Airdate:
Saturday, 04 February 2012
Tibetan Plateau Rising Faster Due to Melting Glaciers?
The Tibetan Plateau has been rising since tens of millions of years ago and some scientists suggest the formation of the plateau might have caused the Ice Age. Today a contrary effect seems to be occurring. Researchers claim that the global climate change is causing the plateau to elevate faster.
Dr. Jeffrey Freymueller of university of Alaska Fairbanks has been studying the vertical motions of the Himalayas and Great Tibetan Plateau. He said his team found an increase of speed in the uplift of some Himalayan regions due to the reduction of snow weight on the mountains.
“From the work we did here, the modeling work, we get an uplift of about 1 millimeter per year, which is mostly due to the melting snow and ice,” said Freymueller over phone.
While 1 mm may not be a significant rise compared to the uplift forced by plate tectonic, Dr. Freymueller believes the motion will speed up as more glaciers melt.
James Dewey, a scientist at the US Geological Survey, gives a better picture of how this is happening.
“It is somewhat analogous to unloading a ship and having the ship rise up,” he explains. He says the rise started from tens of kilometers down from the earth’s crust, or the lithosphere.
However, not every part of Tibet is elevating. Chinese scientists have found that some lake-areas, such as Namtso and Tso-ngonpo, are down dropping because more water has been deposited in these lakes, according to Dr. Freymueller. However, a Chinese research organization in Beijing refused to speak to Tibet in Review on this matter.
Dr. Freymueller and his colleague Yung Fu, a PhD Candidate from the same university, used GPS measurements and NASA’s satellite images taken By GRACE to analyze the vertical growth of the Tibetan Plateau. The rate of uplift due to the plate tectonic force is five times greater than that of the result of the ice melt. The rise of the towering Himalayas is the primary inducer of Asian monsoon.
Airdate:
Saturday, 14 January 2012
Urgency of Melting Tibetan Glaciers
A look at the complex environmental issues surrounding the melting glaciers in the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau. This story includes an interview with three experts on the subject, excerpts of concerned voices from within Tibet.
Airdate:
Saturday, 07 January 2012
Increasing Chinese Followers of Dalai Lama
A month after the Chinese government told India to prevent Tibetan's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama from attending an international Buddhist conference in New Delhi, over 1,000 Chinese from the mainland China have reportedly arrived in Bodh Gaya to receive the Kalachakra teachings from 76-year-old Buddhist leader. In this program, Tibet in Review looks at the growing number of Chinese interested in Tibetan Buddhism.
Airdate:
Wednesday, 21 December 2011
China’s Monetary Incentives for Tibetan Monks
Analysts discuss the recently started financial incentive program aimed at improving ‘stability’ in monasteries by offering financial incentives to monks who comply with directives from the local officials. According to official news from the ‘Tibet Autonomous Region,' the implementation of the ‘welfare system’ for Tibetan monks started on December 9, with a pilot program at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, the seat of the Panchen Lama, in Shigatse. Similarly TAR officials are visiting the families of monks and nuns to offer them monetary gifts in what appears to be an effort to help them exert a level of influence on the monk or nun.
Airdate:
Wednesday, 14 December 2011
A Monk Who Once Loved Hand Wrestling
Tibet in Review interviews Lobsang Rabten, classmate of late Lobsang Phuntsok, who died as a result of self-immolation calling for religious freedom and return of the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 29 November 2011
Rare Footage of Tibetan Nun’s Self-Immolation
A rare footage of the a Tibetan nun’s self-immolation shocked viewers around the world after the Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) released it.One may deem Palden Choetso's ability to stand still in the burning fire incomprehensible.“Why isn't she running around with arms flailing? I can't imagine the determination needed to go through with this, but to stay composed as you burn? I can't even...” writes one of over 700 people in similar comments in a website called reddit.com. Tibet in Review interviews executive director of SFT, Tenzin Dorje about people's reaction to the footage released.
Airdate:
Sunday, 20 November 2011
The New Buddhist Institute
Religious matters in Tibet today are handled by an atheist party trying to modernize the ancient Tibetan Buddhism. Chinese government have opened a new Buddhist institute, a $16 million project, called the Tibetan Buddhist institute near Lhasa. The president of the institute says it will produce politically independent and higher qualified religious teachers. However, the secretary of the exiled Tibetan administration’s Department of Religion have said the institute is a building to launch another cultural revolution. Tibet in Review looks at the official speeches, statements and brings views of Tibet experts from exile.
Interview with Ngawang Chujor, secretary of the Department of Religion and Bapa Kalsang Gyaltsen, a former staff member of China’s United Front Work.
