China
Crisis in Tibet (+ action items)
In case you haven't heard, there've been protests in Tibet the last few days marking the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising. These are some of the biggest demonstrations the country's seen since the 1980s. The Chinese government has clamped down hard and violence has broken out.
Violent protests erupted Friday in a busy market area of Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, as Buddhist monks and other ethnic Tibetans clashed with Chinese security forces. Witnesses say the protesters burned shops, cars, military vehicles and at least one tourist bus.
The chaotic scene marked the most violent demonstrations since protests by Buddhist monks began in Lhasa on Monday, which was the anniversary of a failed Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule in 1959. The ongoing protests have been the largest in Tibet since the late 1980s, when Chinese security forces repeatedly used lethal force to restore order in the region.
The developments prompted the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, to issue a statement, saying that he was concerned about the situation and appealing to the Chinese leadership to "stop using force and address the long-simmering resentment of the Tibetan people."
This particular media report skipped the last part of his statement: "I also urge my fellow Tibetans not to resort to violence."
Thursday Open Thread
- 9 killed in Myanmar today. This article provides some background on why the country is so backward economically and politically.
- Democratic presidential debate yesterday.
- Bipartisan Senate vote endorses kinda-partition of Iraq.
- Another aid agency pulling out of Darfur, citing attacks on workers.
- China lends Congo 5 billion dollars for construction projects.
Weekend Open Thread
Rudy Giuliani is an asshole. (other possible descriptions: "opportunist," "jerk", "slimeball", "shill", "tool", "misleader", "manipulator", "dog", "politician", and "Republican". Feel free to quote me on that!
The search for the real armed robber now begins. Or, OJ just wants his jersey back?
Decades of no government, armed unrest and a new wave of civil war = malnutrition crisis for children and mothers in Somalia.
The infamous Soviet "Doomsday Device" nuclear holocaust machine...is still online, armed and ready. Dear Russia ---- fuck you.
Japan launches lunar orbiter, aiming to land astronaut by 2020.
China emerges as global leader in cyberwarfare.
Alberto Gonzales over and out. *sheds little tear...not.
War with Iran still a threat. I don't think we will, but who the hell knows. Oh yeah. BUSH does. ...so it goes.
Happy weekend.
Wednesday Open Thread
- China announces media crackdown. Also, don't eat Chinese dumplings for awhile. Maybe they got confused, thought they were making hot dogs?
- A new Jeremy Scahill article about private contractors in Iraq --- and beyond. Can you say shady?
- Congressional investigatory arm GAO reports that the Bush admin spent 1.6 billion dollars on public relations between 2003 and 2005.
- Interesting UNICEF piece about Palestinian youth centers.
- 200+ people killed in 4 coordinated truck bombings in northern Iraq.
Petition China about Darfur
I don't know if it is too late to sign this. The deadline I think is today.
The road to peace in Darfur goes through China.
China is Sudan's chief diplomatic sponsor and its largest foreign investor and trade partner. As a result, China can use its significant influence over the Sudanese government to determine Darfur's future.
This month China holds the presidency of the UN Security Council. China will also host the Summer Olympics in 2008, offering this powerful nation an unprecedented opportunity to shine on the world stage. But that will not happen if it continues to remain silent in the face of genocide.
Tuesday Open Thread
- AlexUA at Future Majority posts about prezzy candidate Chris Dodd's community service program proposal.
- The DARE Generation. I like this blog.
- How U.S. cities will adapt to global warming.
- Afghanistan?
Bias
- Read this.
- Note the source.
- Throw up a little.
- Be grateful that even our media isn't that bad.
- Leave a comment.
Write to Congress
Here guys: a little letter to Congress urging them to pass a resolution to talk to China about Darfur, and how it can help to stop the Genocide. China is a great and powerful nation, but the world would look up to it more if it did this...