Poem

Tibet,
Religious and peaceful
Ancestors live on
Come back as animal or insect
Tibetans live forever

China,
Large and powerful
Olympic burden
Earthquake, rioting, disaster
China's success impacts the world

China and Tibet,
The events have been terrible and horrendous
Haynes, hazardous, horrid
Feared troubled and scared
Tibet fights for it's freedom

Rioting,
A violent break out
A plea for help
Effective and unusual
Tibet fights for it's freedom

The never ending conflict,
Both sides strong
Tibet, determined
China, powerful
Which side will win

Olympic Fun

After being in turmoil, many pondered if Beijing was a good spot to have the 2008 Summer Olympics. By persevering through many hardships, China has proven it's strength and power to the world after hosting a successful Olympiad. However, it was not an easy task for China. On top of hosting the 2008 Games and dealing with retched Tibetan riots, China was also "busy providing aid, food, and shelter for more than five million homeless victims from the earthquake, which occurred in Chendu mid-May." (Phuong Tram)

There are people who argue that China should not have been allowed to host the 2008 Olympics. One reason for this is because of their antagonist, Tibet. Tibet's violent riots led to "seven schools, five hospitals, and 120 homes vandalized." (Phuong Tram) 22 people died in the riots. The total damage cost China $35 million. Tibetans also protested by putting out the Olympic torch in "Paris, London, and elsewhere." (Phuong Tram) As you can see, China was in disaster.

On top of the rioting came the earthquake. After the earthquake left millions homeless, the Olympics seemed like a lost cause. "The crises had prepared people for adversity, rather than superficial work, [so] they could be more down-to-earth and focus on real problems. After all, the Olympiad is not our sole task." (Xia Xueluan) However, this does not mean that China gave up. China needed to successfully host the Olympics in order to encourage the people in the "quake zones." (Yuan) At this time, the world did not believe in China, and wanted to move the Olympics. However, it's not very practical to change locations after Beijing has been planning and building for the past 8 years in preparation.

Despite the turmoil, China stuck with their goal, and successfully hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics. It may have been a bumpy road, but in the end, China received the worlds respect after proving their strength and power. They also received the benefits of the Olympics. China's tourism will sky rocket, due to the media, resulting in mass income. All in all, China's strong determination has paid off.

Tram, Phuong. "Thoughts on what a politicized Chinese Olympics means in light of the earthquake." Imprint Online. 09 Dec. 2008 .

Annotated Bibliography

"Butter from Sangsang town hot in Lhasa." Tibet.cn. 09 Dec. 2008. 9 Dec. 2008 .

While searching through the very helpful website of Tibet.cn I came across a short and interesting article on butter. The article simply states that butter from Sangsang, an autonomous Tibetan town, is a huge hit in the surrounding area. "The butter is popular among the region for its fine quality and taste." I found this interesting short article in the news section of this website. The website contains many other short and interesting updates in Tibet.

This source may have been very interesting, however, it would not be very useful in a research paper. Just because this article was not useful, does not mean that the website is not useful. The website contains plenty of up-to-date valuable articles on Tibet.

This was a source that I just discovered and have not used. The specific article on butter is not helpful in my research paper, but there are many other articles which I plan to use. The website contains an updated news section which will come in handy when I need to know some current information.

Kauffner, Peter. "What is the historical basis of the Chinese claim to Tibet?" 10 Oct.
1990 http://stason.org/tularc/travel/tibet/b5-what-is-the-historical-basis-of-the-chinese-claim-to-tib.html.

Peter Kauffner's informational article is all about the history between China, Tibet, and Mongolia. The article states that since ancient times, Mongolians have been part of China's nationality. The Mongol Khanates also "peacefully incorporated Tibet in 1247 after defeating the Western Xia. In these times, China, Mongolia, and Tibet were all seperate countries. The Dalai Lama states that the VIth Dalai Lama was politicaly weak, and this is when China began to influence Tibet. Tibet accepted their influence but never joined China. The Dalai Lama says, "You cannot
use the previous invasion as evidence that Tibet belongs to China. In
the Tibetan mind, regardless of who was in power, whether it was the
Manchus, the Mongols or the Chinese, the east of Tibet was simply
referred to as China."

This article was very useful. The article contained what seemed like true information, and it was not bias towards one side. In fact, the article gave both sides of the story which is rare to find when researching Tibet and China.

