From London to Lhasa

This blog is dead!

2006-05-27T01:33:00.000+01:00

This blog is dead - long live the new blog! As a result of the launch of the self-censored Google.cn this blog has moved. Read more about this and keep up to date with SFT UK news, views and action at the new blog - freetibet.blog.co.uk

See you there!

40 Years Since the Cultural Revolution Began

2006-05-16T10:50:00.000+01:00

May 16th 1966 marked the start of the Cultural Revolution, what would become one of the darkest and most destructive periods in the history of China and Tibet.

It began as a purge of Chinese Communist Party leaders by Chairman Mao Tse-Tung, but it quickly spiraled out of control into a mass denunciation of many of China’s leaders and academics and the rejection of everything associated with the past. Chinese youths in particular, under the guise of the Red Guard, took it upon themselves to punish officials and intellectuals they deemed to be opposed to the work of Mao and to physically destroy most of China’s historical and religious buildings.

In Tibet, the Cultural Revolution had appaling consequences. Across the country hundreds of thousands of Buddhist monks were forced to disrobe or were killed and more than 6000 monasteries were destroyed. Religious statues were melted down and the gold shipped to China for government use and sacred texts were burned or used as toilet paper. In a country where religion, culture and politics are intertwined, the loss of the monasteries also meant the loss of libraries that held centuries of learning, philosophy, poetry and art and it meant a loss of cultural centres and the focal point of communities across Tibet. The loss of human life during that period is unimagineable.

What little has been done to undo the damage of the Cultural Revlution in Tibet is mainly through the work of Tibetans themselves. To this day the Chinese government remains unaccountable for the killing and destruction that happened in the decade following 1966, their paltry attempts to restore Tibetan culture have mainly been gaudy stereotypes for the benefit of tourists. Even now public debate on the Cultural Revolution is banned, the government satisfied to just sweep it under the carpet.

But sadly, the atrocities of the Cultural Revolution are not confined to the past. Today Tibetans are still being arrested and tortured for practicing their culture and beliefs or for speaking out against the occupation. So today we remember those who suffered during the Cultural Revolution and those who suffer still.

Last Chance to go to Action Camp!

2006-05-15T17:25:00.000+01:00

There's only a couple of days left to apply for the best SFT event of the summer, Free Tibet Action Camp!

Action Camp is your chance to receive training on everything from fundraising, grassroots campaigning, climbing, media advocacy, teaching Tibet, non-violent direct action skills and more from some of the most experienced activists in the world, as well as have a great time with other young people who are passionate about Tibet.

It's happening at the beautiful Pauenhof Retreat Centre near Dusseldorf, Germany from the 20th-26th of June and costs just €75 (about £50), which covers all your food, training and your transport from Dusseldorf airport (DUS or NRN) or Duisburg railway station.

But time is running out, so if you want to have the time of your life at Action Camp this summer, fill in an application form here and send it to tendor@studentsforafreetibet.org by May 17th.

For more information visit www.studentsforafreetibet.org/actioncamp or send an email to tendor@studentsforafreetibet.org

Life Sentence for Choeying Khedrub

2006-05-15T15:31:00.000+01:00

It has recently been confirmed that Tibetan political prisoner Choeying Khedrub has been sentenced to life in prison for "inciting splittism".

According to official information passed on to the Dui Hua Foundation, Choeying Khedrub, a senior monk, was accused of printing and distributing leaflets calling for Tibetan independence, along with 3 other monks and 2 lay people. For the "crime" of endangering state security and "supporting splittist activities of the Dalai clique" (a Chinese name often used for the Tibetan Government-in-Exile), he was sentenced to life in prison on January 29th 2001 and was sent to Drapchi Prison, although he is now believed to be in Qushui Prison. The other men recieved sentences of between 3 and 15 years.

Until now little has been known about the case of Choeying Khedrub, but you can read the full report by the International Campaign for Tibet here.

Tibet on the BBC

2006-04-27T17:36:00.000+01:00

All this week the BBC news website has been running a series of articles about Tibet in their Asia-Pacfic section. There's some great stuff on there including:
A profile of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
An article on the possible future of the Tibetan cause
Tibet in pictures
The story of a monk who fled Tibet
Testimony from former policial prisoner Ngawang Sangdrol
A photo essay on the life of a Tibetan nomad
And a guide to Tibet's major issues, which includes a rather ridiculous Chinese propaganda film from the 1950s (according to which Tibetans weren't able to feed themselves before the Chinese came, which is interesting given that there wasn't a famine recorded in Tibet until the 1960s).

If you've got a few minutes, it's all worth a look, just click on the links.

UPDATE: A couple more items have been added since this was posted including an article discussing the likely consequences of the Golmud-Lhasa railway and the reflections of three Han Chinese migrants on life in Tibet

(Photo from "Life of a Nomad" on the BBC news website)

Monks from Tashi Lhunpo Monastery joined vigil for the release of Panchen Lama in London

2006-04-26T10:31:00.000+01:00

London, 25 April: Tibetans and human rights activists holds a candlelight vigil and protest outside the Chinese Embassy in London on the 17th birthday of one of the world’s youngest political prisoners - the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. The demonstration, organised by campaigns groups Tibetan Youth UK (TYUK) and Students for a Free Tibet UK (SFTUK), aims to highlight the lack of religious freedom in Tibet, and to free Gedhun Choekyi Nyima from China. Monks from Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, Bylakuppe, India, who are on tour to UK, joined a vigil for the immediate release of the Panchen Lama.

“For the past eleven years Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, has been detained in Chinese custody at an undisclosed location. As long as the Chinese government continues to deny all requests from the United Nations and international governments to see him, his well being cannot be confirmed. At the same time, and despite a constitution that claims to allow citizens freedom of religious belief, Tibetan Buddhists have been deprived of their religious leader and denied the entitlement to exercise their own rights,” said Alli Barnes of SFTUK.

Gedhun Choekyi Nyima has been missing since 17 May 1995, three days after His Holiness the Dalai Lama recognised the then six-year-old as the true reincarnation of the late 10th Panchen Lama, the second most important spiritual leader of Tibet.

Alice Speller, National Coordinator of SFTUK said, “The Chinese governments’ continued detainment of the Panchen Lama is a clear violation of both domestic and international law. It is part of a longstanding campaign to use religion to tighten control over Tibetan people, by a government that associates Tibetan Buddhism with separatist sympathies. Under Chinese occupation, religious practice has been severely restricted - monasteries and nunneries have been razed, expulsions from these institutions have been widespread and Tibetan people have been jailed and tortured for their loyalty to the Dalai Lama.”

Despite repeated appeals to gain access to him, no international agency or human rights organization has been granted contact with the young Panchen Lama or his family. But on the other hand, the Chinese government has always been trying to win the recognition for their appointed Panchen Lama, Gyaltsen Norbu, often called as the "Chinese Panchen". At the recent World Buddhist Forum, the first ever held in China since 1949, the Chinese government displayed of their chosen Panchen Lama is an attempt to gain support from the Buddhist communities.

“We are here, as Gedhun Choekyi Nyima turns 17 in confinement, to demand that China release the young political prisoner and meet its claims to respect religious freedom in Tibet. The young Panchen Lama must be free to receive his traditional and religious studies that befit him. The relationship between the institutions of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama has to be preserved as an established custom for the future of Tibet. So, the safety and future of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima is of serious concern” said Karma Chura-Tsang of TYUK.

Students for a Free Tibet UK and Tibetan Youth in UK strongly demand the Chinese government for the immediately and unconditionally release of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. We also call upon the international community to step up their support and pressure the Chinese government for the release of the Dalai Lama recognized the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima.

Note: TYUK & SFTUK has submitted their appeal letters to the Chinese Ambassador in London, Hon'ble Foreign Secretary and Minister for Children, UK Government for the immediate release of the 11th Panchen Lama.

SFT India go online

2006-04-24T12:01:00.002+01:00

Check out SFT India's new webiste at www.sftindia.org - there are some great photos in the gallery!

