“Viva-TIbet” is a 5 minute music video that dramatically shows the intense human rights abuses perpetrated by China in Tibet and calls upon the world to step up in a peaceful, non-violent way for justice and truth.
The Music for this 5 minute video was produced in April 2008 as a collaboration between Lorin Bassnectar and FreQ Nasty - two preeminent Bay Area DJs who’s tracks have slammed the bass bins around the world, and who consistently bring a conscious beat to the dance of the movement.
Please copy and forward the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fRa2Jery6k
Digital Dharma Films formed in April 2008 by Andrea Vecchione and Tom Sepe in response to the Chinese crackdown on the massive March 10th protests in Tibet. We have produced a 7 minute mini-documentary http://digitaldharmafilms.org/2008/08/china-time-to-know-the-truth/ as well as numerous 1 minute shorts in collaboration with the “Tibet in 49 Seconds” project. We are currently seeking funding to finish our feature length documentary about Tibet, Non-violence and Activism.
Rebecca Novick presents a fascinating story of a young Chinese american who was recently arrested and detained by Chinese authorities while traveling in Tibet. Here is an excerpt of the article that appeared the the Huffington Post on August 12th, 2008:
Wen was now convinced that the Chinese intelligence was reading her email. Back in Dharamsala, India, she had helped to start an organization called Raise Tibetan Flags Campaign. “We’re trying to promote awareness and dialogue about what’s going on in Tibet by raising Tibetan flags worldwide. I’d been in contact with people in Dharamsala about the campaign. It’s just become a part of the dialogue. After I received this email from Google, I seriously considered going back for the first time. I seriously feared for my safety.
Digital Dharma Films presents this short video “Time to Know the Truth” calling China into account and calling upon rational people everywhere to stand up for our brothers and sisters in Tibet.
March 10th 2008 marked the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising. In the largest Pan-Tibetan protests in history, tens of thousands of Tibetans rose up against China’s illegal invasion and occupation of their country. Despite China’s best attempts to destroy the Tibetan spirit, Tibetan resistance has continued for nearly half a century inside Tibet and in exile communities worldwide. With all eyes focused on the Olympics in China, Tibetans and supporters worldwide are protesting the Chinese government’s use of the Olympics as a political tool to legitimize its illegal occupation of Tibet.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
1) Please forward this video to as many people as possible to raise awareness about the issue. Post it to you blogs and use it as a video response on YouTube and other video websites.
copy this URL:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U1zXO-O_ng
2) Donate to Digital Dharma Films. We are producing full-length documentary film about Tibet, Non-Violence, and Activism. In addition to seeking grants, private donations will make up over half of our budget. Your donation will help us to produce and distribute this upcoming, inspiring film so important in these tumultuous times we face.
3) Write to the United Nations Office of Human Rights demanding a third party mandate to become involved in Tibet and investigate the Human Rights abuses. email: InfoDesk@ohchr.org
5) Take Action! Visit Students for a Free Tibet’s Olympic Games Campaign site where you can learn more about Tibet and get involved in direct action and strategic non-violence.
Please watch and forward our new Video! Our goal is to get 50,000 views in 48 hours on YouTube so that our film will become listed on the “Daily Most Watched” page -thereby allowing us the possibility to reach millions of viewers! Please watch our new video “Time to Know the Truth” and forward to your friends!
In April 2008 we had the great pleasure of interviewing Mary Gendler of A.N.E.C (Active Non-violent Education Center) while in McLeod Ganj, India.
At the invitation of the Dalai Lama, Mary and her husband Rabbi Everett Gendler (one of the contemporary grandfathers of Jewish nonviolence) have led eleven workshops on nonviolence with the Tibetan community in India over the past 13 years.
My first day in India, and I was already overewhelmed… but not in a bad way. I was delighted and amused and feeling alive and fully charged up for the task at hand. Of course I had no idea what I was getting myself into! The next three weeks was a whirlwind of interviews and video shoots and running around and jumping on taxis and trains and busses (ok so we missed our train but that’s another story) - Protests and candle-light vigils, and monks chanting and schoolchildren grabbing our shirts and mule carts and tuk tuks and temples and heat and rain and sun and sore feet! Plus a cascade of amazing connections and friendships that have only just begun!
And as I’ve now returned from India.. and am looking at the 40 video tapes in front of me… and thinking about months of editing.. I am really asking myself.. “What have I gotten myself into!!! But I’m still ecstatic and inspired. I feel incredibly lucky to be taking on this project. I’m really hoping that we get some funding (as I’ve spent just about every last dime on this project at this point!) and we are working on a promo video and written proposals toward that goal. I’m very optimistic.
Andrea and I have returned from an incredibly successful trip in India and I wanted to share with you the milestones we have achieved and the current and future plans of our film project. We are deeply grateful with how magical this trip has unfolded; from the tremendous support from our community, to the incredible connections that arose in the Tibetan Exile community.
(For further updates, I’ve set up a mailing list. Please visit this page: sepeblog.com/free-tibet/ to sign up.)
Just a quick update to let you know that I have arrived safely and without hassle in McLeod Gange, the small town above Dharamsala, India this morning!
WOW.
Hard to believe that a couple weeks ago I was asking for assitance, and now the help of my community has sent me to the heart of the Tibetan exile community. Its thrilling and unbelieveable!
Andrea and I just had a fantastic brainstorming lunch and are developing and clarifying our vision for the project.
Before leaving I was able to get some great footage of the Olympic Torch Protests in SF, as well as the Tibetan Fredom Torch Candle light Vigil where Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Richard Gere as well as many other incredible people spoke… not to mention the GG bridge action and the March To Tibet event in SF at 1015 Folsom. I’ve also already done about 10 interviews before I even got here! Its amazing how this is all unfolding! Big shoutout to Heather Hill for assisting with filming and for Caylee Sitz for rockstar support.
I’ve posted a couple things on my youtube page:
Laurel Sutherlin Speaks @ 1015
Karsh Kale Interview with Wasfia Nazreen
So again I send my thanks! YOU are all making this possible and I encourage all of you to find out more about the Tibetan’s situation, to spread the word, and to take actions of solidarity so that this non-violent movement for freedom can suceed. For the sake of the Tibetan’s and for the sake of all people who care about peace and justice.
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