YouTube – Viva Tibet – Bassnectar FreQ Nasty & Digital Dharma Films.

“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.

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.

It was such a foreign feeling because I grew up in Minnesota, where I could say whatever I want, read whatever I want, and write whatever I want without thinking anything of it. And all of a sudden this freedom was taken away and I was always looking over my shoulder. If it’s something you grew up with, you don’t think, ‘Oh, I’m so lucky because I can write whatever I want today’, or, ‘I’m so lucky because I can log onto whatever website I want today’. This isn’t just about Tibet. This is about a sixth of the world that don’t even know what they’re missing because state propaganda is just that good.”

At 11:40 that same night the police raided Wen’s hotel. “They pounded and yelled at every single door until they got to mine. They looked around the room and warned me, ‘If you do anything suspicious, there’ll be consequences’. After they left, I was shaking.”

Wen decided to return to Chengdu, and the next morning she bought a bus ticket bound to leave the next day. “I was chain-smoking by this point. The combination of the email, the hotel raid, and the tense atmosphere was emotionally draining. I honestly don’t know how people live in that kind of fear.”

What Wen didn’t know at the time was that her Tibetan colleagues in India had just received a very strange email from her that she had never sent. She was also the only one who had the password to her account.

—————————————————–
Date: Thursday, July 31, 2008, 1:29 AM

Subject: We got some foreigners in the mainland of PRC that was interested in the plan of RTFC.

the list contains details of 6 foreigners and 2 chinese.
—————————————————–

Wen decided to walk up to the local monastery to calm her mind. “It’s quite a steep climb and I went all the way to the rooftop. From there you get a panoramic view of Kardze. These regions are really beautiful. You can see the valley, the distant grasslands, and the snow-capped mountains in the background that surround the town. So I took pictures, but I couldn’t help myself–I took a few zoomed-in shots of the military base. I didn’t know that I was playing with fire.”

A plain-clothed Chinese man was holding up his cell phone unusually high in her direction. Wen didn’t think anything of it, but as she was walking down, the police officer who had come to her room and threatened her the night before, stopped her and told her to follow him to the police station. “I thought, this is it. I can’t believe I took those pictures.”

One of Wen’s less sensitive photos from the roof of Kardze Monastery

At the station, two plain-clothed police filmed her with hand-held camcorders, getting close in to her face. “It was very intimidating. I kept asking them ‘What’s wrong. What’s going on?’ All they would say was ‘Wait and see.’ I kept thinking, wait and see for what?” After a while, they drove Wen to her hotel where they confiscated her phone and her passports, including her American passport. I found myself saying, ‘I’m an American citizen. I have a right to call the US Embassy.’ I knew they weren’t going to let me call, but I said it anyway.”

Ten plain clothed Public Security Bureau officers were now in Wen’s hotel room. “The first thing they did was look through the photos on my camera. Of course, they found the shots of the military camp. They started whispering to each other. I said, ‘I’m sorry. I take pictures of everything. Look at the photos of the mountains and the valleys and the houses.’ But I knew I was in a lot of trouble.”

read the full story here:

Rebecca Novick: Arrested in Tibet: A Young American’s Journey of Fear.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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

4) Do the Research! Don’t take our word for it. Find out for yourself if China has fulfilled its promises to the I.O.C. China’s Olympic Pledge -Amnesty International

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.

6) Talk about it!Make friends with Chinese citizens online, and have dialogs about Tibet, and cross borders. Listen, Learn Challenge.

Digital Dharma Films is:
Andrea Veccione
Tom Sepe

Archival Footage, and Recent Photographs from:

Tibetan Center For Human Rights & Democracy
Students For a Free Tibet
Library of Tibetan Works & Archives
Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts
Yongling Kindergarten
Rebecca & Ronny Novick
CBS5 News, S.F.

Additional Music:
“One World One Dream” by Troy Lush
“Drums” Mark Growden

Special Thanks to:

All of our friends in McLeod Ganj, India
All our donors and supporters in the States and Abroad
Tibetan Youth Congress
Tibetan Women’s Association
Kyizom
Renee Bergan
Tibetan Parilment and Venerable Samdhong Rinpoche
thetibetconnection.org

