Free Tibet

vintage-music-romance: omg i’m gonna cry.

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:39:22 -0400

vintage-music-romance:

omg i’m gonna cry.

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Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:19:43 -0400

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Wed, 09 Jan 2013 20:07:46 -0500

I can't stand when Christian people say they believe in karma, that's a part of the Buddhist religion, not yours.

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 02:16:34 -0400

Try not to think about it that way, are religion is for everybody. They can take anything that will bring them happiness.

China Forbids International Tourism to Tibet Indefinitely

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 17:44:55 -0400

Audrey Wozniak and Gloria Riviera report:

BEIJING - In a matter of days, the number of expected foreign visitors to Tibet has gone from millions to zero.

Chinese authorities alerted foreign travel agencies Tuesday that they would no longer be issuing entry permits to Tibet, the latest in a series of regulations being put on travelers to Tibet. The announcement follows the self-immolation of two Tibetans last week.

Tibet is no stranger to Chinese interference in its tourism industry. Tibet’s failed rebellion in March 1959 and the event’s annual memorial on National Uprising Day has chronically put the region at odds with the People’s Republic of China. In 2008, protests after National Uprising Day turned into riots that were met with violence by PRC forces. The Chinese government temporarily closed Tibet to foreign visitors. That is a now-annual practice in March, and during other national events significant to the Chinese government.

Now, many are saying that the latest in a string of Tibetan self-immolations led to the country’s shutdown to outsiders. According to Free Tibet, a campaign promoting Tibetan independence from China, there have been more than 30 self-immolations since March 2011. Most recently, on May 27, 2012 two Tibetans were the first to set themselves on fire in Lhasa, Tibet’s tightly-controlled administrative capital. The shutdown also coincides with the Saga Dawa festival, which celebrates the Buddha’s birth and draws many Buddhists to Tibet. This year, the festival began on June 4, which is also the anniversary of the Chinese government crackdown on the Tiananmen Square protests.

While many tourism agencies have learned to adapt and predict the trends on tourism bans, this closure comes as something of a shock. According to Nellie Connelly, marketing director of WildChina, a prominent travel company that regularly coordinates trips to Tibet, Chinese authorities informed the company in mid-May that travelers would only be allowed to visit Tibet in groups of five people of the same nationality. Last week, the government stopped issuing entry permits to Tibet altogether. Connelly is in the process of rerouting customers whose Tibetan vacations are affected by the new ban. Only those Chinese nationals are allowed to enter the region.

“Tibet is a bucket-list destination for many people,” she says.

Last year, WildChina sent approximately 100 travelers to Tibet. This week, the company had to turn down approximately 10 inquiries about travel to Tibet. Four other WildChina trips are being re-routed, and five more are on indefinite hold.

The loss of income for Tibetan communities is significant. Tibet received 21.25 million domestic and foreign tourists in between 2006 and 2010, generating $3.58 billion in income for the country. Tourism is a staple of the region’s economy. Tibet set a goal to increase tourism revenue between 2011 and 2015 to more than 20 percent of its gross domestic product.

The Chinese government’s recent actions will make reaching 2012 targets difficult.

Returning Buddha’s teachings: Over a thousand Indians attend the Dalai Lama's teachings

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 15:38:30 -0400

Over a thousand Indians are attending an Introductory Teaching on Buddhism by His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the request of Indian Buddhists in Dharamshala, June 7, 2012. (Phayul photo/Norbu Wangyal)

DHARAMSHALA, June 7: Around six thousands devotees including Indians, foreigners and Tibetans today attended the three-day Introductory Buddhist Teachings by the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Tsug-la Khang, the main temple in Dharamshala.

The teachings have been specially requested by Indian Buddhists.

Over one thousand Indians from the Himalayan region and other parts of India are attending the teachings. In the course of the teachings His Holiness will teach on Kamalashila’s The Middling Stages of Meditation (gomrim barpa).