Airdate:
Saturday, 12 November 2011
What Sparked Localized Self-Immolations? (Part II)
The string of self-immolations in Ngapa County and Ganze Prefecture raises questions beyond its cause. Today's program looks beyond causes of the recent self-immolations and examines why all self immolations occurred from small concentrated areas in Sichuan. The story contains messages from Tibet, interviews with a recent arrival from the Sichuan, the head lama of Kirti Monastery, and an exile activist who attempted self-immolation in 2006. The story also includes a statement of the Chinese government on the issue and responses from the exile government officials.
Airdate:
Monday, 07 November 2011
What Sparked Localized Self-Immolations? (Part I)
The string of self-immolations in Ngapa County and Ganze Prefecture raises questions beyond its cause. Today's program looks beyond causes of the recent self-immolations and examines why all self immolations occurred from small concentrated areas in Sichuan. The story contains messages from Tibet, interviews with a recent arrival from the Sichuan, the head lama of Kirti Monastery, and an exile activist who attempted self-immolation in 2006. The story also includes a statement of the Chinese government on the issue and responses from the exile government officials.
Airdate:
Friday, 21 October 2011
Broadcasting Style of Tibet People's Radio
On May 22 1950, China's Central Radio established a Tibetan broadcasting department and on January 1, 1959, Tibetan People's Radio with a focus on Tibetan-language broadcasting was established. Over time, Tibetan broadcasting style changed from a conventional Tibetan reading style into a new style that many say they find it similar to a Chinese-tone like reading. Tibet in Review examines the broadcasting style of Tibet People's Radio and the Chinese tone influences.
Airdate:
Sunday, 09 October 2011
Story of Mingyur Rinpoche
Mingyur Rinpoche left a letter explaining that he had left for an indeterminate period to become a wandering yogi. Interviews with Khenpo Kunga, biographer of Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche; Lama Trinley, a monk from Mingyur Rinpoche's monastery.
Airdate:
Monday, 26 September 2011
Increased Deaths of Former Political Prisoners
A former Tibetan political prisoner, a Tibetan reporter and a Tibet expert talks about short life expectancy and increased deaths of former Tibetan political prisoners.
Airdate:
Monday, 12 September 2011
9-11: Tibetans Reflect on the Day
Two Tibetans Yangchen Nyandak and Jampa reflects on the September 11th experience and on being so close to disaster.
Airdate:
Thursday, 18 August 2011
Many Praise Changes in Tibetan Exile Government
Many Tibetans inside Tibet have expressed their enthusiasm with the recent historical changes in the exile government. A scholar from Tibet tells Tibet In Review that the changes in the exile government is viewed as a positive occurrence and that many people in the intellectual community have hopes for the new Kalon Tripa.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 16 August 2011
Never Released US State Sponsored Movie on Tibet
In 1971, a US government-sponsored film on China's invasion of Tibet was ready to be released. However, the documentary, "Man from a Missing Land," was never seen in public. It was filmed in Switzerland where a handful of Tibetan refugees had arrived. Now after forty years, none of the Tibetans we contacted remembered anything about the film. Tibet In Review found the 16-minutes-long movie at the National Archives in Maryland. This film,described by some historians as a propaganda tool during the Cold War, was transferred to the Archives from the US Information Agency in 1999. The film depicts Chinese soldiers invading Tibet, using familiar footage of People’s Liberation of Army’s attacks and Tibetan men holding their guns above their heads to surrender. Tibetan refugees in Switzerland acted in the movie to portray the escape of Tibetan refugees from Tibet into India. Although the movie does not have provocative statements or messages that could have damaged US China relations at the time, this government sponsored documentary does, however, stay "Tibet is an occupied country," a statement many politicians avoid today. While no detail information about the movie is available at the archive neither any information can be found about Paul Cohen, the producer of the film on the internet, the reason why the film was arrested is written in a couple of historical books.
Airdate:
Monday, 25 July 2011
Analysis of Xi Jinping's Speech in Lhasa
Tibet in Review looks at Xi Jiping's speech delivered in Lhasa.Robert Barnett, Professor and Director of Modern Tibetan Studies Program at Columbia University, Arjia Rinpoche, former vice Chairman of China Political Consultant Conference in Qinghai Province and Rinchen Tashi, China Analyst at the International Campaign for Tibet provides interpretation of the speech.
Airdate:
Saturday, 18 June 2011
Challenges New Tibetan Refugees Face Today
June 20th is World Refugee Day. Tibet In Review looks at the current situation of new arrivals in Nepal, politics involved with the influx of Tibetan refugee, and influences of news comers (refugees who came after 1980s) in the exile community.