Finding this article was a major blessing for me because I needed to find something with both opinions for the opposing view blog. The article was also very useful because it contained the information that you usually don't see. The information was all off the main track. All in all, this source engrosed me, and helped me view the early relations between these three counties.

Free Tibet. http://freetibet.org

Freetibet.org is a pro Tibet website allowing it's audience to join the organization and donate money. The website contains specific current information, and basic background information. This is because someone might know everything about Tibet, and someone might know nothing and want to learn more. In attempt to raise more money for Tibet, this website also has a store where they sell items like shirts, or bumper stickers.

Free Tibet is much like the website savetibet.org (which is posted in an earlier blog below) for many reasons. One reason is because they are both easy to use and user friendly. This is very important for their website because it will attract more people to join if it is simple. The websites both contain the same kind of information and they both have an option to join the organization or donate money. If I had to chose which one is better, I would choose Save Tibet because it is easier to navigate and less confusing.

I used freetibet.org for a website review in september. This was a great choice for me because of the simplicity of the website and the concept behind it. I was able to add a link to my blog, so that viewers can view the website as well as read about it. This website is a great link to have on my blog because people can learn all about Tibet and China, from my blog, and then go to the website and donate or join.

Seven Years In Tibet. Perf. Brad Pit. DVD.

Seven Years In Tibet is a Movie about Brad Pit who is a famous Austrian climber. On his way to climbing the Himalayas, he is imprisoned in british territories (because of world war two). When Brad escapes, he is forced to flee to Tibet where he lives for seven years and becomes great friends with the Dalai Lama.

This movie is a must see. It is very educational yet suspenseful and meaningful at the same time. However, the length of the movie is too long. The movie has too many things to conclude in the end and it ends up dragging on and on. Although the movie is quite long, it is actually short considering the whole lenghth of the Tibet and China controversy.

This film was a blessing for me when we did the movie review, for many reasons. One reason is because it captutes Tibet's culture and helps it's audience understand the Tibetan ways. Another reason is that I really enjoyed the movie, and was glad that I didn't have to sit through a documentary. All in all, the movie was great and helped me out a lot.

Wong, Edward. "China Has Sentenced 55 Over Tibet Riot in March." Nytimes.com. 05 Nov. 2008.New York Times.
Edward Wong's article is about recent Tibetan riots that have gotten out of hand. An exceptionaly large riot occured in March, resulting in the deaths of “18 civilians and one police officer, while 382 civilians and 241 police officers were injured,” reported Xinhua. Xinhua also reported that “rioters also burned 120 houses and 84 vehicles and looted 1,367 shops” which caused a 47 million dollar economic loss.

This author did a great job of keeping it interesting. The author spreads out the interesting facts throughout the article in order to keep the attention of the reader. The purpose of this article is to inform that Tibet is becoming more and more violent. What will happen in a year if the protesting continues? Will Tibet continue to be violent?

This Article was great for the Article Summary blog. It was a decent length, and the format was easy to understand. Therefore, it was also easy to summarize. The article is a great piece of current information on this controversy.

Save Tibet. International Campaign For Tibet. http://savetibet.org

Savetibet.org is a great website supporting Tibet. It is a fast and easy website for all people. It has information starting from scratch. For example, it has a link labeled "about Tibet". It also has the most recent information, such as news and current events. This website is also the home of the ICT (International Campaign For Tibet.) This website is where you can join the club if you so desire.

This website is a great way to get people to support Tibet. The website is very easy and user friendly. People can join the campaign or even donate money. Anything can help Tibet, and this is a large contribution.

The news and current events provide a lot of great new information for my blog. I have already researched most of Tibet and China's past but the present will never stop producing information. I can come back to this website whenever I need some current information.

Letter

Dear President Obama,



I have been researching the Tibet and China controversy for a few months. After closely studying each sides viewpoints, I have decided that China is wrong for not letting Tibet become independent. Tibet is a very unique region that deserves to become independent. They are very unique because of their religion, and where they live. They isolate themselves high in the Apalesian Mountains. This peacefull region has tried to become independent in many ways. After many failed plans, they are now violently protesting. Violence may not be the best answer, in this case, but it is moving them farther than other attempts have in the past. After so many years of fighting with China, Tibet deserves to have their independence.
China has held on to Tibet for too long. It is not right, and we need to do something about it. Anything we do, can help Tibet. For example, if we advertise for a free Tibet, more people will want to help. Giving Tibet our support is an easy way to make a difference. Tibet needs help, and we need to help them.