Hu Jintao protests in Washington DC

2006-04-21T11:06:00.000+01:00

President Hu Jintao’s first state visit to the US has been marred by protests: a Falun Gong supporter disrupted the official welcoming ceremony at the White House while hundreds of Tibetan, Uighur, Taiwanese, Falun Gong and pro-democracy demonstrators massed outside to protest Beijing’s human-rights policies.

Check out the latest protest updates and photos on the SFT international blog

Meanwhile, in Exile House...

2006-04-10T22:51:00.000+01:00

Tibetan independence activist Tenzin Tsundue (in the red bandana) joined SFT India in the office earlier this week for a spot of campaign planning. Tsundue last hit the headlines for his protest from the top of a tower as Chinese prime minister Wen Jiabao visited an Indian University. We saw some amazing TV news footage of the protest, including the moment when he gets hauled back onto the balcony by the police, which looked rather painful...

Anyway, the time in Dharamsala has been a really useful chance to do some planning and strengthen links with the SFT crew and SFT UK will definately be doing some international collaboration in the run up to Beijing 2008. Students for a Free Tibet seems to be increasingly popular in Dharamsala, at least judging by the numbers of shops that seem to be (voluntarily!) sporting SFT stickers and the number of travellers taking home Beijing 2008 "Games Over, Free Tibet" stickers. I'm also going to keep checking the new sftindia.org website, which is going live shortly, and promises to be the place to go for news of action in exile.

Free Tibet! Action Camp - June 2006

2006-04-01T11:48:00.000+01:00

The second SFT Free Tibet! Action Camp to be held in Europe will take place from 20-26 June near Dusseldorf, Germany. See the SFT website for details and an application form. It's an amazing week of training, workshops, action planning, meeting Tibet campaigners from around the world, and campfires! Don't take our word for it - here's what Rob Slinn said about last year's camp:

It was a great privilege to be part of such a fantastic event. I’ll never forget the experience I had, and would strongly urge anyone who has the chance to go on future action camps to do so! You’ll learn some great skills and meet some amazing people. SFT action camp rules! (read Rob's full article in our newsletter)

Word of warning - get your travel plans organised soon as apparently there are some wee football matches happening down the road... Check out Ryanair for flights to Dusseldorf or Eurostar for the greener option :)

Chinese propaganda spotted during the SFT UK Roadtrip!

2006-03-27T11:05:00.000+01:00

Well, not exactly roadtrip. My carbon-karma isn't looking too good after a severely diverted flight took me to Delhi via Bombay. Fiona and I are in India at the moment and will heading up to Dharamsala, exile home of The Dalai Lama, to catch up on the SFT India crew news. Fiona, who has been here for a few weeks already, had been filling me in on their grassroots actions. More on SFT India later.

Our first stop was in the Tibetan area of Majnu-ka-Tilla in the northern end of Delhi. Here we had the joy of watching a Chinese music-come-propaganda show on VCD in one of the cafes. Alongside Chinese pop (frightening flashbacks to the Chinese hour on Belfast Community Radio, which my mother co-hosted), the variety performance features Tibetan-style music with Chinese dancers dressed in polyester Tibetan-esque chubas and pulling some moves that look to have come straight from a communist military training video. Facinating, if a little disturbing, and still not quite sure why the cafe owners were watching it.

Edinburgh March 10th Action

2006-03-17T12:49:00.000Z

In rememberance of Tibetan Uprising Day and looking ahead to the 2008 Olympics in China we asked the people of Edinburgh to think about human rights during the Summer Games in two years time.

Two PLA officers flanked students with painted wounds and Tibetan dress chained to large Olympic rings to remind people that China contunues to disregard the rights of Tibetans and its own peoples, and will do so if we don't pressure it to keep its promises of improved media freedom before 2008.

It made an eye catching and disturbing scene that drew intersted crowds and had the petitions to the IOC and Hu Jintao filling up and the info leaflets flying. We managed 4 hours in some horrible weather. Still it was all worth it! We were seen by hundreds and even got into the local news. Read the press release at Phayul.com

Uprising Day in London

2006-03-14T14:15:00.000Z

SFT campaigners from across the UK joined with Tibetans and Tibet supporters for the 47th anniversary of the Lhasa Uprising. Two of the Drapchi 14 nuns, former political prisoners Namdrol Lhamo and Gyaltsen Drolkar spoke very movingly about there experiences, on the last stop of their UK speaking tour.

More pics on the Tibetan Youth UK blog (pics by TYUK).

Uprising Day in Dharamshala

2006-03-11T09:28:00.000Z

Upising day 2006 in the Tibetan capital in exile has been eclectic to say the least. The day started early with hundreds of people making their way to Tsuglakhang (the main temple) for the official 'commemoration function'. After the national anthem and a minutes' silence for the Tibetans who have died and suffered for their county, we listened to HH Dalai Lama's give his 10th March statement and a statement from the Kashag.

A large crowd then formed a march to Lower Dharamshala, chanting slogans in Tibetan, English and Hindi and distributing leaflet of HH statement to bewildered Indian shop-keepers. At the rally at the end of the march the statement was read and Hindi and SFT India led the singing of 'Longsho'. To read about how this compared to recent years, and the politics behind the songs sung and slogans shouted see Kalsang's article on phayul.

SFTers then headed to TIPA (Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts) to prepare for the evening event which was co-organised by SFT India and RTYC Sara. After deliberations as to whether or not it would start raining properly, we decided to keep the event outside, a wise decision in hindsight as hundreds of people turned up. The evening consisted of many singers and bands performing Freedom songs (many of which the audience joined in on), impassioned speeches and a brilliant slide show of Tibetan martys which had most of the audience in tears. There were frequent cheers of 'Bod Rangzen', lots of petition and postcard signing for the Panchen Lama, and considerable interest in SFT - especially as the SFT stall had representatives from India, Canada and UK! The atmosphere was amazing - passionate, nationalist and positive - Tibet WILL be Free!

Losar @ Warwick!

2006-03-05T23:25:00.000Z

We knew our hard work had been worth it as our newly-dubbed Losar Week started off with a bang – why celebrate one day when you can celebrate for a week, we thought ;) it all began on Tuesday, when Mr John Billington (former Chairman of the Tibet Society UK) came to speak to a packed auditorium. Complete with hundreds of photos, Mr Billington gave us an account of his travels in Tibet and spoke about why the West continued to ignore the situation in Tibet, before spending an hour and a half answering the many questions we put to him.

On Wednesday evening, we had a film screening of Seven Years in Tibet which proved popular with the ladies thanks to Brad Pitt ;) along with free popcorn and a pub quiz, there was plenty to keep the audience entertained. Thursday night saw us at our regular Tibet meeting, to give newbies a brief background to the Tibet issue. It was followed by a night-long session of cooking to prepare for the following day.

A week of events finally culminated in a stall on our beloved Piazza. After many delays, we finally assembled the stall. Ngawang, a Tibetan musician living in London, had graciously accepted to come and perform for us. The Piazza filled with music as we handed out free momos and banana fritters, asked people to sign petition forms and cajoled them in to buying Tibetan merchandise.

The food was well-received (much to the relief of a chuba-wearing Elena and a very cheerful Delaine!) and the number of signatures quickly grew, while we managed to raise 27 quid through sales. We could not have asked for a better day – the sun continued to shine throughout the afternoon, and it made it easy for us to complete our task of approaching every single person who stepped on to the Piazza. In this way, we managed to generate a lot of interest, and many people stopped to speak to us. More people yet volunteered to help us get the word out, including a guy with a megaphone shouting for students to vote in the Union referenda!

At the end of the day, tired but very happy, we packed up as we thought, "Bring on the new year!"

-Elena

On the road with the Drapchi Nuns

2006-03-02T19:17:00.000Z

For the past three days I've been on the road with Gyaltsen Drolka and Namdrol Lhamo, two of the 14 singing nuns of Drapchi prison, as they tour UK cities to talk about their experiencies as political prisoners in Tibet through their translator Tenzin.