Airdate:
Friday, 10 June 2011
What Causes Drought Along the Mekong River
Continuing form last week's program on the discussion about the droughts and dam connection, Tibet In Review in this program looks deeper into the debate on weather China's dams on upper Mekong river are the cause of drought in lower Mekong areas.
Airdate:
Sunday, 05 June 2011
Are Droughts Along the Tibet-Originated Rivers a Dam Factor?
It is said that the rivers from Tibet feed 47 percent of the world's population. For millions of people,rivers from Tibet are the sources of food, job and irrigation. Today, these rivers are also feeding hydro power plants, which may be producing problems. While the large dams might quench the countries for their thirst in economic development, the signs of disastrous environmental impacts are reportedly emerging through the rivers.
In this program, Tibet In Review looks at the issues around the Three Gorges Dam and Dams on Zachu (Mekong) River in China by listening to what the international experts have to say. First part focuses on politics, problems and debates over the Three Gorges Dam, and second part looks at the struggles of the lower Mekong countries.
Our guests in this program are: Dai Qing, China's leading investigative reporter and critic on Three Gorges Dam; Birgit Vogel, Chief Technical Advisor of Mekong River Commission based in Laos; Tashi Tsering, PhD candidate on Environmental studies at British Columbia; Peter Bosshard, the Policy Director of International Rivers based in Berkley CA; Ame Trandem, Mekong Campaigner of International Rivers, based in Bangkok, Thailand.
Airdate:
Thursday, 19 May 2011
17 Point Agreement
The 60th Anniversary of "Peaceful Liberation of Tibet" and the Signing of "17 Point Agreement" is being celebrated in Tibet on Monday. Today's feature on the "17 Point Agreement," interviewed Michael Van Walt, International Legal Expert on Tibet; Arjia Rinpoche, a former Vice Chairman of People's Political Consultative Conference of Qinghai Province; Dawa Tseing, a China expert and Representative of the Dalai Lama and Tibetan government in exile in Taiwan.
Airdate:
Thursday, 12 May 2011
Unequal Information Access in China and Tibet
China is known for controlling information flow. However, the difference in the way information is restricted inside China and in Tibet remains decades apart. While in China, general international news that is not considered too "harmful" for the communist party can be seen in the newspapers, modern Tibetan scholar Professor Robert Barnett says the current news channels in Tibet function the same way as 1950s newspapers in China where it is used entirely for the Communist Party’s voice. Tibet Daily, the largest newspaper of the Tibetan Autonomous Region, seemed to confirm that is the case. This month, the paper initially mentioned nothing about the killing of Osama bin Laden. 11 days later, it picked up a misquoted comment by the Dalai Lama on bin Laden's killing and used the information to demonize the Dalai Lama. Tibet scholars and analysts say suppressing international news and cherry picking on information is typical habit of the Party-controlled propaganda machines in Tibet.
Airdate:
Tuesday, 26 April 2011
The Nyemo Rebellion
On June 13,1969, hundreds of horsemen with primitive weapons in Nyemo County attacked on a Chinese military headquarter in Drakor district of Nyemo. Perhaps it was the most victorious day for the Tibetans that had ever engaged in a battle against the Chinese troops since the 1950's and early 60's. The entire population of soldiers and cadres--a total of 22-- in the district headquarter were killed.This was known as Nyemo rebellion, lead by a young Tibetan nun called Trinley Chodron who was believed to be the medium of a legendary deity. It is said that during a trance she urged the local fighters to "kill the people with yellow and blue uniforms," referring to the Chinese soldiers and cadres. China claims that "Nyemo incident" was a fight between Gyenlog and Nymadril, two political factions created by Beijing during that time, and says the soldiers were unarmed. However, at the attack on the county headquarter on June 14, many Tibetans were killed. For Tibetans, this was a fight against China's occupation of Tibet and that they took the struggle between Gyenlog and Nymadril as an opportunity to rise up for their country. The 1969 rebellion, which Chinese officials called the "Second-Nine Rebellion", took place in several counties, most popularly in Nyimo, Driru, Tingchen, Rongpo of Sog and Palbar. This movement gave a momentary hope for the Tibetans and inspired even the prisoners to plan for a revolt.
Airdate:
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
The Nyemo Rebellion (Part II)
Airdate:
Wednesday, 11 May 2011
The Nyemo Rebellion (Part III)
Airdate:
Sunday, 10 April 2011
The Lives of Dhondup Wangchen's Family
A woman who used to sell butter in Lhasa now sits under an umbrella at a bus stop on a corner of Mcleod
Ganj in India selling bread. Her eyes are often filled with tears when she sees men and women from the buses meet with their loved ones.
