Étudiants pour un Tibet Libre au Festival des Films du Monde

Lundi soir dernier a eu lieu la cérémonie de clôture du Festival des Films du Monde de Montréal.  Précédée par la remise de prix officielle, le documentaire «The Everlasting Flame: Bejing Olympics 2008 » de la chinoise Gu Jun fut présenté comme projection ultime de cette 33ème édition du FFM.

Illustrant le parcours planétaire de la flamme olympique avant son arrivée finale à Beijing dans une Chine triomphante et glorifiée, ce long-métrage ne reflète nulle image des horreurs infligées à plusieurs centaines de Tibétains lors de ces derniers Jeux ni les manifestations mondiales qui en sont découlées.  Or, afin de démontrer l’opposition du comité d’Étudiants pour un Tibet Libre de Montréal face à cette sélection pour clore le FFM, qui affirme être un festival encourageant «la diversité culturelle et la compréhension entre les peuples»[1], trois d’entre nous avons vêtis nos gilets Team Tibet et sommes allées distribuer des pamphlets.

En fait, nous avons surtout saisi cette occasion pour remettre aux spectateurs et artisans du septième art de l’information et des ressources internet concernant l’emprisonnement injustifiée du réalisateur tibétain Dhondup Wanchen. Puis, malgré nos quelques déplacements obligatoires incités par les agents de sécurité, nous avons pu livrer approximativement une centaine de feuillets et propager des échos d’Étudiants pour un Tibet libre à travers l’assistance.

Éliane Thouin

ÉTL Montréal

[1] http://www.ffm-montreal.org/fr_info_fest.html

SFT Canada Back-To-School Workshop: An Inspirational Weekend

This past weekend was Students for a Free Tibet Canada’s Back-To-School Workshop here in Toronto.  There was representation not only from Toronto area students, but people hailing all the way from Calgary and Montreal as well.  The workshop was aimed at providing students with skills and resources to help them start up or maintain their local SFT chapters.  We started the day off discussing historical non-violent movements, from the Civil Rights movement in the United States to the Gandhian movement in India.  These examples of non-violent movements and the tactics they used only further the case for non-violence when demanding for change from the status quo. 

The day progressed with other workshops helping to empower the SFT members in terms of the essentials of running a chapter.  And like any other SFT conference, not only did SFTers learn useful tools to help them and their chapters, but long-lasting bonds were built between the SFTers from all over the country, trumping any personal background differences and language barriers. 

At the end of the day, I felt inspired by all the young students and their visions for their SFT chapters in the coming year.  The fact that we had such a dynamic group of motivated and passionate Tibetan and Tibet-supporting youth made me excited for the Tibet movement here in Canada. 

However, I think my most real inspirational moment took place later on in the weekend.   The morning after the workshop, a few of us went down to sit by the Toronto Lakeshore to take in the sunrise.  Out of nowhere, an elderly Tibetan man with prayer beads in hand came up to us and exclaimed, “I thought you were Tibetans!” and proceeded to tell us how he came down here every day after his morning ritual of sweet tea, two eggs and bread.  He then walked to the edge of the dock and stared down into the water.  He told us that the clear water in the morning reminded him of the water in Tibet, and how in the winter, the lakes in Tibet would freeze over, unlike Lake Ontario.  I could sense a longing in his voice for his home country but also bliss in reminiscing about his youth in a free Tibet.  At that moment, I, along with the others, were reminded why we were a part of Students for a Free Tibet, and why we were fighting for Rangzen (Tibetan: Freedom).  Only with Rangzen, can Tibetans like the man who walks by the lakeshore every morning, return home to where they belong and live their lives in bliss.  Bhoe Rangzen!

Canada: Speak out for Tibetan Filmmaker, Dhondup Wangchen!

Tomorrow, Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is set to leave on a high-profile trade mission to China taking place from August 8th to 14th, in an effort to improve trade relations with the Chinese government.  This is a big change from the government’s initial stance on China, with Prime Minister Harper originally being quoted as saying that he wouldn’t “sell out to the almighty dollar“.