Before I joined them on Tuesday they had already spoken at SOAS in London and at the University of Oxford, but next on their tour was the Take Five Cafe in Bristol at a talk organised by the Coalition for Tibet at Bristol University. The nuns gave a very moving account of their story to the packed cafe before taking some great questions from the crowd. As it was Losar (Tibetan New Year) we rounded off the evening with a party to lighten the mood, fueled by some great food courtesy of the Bristol students.

Next on our trip was Swansea where we were given a more intimate discussion in the surroundings of Govinda's restaurant. There the nuns spoke much more frankly about the torture they suffered in prison, having not wanted to spoil the mood on Losar the previous night. The next day we had a little time for sight seeing, so this is us with our very kind host Anna on a cold but beautiful beach in South Wales.

Today we headed north to the city of Leeds where the nuns spoke in front of a massive turnout of more than 150 people! But they went ahead undaunted and received great suport from the crowd with many queueing up to thank them afterwards. Now we're just settling down for some food and then it's on to Nottingham in the morning.

If you want to find out more about Namdrol-la and Gyaltsen-la please go to the Drapchi 14 website. You can also click here to see where else they will be speaking including at the annual Tibetan Uprising Day march through London.

Losar in Plymouth

2006-03-01T18:54:00.000Z

Plymouth have celebrated with a New Year celebration with a difference: an almagamation of Tibetan Tradition and our own crazy ideas thrown in!

The original idea was to have students write down any negative stuff, they are ashamed of or want to put behind them, and ceremoniously set fire to them, but of course that wouldnt be within the framework of health and safety so we opted for a less traditional option.....a shredder. Then they had the option of writing a message of hope, peace or love in a book which we hope to send to a school in India. They then received a complimentry stick of insence and a sweet Mo-Mo...mmm. PLUS a 10 minute Indian Head massage, kindly donated by The Plymouth School of Healing´s oragniser Jack Bedbrook. What a star!

It all went brilliantly, thanks to Kate 'n' Kylie, Plymouths newest volunteers. Their hard work was much appreciated. We had a brilliant response from the students and the Mo-mo´s went down a storm and we manged to raise 33 quid which will go toward a project in India. - Mark

"Dissident" Prince Charles "boycotted Chinese banquet"

2006-02-22T06:54:00.000Z

Looks like the king-to-be is one of us! According to Prince Charles' former private secretary, Mark Bolland, Chaz Windsor saw himself "as a 'dissident' working against the prevailing political consensus". In the statements made to the High Court, Bolland confirmed that the prince deliberately boycotted a state banquet with then Chinese president Jiang Zemin because of his support for Tibet. Not only that, but against the wishes of his press people, Charles set about making the reasons for his boycott known.

Bolland is quoted by the BBC as saying that Charles "did not approve of the Chinese regime, and is a great supporter of the Dalai Lama, whom he views as being oppressed by the Chinese."

Once the Queen pops her clogs and Charles takes the throne, he is expected to keep these so-called political views to himself and to be jolly nice to any visiting dictators, just like Her Maj did for Hu Jintao during the state visit in November. He may not be able to speak his mind in the years to come, but Charles has left the world in no doubt as to what he thinks of China's record in Tibet. (photo from BBC)

Tigers skins burn in Tibet

2006-02-21T17:24:00.000Z

Tibetans have been burning clothing made from endangered animal skins following a request by the Dalai Lama to give up the use of pelts from rare animals. China, which officially opposes the trade of endangered animals, has now banned the burning of skins and arrested paricipants for "colluding with the Dalai Lama".

The story has run in the mainstream press and you can also read about Tibetans in Nepal burning robes at whatabouttibet.com, the excellent website run by Luke at Leeds Uni Tibet Society.

More SFT-Google press coverage

2006-02-19T20:09:00.000Z

Another mention for SFT's Google campaign, this time in The Observer (and there's a photo of the New York 'break up with Google' action in the print version).

Update on No Luv 4 Google

2006-02-15T20:44:00.000Z

Here's a great little update on the No Luv 4 Google campaign. As some of you have noticed, there was an article in the Guardian's G2 magazine on the 14th that said "Did you know, for example, some are calling for people to boycott Google today - Valentine's Day?". It seems that SFT's No Luv 4 Google campaign has made it as the Guardian's campaign of the week!

Check out the full article here.

Edinburgh breaks up with Google!

2006-02-15T17:34:00.000Z

Here’s a little bit about our action yesterday, which even got some unexpected political support!

Braving being labelled romance cynics, we stood outside our uni library, home to a large selection of computers, and urged our fellow students to ‘Break up with Google!’. By showing copies of results from buzzwords such as ‘Dalai’ typed into goole.com and google.cn, and by handing out postcards, lists of alternative search engines, and helpful information, we persuaded a good number of people to join the boycott (for that day at least!). Our friendly local green MSP, Mark Ballard (who was only coincidentally canvassing for support in his bid to be elected university rector!), seemed inspired by our work and promptly set about putting forward an EDM (early day motion) through the Scottish parliament in support of the boycott Google campaign, as well as vowing to encourage as many MSPs as possible to give up on Google for the long term. Brilliant!

Google: You're Dumped!

2006-02-15T11:24:00.000Z

This Valentine's Day was also No Luv 4 Google Day and in London we took to the streets to tell Google that it's over.

As well as boycotting all of Google's services over their decision to help the Chinese government censor information on the internet in China and Tibet, dozens of people turned up at Belgrave House, Google's headquarters in London, to tell them we want nothing to do with them.

“Thousands of people are boycotting Google today and protests are taking place in over 16 cities around the world” said Alice Speller, National Coordinator of Students for a Free Tibet UK. “We want Google to end their partnership with the Chinese government and stand on the right side of history” she added.

As we shouted slogans like "Shame on Google" and "Google: you're dumped" we were seen by hundreds of people going to and from Victoria train station, which is just across the road. Passers by were really supportive, taking information and action postcards and even Lib. Dem. MP Martin Horwood turned up to back us.

The fact that Google had told their staff they didn't have to come in to work and had the police put up barriers in front of their building showed they had something to worry about, and with thousands of people from around the world showing their support on www.NoLuv4Google.com they should be scared.

Google shouldn't be condoning or supporting the Chinese government in preventing the spread of democracy and freedom in China by supressing free speech, so dump google and take action.

What a conference!

2006-02-15T10:50:00.000Z

Well, it was exhausting (so exhausting it's taken me a few days to recover and type this post) but the SFT UK/TYUK conference this weekend was fantastic! A big thank you to everyone who came from far and wide to take part and give workshops, especially to Tendor who came over from New York to tell everyone about the work of SFT, give us briefings on current campaigns and run the Tibetan Youth UK leadership training workshop, and all that with jetlag. Also, huge appreciation to Riki Hyde-Chambers of The Tibet Society, Rob and Tom from People and Planet, Tserin Topgyal of LSE and Katie Mallin from Free Tibet Campaign for their valuable training.

Despite the long day of workshops on everything from non-violent direct action tactics to working with your MP and how to run a successful group, everyone was still able to make it to Nelsons Bar for a great party in the evening before crashing out at the Kailash Centre for some well earned sleep.

Sorry I don't have any pictures to put up, but there's a few on the post below and a whole load on the Tibetan Youth UK blog, which I highly recommend everyone has a look at. I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did and took away some new skills and inspiration.

first pics from conference 06

2006-02-12T15:06:00.000Z

Some pics from conference - Tendor explaining direct action to a "reporter", the conference crew and Riki's session on working with your MP.

Countdown to Training Conference 2006

2006-02-06T21:53:00.000Z

There's less than a week to go to the Students for a Free Tibet / Tibetan Youth UK training conference!

Join us in London on Friday 10 and Saturday 11 February for campaigning skills workshops, inspiring speakers and an exclusive film showing. Register from 8pm on Friday at the Kailash Centre, St John's Wood or between 9 and 10 am at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in Russell Square.

Full conference details here. If you want to register in advance or ask any questions, email us on info[at]sftuk.org

Dancin' and Chillin' at Tibet Blues

2006-02-05T18:08:00.000Z

On Friday (Feb 3rd) the Bristol University Coalition for Tibet held their Tibet Blues night on the HMS Thekla and it was a fantastic event! With an eclectic mix of music including Blues, Tibetan folk and hiphop, there was something for everyone in a truly unique venue.

