SFT Vancouver & Victoria Protest Mining in Tibet at Vancouver Resource Investment Conference

On January 23^rd a group of approximately 25 Tibetans and Tibetan supporters came together for the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference to stand up against mining companies who are currently active inside of Tibet and to make investors aware about the downsides to supporting the wealth extraction out of Tibet.

Students for a Free Tibet Vancouver and Victoria teamed up to put on the rally which included a few members going inside of the conference to speak directly to Vancouver-based Lara Exploration and delivering a letter on behalf of SFT Canada urging them to immediately withdraw from their operations in Malho Prefecture (Ch: Huangnen Prefecture) in Eastern Tibet (Amdo Region). The company representative said Lara Exploration was looking to sell their Tibetan operations.

The mining representatives were amiable and respectful, and we will be making further contact with them to ensure that they have indeed stopped participating in the wealth extraction of Tibet.

-Julia, SFT Vancouver

See the video below for footage from the protest outside, as well as an amazing action performed inside the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference by Bazzi from SFT Victoria to target investors and mining corporations. The video sound quality makes it a bit tough to hear, so we’ve (to the best of our ability) transcribed what is said in the video.

AFTER DROPPING BOX OF GOLD NUGGETS:

BAZZI: NO! STAY AWAY! THIS GOLD IS MINE! STAY BACK! BUT YOU KNOW WHERE I GOT IT? I’LL TELL YOU SO YOU CAN GET YOUR OWN. LARA EXPLORATION HELPED ME, YES LARA EXPLORATION, THESE PEOPLE RIGHT THERE.

LARA EXPLORATION IS CURRENTLY MINING ON THE TIBETAN PLATEAU, AND THERE ARE PILES OF GOLD IN TIBET.

WE GET IT FROM THE TIBETANS, AND NOW THEY’RE [THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT] SYSTEMATICALLY DESTROYING TIBETAN CULTURE, ENVIRONMENT, THEY’VE KILLED OVER A MILL ION PEOPLE AND LARA EXPLORATION IS HELPING.

THERE’S PILES OF GOLD IN TIBET. GOLD SO HIGH, IT’S ALMOST AS HIGH AS THE PILES OF BODIES. I’VE GOT TO SAY, YOU’VE GOT TO GET YOUR GOLD. THE TIBETAN PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE HELPFUL. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, THEY’LL HELP YOU GET THIS GOLD.

LOOK AT ALL THIS! LARA HELPED ME GET IT. IT WASN’T EVEN HARD. YOU SEE THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT LOOKS OUT FOR US. THEY KEEP THOSE TIBETANS QUIET. AND IF SOME OF THEM START TO MAKE TROUBLE FOR US (MIMES CUTTING THROAT) THEY DON’T MAKE TROUBLE FOR LONG!

IT’S LIKE TAKING CANDY FROM CHILDREN.

THE TIBETANS ARE ALWAYS COMPLAINING, “YOU’RE STEALING OUR LAND. YOU’RE GIVING ALL THE JOBS TO FOREIGNERS! YOU’RE USING UP ALL OUR WATER. WHY IS THERE MERCURY IN OUR RIVER?!” COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN. IT’S ALL THESE TIBETANS EVER SEEM TO DO.

OH THANK YOU SIR. YOU’RE SO GENEROUS. SIR, SIR, ARE YOU GOING TO INVEST IN LARA EXPLORATION?

MAN: I’M ALREADY A SHAREHOLDER

BAZZI: YOU ALREADY DO?! THEN PLEASE TELL ME, WHAT IS YOUR OPINION… HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT UNDERMINING HUMAN RIGHTS IN TIBET?

MAN: I THINK YOU’RE TOO ENTHUSIASTIC.

BAZZI: I’M TELLING YOU NOW. INVEST IN LARA EXPLORATION. IT’S SO EASY, THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WILL HELP YOU. YOU’LL BE A STRATEGIC PARTNER WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. WHO WOUDLN’T WANT THAT?

For media coverage of our protest, visit: http://www.sftcanada.org/index.php/our-work/media-centre

Support more actions like this by donating to SFT Canada today: http://www.sftcanada.org/index.php/make-a-donation

For more information about mining in Tibet, visit: www.StopMiningTibet.org