Tibet: Faith in Exile

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"In many ways the country that has benefited most from 9-11 is China. The attacks on New York and Washington had an enormous, positive effect for it. They moved the country off Washington's enemies list." -- Fareed Zakaria, Newsweek

September 11th was a tragedy for the American people, but it was a boon for totalitarian regimes around the world. In the pursuit of its so-called "war on terror," the United States has forged military alliances and inked trade deals with some of the world's most repressive regimes. On September 13, 2001 China was quietly admitted to the World Trade Organization, and given Most Favored Nation status by U.S., despite the fact the country is one of the world's worst human rights abusers.

With its economy booming, China has become desperate to exploit Tibet's vast mineral and fuel reserves -- and that has meant keeping a tight grip on any moves towards Tibetan autonomy. Arrests, torture and destruction of local culture continue despite the tireless work of Tibetan exiles and their high-profile western allies. Yet unlike an increasing number of indigenous liberation movements, Tibetans have not resorted to violence to achieve their goals.

Background

The Chinese have long claimed Tibet to be part of greater China. Shortly after the communists took power in 1950, 40,000 Chinese troops invaded Tibet, occupying the vast, arid land known for its rich history of Buddhism. Ten years later, Tibetans rose up and fought back. Tibetan exiles claim that 430,000 Tibetans died during the uprising and the subsequent fifteen years of guerrilla warfare. Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, fled to India, where he has lived ever since. According to Tibetan activists, 1.2 million Tibetans have been killed in the years since.

In exile, the Dalai Lama has led one of the world's most well-known non-violent resistance movements against a foreign occupier in history.

Yet despite the tireless work of pro-Tibetan activists around the world, the Chinese government continues maintain its tight grip on Tibetan, with no let up in sight.

As China's economy continues to rapidly expand, it desperately needs Tibet's vast natural resources. Estimates of deforestation vary, but many experts believe as much as half of Tibet's natural forest cover has been destroyed since the Chinese occupation. Rich in oil, China has been pumping Tibetan oil out of Tibet with little or no of the wealth flowing back into Tibet. China has even admitted to dumping nuclear waste on the Tibetan plateau.
Detentions, kidnappings, torture and the destruction of Tibetan Buddhist heritage continue to this day.

Faith in exile

Featuring activists, archival footage, and interviews with Tibetan and environmental activists, Faith in Exile offers a powerful lesson for troubled times. Faith in Exile features the dramatic story of Palden Gayatso, a Tibetan monk imprisoned and tortured for 35 years in a Chinese jail. His courage and spirit in the face of overwhelming cruelty is a lesson in how only love can overcome hate.

Credits

Directed by: Anthony Lappé

Produced by: Josh Shore

Edited by: Meghan Eckman

Channel: News & Politics
Uploaded: October 27, 2006 at 5:21 am
Author: ThichQuangDuc

Length: 00:08:04
Rating: 4.01
Views: 23361

Tags: GNN Tibet China

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Video Comments:
Shaboshaun (November 26, 2008 at 8:13 am)
It's like a medicine for my thinking and I think it's time to wake up all the Tibetans in the prison.
asilcotza (October 2, 2008 at 3:37 am)
have you already seen this unbelievable tibetan guitar player?
his name is tsering purtag, and i guess he's from switzerland. check out his live performance, keyword: purtag. he simply blew me away!
free tibet
SauLaan (September 14, 2008 at 1:46 am)
"[Tibet] is entirely closed & witnesses unimaginable things. In March 2008, 20,000 people disappeared with no trace during the upraising in Tibet. Individuals attempting to escape over the border are being shot like in a shooting-range.

We saw filmed material & photos taken out by refugees of Tibet. If a shown to a wider audience, all worldwide human rights institutions would unanimously respond to this crime against humanity."

--Vytautas Landsbergis
Lithuanian film-maker, 9/3/2008
nzgav (September 29, 2008 at 9:46 am)
"If the Chinese communists continue their crackdown and this leads to a worsening of the Tibet situation, I do not rule out boycotting the Beijing Olympics if I am elected president," he said. "The crackdown by force has been savage and foolish, and we condemn it severely and demand an immediate halt of it." --Ma Ying-Jeou
iamlumin (August 25, 2008 at 2:06 pm)
First of all. Who asked them to? We don't even want them in Tibet. Secondly, China has looted billions out of Tibet in gold, silver, lumber, minerals like borax, copper and uranium. Chinese government airbrushes people out of pictures, rewrites books and teaches lies to their citizens. China is in Tibet for the resources and the strategic military location. The water rights and the land and space itself are a big necessity to the Chinese as well.
funambularist (August 10, 2008 at 2:28 pm)
charliezhu01 it is not for you to decide what people believe in. You can use all sorts of terms such as theocracy, but the fact remains that your government invaded Tibet. A country that has its own culture, its own way of thinking and its own language. Tibetans are being killed as you read this just because they are Tibetans and the iron fist of a few in your own country. Have some respect. I am for Chinese and Tibetans uniting.
charliezhu01 (August 10, 2008 at 3:41 pm)
funambularist, I respect ur attitude. And I respect the Tibetan buddhist society as well. Your definition of "invasion" is based on what u have read. But what about those u have not read?

I am not forcing u to believe anything. U have the right to hold your angle and opinion, but it doesn't mean ur view enables you to point fingers to those who disagree.
charliezhu01 (August 10, 2008 at 3:49 pm)
China knows itself better. Whatever claim about "the Tibet started to be part of China since the 1951" is biased claim for international political reasons.

For this, u need to know
1) Old Tibet's political system.
2) Tibet's historical relationship with ancient Chinese dynasties
3) Constitutional law of ROC, and whether Tibetans were involved in it.
4) Constitutional law of PRC, why there was conflicts, for what reason PLA was involved.

What is ur current understanding of these?
charliezhu01 (August 10, 2008 at 3:58 pm)
Actually, I respect any Tibetans, provided that he or she obeys the law and rules of a modern society. And I am curious of and respect the Tibetan Buddhism and the monks. The conflicts are part of China's revolution.

Today, what I agree is callings from Tibet should be fairly handled. BUT independence is impossible. There are also American educators with experience of teaching in Tibet and other parts of China. Trying to find some of them and asking them their view might be helpful to u.
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