• Interview: Laurel Sutherlin (1 of the 3 activists from Golden Gate Bridge Banner Action) – 4/3/08
• “March To Tibet” Fundraiser at 1015 Folsom – 4/6/08
• Interview: Kunsang Kelden (Students for Free Tibet International Board of Directors) studentsforafreetibet.org – 4/6/08
• Golden Gate Bridge Banner Action/Protest – 4/7/08
• Interview: Karsh Kale karshkale.com – 4/7/08
• Interview: Robin Goodfellow (CYPHERTOWN) facebook.com/pages/Cyphertown – 4/7/08
• “Tibet Freedom Torch” Ceremony @ United Nations Plaza, SF – tibetanfreedomtorch.org – 4/8/08
• “Tibet Candlelight Vigil” with Richard Gere, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and others at U.N. Plaza, SF – 4/8/08
• Interview: Karen Garfinkle solutionsinaction.com – 4/8/08
• S.F. Olympic Torch Protest – 4/9/08
• Interview: Duane Martinez (1 of the 3 activists from Golden Gate Bridge Banner Action) – 4/9/08
• Interview: Tenzin Tsundue friendsoftibet.org/tenzin – McLeodgnaj, India
• Children & Students Candlelight Vigil & Procession- McLeodganj, India
• Ongoing Hunger Strike – McLeodganj, India – 4/14/08
• Interview: Mary Gendler (ANEC – Active Non-Violence Education Center) McLeodganj, India 4/15/08
• Interview: John Powers (Author – “History as Propaganda-Tibetan Exiles Vs the People’s Republic of China“) McLeodganj, India 4/16/08
• Tibetan Freedom Torch – Delhi, India tibetanfreedomtorch.org – 4/17/08
• March To Tibet – Press Conference and March Delhi, India tibetanuprising.org – 4/18/08
• Gandhi Memorial and Museum, Delhi, India – 4/18/08
• Interview: Pema Richardson (Tibetan-American) (Media Team of March to Tibet) Delhi, India tibetanuprising.org – 4/18/08
• Interview: 6 ex-political prisoners (Tibetan Monks) – 4/20/08
• Sherbling Tibetan Buddhist Monastary Palampur, India – 4/22/08
• Interview: Wangdu (Tibetan Exile) – 4/23/08
• Interview: Urgen Tenzin (Director, Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy) www.tchrd.org/ 4/24/08
• Students at T.I.P.A – (Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts) tibetanarts.org – 4/25/08
• Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche – (Prime Minister of Tibetan Government-in-Exile) www.tibet.com – 4/25/08
• Interview: Kyizom Tsam (Tibetan) (ANEC – Active Non-Violence Education Center) – 4/27/08
• Dali Lama’s arrival - McLeodganj, India – 4/28/08
• Tibetan Women singing freedom songs – Sewing Cooperative McCleodganj, India
• Buddhist Monks Debating at McLeodganj Monastery – 4/28/08
• Interview: Dhardon Sharling (Research and Media – Tibetan Woman’s Association) tibetanwomen.org – 4/28/08
• Buddhist Nuns Debating at Geden Choeling Nunnery, McLeodganj http://gedenchoelingnunnery.org/ – 4/28/08
• Interview: Tibetan Youth Congress tibetanyouthcongress.org Mcleodganj, India
• Tibetan Children Kindergarten Mcleodganj, 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.

This video is our first contribution to the Tibet in 49 Seconds project instigated by The Tibet Connection.

Here also is a May 27th 2008article about Mary from the Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, MA.

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.

1. Return From India
2. Announcing Our New Website: www.digitaldharmafilms.org
3. Fundraising!
4. How You Can Help – Connections & Donations
5. Infrastructure Creation
6. Milestones: Events Locations & Interviews We Filmed
7. THANK YOU!

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1) Return from India:

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.

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2) Announcing our new website! digitaldharmafilms.org

We’re very excited about our new webspace. It is functionally a Wordpress Blog – so we’ll be able to update it easily, and we’ll be able to post photos and videos and links related to the project. We’ve also installed a forum: http://digitaldharmafilms.org/forums/ which will provide a place for community dialogue and discussion about our film and topics such as Tibet, Non-Violence, China, Activism etc. If you have a website please add a link to us, because that is what search engines like, and it will also help get the word out.

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3) Fundraising!

There is a lot of exciting funding possibilities unfolding for our film. We are working on getting a fiscal sponsor which will allow us to receive tax-deductible grants and donations. If you made a contribution and would like to receive a tax-write-off, please let us know and we will get you the proper paperwork before the year’s end.

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4) How You Can Help:

Please send us information about any grants, foundations, organizations or individuals that may be interested helping out our project. We are looking for resources of all kinds! If you know of some great informative websites, send us the link! We are still totally community and self-funded, so any donation, even $20 still makes a big difference right now. You can visit our website: http://digitaldharmafilms.org/donate/ or send checks to:
Tom Sepe
430 Ashland St.
Ashland, OR 97520

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5) Infrastructure Creation:

We are feverishly working on our mission statement and general proposal so that people can understand on paper what we are up to. We are also working on a 5-10min promo video that will give people a taste of the subject matter and style we are presenting. Stay tuned we’ll let you know when its ready for viewing!

