Are You Living in a Free Country?

How much free are we in this world? Human Beings are supposed to be the "most intelligent" and the "strongest/most constructive species" on this planet, yet we are out to rip each other apart! Seeing the current state-of-affairs, Human Beings seem to be the "most stupid" and the "most destructive species" on this planet.

Since 1978, Freedom House has published 'Freedom in the World' (Freedom in the World, 2007 — Infoplease.com), an annual comparative assessment of the state of political rights and civil liberties around the world. The 600-page survey is considered a definitive report on freedom around the globe. The 2006 ratings reflect global events from Dec. 1, 2005, through Dec. 31, 2006. According to the survey:

• 90 countries are free - their 3.0 billion inhabitants (47% of the world's population) enjoy a broad range of rights.
• 58 countries with 1.1 billion people (30%) are considered partly free. Political rights and civil liberties are more limited in these countries, in which corruption, dominant ruling parties, or, in some cases, ethnic or religious strife is often the norm.
• 45 countries are not free. The 2.4 billion inhabitants (23%) of these countries, nearly one-half of whom live in China, are denied most basic political rights and civil liberties.
• The list features only independent countries. A separate list of territories indicates that four territories received the lowest possible : Chechnya (Russia), Kashmir (Pakistan Occupied), Tibet (China), and Western Sahara (Morocco); of those, Chechnya and Tibet also received the lowest possible civil liberties ratings."

So, there we are! Obviously, the listings can be "hotly" debated. But, whatever the errors in this report, it does give an indication of "HOW MUCH FREEDOM EXISTS IN THIS WORLD"! The task(s) for a "free world order" is "cut-out".

Now, WHAT is your plan?

Let us Liberate China!

While we scratch our head on resolving the Tibet-China conflict, Pallavi Aiyar analyzes how China's main constituency is "domestic public" and not the international community. Worse, the majority of Chinese have "little awareness that there is a Tibet problem at all". She says (Sri Lanka Breaking News-Daily Mirror Online):

In school, Chinese youngsters are taught how the region has only benefited from Communist rule. The feudal theocracy of the Dalai Lama was replaced by the enlightened policies of the People’s Republic, they are told, with the result that Tibet has enjoyed rising living standards and economic development.

Thus while Chinese leaders have repeatedly, in recent weeks, stated that they are open to talks with the Dalai Lama, they reiterate the caveat that he must give up his demand for independence. The Dalai Lama in turn has repeatedly insisted that he has no such claim. The Chinese respond by pointing to the riots in Lhasa and hence the Dalai’s ‘obvious insincerity.’

And so on it goes, in circles.

Even were the government persuaded to attempt a compromise with the exiled leader, its room for manoeuvre is slim given the way the public views the situation. Any change in Beijing’s position, including talks with the Dalai Lama, would appear as bowing to foreign pressure and failing to respond firmly to violence.... ..... given the Chinese reaction there is little cause to believe any fundamental shift in Tibet’s situation will be precipitated.

So, if the Chinese citizens are in 'DARK', then let us 'ENLIGHTEN' them.

The "Darkness" has been dented: the same report says:

Given this background, the TV footage and photographs of rampaging monks in Lhasa and elsewhere attacking Han civilians and security forces have bewildered many Chinese.

The "Sleep" has been disturbed, and after the initial shock, let us see if Chinese can FREE themselves of their prejudices.

More than Tibetans, it is the Chinese who NEED FREEDOM. Tibetans have nothing to lose. They lost their country half a century ago, but they have WON the world.

A Buddhist Greek & Tibetans in Greece

E-sangha, Buddhist Forum and Buddhism Forum: Tibetans in GreeceImage Source: AFP

A Buddhist Greek blogger has posted about Tibetans expressing themselves in Greece:

"Can I just mention how bizarre it was for me as a Greek person to see Greek police wrestling with Tibetans?"

The original report by AFP is here.

When will Tibet be free of this conflict?

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