I Was Detained In China For A Free Tibet

Under the present Chinese occupation of Tibet, which has been internationally recognized as illegal, Tibetans do not have the same religious, political, cultural and basic freedoms we have in the West.

Right now, there is a remarkable influx of Han Chinese into the region and as a result, many of the jobs are going to people that speak Mandarin, rather than those that speak Tibetan. Access to education and employment are just some of the barriers for local Tibetans who should be participating in this so-called economic boom that the rest of China is seeing.

I've been involved with Students for a Free Tibet since 1999. The people of Tibet have been trying to seek a peaceful negotiation through non-violent means for more than 50 years. On the world stage, that's something that stands out for me. I think we need to pay attention to it because too often solutions are sought through violent means. If we can resolve the situation in Tibet peacefully, it would serve as an example for present and future conflicts.

On the whole, I think that Chinese-occupied Tibet is an issue that strikes a chord with anyone interested in human rights, culture, religion, politics or the environment.

Tibet is situated at the headwaters of the major rivers of Asia, and geographically it is the top of the world. Militarily-speaking, it's obvious why there is a build up of Chinese military in Tibet.

The Tibetan plateau is a delicate ecosystem, and Tibetans have lived there more or less in harmony for thousands of years. The pressures that have been put on Tibet by the development initiatives of China and other countries investing in private companies, such as Canada, are pushing the environment to its limits.