,
Martin

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Why is the interest of the press only for that of 'controversy' or worse?...


Dalai Lama's visit to Scotland sparks controversy

... The Dalai Lama arrived in Edinburgh on Thursday afternoon as part of his Scottish visit, before holding a private viewing of archive material about Tibet during a visit to the National Library of Scotland on Friday.

He will then hold a talk at the city's Usher Hall with the theme "Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World".

On Friday afternoon the spiritual leader will give the Margaret Harris Lecture on Religion at Dundee's Caird Hall, and on Saturday he will visit Inverness - where he will speak at Eden Court Theatre on the theme "Be the change".

The Dalai Lama, one of the world's most revered leaders, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 and was awarded the £1.1m Templeton Prize last month at St Paul's Cathedral in London for his engagement with science and people beyond his religious traditions.

He has lived in exile in Dharamsala in northern India since 1959.

He passed the political leadership of exiled Tibetans on to an elected prime minister last year but remains the spiritual leader of the Tibetan community.



There should always be hope.

All in our one world,
Martin

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It's a sad state of affairs.

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It's a sad state of affairs.

And yet for such an inspirational man, and for such an enlightened movement spanning a culturally rich history:


The Dalai Lama visits Hampshire

As part of his eight-day visit to the UK, the Dalai Lama ventured to Aldershot in Hampshire, just a few minutes down the road from the Explore office. Explore staff Michelle Bird, Louise Ponting, Hannah Methven and Jude Berry took the opportunity to go and hear him speak on issues such as peace and universal responsibility.

"It’s not every day that the Dalai Lama is speaking just ten minutes away from the office, so when we heard that he would be, we knew we really wanted to be there. ...


For anyone who has met him, you cannot help but be very positively impressed.

All our only world,
Martin

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Unfortunately, Tibet is considered part of China by governments all around the world. This is quite a bewildering circumstance in my eyes. If the leader of a country flees during an invasion and sets up a government in exile, how can the rest of the world just take the invading country's word for it? China invaded without provocation and took over Tibet. The Tibetan Government in exile should be recognized as the correct form, and negate all claims China imposes on Tibet.

Furthermore, it saddens me that the SETI@home project *still* does not allow Tibet to be a country of origin to be chosen by members. The internet (although severely limited by the Chinese) has made it's way to certain areas allowed by the Chinese.

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Sadly. more in what little news occasionally manages to sneak out:


Two Tibetan teenagers die in self-immolations

... Lobsang Kalsang, an 18-year-old monk, and Damchoek, a 17-year-old former monk, set themselves on fire on Monday morning, London-based Free Tibet said. ...

... The BBC is unable to verify this figure. Foreign media are banned from the region, making reports hard to confirm. Chinese state media have confirmed some of the self-immolations but not all. ...

... The young men were shouting slogans against Chinese rule and policies in Tibet as their bodies burned, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported, citing witnesses.

"Witnesses saw them run about 20 steps with their bodies on fire, and then they fell to the ground,"...

... the self-immolations are protests against tight Chinese control of the region and religious repression.



The continued end of Tibetans and Tibetan culture in Tibet?

All our only world,
Martin

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There isn't much attention being paid to these acts of protest by other countries, and that is just unfortunate. The whole goal is to bring awareness to the problem, but other nations choose to act blind to it all. Unfortunate.

- samten

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Optimistic view of new leadership of China in regards to the Tibet issue by His Holiness the Dalai Lama

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Optimistic view of new leadership of China in regards to the Tibet issue by His Holiness the Dalai Lama

... The Nobel peace laureate said there had been a stream of visitors to Dharamsala from China, among them people who told him they had connections with senior Communist Party leaders.

"We don't know who is who ... everything is a state secret, so it is difficult to say," he said, but added that some officials in China now appeared to agree with intellectuals that a new approach to Tibet is needed.

"These are very, very encouraging signs," he said.

"No formal talks, but there are sort of signs among the Chinese officials or top leaders." ...


That is all still a very brutal turgid and political 'game' by the controlling Chinese. Yet... Here is to good hope for a more peaceful, cooperative and realistic new Chinese leader soon coming to power over the intransigent 'old guard'...


All on our only world,
Martin

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This has been a subject close to my heart for years. If I could shake two hands, it would be the Dalai Lama and Richard Gere.

