Here are the true sources who are credible to speak about the situations in Tibet. Tibetans.. fresh out of Tibet occupied by the People’s Republic of China.
Though China may have power over the country Tibet itself, they will never have power over the Tibetans because We will never give up… We are the survivors of Tibet!
Hey Wangmo. I was bored at work and decided to dedicate a poem to you. Here it is. Each line begins with the letters of your name. I hope u enjoy it.
Take care
Whoever shall cross your path in life,
Altruistic deeds of yours shall be sung in hymns,
Nobility and humbleness have been distilled and imbued in you,
Gifted you are with the eloquence and intellect of an enlightened philosopher,
May the future womankind be a mirror of your image,
Or at least have a molecule of your characters and wisdom
You are Wangmo
Tashi Delek all,
I am currently looking to interview few of the Tibetan youths currently residing in the United States for an article concerning the Tibetan Youth in exile.
Please complete the survey below if you fit the following description:
– A Tibetan youth in the age range of (18-29) who currently lives in the United States
Please do not make this into a joke, I do not have time for jokers, I take this seriously so please respect my work.
Thank you or Thuchi Che
I was born into Tibetan Buddhism and transitioned to atheism and finally to agnosticism.
By definition, an agnostic is not committed to believing in or disbelieving in the existence of God.
My mother is a devoted Tibetan Buddhist. She prays every morning and every night.
I’ve seen her become scared of her dreams and then pray and give offerings at our alter. She sleeps peacefully the next night, believing the gods have been thanked.
I don’t know how much of what my mother believes is actually true, but it’s the ultimate truth for her. Although I don’t believe the gods helped her, I envy her good night’s rest, and for that I do thank religion.
I respect all religions in the world if they benefit people in the way Tibetan Buddhism does my mother.
We used to constantly have arguments about religion, and it always ended up a disaster. My mother supported her beliefs through what she has been taught orally and traditionally and I constantly questioned and asked for facts. My goal was not to prove her wrong necessarily, but to have her question her sources.
Having lived in the West for 70 percent of my life, I have learned to question before accepting. But the topic has become so controversial in my family, my mother has restricted talks of religion at the dinner table.
We have finally come to an agreement that we will respect each other’s views and not go any further than that.
Though I do not believe in half the prayers and rituals that are done in my home on certain days, I participate so that I may please my mother and, in return, see the truth in her perspective from what she has been taught.
After all, the Buddha has been quoted as saying: “Believe nothing just because a so-called wise person said it.
“Believe nothing just because a belief is generally held. Believe nothing just because it is said in ancient books.
“Believe nothing just because it is said to be of divine origin. Believe nothing just because someone else believes it.
“Believe only what you yourself test and judge to be true.”
I am not one for blind faith. I believe in rationality, and I believe you must absolutely question something at least once before you claim it to be the absolute truth.
e Tibetan New Year (Losar) and instead led a ‘Peace March’ on the memorable Golden Gate Bridge followed by a protest at the Chinese Consulate and a candle light vigil in Union Square in San Francisco.
“China has flooded Tibet with troops and barred all foreigners, actions clearly meant to intimidate and suppress any further expressions of dissent during the New Year and in the lead up to March 10, which will mark 50 years of Tibetan resistance to Chinese occupation,” said Dechen Tsering, president of the Tibetan Association of Northern California. “We fear Chinese authorities are preparing for a renewed assault against Tibetans who dare to speak out for their basic rights.”
According to S.F Team Tibet, the ‘Peace March’ was held to stand in solidarity with the Tibetans inside Tibet in their determination to mourn the millions of Tibetan deaths caused under the brutal Chinese military forces in the past 50 years, with the hundreds that died during the daring Tibetan Uprising of last year during the Olympics.
Tsering Khankyi of San Francisco Tibetan Youth Congress said “The Chinese government through their state media claims that this year’s ‘No Losar’ campaign is something planned by HH the Dalai Lama and his government in exile. But, let me make this clear to everyone here that it is the people of Tibet who have spontaneously stood up in defiance and mourning to not celebrate this year’s Losar, and we are here standing in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Tibet.”
The New York Times reported that last year’s March 10th marked one of the largest Tibetan uprisings carried by Tibetan monks, nuns and laymen who took over the streets of Lhasa with what started as a peaceful protest to express distress over the ‘the domination of the region by the ethnic Han Chinese’ forcing Tibetans to be minorities in their own land, but ended in violence due to the malicious actions of the Chinese military.
Government leaders across the world expressed concerns over China’s violent response to the protest leading many campaigns calling on their governments and leaders to take further action with almost 200 Tibet organizations signing letters to world leaders.
Yesterday the U.S released its annual report on human rights signed by Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State, stating that Beijing’s rights record “remained poor and worsened in some areas”.
