Free Tibet

The peaceful buddhist country of Tibet was invaded by Communists China in 1949. Since the invasion by China over a million Tibetans have been killed. Tibetans have become a minority in their own country, with the Chinese policy of resettlement of Chinese to Tibet and Chinese is the official language. Up to 6,000 monasteries and shrines have been destroyed. Famines have appeared for the first time in recorded history, natural resources are devastated, and wildlife depleted to extinction. Tibetan culture comes close to being eradicated there.

There is no freedom of speech, religion, or press in Tibet today and the Dalai Lama, Tibet's political and spiritual leader, fled to India in 1959. He now lives among over 100,000 other Tibetan refugees and their government in exile.

Forced abortion, sterilization of Tibetan women and the transfer of low income Chinese citizens threaten the survival of Tibet's unique culture. In some Tibetan provinces, Chinese settlers outnumber Tibetans 7 to 1..

Most of the Tibetan plataeu lies above 14,000 feet. Tibet is the source of five of Asia's greatest rivers, which over 2 billion people depend upon. Since 1959, the Chinese government estimates that they have removed over $54 billion worth of timber. Over 80% of their forests have been destroyed, and large amoutns nuclear and toxic waste have been disposed of in Tibet.

Despite all of these abuses, the US government and US corporations continue to support China economically.

Unless we can all take part and recognize Tibet's loss as our own, the future looks grim. Sign this petition to help stop these abuses and Free Tibet.