First up was Chris Jagger and band who, aside from being a great guitarist and singer, is also an incredibly nice bloke who spent most of the evening wearing an SFT badge on his hat. People danced all through his up-beat tunes and chilled out through the blues, including the song "Lhasa Town".

Next was Tibetan folk singer Loten Namling, who blew everyone away with his powerful voice and beautiful songs. Between each song he made everyone laugh with anecdotes and stories and played instruments including a Tibetan lute (damyin), a conch, a Tibetan long-horn and something that looked like a UFO and sounded a bit like steel drums. He finshed off with a quick tsampa throwing ceremony, covering everyone in barley flour, and over-ran his time, but no one cared as we were all enjoying it too much.

I had a great time at Tibet Blues and if anyone has the chance to see Loten at SOAS on Monday (5pm) I would highly recommend it.

SFT Plymouth get off to a running start

2006-02-05T15:15:00.000Z

A new SFT group has recently been set up at the University of Plymouth by a couple of great Tibet supporters, Mark and Kate. They sent us this report on how they're doing and we thought we'd share it with you.

Just thought I'd send you some (well, a) pic of our fairly successful merchandise sale at Plymouth Uni. We had a really good response from a large number of students, who were all keen to get involved. We were quite surprised about how knowledgeable people were of the situation in Tibet but wanted to know more and had a large number who signed up to join our team. Good News!!!

So onward and upward. Next, we are hoping to plan our grand opening with some form of entertainment. We were fortunate enough to meet a couple of students who were well connected with local bands and DJs, so maybe a benfit gig of some sort. Oh, a tip for anyone holding a similar stall and want to draw people in; nag champa incense sticks!!!!! We had so many people coming over and asking about the smell and were we selling some?!!

Anyway, looking forward to seeing you all at the conference!
Mark.

If you want to send us a report to go up on the blog, send us an email.

BBC’s Bill Thompson plays Devil’s advocate for Google

2006-01-31T10:00:00.000Z

Lately I've been thinking that our blog could be used more effectively as a platform for the discussion of important issues and sharing ideas, as well as reporting our news, and just recently I've been given the perfect chance to start such a debate.

Bill Thompson, technology critic for the BBC, has given his opinion on Google's launch of the self-censored google.cn in an article entitled Why Google in China makes sense. I think it goes without saying that this is hardly a scathing response to the recent move by the internet giant which he says "should be supported for its brave decision". I'm sorry Bill, but an internet activist who puts his life on the line in China is brave, a monk who risks torture to denounce the Dalai Lama in a Tibetan monastery is brave, an international corporation that rejects its principles in order to please a totalitarian dictatorship and make a quick buck is just plain cowardly.

Amongst his arguments in favour of Google is the fact that other companies have launched self-censored search engines in order to break into the Chinese market with little response from the western media. Firstly, the fact that Yahoo and MSN have also decided to censor their searches in order to appease the Chinese government is absolutely no justification for Google doing it and is equally deplorable. Secondly, the media's lack of response to these previous moves can hardly be considered an endorsement of Yahoo et al.

Mr Thompson then goes on to compare Google's censorship in China to that of search engine providers in Europe and North America, pointing out that we are not informed when we are denied access to a website due to its content, where as Chinese Google users will be. But how on earth can you compare blocking child pornography in the UK to denying access to pro-democracy websites in China? One is to prevent child abuse, the other to keep an oppressive dictatorship in power. And as one of my colleagues on Tibet Will Be Free sarcastically pointed out "I'm sure a Tibetan at an internet cafe in Lhasa with government printed signs reading "Do not use Internet for any political or other unintelligent purposes" doesn't know that the Chinese Communist Party doesn't want them reading information on Tibetan independence...".

Finally, he ends with the point: "Constructive engagement in a way that respects but also challenges local law seems a far better option [than a technological blockade], and that, for all its risks, is what Google is attempting to do". Whilst I agree that constructive engagement is a good way to go on this issue, I don't think this is how Google's actions can be described. To begin with, Google's only "challenge" to this incredibly unjust "local law" seems to be telling Chinese internet users what they already know (i.e. that they're not allowed to access 'politically sensitive' material), not exactly daring. The word "constructive" would also imply that some positive change will come as a result of this, but what incentive is there for change, especially when Google seem to be endorsing the government's internet censorship in China?

There is one thing that Bill Thompson can be thanked for, there is a great picture of SFT veteran Thupten Tsering at the protest outside Google HQ in his article. Thanks to Thupten's T-shirt, I think we may have the first appearance of the SFT logo on the BBC, even if it is a bit obscured.

If you would like to voice your opinion on this article or the launch of google.cn please post a comment.

Edinburgh Tenzin Delek Rinpoche action

2006-01-28T18:07:00.000Z

On the 26th of January, to conicide with the international day of action for Tenzin Delek Rinpoche we spent the morning (from 8.30am!) shuttle-running people with letters asking for the release of TDR to the consulate in Edinburgh. After the 3rd group, the man behind the desk was wondering what was up and thus ensued a 20min, very civil, converstaion about Tibet and China and opposing views. We're really chuffed, it all seemed to go very well. And excitingly he told us that people had been calling in about Tenzin totally seperate from us. Always encouraging when there's support from others close by!
Check out the photo of some of the girls with english and chinese language letters.

Google sells out to China

2006-01-26T15:33:00.000Z

It emerged yesterday (January 25th) that Google are to launch a self-censored version of their search engine in order to break into the Chinese market. The new website, google.cn, will block access to websites relating to Tibet, Taiwan, Falun Gong, democracy and even the BBC, to kowtow to the Chinese governments rules on internet censorship.

This flies in the face of their motto "Do No Evil" as Google are not simply following the law of the land, they are actively collaborating with an oppressive regime in blinding its own citizens to any criticism that may lead to the spread of freedom and democracy. Google have attempted to defend their decision by saying that providing a censored service is better then providing no service at all: "While removing search results is inconsistent with Google's mission, providing no information... is more inconsistent with our mission". But the lesser of two evils is still evil. By censoring web searches Google is not simply depriving people of information, it is helping to perpetuate China's propaganda on Tibet and other issues by denying Chinese citizens access to any counterpoint, or even the simple truth.

Ever since China opened up to foreigners a couple of decades ago Western governments have been under the impression that the best way to bring freedom and democracy to China is through business and economic growth. But here, and not for the first time, we can see that foreign business is actually helping to support the Chinese government in the oppression of its people. Don't get me wrong, I know Google is a business and has no responsibility to support political dissent in China, but it certainly shouldn't be supporting the violation of the basic human right to free speech.

Read more about this on the Guardian website here and here and on the BBC website here and here. You can also watch a news clip here and check out the SFT International blog for news on a protest outside Google headquarters in California.

Bristol host TIBET BLUES party on Feb 3rd

2006-01-24T20:46:00.000Z

Dear SFT members and supporters,

On Friday, February 3rd Bristol Coalition for Tibet will be hosting "TIBET BLUES", a spanking great night on board HMS Thekla, moored in Bristol’s mud docks (that’s right… a party on a boat!). There will be fantastic music, both home grown and Tibetan, from blues to world beats through hiphop and other lands on the way.
CHRIS JAGGER + band with some zydeco, country + blues
LOTEN NAMBLING is here with Tibetan sounds,
EMUNAH hitting out world beats and hiphop
PLUS DJ WOODERS, AMEN HOMES and BASS BINGE

All profits go to JINPA PROJECTS, dedicated to preserving the fragile Tibetan culture in Yushu.

FRIDAY FEB 3RD AT THEKLA, EAST MUD DOCK, BRISTOL 9PM – Late
Accommodation might even be possible.

For more information email:
coalitionfortibet@hotmail.com or lf3208@bris.ac.uk
or ring: 07780576558

For more information on Jinpa projects, visit:
http://www.jinpa.org/

Travel:
1 mile from Temple Meads Train Station - map

Hope to see some of you there,

Bristol Coalition For Tibet

SFT UK Conference!

