WHERE IS THE PANCHEN LAMA?

The present (11th) incarnation of the Panchen Lama is a matter of controversy: the People's Republic of China asserts it is Gyancain Norbu, while the 14th Dalai Lama asserted it was Gedhun Choekyi Nyima on May 14, 1995. The latter vanished from public eye shortly after being named, aged six. Chinese authorities stated that Gedhun had been taken into protective custody from those that would spirit him into exile. However, most believe he is now held in captivity against the wishes of the Tibetan people. Tibetans and human rights groups continue to campaign for his release. 

Today:

The Panchen Lamas 24th birthday.

WHERE IS THE PANCHEN LAMA?

What you can do today:

1, share this post
2. use the picture as profile pic

3. CALL THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN YOUR COUNTRY

yes, a bit of an effort, finding phone numbers, but please MAKE that effort..we need to speak up for what we believe in, not just *like* pictures and photos..

Please
take action today.

Even one call.....

for those saying the mining bill will "create jobs"

• The bill does nothing to guarantee that jobs will be created for Wisconsinites.
• The bill opens the entire state to mining and plays favorites by placing the needs of the mining industry above those of every other economic sector.
• The bill forces other businesses to subsidize mining companies’ profits.
• The bill does nothing to mitigate the boom-and-bust cycle that Wisconsin experienced during the early days of the timber industry and earlier mining enterprises.
• The bill exposes taxpayers to costly lawsuits.

Read more:http://host.madison.com/news/opinion/editorial/gop-mining-bill-fails-on-job-creation/article_a94a3814-665c-11e2-92b0-0019bb2963f4.html#ixzz2IzyvUzIZ

GOP mining bill fails on job creation : Ct

host.madison.com

What do responsible business advocates say about the proposal from Gov. Scott Walker and his legislative allies to radically alter Wisconsin’s rules for the development of mines?

Selling Out Wisconsin

"The corporate influence and biased nature of the proceedings were evident throughout the day. According to Williams’ rules, the bill’s sponsors would be given 10 minutes to speak, and the Department of Natural Resources would be given 5. Everybody else was supposed to restrict their remarks to 2 minutes, with time allowed for committee members to ask a maximum of two questions.

But it was no surprise when the CEO, Chief Engineer and lobbyist for Gogebic Taconite – the company that is proposing to blast a 1,000 foot deep open pit mine 21 miles long and half a mile across at the headwaters of the Bad River near the shores of Lake Superior – took up nearly an hour of the committee’s time. GTac was also allowed to show pictures and graphs – something others were prohibited from doing."

The Million Dollar Bill

Mining Votes Will Make Or Break Wisconsin and Leader' Good Names

BREAKING: Public hearing scheduled for the Open Pit Mining Bill for Wednesday, January 23. Learn how you can help protect these hills here: http://bit.ly/13NVZj6   Image of Penokee Hills: Derek Johnson

A lawmaker voting "aye" for the bill is saying... 'I want to clear cut the Penokees, blow a pristine mountain range to smithereens, gouge out miles of open pit scars and release tons of acid runoff into publicly-held rivers, lakes, streams and the Bad River Band's treaty-protected water, wild-rice food supply and culture.'

Mining Votes Will Make Or Break Wisconsin and Leader' Good Names 

Please join Solidarity with Tibet

Please join us as we stand in Solidarity with Tibet on the occasion of Human Rights Day, on 10 December 2012. Everyone around the world can attend this virtual event, so invite your friends. https://www.facebook.com/events/539586492737526/

The situation in Tibet is worsening daily under the oppressive grip of the government of the People’s Republic of China. It is time to stand in solidarity with

 Tibetans and their struggle for human rights. www.solidaritywithtibet.org

How to attend the virtual event on 10 December 2012:

(1) Update your profile picture on Facebook to the "Solidarity with Tibet 10 DEC 2012" image, which you can find below.

(2) Post a status on Facebook containing the words “Solidarity with Tibet” and set the location of your status to Lhasa, Tibet: Potala Palace, Lhasa.

(3) Join our Thunderclap! We have partnered with Thunderclap, so that our message will be heard loud and clear around the world on 10 December 2012 (Human Rights Day). Please support our Thunderclap with your Facebook and/or Twitter account(s), and we will all share a synchronized message of #SolidarityWithTibet on 10 Dec. Help us reach our goal of 500 supporters by signing up now at https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/758-stand-in-solidarity-with-tibet.

Myanmar's Turn

101 East travels to Myanmar to witness the country's transformation through the eyes of ordinary people and asks whether the country will now emerge as Asia's newest democracy.  

Link to Video: Myanmar'sTurn

City of gold ... the temple-studded plains of Bagan. Photo: iStock
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/aglow-in-buddhas-embrace-20090604-bwl8.html#ixzz1rFHwVxCT

Peru update: National Protest in defense of Water planned for 9th and 10th February!

After re-posting about what I thought was good news: New rainforest and indigenous reserve established ... I had my parade rained on by someone much more familiar with the region.  She believes this is "just a smart PR move to turn the attention away from the ongoing and escalating conflict around the gargantuan mining operations in the Cajamarca Province. There, an access to fresh water is at stake. Apparently, people in the city have only access to water 1-2 hrs a day and the situation in the rural areas is often much more dramatic. National Protest in defense of Water is planned for 9th and 10th February."

I guess we need to be suspicious of all "good news" when "millions of dollars from the multinationals might be involved"  (it still must be "good" in someway though since another very large track of the Amazon has become a nature reserve (that also importantly connects to other reserves), no????).  But of course my heart is with the marchers!

"Beginning of the Water March" from:  http://globalvoicesonline.org/2012/02/07/peru-following-the-great-water-march/

Here is a link to the group's webpage:  Marcha Nacional del Agua

And a link to decent info in English:  http://globalvoicesonline.org/2012/02/07/peru-following-the-great-water-march/

New rainforest and indigenous reserve established in Peru!!!

I love good news!

New rainforest and indigenous reserve established in Peru

news.mongabay.com

On February 4th, the Peruvian government and a small indigenous group created a new Amazon reserve, dubbed the Maijuna Reserve. Located in northeastern Peru, the 390,000 hectare (970,000 acres) reserve is larger than California's Yosemite National Park and over three times the size of Hong Kong.