Speaking at the beginning of the teachings, the 76-year old Tibetan leader expressed his happiness with the opportunity to teach Indian Buddhists. The Dalai Lama said he felt as if he was “safely returning” the teachings of Lord Buddha back to Indians, the first practitioners of Buddhism, after preserving it for the last thousand years.

“We respect you (Indians) not only because you are our seniors (as Lord Buddha’s disciples) but also because Lord Buddha was from India,” the Tibetan spiritual leader said. “Today, I feel great being amongst you.”

Devotees from rural India to overseas Indians, from college students to Professors are attending the teachings according to the organisers.

A Buddhist philosophical debate has also been scheduled later in the afternoon in the presence of Buddhist scholars including former Kalon Tripa Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche.

Speaking through a translator in Hindi, the Dalai Lama urged his disciples to have faith in Buddhism through the proper understanding of the teachings of Lord Buddha and to apply those teachings to one’s day to day life.

“Believing in religion without the deeper realisation of the true teachings is not strong enough to stop you from being selfish and doing harmful things to others,” His Holiness said. “It is important to have strong faith by understanding the real meaning of the teachings of Lord Buddha.”

Before breaking for the day, the Dalai Lama said that he will reserve some time for question-answer session on the last day of teachings on Thursday, June 9.

Free Tibet: “It is better to kill myself than be arrested by the Chinese”

Thu, 10 May 2012 15:31:37 -0400

Free Tibet: “It is better to kill myself than be arrested by the Chinese”:

freetibetorg:

10 May 2012

Tibetan chooses suicide over Chinese prison

It has been revealed today that Gonpo Rigzin, a 25-year-old Tibetan man, has stabbed himself to death rather than face the torturous and harrowing realities of the Chinese prison system.

The 25-year-old stabbed himself repeatedly…

freetibetorg: China gives free gyms to Tibetan monasteries In...

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 11:31:56 -0400

freetibetorg:

China gives free gyms to Tibetan monasteries

In late March, Chinese authorities announced they have given Tibetan monks the gift of health and fitness by sending gym equipment to 20 Tibetan monasteries.

Each monastery will receive a full set of 14 pieces of equipment, including a treadmill, an elliptical trainer and a rowing machine. This is especially exciting to the many monks in centuries-old monasteries which are still housed in mud-and-brick buildings in the Himalayans.

According to Chinese sports experts, the monks’ traditional exercise regime that comes with their Buddhist practices is not enough to keep them in shape.

“We want to improve the exercise conditions in the monasteries in order to enrich the cultural and athletic life of monks and nuns,” said Yang Zhanqi, deputy head of the regional sports bureau.

The modern gym equipment provides the monks the opportunity to target specific muscle groups, a luxury they didn’t have before.

Do the Chinese seriously think that some rowing machines and a few treadmills will make up for 50 years of violence and oppression against Tibetans including shootings , torture , detentions and much more?

To read more about the current situation in Tibet and recent protests visit our Tibet Rising pages.

Free Tibet: London Book Fair complying with Chinese oppression

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:13:37 -0400

Free Tibet: London Book Fair complying with Chinese oppression:

freetibetorg:

Various human rights and Tibet groups respond to the London Book Fair’s decision on the gaurdian:

It is extremely disappointing to learn that the organisers of the London Book Fair and the British Council have apparently acquiesced to pressure from the Chinese authorities and…

Rebkong self-immolations and protests

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:19:44 -0400

Rebkong self-immolations and protests:

freetibetorg:

Photos from events in Rebkong this week. WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES. Some people may find some of the content of this album distressing.

freetibetorg: Obama ‘speaks’ on Tibet

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 14:19:13 -0500

freetibetorg:

Obama ‘speaks’ on Tibet

Free Tibet: Have fun... or else!

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:01:44 -0500

Free Tibet: Have fun... or else!:

freetibetorg:

2 March 2012

Tibetans forced to celebrate Losar

February 22 marked the beginning of Losar, the Tibetan New Year.