2006-01-21T16:32:00.000Z

SFT UK's training conference is now confirmed for Saturday 11 Feb at SOAS, London. For a bargain £10, the conference offers heaps of campaigning training, inspirational speakers, free lunch, free accomodation and the Tibetan Youth UK after-party.
Click here for more details.

Happy Christmas/Holiday and New Year!

2005-12-26T21:30:00.000Z

Happy Christmas/Holiday and New Year (hogmanay for those in Scotland!) to all SFT UK and supporters.

Over the Christmas break you may have that extra bit of time. Why not use it to update yourself with what campaigns SFT UK are currently fighting. Have a look at the recently created SFT UK Campaigns web-page here for links to information and actions on the most important issues facing Tibet today.

And make sure your keep up to date by signing up to the SFT UK online ACTION NETWORK here (you'll be asked for your email address). You'll recieve about one email a month and can sign off at anytime.

And remember, HAVE FUN, it's important!! We only stay inspired, motivated and amazing through enjoyment!

Boycott Made In China, Swansea Style

2005-12-11T22:48:00.000Z

On saturday the busy xmas shoppers in Swansea were treated to the vocal stylings of the Swansea SFT group. Braving heckles and stink bombs courtesy of the local asbo's we sung outside Toys 'R' Us for an hour or so before being moved away by security at the request of the manager. We then hit the town centre with our banner and leaflets were we recieved more support from the locals, including a prayer from a local theology student.
All photos by Phil Kirk.

Demonstration for the Drepung Monks

2005-12-11T21:31:00.000Z

On Saturday evening members of Students for a Free Tibet joined the Tibetan Youth UK for a vigil and demonstration outside the Chinese Embassy for the Drepung Monks who were arrested recently during a patriotic re-education campaign at the monastery click here for more information on the situation.

The Demonstration lasted two hours. As the shouting started the lights went off in the offices and the windows were shut. At one point in the evening officials from the embassy were seen hiding in the dark on the roof! The evening ended with a candle light vigil and prayers.

Action on Oxford Street

2005-12-11T21:08:00.000Z

On Saturday afternoon a group of us went to the world-famous Hamley's toy shop to sing our hearts out for the Boycott Made in China campaign. We were outside the store for several hours singing and gave out over 400 leaflets to shoppers.

Many members of the public stopped to join in and show their support. Two staff members of the store came out to ask for information on how to join the campaign. One staff member stated that he thought that approximatly 95% of the toys in the shop were made in China.

Download your own leaflets, logos and Christmas carol lyrics here.

SFT UK Board meeting

2005-12-07T12:27:00.000Z

Last weekend (3-4th December) the SFT UK board met for its annual Christmas board meeting. This year nine of us met for a weekend of planning and organising in Cambridge. With so many new groups appearing in the UK, we decided to develop the board to have more of a support role.

We said a sad farewell to Emilie Hunter, one of the founding members of SFT UK, who stood down from the board, however Alli Barnes was able to join the team which we are all really excited about. Emilie will still be involved in small projects and is taking a leading role in a legal action in the Spanish courts against former Chinese president Jiang Zemin. We were also Joined by Dhargyal from Tibetan Youth UK.

The weekend was a good chance to catch up after Hu Jintao's state visit and to continue planning our next actions. Spring plans include the SFTUK conference and action training at SOAS, and a speaking tour by former political prisoners.

400 Monk Protest at Drepung Monastery

2005-11-30T11:47:00.000Z

There have been confirmed reports that during a "patriotic education session" at Drepung Monastery in Lhasa at least 5 monks were expelled and handed over to police after refusing to denounce the Dalai Lama as a separatist.

Following the expulsions on November 23rd, a silent protest was held by more than 400 monks at the monestery on November 25th which resulted in a fierce crackdown by armed police and soldiers, during which several monks were beaten. Since then no one has been allowed to enter or leave Drepung Monastery.

As the Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy has stated, this may be one of the largest protests seen in Tibet for a decade.

You can read more about this here and here

World Parliamentarian's Convention on Tibet - from SFT UK observer Fi

2005-11-24T13:51:00.000Z

On 18 and 19 November, 130 parliamentarians from 30 states and many members of the Assembly of Tibetan Peoples Deputies convened in chilly but gorgeous Edinburgh. Hosted by the All Party Parliamentary group for Tibet and Scottish Cross Party group for Tibet, the two days were packed with briefings on the current status of negotiations with Beijing, environmental and human rights issues in Tibet (including a moving talk by Takna Jigme Sangpo), the role of ITSN and relationships between parlaimentarians and TSGs, the geo-political significance of Tibet and much more. Ending with the drafting of the 'Edinburgh Declaration', a talk by HH Dalai Lama, and a screening of 'What remains of us' the delegates (and observers) left with long 'to-do' lists and renewed enthusiasm and commitment to the Tibetan cause.

BLAIR FORGOT TIBET!

2005-11-17T12:31:00.000Z

On the 14th November 2005, UK Government Minister of State for Trade Ian Pearson met with a delegation of Tibetans and Tibet support groups. He is also the Minister of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office dealing with the Chinese affairs. This meeting came after the just concluded state visit of China's President Hu Jintao to the UK. Mr Pearson debriefed the delegation on the recent state visit of Hu Jintao where the issue of Tibet was discussed during the meeting between the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw MP, and China's Foreign Minister, Li Zhaoxing. It appeared however that PM Tony Blair did not raise Tibet with Hu Jintao. He did however comment that the UK government is concerned about Tibet and its human rights situation. SFT UK representative Tenzin Samphel informed the minister that there are Tibetans who demand freedom and independence for Tibet, supported by the Tibet Support Groups, and asked him whether the UK government sees any positive sign from the Chinese government to resolve the issue of Tibet. He said that he could see the development and improvement of livelihood inside Tibet, but reframed from elaboration on whether there was a positive sign on the resolution of Tibet. SFT UK presented him with the poster ‘Story of a Nation’ and a Tibetan traditional scarf.

Report by Mr Tenzin Samphel

An evening to remember

2005-11-17T11:59:00.000Z

Dear Friends,

Tibetan Youth UK and SFT invite you for a “Get Together” and a party to thank you all for your dedication and support during Chinese president’s state visit in UK. Our campaign & demonstration have been very successful as demonstrated in various media.
It would not have been possible without your support. We believe it is important that we make our voices heard as the youth of today, we shoulder the responsibility for The Future of Tibet.
Please join us for the discussion at this very important time and participation from all age groups will be appreciated.

Venue : Rampart, 15-17 Rampart St, London E1 2LA (Off Commercial Rd)
Start : 25th Nov 05 Friday 7pm – 2am
Music : Tibetan, Bollywood, R‘n’B, Hip Hop & Trance
Tube : Aldgate East, Whitechapel & Shadwell
Bus : 15, 25 & 205
Contact : 07786982222 & 07725501995
Web : http://www.tibetanyouthuk.blogspot.com/ & http://www.sftuk.org/
Email : alice@sftuk.org & tibetanyouthinuk@yahoo.co.uk
Donation : £3
Map : Click Here

Note : Momo & Drinks will be available for Sale !!!

Regards,

TYUK & SFTUK

Hu's he looking at?

2005-11-14T23:32:00.000Z

Chinese President Hu Jintao doesn't look very pleased as he as he is driven away from a banquet at the Guildhall, London.

Probably because Students for a Free Tibet are waving flags and banners from the side of the road!

SFT UK at Shared Planet

2005-11-13T20:35:00.000Z

Conall and Fi are just back from People and Planet's 'Shared Planet' conference in Oxford - a great weekend of workshops, skill shares, plenaries and debates on lots of important social justice and environmental issues. We had an SFT stall for the two days, and showed 'Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion' yesterday. There was a great response, with lots of sign-ups from keen students and sixth formers.

Beijing unveils Olympic mascots

2005-11-12T15:36:00.000Z

I found this on the BBC news website earlier. It seems Beijing has announced it will have five official mascots, including the Tibetan antelope, for the 2008 Olympic games inorder to "reflect the cultural diversity of China as a multiethnic country".

