Global Issues
Tibetan Monks protest against Chinese rule in Lhasa.
Photo credit: TV3 New Zealand
February 4, 2014
Si, se puede!
César Chávez
Photo by Claire Peterson and Susana Diaz
Exploring the United Farm Workers’ History
http://www.cs.colorado.edu/~13d/systems/agentsheets/
New-Vista/grape-boycott/History.html
Last night while watching one of favorite films, Invictus on a new to us channel, called Pilot,
which appears to lean towards Biographies, a commercial came on about a new petition for César Chávez.
I have just signed this Petition and cannot think of a finer person to be the first
to be written about on my new Global Culture Blog.
To so many in California, Chávez was a passionate, dedicated civil rights leader quite similar
to Gandhi who followed many of Gandhi’s methods of non violent civil disobedience,
to achieve his monumental goals for the poor farm workers suffering in silence.
In the end, he did achieve his goals, but it was a very long, hard struggle.
Here is a link to the Petition, if you believe that this man, should be considered just as important in this country’s history as Columbus and all the others who already have a National Holiday to Honor their existence, then please do sign it.
This is the takepart Petition: César Chávez
Californian’s are no longer the only ones aware of the full measure of this man’s life long struggles,
they are now joined by millions who have now come to understand why Chavez is so deserving of this Honor.
For those who are not familiar with this humble civil leader, here is a quite brief biography of César Chávez:
Until his death in 1993, César Chávez was frequently in the
news in California and around the world, as his name
became synonymous with Farm Workers Rights.
César’s early life was hard, as it was for many migrant working families.
As a child, school was difficult, there were many obstacles
and he found it a hostile, negative environment.
Yet, he overcame this and became an inspirational leader
to migrant farm workers all over the country.
His initial lack of formal education, only through elementary level,
would reverse later in life as he became a passionate reader
and derived great insight into the lives of leader he admired.
Chávez disliked any form of violence and in similar pattern
as Gandhi thought that fasting and peaceful protests were
the best way to accomplish the results they were seeking.
His efforts were not always successful,
the big farm owners had tough lawyers whose lives
were devoted to defeating Chávez and his supporters.
The Hollywood community rallied behind César because
he spoke for those who had not a single hope of being heard.
To the rich farm owners, he was a thorn in their sides,
someone who had to be dealt with and kept down.
His life’s work became a beacon for the millions of
poor migrants who wanted just a chance at a decent life.
Chávez showed those who worked for little or nothing,
that there could be a better way of living and working.
César Chávez gave them hope.
Si, se puede!
April 10, 2012
How Many Monks Will Have to Die Before the World Gets Involved in Tibet?
The number of Tibetan monks who have died has now reached the sickening number of 25.
The tragic situation there seems out of control and unstoppable.
The only hope for Tibet is for people all over the world to unite and face down China,
declaring them to be the murderers, bullies and tyrants we all know them to be.
The Unites Nations should step in and be joined by every democratic nation in the world.
The people of Tibet have suffered with no help from the outside world for over 50 years now.
The United States has not intervened for two reasons,
there is no oil in Tibet and we want/need China to keep writing us checks.
The chance of any of this happening is extremely small, because no one wants to offend China.
Tibet Self-Immolation Death Toll Rises to 25
April 5, 2012
Victory For Suu Kyi
The elections are over in Myanmar and Suu Kyi and her party
are celebrating their long awaited victory.
You can also rejoice for her and her people with the story and video below.
>Myanmar is now entering the promised land of freedom and democracy
with the courageous leader who never gave up or gave in to tyranny.
Suu Kyi can now take her rightful place in history in the country
for which she has given everything.
Suu Kyi Hopes Victor Is Dawn of New Era
March 13, 2012
Remembering Tibet
This years’ anniversary of the 1959 Chinese invasion of Tibet was yet another somber reminder of
the ongoing global demonstrations of opposition to the communist country’s absolute ingestion
of a people and a culture that they never can, nor ever will, truly understand or appreciate.
This beautiful story written by the translator for His Holiness the Dalai Lama shares both
the pain and grief of the Tibetan people, those who stayed and those who left, who ache
for their country and their holy leader to be returned to the way it used to be.
>February 8, 2012
Suu Kyi Is Ready To Take Back Her Country!
This is such wonderful news for one who has given everything nearly her entire life
for the freedom of her people.
Now she and Myanmar are about to embark on the joyous journey
that they have waited for since 1988.
Thousands Line the Streets for Aung San Suu Kyi’s Campaign
>August 29, 2011
The Government of China has sentenced a Tibetan monk to 11 years in prison,
for supposedly contributing to the suicide of a fellow monk in March.