Many Tibetans decided not to partake in the traditional New Year celebrations in honour of those who have self-immolated or been killed in protest in Tibet over the…

Hypocrisy Dominates Day Four Of The CSW56

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 11:15:29 -0500

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Wed, 29 Feb 2012 21:27:59 -0500

LiveLeak.com - jailed in a zoo and forced to eat a flag.

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 22:24:36 -0500

LiveLeak.com - jailed in a zoo and forced to eat a flag.

The Dalai Lama addresses conference of medical professionals

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:48:56 -0500

His Holiness the Dalai Lama attending the 39th Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine conference held at the Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College near his exile hometown of Dharamshala on February 28, 2012. (Phayul Photo/Norbu Wangyal)

DHARAMSHALA, February 28: His Holiness the Dalai Lama presided over the Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine conference at the Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College near his exile hometown of Dharamshala earlier today.

“This is the first time that IAPSM conference is being held in the state of Himachal Pradesh, and we feel blessed with the presence of the Dalai Lama,” Anil Chauhan, principal of the medical college said in his welcome speech.

Founded in 1974, IAPSM is a non-profit professional organisation of medical specialists dedicated to the promotion of public health and advocates education, research, and programs of community medicine.

Addressing the gathering of over 300 doctors from 24 states in India and Nepal, the Tibetan spiritual leader urged the doctors to work not just for salary but with “care, compassion, and sense of concern” for the patients.

“Don’t be like machines,” the Dalai Lama said. “Treat patients with care and warm heartedness. Love is important.”

Touching upon the “corruption epidemic” plaguing the world, the Nobel Peace Laureate remarked that in a deeply religious country like India, there should be no space for corruption and violence.

“No religious tradition preaches violence, hatred, cheating and corruption,” the Dalai Lama said. “If we adhere to religious tradition, there is no space for corruption and violence.”

(Phayul Photo/Norbu Wangyal)

The three-day annual national conference of the IAPSM being held at the Sobha Singh Auditorium of Dr. Rajindea Prashad Government Medical college, Tanda in Kangra district was inaugurated by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal yesterday.

While speaking to Phayul, principal of the college said the focus of the conference was on understanding emerging trends in disease pattern globally and its implications to local conditions.

“This conference which is the 39th in the series, is very important because the conference will not only discuss the health problems in the rural areas but also try to provide solutions to the problems,” the principal said.

Rajendra Prasad Medical College, named after independent India’s first president, provides scholarship to two Tibetan students to study medicine every year.

Kalon Dr Tsering Wangchuk of the Health Department, Central Tibetan Administration and Tibetan Chief Medical Officer Dr Tseten Sadutshang were also in attendance at the conference.

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Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:46:55 -0500

Day Five For The TYC Three Hunger-Strikers

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:37:19 -0500

Day five arrives for the TYC Three Hunger-Strikers encamped outside the United Nations building in New York. Denied shelter by the NYPD, who ordered the removal of protective awnings that shielded the Tibetan activists from the chill winds that blow in from the waters of East side of Manhattan, they remain determined to continue their sacrifices for Tibet’s national freedom and to present a powerful reminder, to the calloused Diplomats at the UN, of the suffering endured by Tibet’s people under foriegn occupation. If you are in the area go show some support to these inspiring Tibetans, if you are reading this from the comfort of your home kindly help by sharing this post on Twitter, Facebook or post on your Blog or Site.Thank you.

catlee33: My Tibetan friend posted this on facebook, and I...

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 16:14:05 -0500

catlee33:

My Tibetan friend posted this on facebook, and I wanted to share it as well to bring awareness to the injustice that Tibetans have to face every day. It breaks my heart that they have to go through this, and it breaks my heart even more that their protests aren’t bringing about change. Rather, the Chinese government wants to hide what is happening there.

ramjung: Stop killing in Tibet!!! Free Tibet!!!!

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 08:06:06 -0500

ramjung:

Stop killing in Tibet!!!
Free Tibet!!!!