Whilst it's fantastic that Tibetans are being represented in such a prestigious international event, I can't help but feel that this is a cheap attempt by the Chinese government to legitimise the occupation and divert attention away from their on going repression in Tibet. It's also a far cry from the representation the Tibetans deserve, which is their own national team at the games.

Check out the picture and full story here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4430260.stm

Guests heard us at Guildhall!

2005-11-11T22:10:00.000Z

From an article on BBC news website (see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4423444.stm)

'Chinese President Hu Jintao has been greeted by a chorus of boos from hundreds of protesters as he arrived for a banquet in London's Guildhall...

Protesters gathered across the road from the Guildhall, booing the arrival of dignitaries and other guests....

As the Chinese president inspected a guard of honour from the Honourable Artillery Company in the building's forecourt, the protesters made themselves heard above the playing of regimental music...

Protesters were heard shouting "shame on you" as Princess Michael chatted with the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Michael Savory, ahead of the arrival of Mr Hu.'

Ending on a high note

2005-11-09T23:47:00.000Z

It's been a crazy, amazing day! Well it is now 12 am and the Students for a Free Tibet UK team are preparing to collapse onto the floor provided by Fiona and Conall. The day started with buying all the newspapers we could put our hands on, to find ourselves continually on either the front page of newspapers or on page 2 or 3! We reached front page of both the Telegraph and the Guardian, and SFTUK's Alice Speller was quoted in both the Mirror and CNN!

The day of protesting began outside Westminster early at 8:00, where Hu Jintao managed to slip in sneakily in a minibus without the protesters noticing..... but he was welcomed at his next visit to Downing Street as protesters lined the street from many different human rights groups. Hu Jintao was seen by many to look directly at the protestors before his car and entourage turned into Downing Street.

Protests outside the Royal Academy of Arts continued, with sneaky protesters hiding Tibetan flags under their coats and drawing them at the last minute as the car drove past. Also a large demonstration was in place as his car drove into the building.

The final protest occured at Guildhall, where the protestors chanted for several hours at the building where Hu Jintao was banqueting. A bond formed between the Tibet and Taiwan campaigners, with slogans such as "Hands off Taiwan, Free Tibet" directed at the banqueting hall. A small group of SFTUK managed to work out where Hu Jintao's car was leaving and with the support of the police staged a protest as he left the building. A photographer took photos of his face turning around and looking at the group.... so watch this space for the photos!!!

The protests continue...

2005-11-08T23:47:00.000Z

The Tibetan Community and SFT UK staged political theatre as the protests outside Buckingham Palace continued into the night. News even reached the 'The Scotsman'...

Protesters greet Chinese president

Hundreds of Tibetans and human rights activists staged a "die-in" outside Buckingham Palace as Chinese president Hu Jintao arrived for the State Banquet.

Students for a Free Tibet UK (SFTUK) said the protest, organised by SFTUK and Tibetan community members, aimed to highlight the Chinese president's "reign of terror" in Tibet, as London prepares to light monuments red in honour of his visit.

The group said that following the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1950, President Hu was responsible for the brutal imposition of martial law in 1989.

SFTUK's national co-ordinator Alice Speller said: "One in six Tibetans are dead due to the Chinese occupation, and yet the international community is silent in the face of such blatant state terror.

"Tony Blair must speak out about President Hu's actions in Tibet and China's ongoing occupation of that country, or he risks becoming complicit in the atrocities committed there."

Dalha Tsering of the Tibetan community in Britain and co-organiser of the event said: "As Hu Jintao receives the highest state honour in this country, we are staging this street theatre to remind him, and the world, of the death that he authored in my homeland, Tibet.

"Many Tibetans here will never meet family members because he took their lives, and created such fear that many have left for a life in exile.

"Hu still has the blood of my Tibetan countrymen on his hands, and yet world politicians are unwilling to seek justice on our behalf."

Tibetan activist Karma Chura-Tsang said: "As we protest near the monument to the Unknown Soldier, the Tibetan people remain unknown victims of 50 years of Chinese dictatorship.

"This is our symbolic tribute to the all those Tibetans who have died fighting for their freedom."

Tanks for the Memories!

2005-11-08T15:00:00.000Z

Toy tanks escort Chinese President to Buckingham Palace

12.00 London Two remote controlled toy tanks adorned with Chinese flags will escort Chinese President Hu Jintao to Buckingham Palace. Organised by Students For A Free Tibet UK, the tanks will roll alongside the royal procession, as a symbolic reminder to President Hu that his brutal military rule in Tibet will not be forgotten and China’s current occupation of Tibet must end.

Students from over a dozen UK universities unfurled banners reading “Free Tibet” along with hundreds of Tibetans and other supporters, before the toy-tanks were released.

On 9th March 1989, Chinese tanks and thousands of heavily armed troops rolled into the centre of Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, suppressing non-violent demonstrations against China’s occupation of Tibet. Monks were thrown from the tops of buildings, women and children were imprisoned, tortured and murdered, simply for raising a Tibetan flag, or shouting freedom slogans. The Chinese troops acted under the direction of Hu Jintao, then Communist Party Secretary for the Tibetan Autonomous Region.

“As a civilised democracy, the United Kingdom must not ignore the atrocities committed by the Chinese government in Tibet,” said Alice Speller, National Coordinator of Students for a Free Tibet UK. “Hu Jintao’s past and present record of human rights violations against the Tibetan people makes him undeserving of the dignity of a royal procession,” she added.

In Tibet today, Tibetans can be arrested, tortured and imprisoned for possessing a photo of the Dalai Lama or expressing hope for the return of Tibetan sovereignty. “Our political leaders will fail their obligation to the people of this country, and their moral responsibilities as human beings, unless they raise the issue of China’s occupation of Tibet during their meetings with President Hu.” Miss Speller continued.

The students likened their activities in support of Tibetan freedom to the international support that helped end the communist dictatorships in Poland, Czechslovakia and East Germany. They hoped their protest of Hu Jintao would help bring an end to China’s unjust occupation of Tibet and help create a more peaceful world.

SFT UK is part of the international organization Students for a Free Tibet (SFT), with Headquarters in New York andoffices in Vancouver, Canada and Dharamsala, India, seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile. Through education,grassroots organizing, and non-violent direct action, SFT campaigns for Tibetans fundamental right to political freedom.

For Further details: www.sftuk.org or www.sftuk.blogspot.com

More pics from the palace!

2005-11-08T14:42:00.000Z

Pictures from the Palace

2005-11-08T14:14:00.000Z

Protests outside Buckingham Palace. The Tibetan Community and SFT UK get their message over to Hu Jintao.

A police man stops our toy tanks. We chased Hu Jintao down the road with them! "Hu's Forgot his tanks!" They're now famous on the BBC website http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/4418300.stm

Here's us with another tank!

"Free Tibet, Your Majesty!"

"Hu can't have missed us!"

Morning!

2005-11-08T08:36:00.000Z

Hi, it's Iain with a quick Blog update. I'm still sleepy, but we're all excited here in London! Hu Jintao has arrived and is meeting the Queen at 12. We'll be ready to be there too. So, if you're reading this get down to Buckingham Palace (Canada Gate) 10.30am today or look for us along the Mall. We'll be meeting again at 6.30pm for some street theatre. See you there!

Preparing for Hu's Visit

2005-11-05T15:40:00.000Z

Some of us folks from SFT UK, the Tibetan Community and the Tibet Society of the UK are busy getting things ready for the arrival of President Hu Jintao in London on the 8th.

We're preparing banners, press-releases and all sorts of materials for our actions in the coming week. Here's some pictures of us hard at work at the SFT UK HQ (Care of the Tibet Society)!

STUDENT ACTIVISTS TELL HU JINTAO: FREE TIBET NOW!

2005-11-05T14:52:00.000Z

UK STUDENTS URGE BLAIR TO PRESS HU ON TIBET

London – Dozens of student activists will join Tibetans and their supporters for demonstrations during Chinese President Hu Jintao’s State visit to the UK between 8th and 10th November. This will be the first State visit of a Chinese leader since 1999, when local authorities stifled peaceful demonstrations. President Hu's visit is expected to draw protests by Tibetans, Falun Gong practitioners, and human rights campaigners.