There is always HOPE.

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Pluto will always be a planet to me.

Seti Ambassador
Not to late to order an Anni Shirt

The pain is unbearable. I fear the solution will take far too long.

Two cousins self-immolate August 27th The story goes on to quote some who explain why these acts of protest have not triggered world-wide shock and awe, thus leading to pressure on China to impose changes in the Tibet Region.


Does China's next leader have a soft spot for Tibet? An article that explains His Holiness the Dalai Lama's thinking that the new leadership of China may be more open to changing its policies on the Tibet issue.[/url]

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China building a theme park outside Tibet's capital

Just outside Tibet’s capital, Lhasa, the Chinese government is building a $4.7 billion theme park that critics describe as a fairy tale universe that trivializes Tibetan culture and glosses over the nation’s troubles.

[Stephanie Brigden, director of the London-based Free Tibet campaign] said the park’s theme, intended to showcase harmony between China and Tibet, is insulting when so many Tibetans “have felt that their only recourse is to set themselves on fire, underlying that it’s far from a harmonious situation.”

Oh China, stop trying to gloss over an important situation as per usual and actually look at what you're doing. It's hard to believe they'd be doing this especially when China is always worried about the opinions of outsiders...this little step sure doesn't make China look good, that's for sure.

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More sad news as the cultural genocide continues:


Four Tibetans set themselves on fire

At least four people set themselves on fire in ethnic Tibetan parts of China on Wednesday...

... More than 60 Tibetans have set themselves on fire since early 2011, in what rights group say are acts of protest against Beijing's rule...

... a "cry for help"...



Might there be long overdue relaxed change from the new Chinese leadership?

All on our only planet,
Martin

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US hints at joint engagement with EU over Tibet

DHARAMSHALA, December 13: In what could be seen as a further push for establishing an international mechanism on the crisis in Tibet, US cited Tibet as an area where the EU and US can partner on “common strategic engagement.”[...]

This is a hopeful step in the correct direction if true

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Sadly, the arrogant hardline imperialist Chinese clampdown continues under the new leadership:


Tibetan monks lose their TVs as China's censors raid monasteries

... An article from the state-run Qinghai news agency spotted by Reuters claimed that the local government in Tibetan-dominated Huangnan prefecture, Qinghai province, took the drastic measures in a bid to stop the flurry of self-immolations that have occurred this year.

It said 81 Tibetans had set themselves ablaze to protest Chinese rule in the past 12 months, including five in Huangnan province.

"At this critical moment for maintaining social stability in Huangnan prefecture ... (we must) strengthen measures and fully fight the special battle against self-immolations," the article claimed, according to Reuters.

It said these measures include “guiding public opinion on the Dalai issue” and “blocking outside harmful information”.

Tibetans in rural areas have apparently been singled out by the Chinese authorities for using satellite TV to tune into anti-Chinese programmes from outside the country.

The local government is set ... to install 50 new transmitters to improve the broadcast coverage for the prefecture’s state-owned TV channels...



All on our only one planet,
Martin

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Sadly, the arrogant hardline imperialist Chinese clampdown continues...

Tibetans guilty of murder for 'inciting immolations'

A Tibetan monk has received a suspended death sentence and his nephew 10 years in jail...

... Tibetan activists had said the men were forced to confess to the charges.

Nearly 100 Tibetans have set themselves on fire since 2009, many fatally, in apparent protest at Chinese rule.

Most of the self-immolations have taken place in ethnic Tibetan areas outside Tibet. ...

... The sentences are believed to be the first since a legal ruling stipulating that anyone aiding immolations would be charged with murder.

Activist groups and the Tibetan government-in-exile say the self-immolations are protests against tight Chinese control of the region and religious repression.

But Beijing says Tibet as a region is getting wealthier and that Tibetans have [Chinese] religious freedom [and the native Tibetans are getting poorer and displaced].

China's leaders blame the Dalai Lama for inciting the self-immolations and encouraging Tibetan separatism, a charge he strongly rejects.



All on our only one planet,
Martin

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China denies Canadian envoy permission to visit Tibet

What the world can't see must not actually exist! Shame shame, China.

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the sad thing is that this will continue until oil or gold or some other

commodity is found making worthwhile for the rest of the world to take action.

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