The Realist Idealist

Tibet is a part of the world I’ve never been to, but one that I’m endlessly fascinated by, supportive of, and feel oddly connected to as it continues to come up through friends and events.

That said, today’s events in and around Tibet have shocked me.

If you haven’t yet seen what’s going on, here is an article from today’s NYT, or see some of CNN’s coverage here)

Tibetans are being slaughtered in a cultural genocide and the Chinese are blaming them for it!

I was shocked further when I viewed an email/link sent by my friends Nancy Shoeman and Amber Huber who have ties to the region and are receiving updates. The photos in the following link are not seen anywhere else, and though they are terrible and require discretion, please publicize them as far and wide as you are able.

http://www.phayul.com/photogallery/flash/2008/

China has expelled foreign journalists from Tibet, and the US decried their actions saying that it was “disturbing and disappointing amid unrest there.”

Despite the expulsion, groups like MobileActive and Katrin Verclas are getting some of the best coverage as it comes in clandestinely via SMS.

Various unconfirmed reports I’ve seen (all via text message) have claimed anywhere from 100-1,000 Tibetans have already been brutally murdered by Chinese armed forces.

The Chinese government’s ultimatum is due to expire midnight tonight and the great fear is a huge massacre of Tibetans will take place following it.

Here is one place to take action and speak out:
http://www.studentsforafreetibet.org/article.php?id=1315

Here’s another to stay updated:
http://www.phayul.com/