Students from over a dozen universities across the UK will join hundreds of Tibetans in London, to highlight China's continued occupation of Tibet. Co-organised by Students For A Free Tibet UK (SFT UK), the protests will extend international protests against China’s occupation of Tibet, seen in India, the United States, and Canada during State visits earlier this year. “Students will voice their support for a free and independent Tibet, in solidarity with six million Tibetans, who are denied their fundamental rights by Hu Jintao and the Chinese Communist government,” said Alice Speller, National Coordinator of Students For A Free Tibet UK. "As young people, we believe it is critical to support non-violent struggles for human rights and freedom so that we may invest in a more just and non-violent future."

“As the Communist Party Secretary in Tibet, President Hu was responsible for the brutal suppression of Tibetan pro-independence supporters, in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital” continued Miss Speller “Hu imposed Martial Law in Tibet in 1989, just four months before the Tiananmen Square massacre. Tony Blair must urge President Hu to negotiate directly with the Dalai Lama, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Tibetan spiritual leader, during their meeting on 9th November.”

SFT UK is part of the international organization Students for a Free Tibet (SFT), with Headquarters in New York and offices in Vancouver, Canada and Dharamsala, India, seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile. Through education, grassroots organizing, and non-violent direct action, SFT campaigns for Tibetans fundamental right to political freedom.

# # #

For more information on Students for a Free Tibet UK please visit: http://sftuk.org/
For details of the protests, please visit our blog: (http://www.sftuk.blogspot.com/)

Nottingham Action at Bombardier UK

2005-11-04T14:35:00.000Z

Four students from the Nottingham group coordinated the UK action at the Bombardier head office in the UK for the international day of action.

They were able to greet the employees as they entered the plant for work with flyers highlighting Bombardiers involvement in the Tibet railway.

Alastair, chair of the Nottingham group commented,

"A guy was sitting by the front gate in a suit the whole day watching us and asking us to move off their property whenever we strayed a little. Some employees later told us they had been instructed not to talk to us or take any information which is a pretty despicable way for Bombardier to control the situation - hiding the facts from their own employees. Nevertheless we gave out 160+ flyers to staff, a couple of which expressed their support. We only nearly got run over a couple of times!"

Well done Nottingham!

Click here to check out other international actions.

TURN UP THE HEAT ON BOMBARDIER!

2005-11-02T14:17:00.000Z

International Day of Action: November 3rd, 2005

This Thursday, November 3rd, Tibetans and supporters will take action at Bombardier offices in Canada, US, India, Germany, Austria, Poland, UK, Australia, France and Switzerland.

Help mobolize people in the UK to join this International Day of Action against Bombardier's involvement in the Chinese government's Tibet railway. Click here to join the mass demonstration in cyber space.

Materials for the day of action are now available, click here for sample fax letters, talking points, flyers and more!

HU Jintao State visit schedule

2005-11-02T14:14:00.000Z

To check out Hu jintao's schedule and action points click here.
Further information on the state visit will be added to the SFT UK web site as it becomes available.
If you want to get involved in the preparation then send an e mail to info@sftuk.org.

SFT party in London

2005-10-31T19:55:00.000Z

SFT along with Exile Brothers UK hosted a party and discussion night to help get people excited about the State visit by Hu Jintao 8th till 10th November.
Karma (Abo) got the night going with Tibetan, Bollywood, R'n'B and Hiphop. Tseten, chair of the Tibetan Community in Britain statrted the discussions. Tenzin Samphel, ex vice president of Tibetan Youth Congress then gave a passionate speach about youth activism. Metok, campaigns intern at Free Tibet Campaign read out the schedule of events during the Hu Jintao's visit. The talks ended with a speach by Alice, national coordinator of SFT UK who introduced SFT UK and talked on the importance of this visit to youth activism for Tibet in the UK.
The party was a great success and everyone felt that they were ready for Hu Jintao.

If you want to get involved in the campaigns during Hu Jintao's visit e mail info@sftuk.org.

SFT UK Media Training Day

2005-10-31T19:43:00.000Z

SFT UK was lucky to recrute the help of media expert Linda Fairbrother for a day of media training.
Linda met with representatives of SFT, Tibet Society, the Tibetan Community and Free Tibet Campaign for a day long workshop on working with the media. The day was an excellent chance for the groups to meet and work together in the run up to Hu Jintao's state visit to the UK. Linda coached the participants in how to highlight Tibet effectivly during the visit of Hu Jintao.

Han was in the UK!

2005-10-31T19:28:00.000Z

SFT international's opperations director Han Shan was in the UK for 3 days working with SFT UK.

Han spent 3 days helping the UK campaigns team prepare for the State visit of Hu Jintao 8th-10th November and Bombardier day of action 3rd November.

Han also attended a reception at Westminster for the visiting Tibetan MPs with members of the SFT UK board.

Lets make them hear our voice!

2005-10-22T12:40:00.000+01:00

Hu Jintao must listen.

Exile brothers UK in conjunction with Students for a Free Tibet UK present an evening of music, information and discussion on the state visit by Hu Jintao 8th till 10th November 2005.

DJ Abo will perform:

Tibetan, Bollywood, R'n'B & Hiphop

Come along to share your views and enjoy the night.

Sat 29th October at Nelson's bar.
Nelson, 48 Stanhope st, Regents Park, London NW1 3EX
from 6pm till 11pm
suggested donation £3

SFT UK in the USA!

2005-10-12T19:31:00.000+01:00

For the past week Alice, Fiona and Ben from the SFT UK board have been in New York hanging out with the guys from the SFT International office and board, to learn from their experience and strengthen our ties. So far we've updated them on our progress in the UK, had some discussions on campaigns, fundraising and technology and ploughed through the huge back-log of emails and work we have to do.

But there's been time for some fun too. On Saturday we went to the New York and New Jersey TYC 36^th anniversary celebration where, after sitting through some long speeches in Tibetan, we saw a great Yak dance by two mysterious performers, some young karaoke singers and, a new one for us, a Tibetan rap artist (China is lying, my people are dying, children are crying...). There's also been dinner at Tsampa, the Tibetan restaurant of choice in NY, general “getting to know you” drinks and a chance for a bit of sight-seeing.

All in all, it's been great fun, very productive and we'll be sad to leave on Saturday, so we're going to make the most of it until then. If you want to see some pictures of what we've been up to go the SFT International blog at tibetwillbefree.blogspot.com

Finally, a big thank you to all the guys here in New York who've made our trip so great. Cheers.

posted by Ben!!

Hu Jintao will be staying with the queen between the 8th and 10th November

2005-10-12T16:44:00.000+01:00

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh 8th to 10th November - The President of The People's Republic of China and Madame Liu Yong Qing will pay a State Visit to the United Kingdom and stay at Buckingham Palace.

Sign up to our Rise Up list to receive action alirts and more info on the visit.

The railway across the roof of the world

2005-09-20T12:14:00.000+01:00

An extract from the Guardian on 16th September (DAY 3 OF OUR ACTION)

They said it was impossible to build a railway to Tibet. There were 5,000m-high mountains to climb, 12km-wide valleys to bridge, hundreds of kilometres of ice and slush that could never support tracks and trains. How could anyone tunnel through rock at -30C, or lay rails when the least exertion sends you reaching for the oxygen bottle? But that's the sort of challenge today's China relishes. Next month, three years ahead of schedule, more than 1,000km of fresh track will link the garrison town of Golmud in China's 'wild west' and the Tibetan capital of Lhasa, strengthening the regime's grip on this troublesome corner of the empire and confirming its status as a technological superpower. Jonathan Watts travelled the route to create a snapshot of a nation on the move.

'Aren't we Chinese great? They said it couldn't be done. And yet, we've not only done it, we've done it ahead of plan. No other country in the world could do this. Chinese people are so clever." We are two hours, several beers and half a roasted duck into a journey on the overnight express from Xining, travelling along the completed half of what will soon be part of the world's highest railroad - the 1,900km line from Xining across the Qinghai Plateau to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. But my patriotic conversation partner, Wang Qiang, is just warming up on his favourite subject: China's engineering prowess.