39 years old Lhamotso's beloved one is locked up in the Chinese prison in Xining. Her husband Dhondup Wangchen was arrested in 2008 for making a documentary called Leaving the Fear Behind. Lhamosto has been taking care of her aged parent-in-laws and her four children in India. In addition to taking care of her family by selling bread, she has been actively campaigning for her husband's release.
Seventy-three year old Dhondup Wangchen's father tells Tibet In Review that he too, does his part to help his son's release. Every morning, he circumambulates around the Dalai Lama's residence and prays to deities to help Dhondup's release.
Airdate:
Monday, 21 March 2011
China's Plan to End 4000-Year-Old Tibetan Nomadic Culture
China's Tibet magazine wrote "Beaming smiles are fixed on the faces of herders while they are moving into new houses," with images of Tibetan nomads at their new houses to describe the relocation of Tibetan nomads. However, Tibetan and international experts say the herders are forced to move into new towns where they have no way of making a living. They expresses uncertainity on how happy the nomads mights be.
Tibet In Review was told that there won't be any nomads left in Qinghai province in the next five years. Tibetan Autonomous Region has already moved about two thirds of the entire population into "comfortable houses," the term China uses for the newly built nomadic houses. Interview with Nicholas Benquenlin, Senior Researcher for Human Rights Watch based in Hong Kong; Tashi Tsering, PhD candidate in Resource Management and Environmental Studies at the University of British Columbia.
Airdate:
Monday, 21 March 2011
China's Plan to End 4000-Year-Old Tibetan Nomadic Culture (Part II)
Airdate:
Monday, 31 January 2011
Battle of Chakra Palbar (Part I)
"The peaceful liberation of Tibet," is China's motto. However four former Tibetan guerilla fighters like Derge Sre Dhonyo, says such liberation only existed in propaganda "rhetoric," not in reality. He tells Tibet In Review how CIA trained radio operators like him witnessed and experienced the bloodshed in the battle of Chakra Palbar. Tibet In Review revisits the battle of Chakra Palbar by interviewing a veteran of CIA trained Choshi Gangdrug, a veteran of local guerilla fighter, a former Khampa chieftain, two individuals who lived through the post-battle years, and an author who conducted a thorough research on the battle.
Interviews: Derge Sre Dhonyo, a veteran, CIA trainee and leader of 4th radio operation group; Jamyang Norbu, author; Phurpapon Tobgyal, a formar chieftain from Kham; Gyaltsen Yeshi, Security Department staff in Dharasama who is from Chakra Palbar.
Airdate:
Monday, 31 January 2011
Battle of Chakra Palbar (Part II)
Airdate:
Monday, 31 January 2011
Battle of Chakra Palbar (Part III)
Airdate:
Saturday, 08 January 2011
China's Patriotic Campaign in Tibet: A New Gun with Old Bullet
While Chinese officials have strengthened patriotic campaigns in monasteries in Tibet since the 1990s, experts say the strategy and information materials are the same old ones that had never been successful in changing Tibetan people's perception of the China-Tibet issue. Forcing Buddhist monks to denounce the Dalai Lama is like trying to "find a bone in an egg," says Kunga Tashi, a China Analyst at the Office of Tibet. Arjia Rinpoche, a former vice chairman of People's Political Consultative Conference of Qinghai Province, believes that Beijing doesn't bother to modernize its strategy because they don't care enough about the Tibetan issue. "I think they give the job to the local authorities and tell them to do the same thing they had been doing," Rinpoche said. Tibet In Review interviewed a Drepung monk who recently escaped from Tibet and other experts on this campaign.
Interview with Arjia Rinpoche; Kunga Tashi; Rinchen Tashi; Thubten Norbu, a monk for Drepung Monastery.
Airdate:
Thursday, 01 December 2011
Rongye Adak's Profile (Part I)
On a very solemn day, Rongye Adrak, father of 11 children, left his wife and a newly born infant in the hospital in Lithang. He knew he might not see them again for a long time. He walked straight to the official ceremony for the founding of the People's Liberation Army, grabbed the microphone and confidently said: "His Holiness the Dalai Lama is someone we Tibetans need." After three years, Rongye Adrak is still locked up in Chinese prison, but his cousin Atruk Tseten tells Tibet In Review that Adak's voice was an opener for the bottled-up anger of Tibetans towards the Chinese government for not letting their leader come home. In the following year, the anger exploded everywhere in Tibet.
