these individual Tibetans are truly getting the last word.
So what to do as China continues its rise to "Great Power" status? Divestment campaigns regarding businesses that set up shop in Tibet have been effective and should continue to be supported. Campaigns focused on making it too costly for China to maintain control have had countless successes, and are making it harder for China to attract direct foreign investment for "development" inside Tibet.Forcing an end to the fantasy that "constructive engagement" without significant, multi-faceted pressure will somehow lead to a democratic movement throughout China is also critical. Individuals can motivate their respective leaders into action via the "Stand Up For Tibet Campaign",
their respective leaders into action via the "Stand Up For Tibet Campaign", which currently has elected officials across the globe, Nobel Prize Laureates and 50,000 global citizens as signatories. However, the list is missing the elected world leaders that can truly pressure China and make an immediate difference for the people in Tibet. What will it take for Barack Obama, Angela Merkel, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Francois Hollande, David Cameron, Dilma Rousseff, Yoshihiko Noda, even Vladimir Putin, to sign? When will the world hold China accountable?
Clear, consistent and aggressively imaginative public acts of direct, non-violent protest the world over will garner a greater understanding of the dire need for globally supporting the Tibetan Rangzen movement. China's seat on the UN Human Rights Council expires in 2012. Considering their track record, the empty promises they made in order to be awarded the Olympics, how severe the crackdown has been since the 2008 riots, and the mounting wave of self-immolations and protests, it is clear that China should not be allowed to maintain their seat. Harnessing the power and direction of social media to provide a clear understanding that Tibet is the Human Rights Issue of the 21st Century will rally unity of purpose around Rangzen (independence). And in the face of all this Rangzen-minded activity, perhaps the Dalai Lama will accept that it is time for him to step out onto the visible field of protest and lead his people back to their homeland. History proves that stranger things have happened!
Since this report the number of self-immolations within Tibet has more than doubled and now stands at 122.