Giovanni Vassallo, President of the Bay Area Friends of Tibet says “Security in Tibet remains high following last year’s protests and, with another March 10th fast approaching, China has instituted new measures to intimidate Tibetans and denigrate their cultural and religious identity”.
The Economist reported today that China has blocked Tibet to foreigners until late March.
SF TEAM TIBET is a coalition of five different organizations working towards one goal; human rights in Tibet!
By Tenzin Shakya
Published: Thursday, October 23, 2008 on the DVC Inquirer
For the third time in four years, voters will decide whether parental notification should be required before a pregnant minor can have an abortion.
DVC student Chemi Subhar, 21, says she plans to vote in favor of Proposition 4, even though she believes in a woman’s right to have an abortion. “However, of you are a minor,” Subhar said, “your parents should be notified because abortion is a huge issue that should be talked about with your family.”
But Misty Sales, a senior vice president with Planned Parenthood of Shasta Diablo, said studies show that most teens do go to their parents before seeking an abortion.
“But some don’t because they are afraid to involve their parents for whatever reason,” Sales said. “Those are the vulnerable girls that are going to be hurt by Proposition 4.” If approved by voters, a pregnant minor who did not want her parents notified would have two options: 1) go to court and convince a judge to issue a waiver; or 2) have an adult family member write a statement that, “she fears physical, sexual, or severe emotional abuse from [her parent…and her fear is based on pattern of physical, sexual, or severe emotional abuse exhibited by a parent.” Exceptions would be made for medical emergencies.
In 2005, Proposition 73, which also required parental notification for minors seeking an abortion, failed with 47.3 percent of Californians voting yes and 53.7 percent voting no. In 2006, the same ballot initiative showed up again as Proposition 85 and failed once again by nearly the same percentage. This time around, proponents wrote into Proposition 4 that a minor could bypass the parental notification process by going before a judge, to receive a waiver and have a choice to contact another adult family member if not the parents.
On Sept. 26, 2008 a Field poll of San Francisco released statistics stating that 49 percent of likely voters intended to vote yes, with 41 percent voting no and 10 percent undecided. Proposition 4 is backed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, state Sen. Tom McClintock of Thousand Oaks, former Assemblywoman Varbara Alby of Sacramento and half a dozen state legislators from Sothern California.
Opponents of Proposition 4 include Planned Parenthood and affiliates, California Association of School Counselors, California Federation of Teachers as well as the mayors of Berkeley, Pleasanton, San Leandro and San Francisco.
Paul Laubacher, an ICU nurse in Sacramento and a volunteer with “YesOn4” said, “All other surgeries on minors require parental notification under the public health care policy.”
The father of two daughters, Laubacher said parents need to be notified so they have a heads-up on their minor daughters’ lives. Proponents also say it is needed to protect minor females from being coerced by older “predators” into getting an abortion to cover up statutory rape.
Marcy reed, 22, a Contra Costa College District student (who did not want her real name used), said she supports Proposition 4, because she had an abortion at age 17 without her parents’ knowledge. Only after the abortion did she learn she had been carrying twins.
“That was information that should have been given to me before, or not at all, Reed said.”I strongly believe that if the notification law had been applied to me before, my parents could have helped me deal with it.” But Amy Laungrath, 22, a DVC student, said the government should not have any say in the right to a teen’s privacy. “It’s your body and you have a God given right to your body’s privacy,” Luangrath said. “The constitution at the moment supports my belief.”
Opponents also argue it could lead to minors seeking out more harmful measure to end the pregnancy, including an illegal abortion. They also emphasize that the required notification could put a pregnant minor at even a greater risk, if she is already facing parental abuse at home.
Scott MacDougall, who teaches political science at DVC, said, “If voting no on Proposition 4 opposes the government having a say in family matters, then I’m voting no.”
MacDougal said he would hope his daughter would come to him in such a situation.
Published: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 on the Inquirer
During World War II, American men left for the battlefields, and women had to take care of home. But this was not just the typical cooking and cleaning.
For the first time in U.S. history, women began taking jobs previously held by men in shipyards and factories. This is where the story of the musical, “Rivets,” comes alive.
Written by Kathryn G. McCarty, with music by Mitchell Covington,
“Rivets” is directed by Clay David of Contra Costa College and includes performances by several DVC students. The play is performed on the SS Red Oak, an original Victory ship, built during World War II and now parked at the Kaiser Richmond Shipyard.
To board, the audience must walk up a heavy metal plank punched with holes and then navigate up a narrow stairway.
The play opens with the cast singing, “Another Day,” relating to the daily chores and hardships the workers – women, blacks and Hispanics – faced in the Richmond Kaiser Shipyards.
DVC student Daniel Rogers, 19, plays “hopeful Henry,” a blind musician in love with “Biddie,” an African American singer.
Rogers said he jumped at the opportunity to play the part.
“This is the third run of the performance, and still I have not had enough,” he said. Kady Brown, 21, plays the role of Irene, a notoriously beautiful girl who receives many love letters from the men at war.