Interview with Atruk Tseten, his nephew and Tenzin Jigme, the International Tibetan Support Group Coordinator.
Airdate:
Wednesday, 01 December 2010
Rongye Adak's Profile (Part II)
Airdate:
Saturday, 12 November 2011
Taktser Village
In the summer, the village of Taktser looks like a freshly exposed little treasure on a green silk-wrapper. The greenness is also the color that led the search party from the central Tibet to this village to find the 14th Dalai Lama. According to history, the regent of the 13th Dalai Lama saw a monastery with a green roof in his vision while looking for the signs of the reincarnation of the 13th. That monastery is not so far from Taktser. For Tibetans, this simple village could be as important as the historic Palace of Mijor Jampaling. The village today is a popular pilgrim site for Tibetans. Tibet In Review looks at the changes of this sacred village that has taken place since 1935.
Interview with a Tibetan pilgrim from New Zealand who recently visited Taktser.
Airdate:
Saturday, 30 October 2010
Trulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche's Life Before Imprisonment (Part I)
Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, a highly respected local religious leader and social worker in Lithang area of Tibet, is now a widely known political prisoner within human rights groups and Tibetan supporters. However, his life before building schools, monasteries and homes for aged people is scarcely looked at. In today’s show, Tibet In Review looks at Tenzin Delek Rinpoche's life as a child who watched his monastery being air bombed by the PLA; a hidden monk in lay people's chupa who proved himself to be a great jockey; a visionary who helped to rebuild Lithang Monastery; a seeker of Buddha's teachings who traveled to India where he was recognized as a reincarnation of a local lama by His Holiness the Dalai Lama; and a dedicated trulku who returned to help his people that eventually lead him into Chinese prison.
Interview with Rinpoche's personal assistant, Geshi Jamyang Nyima; Adrog Phuntsok, a former monk for Lithang Gonpa who studied under Tenzin Delek.
Airdate:
Saturday, 30 October 2010
Trulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche's Life Before Imprisonment (Part II)
Airdate:
Friday, 01 October 2010
Lobsang Tenzin's Life in Prison (Part I)
Over the past 50 years, Tibetans took every opportunity to show their protest against China's control over their homeland. This protest has reached a new speed and new level after the new generation of Tibetans started nonviolent demonstrations in the capital Lhasa in 1987. A student from Lhasa University who participated in the demonstration in 1988 has now become the longest serving political prisoner from that demonstration while the fire of such a demonstration has spread throughout the grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau. Today, four prominent former political prisoners share their memories of the courageous and visionary young political prisoner Lobsang Tenzin, who did not stop his activism even after he was put in the prison. Lobsang Tenzin is still in prison after 22 years.
Interview with four former political prisoners including Tagna Jigme Sangpo.
Airdate:
Saturday, 01 October 2011
Lobsang Tenzin's Life in Prison (Part II)
Airdate:
Sunday, 26 September 2010
Political Sensitivity over Tibet Hinders the Aid Effort in the Disaster Area
A Tibetan from Drugchu area who now lives in India says the lack of media coverage about the mudslide that took place in Drugchu in August undermined aid efforts. Serong Woser told Tibet in Review on Sept. 25 that the local people who lost their homes still get no adequate support. Grom Hong Kong, a representative of the International Federation of Journalists told Tibet In Review that the Chinese government banned journalists from visiting the area because it is a Tibetan area. "I think this is a political issue," Serenade Woo, the project coordinator of the IFJ said. "When we are talking about Zhouqu, as far as I understand, there are a number of Tibetans living there."
Interview with Serenade Woo, the project coordinator of IFJ based in Hong Kong; Serong Woser, a monk at Kirti Monastery in India who has close connection with people in Drugchu.
Airdate:
Thursday, 16 September 2010
Reconstruction and Current Situation in Yushu
Nearly six months after the deadly earthquake that destroyed the capital of Yushu Tibetan Prefecture, locals are still living around the rubble. The tents they live in are designed only for the summer season. Tibet In Review has learned from local people and travelers that it has been months since the officials promised to provide Gers (or Yurts). Although the month of September has brought freezing weather to the Tibetan Plateau already, such tents are nowhere to be seen. The local people are also complaining about the Chinese government's reconstruction plan, under which, they say the right to build homes on the land they owned before the earthquake is not guaranteed.
Interview with two local people; four individuals from Yushu who now live in the West (including one who visited Yushu in July) an architect from New Zealand who traveled to Yushu in August and Robert Barnett of Columbia University