This is completely unacceptable.
The world simply must stand up for and speak up for the people of Tibet,
as their tongues have been excised by the strong arm of China.
Most Tibetans understand that there may be severe reprisal for opposing the
will of the Chinese Government and live in fear for their lives.
There must be some country on this planet who is not indebted to China, who can
tell them that they are bullies and then they must refuse to do business with them.
Of course, we in America cannot do this because we are indebted to them for billions
of dollars in loans and are afraid to speak out against their inhumane treatment of not
only their own people, but so many others as well.
August 27, 2011
The current unrest in Tibet has prompted yet another squeeze by China,
as three Tibetan monks are being put on trial for homicide in
the suicide death of a 16 year old monk in March.
The suicide death last week of another monk, has only led to the
noose around Tibet’s neck becoming even tighter, as the Tibetan
people continue to be cut off from the rest of the world.
August 16, 2011
Yesterday in the Sichuan Province of China, another young Monk
chose to end his life, by setting himself on fire.
This latest suicide by 29 year old Tsewang Norbu,
who begged for the Dalai Lama to return,
is only the latest in a series of similar monk deaths.
China as expected, has cut the area off from the outside world,
who might try to interfere or cause trouble.
July 23, 2011
Today in Norway, the world was stunned to see just how far the
ugly hand of terrorism has reached.
In a country where such things just do not happen, it has and
the world can only guess the cause of this lunacy by a madman.
Now we pray with the people who must deal with these horrific images
and hope that it will be resolved quickly.
Our hearts are with you in Norway and we grieve with you.
God bless~
June 17, 2011
Please say a prayer for the brave women in Saudi Arabia today,
they have taken to the streets and are driving.
A privilege already enjoyed by women all over the world.
God Bless and know that women everywhere are cheering for you.
March 11, 2011
The World is united today in prayers for the people of Japan.
Our hearts are heavy and you are on all of our minds.
Please know that help is coming for you from all over the Earth:
February 22, 2011
As more and more countries embrace the changes they see
happening all around them in the Arab World,
the stakes are getting higher and more lives are being lost.
The prayers of the world are with all of those seeking Democracy and Freedom.
Whichever deity that you pray to, know this, we are all one in this cause.
Bless you all.
February 19, 2011
What began nearly a month ago in Cairo is now spreading throughout
the Arab World, including Algeria, Libya, Bahrain and Yemen.
With the smell of Freedom and Democracy so close by,
these other Countries want their turn now!
February 18, 2011
The whole world is carefully watching Egypt in their quest for Democracy.
Their success gives many other Countries the hope that they too can have Freedom.
Democracy has never had such an opportunity to blossom and seeing
that primarily peaceful, non violent protests do work,
others who seek Democracy and Freedom can now follow.
Gandhi would be pleased with this demonstration of non violent protest.
February 15, 2011
If you have a spare cell phone, it could save a live!
Josh Nesbit has just the place for your old, unwanted cell phones in Africa.
Learn more about this here:
Update May 9, 2010
The pictures on this page say more than words ever could:
Tibetan Earthquake Victims – The Boston Globe
Update April 21, 2010
As the Earthquake death toll rises, tensions between Tibetans
and the Chinese do as well.
With the count now well over 2,000, traditions are being cast
aside in the rush to bury the victims quickly.
Learn more here:
Divide Widens between Tibetans and Chinese Government
Update April 16, 2010
The situation in Tibet continues to worsen each day as more dead are found.
Learn more here:
Death toll now over 1100 in Tibet
Video of Monks in rescue efforts
April 15, 2010
6.9 Earthquake in Tibet kills hundreds
As of today the death count in the April 14th quake has surpassed 600.
Tibetan Monks are traversing the country raising funds to rescue
school children buried in the rubble of the deadly Earthquake.
This disaster follows a similar massive earthquake in Sichuan
two years ago, which left thousands of school children dead,
primarily a result of poorly built buildings.
During the aftermath of the disaster, many
Tibetan monks have either been killed outright
by the quake or left the area altogether.
Learn more here:
To Die With Dignity in Your Own Land
January 21, 2010
The world is now being barraged with minute by minute reports of the devastation in Haiti.
What is alarming is that many of the world’s richest Countries have done little if anything about the
situation, which is nearly biblical in the amount of death and destruction to the small country.
Americans as usual, responded with everything necessary to comfort the overwhelmed
people of Haiti, but where is the help from the rest of the world?