Sincerely,

Paul Stover

Statistics

Finding a graph or chart on the Tibet and China controversy was very hard. Finally, after some time, I came across some statistics about the population of Tibet. The information was pretty bland, but I was happy to find something. According to Peter Kauffner in the article “How Many Ethnic Chinese Live in Tibet?” more and more ethnic chinese are choosing to live in Tibet. The population of Tibet in 1990 was 2.2 million. Of that 2.2 million, there were “ 66,000 ethnic Chinese with permanent residence status. Not included are another 40,000 Chinese entrepreneurs who are part of an unofficial "floating population" and between 40,000 and 65,000 soldiers and paramilitary police, putting the total Chinese population in Tibet at no more than 8 percent.” (Peter Kauffner) This is a very small percent. However, in 1995 the number increased immensely. The statistics show that “250,000 and 300,000, not including small groups of peoples indigenous to the region” (Peter Kauffner) were living in Tibet.
As you can see, the numbers of ethnic chinese living in Tibet are small for now, but they are increasing fast. This means that Tibet is slowly becoming less and less isolated from China. This population transfer is not a good thing for Tibet becoming independent. The more isolated they can be, the better. I would like to believe that this is a reliable source, however, a few parts of the article were very confusing telling me that this source was not professionally written. All in all, this weeks blog was quite challenging and bland.

Article Summary

While searching through nytimes.com, I came across a recently posted article on Tibetan riots. I chose this article because it is about Tibetan Riots, which is a subject I have not yet researched. According to the article, there was an exceptionally large riot in March resulting in the deaths of “18 civilians and one police officer, while 382 civilians and 241 police officers were injured,” reported Xinhua. Xinhua also reported that “rioters also burned 120 houses and 84 vehicles and looted 1,367 shops” which caused a 47 million dollar economic loss. China angrily blames the Dalai Lama of organizing the riot. As time goes on, the riots will keep getting worse and worse. Both Tibet and China still remain stubborn, as each side refuses to give up. As the violence increases, more Tibetans being sentenced and convicted. “As of April 29, 30 people have been convicted of arson, robbery, disrupting public order and attacking government offices, among other crimes related to the riot, which has the worst outburst of ethnic violence in China in recent years.” (Edward Wong) As you can see, Tibet is starting to become violent because they are tired of waiting.
This article was very interesting. It was great, because it provided many facts, and contained many details. The article was very easy to find and source. The New York Times web site is very easy and informational. I liked the subject a lot because it was very different and off the main flow of most research. The article did a great job of giving both view points on the subject. All in all, the article was very informational.

Movie Review

Seven years In Tibet is a touching movie that is meant to educate, and inform it's audience. It is clear that a lot of time was spent on this movie. From the helicopter shots of the vast Himalayas, to the clevar dialoge, this movie will make you want to say "Wow".
Brad Pitt plays as a famous Austrian backpacker who has a very unpleasent and angry personality. The movie starts out just as Brad Pitt is leaving his pregnant wife in order to climb the largest mountain of the Himalayas. The wife is obiously depressed and in anguish when he leaves her. As Brad and his crew are climbing, they come across british soldiers. The soldiers capture and imprison them because they are at war with Germany; Austria is allies with Germany. After attempting several times to escape, Brad and one of his crewmen manage to escape. They travel untill they eventually reach Tibet. Brad ends up staying in Tibet for seven years. During his stay, he is fortunate enough to become friends with the Dalai Lama who is a young boy at the time. The ending is very concluding and suspensfull as China invades Tibet and Brad Pitt returns to Austria.
Seven Years In Tibet has many great features making it a fantastic movie. The actors did an exceptional job making the audience very attached to the characters. The filming will make you fell like you are in the movie. Although the movie was very exciting, it is also very long. However, compared to the Tibet and China controversy, the movie is exceptionaly short. After watching this movie, you will learn to live life to the fullest, and without regret. All in all, this exciting, informative movie will have you hooked from begining to end.

