Break the silence on Tibet.

Pilgrims prostrating in Barkhor Circuit in Lhasa, Tibet's Capital. There have been two recent self immolations in this same area.

Potala Palace- home of the Dalai Lama before he was sent into exile in India many years ago

I have been reading lots of news reports stating that China has closed Tibet to any tourist contact.
Tibet is a amazing country, and the Tibetan people are incredibly kind. I feel so blessed to have been able to experience this magnificent land and it saddens me to see the destructive acts of the Chinese Government in relation to this beautiful country.
Since I spent time in Tibet there has been at least 37 accounts of self-immolation/self harm in protest to the unnecessary laws. Tibetan people have not been able to legally leave their homeland for many years and now tourism has been cut off. Tourism is a driving force for the Tibetan economy, for Tibetan livelihood.

The Tibetan voice is being dismissed and silenced. Foreign contact was the strongest vehicle of awareness for the Tibetan people's plight. This ban comes in the face of Saga Dawa- a month long festival and the peak-tourist season for Tibet.

Tibetans face oppression every day in many forms:

• they can be detained without charge – sometimes for more than a year – with no legal representation
• they can be sentenced to life imprisonment for simply sending an email about the situation inside Tibet
• there is widespread and routine torture of prisoners
• Tibetans cannot practice their religion freely
• Tibetan monk risk expulsion from monasteries if they do not denounce the Dalai Lama

With strict Chinese law enforcement, it is up to foreigners to raise awareness for the Tibetan peoples plight and fight for the freedom and individuality that this country has deserved for so many years.

If you would like to read more about the ban:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/9314556/China-closes-Tibet-to-foreign-visitors.html

http://www.freetibet.org/

Through the Free Tibet website you can contact our world leaders and ask them to break the silence:
http://freetibet.org/campaigns/call-world-leaders-speak-tibet



I do not usually ask people to join/sign/ donate to campaigns or include political issues on this blog, but this is something that I feel so strongly about.

Please, SPEAK to people about Tibet!