We are no longer the richest Nation on Earth, in fact we are now a Nation in debt
to other Countries for amounts of money we cannot not even imagine.
At what point do we say to all those who have done little,
“hey, how about some help here”.
Our country has just been through a historical depression/recession and is barely
hanging on, but yet when the world calls, we respond, like always,
with everything we can send or bring to those who are suffering.
Can we ask others to share the burden with America?
Or are we afraid to offend?
March 10, 2009
On this 50th Anniversary of the takeover by China,
that sent the Dali Lama into exile,
Tibetan Monks protest once again and
Tibetans still remain hostages of the Chinese.
The Dali Lama says “China makes life Hell for Tibetans”.
November 2008
Today in Bombay, many died and more were hurt by
senseless acts of violence.
In a time when much of the world is thinking of family,
holidays and cultural customs, we are once again forced to
remember that there are still those for whom hate
remains all consuming.
The sadness and rage the world is feeling towards these cowards
who kill innocents blindly in the name of their beliefs, cannot turn us
away from the goodness that is celebrated at this time of the year.
If Gandhi were alive, he would begin fasting and remain
steadfast in his belief that violence must be met with
not more hate, but with kindness, peace and love.
If only we had a leader somewhere in the world right now
who could step up and show the way.
October 2008
The economic crisis in the United States, a direct result of
greed and gluttony, has now become a Global economic Event.
Banks and leaders around the world are feeling the same crush of
public pressure as those are here to respond to the current situation.
One possible benefit of this disaster is that some of the
world leaders are now sitting down and talking about how we
can work together to find a solution to these economic problems.
Any opportunity to have this happen is a good thing,
in spite of the dire reasons that may have caused it.
Now if only these same leaders could also find a way to turn
the conversation around to Global peace and understanding.
September 2008
The US elections are closing in and the rest of the world
waits to see who they will be dealing with next.
For those of us here in America, we are not really
sure who or what to believe anymore.
It would seem that candidates running for office in this
country have one primary agenda, power.
Our country is in desperate need of a real leader.
Americas is teetering on a cliff and empty words
need to be replaced with solid deeds.
This country is mired in a most critical economical
crisis not seen since the great depression.
How and why we got here no longer matters, what matters
is that people have lost their jobs, their homes
and now for many, their life savings.
No one cares anymore whose fault it is,
we just want someone to make it stop!
But, what we need and are absolutely demanding,
is one who is capable of not only strong leadership,
but who will put the needs of the people first,
not who or what they believe will best serve their own needs.
August 2008
The Olympics in China focused a spotlight on this country,
permitting a Global inspection of sorts, allowing the world a
view of what is going on in the most populous nation on Earth.
The Olympics went as well as possible considering the situation,
China kept its thumb on any who might cause embarrassment
and the world saw little to complain about in the human rights arena.
The only hiccup was the possibility of underage athletes which the
Government quickly denounced and showed proof of this being untrue.
Today, China is as it was before the Olympics,
the people still do not have the freedom to speak.
March 14, 2008
The focus of any page dedicated to Global Issues might
likely begin with the people of Tibet or Myanmar/Burma,
whose plight has become daily fodder for Global Media
and who have for so many years been persecuted
by the tyrants who control their fate.
There are to be sure, countless other Global peoples
who face the identical conditions as these two do
with much less press and attention.
Once again today, as for the past sixty years, exiled Tibetans were
convincingly reminded that they have little reason to hope that their
homelands will ever be returned to them by the Chinese Government.
As this is written, Monks have been taken prisoner, some have been killed
and Tibetans march in protest in the streets of Lhasa, the capital of Tibet,
fully aware that they are outnumbered by the powerful Chinese Army
and have virtually no chance of reclaiming their ancestral homes.
Read the whole story here:
In response to this latest ugly power move on the Chinese chessboard,
the Dali Lama, the US State Department and Human Rights groups
around the world have rattled their verbal sabers at them,
but China knows that none is really a threat in this Global game.
The correct response by the world to these newest attacks in Tibet
must be that it would be unconscionable for any country
to consider attending the summer Olympics in China.
“Boycott China” should furthermore be the mantra
of the masses for those who have no voices.
America needs to get out of the warm, comfy bed with
the Chinese and set an moral example for the world.
While China is buying our silence with their money,
their inferior, dangerous products threaten our children,
our pets and our society in general.
Can you say RECALL!
In the meantime, America is losing not only the respect
of the rest of the world, but her own people as well.
There will be few, if any, reference web pages listed here,
only updates concerning intolerable and
unacceptable Global situations.
tahtonka - A Journey Through Global Culture 