Flaherty’s trip with other heads in the Canadian financial sector comes as Tibetan filmmaker, Dhondup Wanchen, awaits trial on charges of “inciting separatism” for taking part in making the film Leaving Fear Behind.  This film documents the views of ordinary Tibetans in Tibet about policies in Tibet, the Dalai Lama, and the Beijing 2008 Olympics.  Dhondup Wangchen’s lawyer has been barred from representing him, casting serious doubt over the fairness of his trial, and the legitimacy of China’s judicial system.

Because of this trip, Canada has the ability to speak out for Dhondup Wangchen and for human rights in Tibet.  Please TAKE ACTION by sending a letter urging Minister Flaherty to raise Dhondup Wangchen’s case during his trip to China. 

What Happens When You Take the Chinese Government Out of the Mix?

When news first broke out about East Turkestan, it felt like a déjà vu of last year’s riots in Lhasa, and subsequently, all over Tibet.  But I didn’t realize how similarly the unrest in East Turkestan was affecting the Uyghur community here in Canada until this past weekend.

I was invited to a dinner with guests of Tibetan, Uyghur, Chinese, and Taiwanese backgrounds.  As I listened to the Uyghurs express their frustrations about the continuing conflict in their homeland, it sounded eerily similar to what many Tibetans were feeling last year.  They were of course, first and foremost worried about their people back home, but they were also disturbed by the reaction they were receiving from the Chinese people.

In China, online forums are filled with hatred towards Uyghurs, calling them “ungrateful”, among many things.  While here in Canada, they’ve experienced similar reactions from Chinese bystanders during their protests.  I felt the same frustration towards the Chinese last year, however, also had many reach out to me and express their support and wishes for peace.  So, with their propaganda, the Chinese government wasn’t only fuelling tensions back in Tibet, but here in Canada as well.

As I sat there that night and looked around me at the wonderfully diverse group of people sharing stories, laughs, and beers, I thought about how if we were 11,816km east of here (yes, I looked it up!), there is no way a gathering like this could happen.  Kind of like if you take fuel away from the formula to create fire, the flame would fizzle out, take away China’s communist iron fist and propaganda, and the smoke would clear to make way for peace and harmony.  Free Tibet! Free East Turkestan! Free CHINA!

Tibetans and Supporters Confront Continental Minerals at their AGM

It was a rainy Vancouver day, but Tibetans and supporters organized by SFT and CTC came out to hold a second protest on Wednesday June 24th, outside the Metropolitan Hotel where the Continental Minerals AGM took place, to protest the company mining in Tibet.  Earlier that morning, Tsering Lama, SFT Canada National Director, went head-to-head with Continental Minerals’ VP Dickson Hall on CBC Radio.  To listen to the CBC Radio interview, click here.

Later that day, Tsering was able to enter the AGM to confront the executives of Continental Minerals and deliver over 1000 petitions of supporters calling for Continetnal Minerals to stop mining in Tibet (we actually have 1600 petitions but stopped the printer at 1000, felt bad killing more trees than we had to!).  Several other SFTers Casey, Klara, and Christy also entered the AGM and were later were kicked out of the meeting, but staged a powerful die-in in the hall outisde the meeting before being escorted out of the hotel.

Those who were in the meeting said they could hear the protestors outside loud and clear, and the Continental executives were so stunned at how powerful Tibetans and their supporters were, they were literally shaking during the meeting!

During the confrontation, Tsering spoke about how Tibetans were protesting a similar operation in a nearby area.  Continental Minerals’ CEO David Copeland was quick to reply that that shows that Tibetans have freedom of speech.  Tsering replied that no, no they don’t; 6 Tibetan women were shot in the process.

To see CTV media coverage of Wednesday’s event, click here.

To see SFT’s footage of inside the AGM, as well as the protest outside, click here.

For reports, videos, and photos from similar actions from around the world, visit: www.StopMiningTibet.com