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6) Milestones: Events, Locations and Interviews that we filmed:

• Interview: Laurel Sutherlin (1 of the 3 activists from Golden Gate Bridge Banner Action) – 4/3/08
• “March To Tibet” Fundraiser at 1015 Folsom – 4/6/08
• Interview: Kunsang Kelden (Students for Free Tibet International Board of Directors) studentsforafreetibet.org – 4/6/08
• Golden Gate Bridge Banner Action/Protest – 4/7/08
• Interview: Karsh Kale karshkale.com – 4/7/08
• Interview: Robin Goodfellow (CYPHERTOWN) facebook.com/pages/Cyphertown – 4/7/08
• “Tibet Freedom Torch” Ceremony @ United Nations Plaza, SF – tibetanfreedomtorch.org – 4/8/08
• “Tibet Candlelight Vigil” with Richard Gere, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and others at U.N. Plaza, SF – 4/8/08
• Interview: Karen Garfinkle solutionsinaction.com – 4/8/08
• S.F. Olympic Torch Protest – 4/9/08
• Interview: Duane Martinez (1 of the 3 activists from Golden Gate Bridge Banner Action) – 4/9/08
• Interview: Tenzin Tsundue friendsoftibet.org/tenzin – McLeodgnaj, India
• Children & Students Candlelight Vigil & Procession- McLeodganj, India
• Ongoing Hunger Strike – McLeodganj, India – 4/14/08
• Interview: Mary Gendler (ANEC – Active Non-Violence Education Center) McLeodganj, India 4/15/08
• Interview: John Powers (Author – “History as Propaganda-Tibetan Exiles Vs the People’s Republic of China“) McLeodganj, India 4/16/08
• Tibetan Freedom Torch – Delhi, India tibetanfreedomtorch.org – 4/17/08
• March To Tibet – Press Conference and March Delhi, India tibetanuprising.org – 4/18/08
• Gandhi Memorial and Museum, Delhi, India – 4/18/08
• Interview: Pema Richardson (Tibetan-American) (Media Team of March to Tibet) Delhi, India tibetanuprising.org – 4/18/08
• Interview: 6 ex-political prisoners (Tibetan Monks) – 4/20/08
• Sherbling Tibetan Buddhist Monastary Palampur, India – 4/22/08
• Interview: Wangdu (Tibetan Exile) – 4/23/08
• Interview: Urgen Tenzin (Director, Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy) www.tchrd.org/ 4/24/08
• Students at T.I.P.A – (Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts) tibetanarts.org – 4/25/08
• Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche – (Prime Minister of Tibetan Government-in-Exile) www.tibet.com – 4/25/08
• Interview: Kyizom Tsam (Tibetan) (ANEC – Active Non-Violence Education Center) – 4/27/08
• Dali Lama’s arrival - McLeodganj, India – 4/28/08
• Tibetan Women singing freedom songs – Sewing Cooperative McCleodganj, India
• Buddhist Monks Debating at McLeodganj Monastery – 4/28/08
• Interview: Dhardon Sharling (Research and Media – Tibetan Woman’s Association) tibetanwomen.org – 4/28/08
• Buddhist Nuns Debating at Geden Choeling Nunnery, McLeodganj http://gedenchoelingnunnery.org/ – 4/28/08
• Interview: Tibetan Youth Congress tibetanyouthcongress.org Mcleodganj, India
• Tibetan Children Kindergarten Mcleodganj, India

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7) THANK YOU!

A big shout-out to everyone: Thank you so much for your time, your support, your words, your contributions, your connections. This project is truly showing the power of community and how we can all make a difference by lending each other a hand. We are dedicated in our service to justice, non-violence, community and creative expression! Hip-Hip-Hooray!

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We’ve had another epic couple of days. We have been so blessed.

Here’s some news:

1) Yesterday we interviewed Mr. Urgen Tenzin, the Executive Director
of the Tibetan Center for Human Rights And Democracy http://www.tchrd.org/

2) Today we filmed students singing and playing music at TIPA -- the Tibetan Institute for Performing
Arts…

3) AND the big news is that we had an exclusive interview with Sondhum Rinpoche, the head of the Tibetan Governement in Exile! http://www.tibet.com/

The breaking news is that the Chinese Govt. as agreed to meet with the
Tibetan Parliament!

I’ve posted a bunch of photos on my flickr page:

On a more personal note -- I shaved my head in solidarity:

Tom Sepe

Hello Friends!

(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.

Namaste!

Tom