|
Tibetans have exploded onto the streets in frustration–call on China to respect human rights and enter dialogue with the Dalai Lama now:
|
Tony Robertson a photographer and Social Justice Advocate in Brisbane helped St Mary’s Catholic Community South Brisbane launch a campaign supporting the calls for Freedom for Tibet on Easter Sunday.Following the Easter morning Mass, Mr Robertson invited parishioners to join a photography campaign by standing under a “Free Tibet” banner as an act of solidarity with the current political crisis in Tibet..
St Mary’s Church South Brisbane has a tradition of hanging banners on the corner of the Church car park which faces a major intersection carrying traffic into the southside of Brisbane.
The ‘Free Tibet” banner was the inspiration of a Buddhist Nun, the Venerable Ree, who is student at the Brisbane Institute of Art. A team of students in the Fabric Printing group joined Ree in the screen-printing of the banner as a class exercise. We thank Nancy Brown,Angela and Gerry for their contribution to this project.
Mr Robertson said:”The banner reminds our community and those who drive past our Church that our Easter faith is is about life and liberation.The great Exodus story we retell at the Easter Vigil echoes in our own day as the cry of “let my people go” is heard on the lips of the people of Tibet.
Mr Robertson, a community photographer has also invited local businesses, residents and community groups to join the campaign by having their photo taken under the banner in the lead up to the Olympic Games in Beijing.Mr Robertson said he will use the images on web sites and other media to promote the cause of the Middle Way proposed as a political solution by the Dalai Lama since 1979.
After decades of repression under Chinese rule, the Tibetan people’s frustrations have burst onto the streets in protests and riots. With the spotlight of the upcoming Olympic Games now on China, Tibetans are crying out to the world for change.
The Chinese government has said that the protesters who have not yet surrendered “will be punished”. Its leaders are right now considering a crucial choice between escalating brutality or dialogue that could determine the future of Tibet, and China.
We can affect this historic choice–China does care about its international reputation. China’s President Hu Jintao needs to hear that the ‘Made in China’ brand and the upcoming Olympics in Beijing can succeed only if he makes the right choice. But it will take an avalanche of global people power to get his attention–and we need it in the next 48 hours.
The Tibetan Nobel peace prize winner and spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama has called for restraint and dialogue: he needs the world’s people to support him. Click below now to sign the petition–and tell absolutely everyone you can right away–our goal is 1 million voices united for Tibet:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/tibet_end_the_violence/9.php
China’s economy is totally dependent on “Made in China” exports that we all buy, and the government is keen to make the Olympics in Beijing this summer a celebration of a new China, respected as a leading world power. China is also a very diverse country with a brutal past and has reason to be concerned about its stability — some of Tibet’s rioters killed innocent people. But President Hu must recognize that the greatest danger to Chinese stability and development comes from hardliners who advocate escalating repression, not from Tibetans who seek dialogue and reform.
We will deliver our petition directly to Chinese officials in London, New York, and Beijing, but it must be a massive number before we deliver the petition. Please forward this email to your address book with a note explaining to your friends why this is important, or use our tell-a-friend tool to email your address book–it will come up after you sign the petition.
The Tibetan people have suffered quietly for decades. It is finally their moment to speak–we must help them be heard.
With hope and respect,
Ricken, Iain, Graziela, Paul, Galit, Pascal, Milena, Ben and the whole Avaaz team
PS – It has been suggested that the Chinese government may block the Avaaz website as a result of this email, and thousands of Avaaz members in China will no longer be able to participate in our community. A poll of Avaaz members over the weekend showed that over 80% of us believed it was still important to act on Tibet despite this terrible potential loss to our community, if we thought we could make a difference. If we are blocked, Avaaz will help maintain the campaign for internet freedom for all Chinese people, so that our members in China can one day rejoin our community.
Here are some links with more information on the Tibetan protests and the Chinese response:
BBC News: UN Calls for Restraint in Tibet
Human Rights Watch: China Restrain from Violently Attacking Protesters
Associated Press: Tibet Unrest Sparks Global Reaction
New York Times: China Takes Steps to Thwart Reporting on Tibet Protests
