This is a great collection of poetry from our High Peaks Pure Earth “I Am Tibetan” series designed by a friend. We originally printed it out on tracing paper and it was stitched at the top using red and yellow thread. Easy DIY for anyone who wants to try… otherwise here is the pdf online:
Monthly Archives: January 2011
Tsampa Eater!
I really enjoyed writing the article I uploaded on High Peaks Pure Earth earlier today using food as a lens through which to examine Tibetan identity. Many people helped me with ideas, suggestions and information, I’d like to thank them for putting up with my hundreds of questions about black beans!!
The article is our official contribution to a whole week of writings about food called “Food for Thinkers” hosted by Nicola Twilley of Edible Geography fame at her new gig as the food editor of GOOD (congratulations by the way!).
There was no better way to celebrate finishing the article than to indulge in a piece of freshly baked walnut cake. Fittingly, the walnut cake was baked also using tsampa, yummy!
Bearing Witness: New Realities in Reporting on Tibet Today
On Thursday evening I will be taking part in a panel discussion on the above topic at London’s Frontline Club.
Award-winning journalist and author of “Murder in the High Himalaya”, Jonathan Green, will screen eyewitness footage on the killing of a young Tibetan nun by Chinese border guards (the first visual documentation of China’s treatment of Tibetans in its border areas) and discuss the issue of bearing witness to human rights abuses in China, and reporting on Tibet.
Jonathan will also be joined by Jonathan Mirsky, journalist and renowned China expert; Thubten Samdup; The Dalai Lama’s Representative for Northern Europe and the discussion will be chaired by Kate Saunders, Communications Director, International Campaign for Tibet.
Tickets: £7 advance tickets; £9 on the door
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: The Frontline Club, 13 Norfolk Place, London W2 1QJ
Nearest tube: Paddington
For more information and to book tickets online go to http://www.tibetsociety.com/content/view/152
This event is being organised by Tibet Society and Students for a Free Tibet UK, thanks in advance for all their hard work. Hope to see some of you there, should be interesting!
Does The Road to Heaven Sound Like This?
On a typically cold, grey January evening in central London, Tibetans and supporters gathered opposite the Royal Courts of Justice to protest against the Chinese Vice-Premier Li Keqiang’s visit. As usual, Chinese “welcomers” were given pole position with their drums, megaphones and flags.
Photo via SFT UK
There wasn’t much unusual about this protest really but one thing I noticed was that the Chinese party seemed to take great pleasure out of blasting Chinese pop songs about Tibet at us! Maybe I just hadn’t really noticed if they had done it before in the past but when the tune started to ring a bell I realised they were playing the official song that commemorated the opening of the railway to Tibet in 2006. The song was called “Tian Lu” and it was sung by Han Hong, I’ve seen Tian Lu translated in different ways, I guess it could be Sky Road or Heavenly Road.
I remember seeing the song performed at official functions in Beijing. My main abiding memory of it though is that one of the security officials involved in my deportation operation had the song as his ringtone!!
This is some video I took last night of the Chinese party enjoying the music they brought along to welcome their Vice-Premier with but I’ll upload the real song as well:
I found various videos of the song on YouTube, one version uploaded by ikhamo also carries the translation of the song so I am copying it below, enjoy (!) …
Tian Lu (Heavenly Road)
At dawn, I stand upon the green grassland
I see a magical eagle bathed in ruddy light
Like an auspicious cloud soaring through the blue sky
Bringing good luck to the Tibetan people
At dusk, I stand atop the tall mountain peak
I see the railway built to my hometown
A colossal dragon soaring through the mountains
Bringing prosperity to the snowy plateau
That is a magical Heaven’s Road
Bringing the motherland’s warmth to borderlands
Mountains are no longer high, journeys are no longer long
All ethnic groups unite as one
At dusk, I stand atop the tall mountain peak
I see the railway built to my hometown
A colossal dragon soaring through the mountains
Bringing prosperity to the snowy plateau
That is a magical Heaven Road
Bringing us to paradise on earth
Barley beer and butter tea will taste more sweet
Joyful songs echo in all directions
That is a magical Heaven Road
Bringing us to paradise on earth
Barley beer and butter tea will taste more sweet
Joyful songs echo in all directions
Joyful songs echo in all directions
My 2009 Article for People’s Daily (!)
A story that I enjoy telling to friends is how I had an article published in China in March 2009 in none other than People’s Daily! Generally the reaction is of total disbelief and looking back now, I can’t quite believe it myself but it really happened and here is the proof!
The topic of the article was “My Trip to Tibet”. Admittedly it’s not my masterpiece but it’s still fun that this is something I have written that was probably seen by the most people! I’m definitely taking this along with me next time I apply for a China visa…
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