Reflection

When I first started to ponder about research projects, the Tibet v.s. China Controversy seemed very interesting. When I thought of this topic, I was hooked immediately. So far, I have greatly enjoyed this subject and can’t wait to find out more. While researching, I have learned a lot about the difference between the culture’s of Tibet and China, along with the relationship between them. This topic is very interesting, and controversial.
The reason why this controversy is such a big deal, is because it is very debatable. There is Tibet protesting to be free on one side, and China trying to build a greater nation on the other. After researching both sides of the argument, I eventually came up with which side I am on. I decided that I was on Tibet’s side. This is because Tibet is the underdog, and they deserve their independence. I find their religion very unique and different from anything else. That is why they should be their own country. However, China’s argument is very convincing as well; and that is why this controversy is so debatable.
There is more to this topic then the differences between culture and beliefs. While researching one day, I read that China had kidnapped the Penchen Llama when it was a young boy. I find this topic very interesting. I wonder what China’s argument is. As you can see, the China and Tibet Controversy is a very appealing subject, and I have enjoyed learning about it this year.

Opposing Views

China and Tibet have been in controversy for decades. Tibet is pursuing it’s independence, and China is denying it. According to a school survey, most people are siding with Tibet because they do not know both sides of the story. The statistics did not fluctuate one bit. This research paper does not side with Tibet nor China; it is designed to educate and inform.
Is Tibet better off with or without China? China claims that the Dalai Lama, representing traditional Tibetan culture, is “historically violent and backward, and makes a poor alternative to Chinese administration.” (Tibet 277) Many Chinese officials say that China has greatly influenced Tibet’s economy and culture with their policies. China does not want to let Tibet become free, because they do not want Tibet to turn back into the civilization they once were. Most people will state that Tibet has improved their own culture and economy. However, China is taking credit for making Tibet a more improved region. As you can see, Tibet is begging for freedom, but it may be best for Tibet to be under Chinese rule.
When there is one view, there is always an opposing view. While China is claiming that they are improving Tibet, Tibet believes that China’s policies are taking away from their unique culture, religious traditions, and personal freedom. Tibet also states that the “so-called economic prosperity that China has brought to the region mainly benefits ethnic Han Chinese migrants, not native Tibetans.” (Tibet 277) All in all, both sides of the story seem very powerful. This is why the controversy has been going on for so long, because both sides strongly believe that they are right and will not ever give up.
Another argument between China and Tibet is China’s historical control over Tibet. Because China and Tibet’s history goes back so far, there is no clear evidence that proves how Tibet became a part of China. “The current Chinese Government asserts that Tibet was incorporated into China by a Mongol-led empire during the thirteenth century.” (Tibet 278) However, the Dalai Lama’s view is much different. The Dalai Lama states that the fifth Dalai Lama was politically weak, and this is when China started to influence Tibet. He also states that Tibetans “never regarded Tibet as a part of China.” (Peter Kauffner). Unfortunately, this issue will never be resolved. This is because China and Tibet will never give up, and will always argue over who is right.
As clearly stated above, Tibet and China both have very strong points. This is why the controversy has lasted for decades. Now that you are informed of both sides of the story, it’s time to ask yourself: Who is right, and what will happen in the future? Don’t forget to ponder that there is a new Dalai Lama when the old one dies. This could change a lot of different things.


Kauffner, Peter. "What is the historical basis of the Chinese claim to Tibet?" 10 Oct.
1990 http://stason.org/tularc/travel/tibet/b5-what-is-the-historical-basis-of-the-chinese-claim-to-tib.html.


Tibet, 277-284


Hoyt, Mark, ed. China Terrorizes Tibet [Tibet Fights For Independence]. Digital image. The New York Times. 18 Mar. 2008.

China vs. Tibet Survey

The China vs. Tibet survey, that was handed out to ten people, is very simple and methodical. It is a quick three question survey. The three questions that were asked, were: Do you think that Tibet should be an independent country? Is Tibet doing the right thing by protesting? Will Tibet ever gain their independence? As you can see, the survey is a simple way to see what side people are on. Before giving the survey, my hypothesis was that the majority of the surveyors will be on Tibet’s side. This is because, people are generally engrossed by the underdog, and a lot of people have heard Tibet’s side of the story and not China’s.
After taking the survey, I was not surprised to see that nine out of ten people circled yes to every question. This means that they are all pro Tibet. Because of this, the surveyors must have seen, read, or heard of something about Tibet. I think that there is way more information that is pro Tibet, than pro China. Because everyone always hears Tibet’s side of the story, my next blog will be all about China, and why they want to control Tibet so bad. This will hopefully educate people on both sides of the story, and possibly change the minds of some of the surveyors.