“With ‘Rivets’, it is especially stressful because the scenes flow right into each other, and there’s hardly a time when you’re not onstage,” Brown said. Other DVC students include Clayton Shore.
“This is the story of our parents, our grandparents,” said McCarty. “It’s an important part of history that should not be forgotten.”
McCarty said she researched the history for 10 years prior to writing the play.
At the end of a recent performance, the director announced that two of the original “Rosie the Riveters” who worked on the ship were in the audience. They received a loud round of applause.
“Rivets” will be performed on the SS Red Oak until Oct. 26. Call 925-676-5705 to get tickets. Cost is $20 for general admission; $15 for students.
By Tenzin Shakya
September 25, 2008 (The Inquirer)
I am a Tibetan, born in Nepal and raised in India until age 8, when I came to the United States.
Mine is a typical journey for this second generation of Tibetan “refugees,” who fight against being extinct in the modern world.
Our parents fled from their homeland to become refugees in neighboring countries to save their families’ lives and provide better education for their children.
When people ask me why Tibet should be free, I answer by saying, “Because everyone has the right to basic freedom.” 
We try our best to preserve our ancestral culture and beliefs by telling anyone who will listen, about the situation in Tibet.
Located in the central Himalayan, Tibet is also known to many as “Shangrila” meaning “utopian peace.” I have never been there myself but it is a priority after finishing my studies.
Growing up in America was difficult but surely not impossible. I spoke four languages – Tibetan, Nepali, Hindi and English -and managed to blend in with the rest in elementary and middle school, never really questioning who I was.
But that changed my first year of high school.
I was filling out a form online, when I noticed there was no selection for “Tibetan” under “ethnicity”
Clicking on the word “Asian,” I was led to a list of everything from “Indian” to “Chinese” and even “Taiwanese.”
I hit the box for “other” and typed in “Tibetan,” thinking how America is one of the top countries in the world, and yet there is no room on a form to acknowledge my identity.
Since then, I have felt the need to specify my ethnicity as Tibetan. Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) once said, “Knowledge is power.” And I believe knowledge is gained through education.
China claims Tibet to be a part of China. Yet Tibetans are forced to be minorities in their own land and lack many economic and educational resources needed to survive.
The Chinese government repeatedly states its invasion benefited Tibet by bringing it into the modern world. How it is possible then that the educational index for Tibet ranks last against China’s other 31 provinces? And why must the youth of Tibet learn to speak Chinese in order to go to school? Many of them fail to do so and drop out after the fifth grade.
Due to this lack of educational opportunities, young Tibetans escape every year across the treacherous Himalayas to join the Tibetan exile community in India. And from there, they try to further their education by coming to the west. Thus, the cycle of my story starts all over again.
The Tibetan Association of Northern California estimates the population of Tibetans here is at about 3,500.
But we were invisible until the controversy surrounding the decision to hold the 2008 Olympic Games in China. Now, just about everyone knows of the “Free Tibet” movement.
When people ask me why Tibet should be free, I answer by saying, “Because everyone has the right to basic freedom.”
I am pro Tibetan independence, but more along the lines of “Tibetan freedom.” I also favor “Chinese freedom” and “African freedom.” It is a matter of focusing on the basic principles of human rights.
People deserve the right to make choices for themselves regarding their lives – to speak when they have ideas to share and to practice the religion in which they believe.
The way to participate in a “modern.” civilized society is by making dialogues a necessity. Government’s primary role should be to protect the rights of its citizens, not restrict them.
Published: Thursday, September 11, 2008 at the DVC Inquirer
The arson fire that destroyed DVC’s Police Services building June 23 took years of memories from the officers who called it their “work home.” Lt. Tom Sharp, who supervises police services at DVC, called the fire “a work of true, active cowardliness.” The fire destroyed plaques and certificates that were hung on the walls to commemorate the department’s work over the years. Chief Charles Gibson lost photographs of himself with celebrities he’d met during his 32 years of police work, including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Shaquille O’Neil.
“People usually think we are made of stone just because we’re cops,” Gibson said. “We’re just like everyone else.” Dispatcher Adam Ruiz, 22, said, “It was shocking to see this happen to us. Many of us had to pull extra hours to get the place running again.” In addition to uniforms, officers lost personal belongings, some of them irreplaceable. Dispatcher Rhonda Mims lost not only her clothes and badges but the only picture she had of her late mother. “No one will ever be able to replace that picture or the meaning it had for me” she said. A high point in the midst of the devastation was how the community showed its support, Sharp said.
Instructors, students and others brought food plates and drinks, while officers and the buildings and grounds crew converged at the scene to temporarily relocate the office. “Usually, just about everybody thinks of cops as the bad guys,” Sharp said. “But, it was a different feeling to have [people] show support in such gestures of simple kindness.”
Tenzin Shakya 