"The new track follows the highway built by our soldiers in the 1950s. The terrain is so harsh that three of them died for every kilometre of road. You have to admire their spirit. But now, we've built the railway without the loss of a single life. Isn't China great?"
Wang, a stout and ruddy power factory worker from Hunan, is in the bunk two below mine. He is as keen to demonstrate the conviviality of China as he is to wax lyrical about the country's strength. As well as cracking open a bottle of beer and sharing his food, he offers a packet of Dongfanghong cigarettes - "I smoke these because it was Mao's favourite brand" - and travel advice: "Actually, there isn't much in Qinghai. It's full of police and soldiers, but we have very good public order."
Wang is one of about 60 passengers squeezed into a "hard sleeper" carriage as our overnight train rattles towards the sunset, passing a half-formed rainbow, the world's largest saltwater lake, hillsides quilted with yellow rape seed and the occasional white Tibetan yurt.
With a couple of hours left until lights out, my fellow travellers are looking for ways to kill time and forget the cramped and smoky conditions. Some play cards, others sing with their children, a curious few chat with a Tibetan monk. And when that entertainment runs out, several attempt to talk to me.
They are engagingly friendly. A family from Xining pours a pot of instant noodles and offers sightseeing tips. Two young sightseers from Hong Kong share their herbal remedies for altitude sickness and talk enviously about the mainland.
"There is an amazing can-do spirit in China these days," says Susan Hong, a maths teacher. "We used to have a bit of that in Hong Kong. But now we are so conservative compared to the mainland. Anything seems possible in China these days. It's very exciting."
As I get ready to turn in, Wang qualifies the level of his friendliness. "I am happy to share food and drink with you. We are friends with all countries now. Except Japan. If you were Japanese I would not share my food with you. And I would not let you sleep in the bunk above me."
Perhaps it is the lack of oxygen here at 3,000m above sea level or the frequent patrols by ticket inspectors, but I have trouble getting to sleep. Instead, my mind races across the day's contrasting impressions: the warmth of my fellow passengers, the sometimes scary nationalism of Wang, the can-do spirit.
China is a nation on the move. But should its economic growth be cause for alarm? Other nations have risen fast - Britain during the industrial revolution, the US at the turn of the century, and Japan during and after the 1960s. However, it took Britain 100 years to rise; 60 for the US and 30 for Japan. It seems China will be transformed in just a couple of decades. And it is not just the speed of change that is turning heads, but the scale.
China has the world's biggest population: 1.3 billion. Now those billions are travelling, earning and consuming more than ever before, and pessimists fear the world will be overrun by an eastern horde. Others, however, view China as the nation most capable of extending the limits of human civilisation in centuries to come. This is where development is progressing fastest. This is where the biggest risks are taken, where the impossible seems possible.
The railway to Tibet is one of the greatest symbols of that spirit. Since it was built in 1984, the route from Xining, the provincial capital of Qinghai Province, to Golmud, the garrison town in China's wild west, has been the train to nowhere. No one, it was believed, could build a line any further across the Qinghai plateau, certainly not one all the way to Tibet. It was too bleak, too cold, too high, too oxygen-starved. Even the best Swiss tunnelling engineers concluded that it was impossible to bore through the rock and ice of the Kunlun mountain range.
If that were not enough, even the flats were filled with perils. A metre or so below the surface was a thick layer of permafrost; above this, a layer of ice that melts and refreezes with the seasons and the rising and setting of the sun. How could anyone build a track on that? And how could a regular service be run in an area plagued by sandstorms in the summer and blizzards in the winter?
As the great train traveller Paul Theroux wrote in Riding the Red Rooster, these challenges are why the former Himalayan kingdom of Tibet - on the other side of the plateau - has remained unspoilt and so un-Chinese for so long. "The Kunlun Range is a guarantee that the railway will never get to Lhasa. That is probably a good thing. I thought I liked railways until I saw Tibet, and then I realised that I liked wilderness much more." But that guarantee no longer applies. Next month - three years ahead of schedule - Chinese engineers will lay the final section of track on a line stretching to Lhasa, across the roof of the world. Test runs will begin on the new line next July and commercial services are scheduled to begin within two years.

Tibet Activists confront Bombardier over its support of "cultural genocide" in Tibet.

2005-09-18T14:21:00.000+01:00

Press Release 15 September 2005

Tibet Activists confront Bombardier over its support of "cultural genocide" in Tibet.

[Manchester G-Mex Centre] Activists from Free Tibet Campaign and Students for a Free Tibet UK today protested against Bombardier's support of cultural genocide (note 1) in Tibet at the Infrarail 2005 Exhibition in Manchester. Bombardier is supplying China's Gormo-Lhasa (Qinghai - Tibet) railway project (note 2) with rail-cars, a deal publicly criticised for facilitating the Chinese Government's politically motivated programme to consolidate its control over occupied Tibet. After confronting Bombardier's representatives at their stall, activists escalated the protest by performing a peaceful demonstration, illustrating Bombardier's disregard for the Tibetan people which Tibet campaigners claim violates its own Code of Ethics. The activists also distributed information to media, visitors and exhibitors. "We called upon the Infrarail delegates to support our demand that Bombardier withdraw from this project, which will contribute to what the Dalai Lama has described as cultural genocide," said Ben Martin of Students for a Free Tibet UK. Bombardier's representatives were embarrassed by the protest, refused to engage in a dialogue with the protesters and called for security to intervene. As the protesters were escorted out side they were approached by delegates expressing their support. Activists are handing out postcards, which they urge delegates attending Infrarail to hand in to Bombardier's stand. The annual Infrarail exhibition is a major event for the rail industry. "It is crucial that the industry is aware of Bombardier’s involvement in such a controversial and damaging project. Bombardier is ignoring core industry values in the pursuit of its own commercial interests" said Yael Weisz Rind of Free Tibet Campaign.

Notes to Editors:
(1) Bombardier leads a consortium in a contract worth $78 million to supply railcars to the Qinghai-Tibet (Gormo-Lhasa) Railway. For further information on Gormo-Lhasa railway project and its implications for Tibet and the Tibetan people see: www.studentsforafreetibet.org/article.php?list=type&type=62
(2) The Dalai Lama stated that ``Some kind of cultural genocide is taking place”… “In general, a railway link is very useful in order to develop, but not when politically motivated to bring about demographic change." Taken from a report by John Miller, Associated Press on 11 September 2005.

Dance for Freedom

2005-08-30T14:50:00.000+01:00

September 1st marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and, in order to keep up the pretence that Tibet is theirs, the Chinese government is holding a big celebration to mark the “occasion”.

So, Students for a Free Tibet UK is having its own party on September 2nd, not to celebrate the founding of the TAR but to raise funds to campaign against such colonial claims. It’s happening at the RampART Creative Centre, 15-17 Rampart St., London from 9pm to 2am (nearest tube: Whitechapel) and entry is by donation. It should be a fun and lively event with drinks and DJs and everyone is welcome so why not bring some friends along.

For a map of how to get to the party click on the link below http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=534641&Y=181230&A=Y&Z=1

For further details of this event please email ben@sftuk.org
For further information about Students for a Free Tibet UK visit: www.studentsforafreetibet.org/sftuk

2005-08-18T20:15:00.000+01:00

flags!

Our Mission Statement

2005-08-02T15:51:00.000+01:00

Hi,

I would like to dedicate my first posting of the very important SFT UK mission statement to Matt who told me what a blog was, being ignorant of these kinds of things.

SFT UK Mission statement:

Students for a Free Tibet’ (SFT) UK works in solidarity with the Tibetan people to achieve their quest for freedom and independence. We raise political, economic, environmental, and social issues that affect Tibetans living in Tibet and in exile to the government and the public in the UK. As a network of young people around the world, we campaign for fundamental right of Tibetans to independence. We believe that young people can and must take responsibility to change our world for the better.

First post

2005-08-02T14:56:00.000+01:00

Woo ya ya woo blog blog. There's one of these created a second according to the BBC yesterday.