Website Review

The website Free Tibet, is an organization founded in 1987. This organization is bias towards Tibet. They strongly believe that Tibet deserves its independence, and deserves acclaim for the hardships that it has been through. Free Tibet is an effective, accurate, and credible source for information. However, their main purpose as a website, is to help Tibet. They do this by informing their audience of the controversy, and asking for donations or any kind of support. Therefore, Free Tibet is sponsored by it’s supporters.
Free Tibet, is very effective website for many reasons. First of all, the website is very simple, and easy to navigate. There are tabs that will help you find what you specifically need. It is also a very visual website. There are a lot of pictures and headlines that help you guide your way. Not only is the site effective, but it is accurate as well. All of the information is correct. However, this is a very bias site. Free Tibet only shows Tibet’s side of the story. Keep this in mind as your browsing the site, because what you are reading is only half of the story. Finally, Free Tibet seems to be a credible source. This is because it has accurate information, and it is a large organization. The credibility is very hard to tell because there is not an authors name. In conclusion, this website is great for many reasons, and should be viewed by you! Check out the website by clicking on the link to the right. Hopefully, it will engross you!

Current Affairs Between Tibet and China

Currently, Tibet and China's controversy has engrossed many people around the world. This is because of all the protests demonstrated by Tibet. In 1989, the Dalai Lama won a Nobel Peace Prize for the "ongoing struggle for the liberation of Tibet by nonviolent means." However, as time moved on, Tibet started to get tired of being authorized by China.
Tibet began to protest on March 10, because it was the anniversary of a past uprising that had failed in 1959. There was a full week of protests. The biggest Anti-China protest in twenty years. As Tibet protests, China is finally realizing that they are loosing control of Tibet. The Beijing government can no longer keep authority over Tibet.
Tibet’s demonstrations have recently became very violent. Hundreds of “Buddhist Monks,” (Tibetans) fought with hundreds of Chinese Security forces. In an outrage, the Tibetans burned down a market. 16 people or more were killed. As the protests continued, they eventually escalated to Beijing. These Protests are getting a lot of attention because of the 2008 Summer Olympics which is hosted by Beijing. The Tibetans demonstrations were turned international when they put out the Olympic torch several times. As you can see, the Tibetans are determined to gain their independence from China, and they are doing a great job.
In another attempt to become independent, Tibet seeks help from the United States. The Dalai Lama spoke in the White House with president Bush in October asking for help with changing China. The Dalai Lama’s talks, or negotiations with Beijing seem to go nowhere. Needless to say, Tibet has been bullied around too long. They are fed up with China, and are going to get their independence back one way or the other.


Hoyt, Mark, ed. China Terrorizes Tibet [Tibet Fights For Independence]. Digital image. The New York Times. 18 Mar. 2008.


Tibet. 277-284

Tibet should be underlined.

History and Background

In order to find some history on the Tibet and China conflict, I researched the history and culture of Tibet.  While doing research, I found that Tibet is intensely religious.  They are so religious that they turn prayer wheels and recite prayers on the street.  Their religion is a form of buddhism called llamaism.  Because of this, they have two grand llamas.  One llama is called the Dalai llama.  The Dalai llama is the ruler of Tibet, and the highest spiritual authority.  The other llama is called the Panchen llama.  The Panchen llama is the leading spiritual authority.  Both of the llamas are buddha.  This means that they are born again.  

China and Tibet have been in a conflict for a very long time.  Their conflict has dated back to the early 1700's when tibet fell under control of China.  In 1911,  the Tibetans mustered up enough courage, and forced out the Chinese troops that had been stationed there.  In 1949, China's government became communist.  After the Chinese became familiar with their new government,  Chinese forces entered Tibet in during 1950.  After becoming tired of fighting for independence, in 1951, Tibet signed an agreement with China. "They surrendered their sovereignty to the Chinese government, but kept it's right to regional self-government."  The agreement guaranteed Tibets freedom.   As you can see, this conflict has been going on for a long time, and is not resolved to this day.

Introduction

The topic I chose for my blog this semester is Tibet and China.  I chose this topic because I hear a lot about it, and I don't know anything about it.   The only thing that I do know about it, is that Tibet is part of China, and wants to be their own country.   Three things that I would like to learn are: Why they are fighting, who started the fighting, and what are their religions?