So here is the update...for yall following the story....

GRANNY UPDATE
Over Thanksgiving, granny developed phenomena again, spent a week in Sid Peterson Regional, and was discharged home. After one weekend at the house, it was apparent that this was a major set-back, there was only so much I could do for her, and she really needed 24-7 professional nursing and more intensive therapy to get her back on her feet, or as close to it as possible. You see, her many and complicated health issues are slowly wearing her down, and granny herself thought that home was not the best place or her at this time. I agreed with the home health nurse that she should go back to the nursing home, and about a week and a half ago she was admitted back into Plaza on the River. However, this time around I am not living at the nursing home with her. She will remain there for only three months maximum. I have complete and total faith in the care the my friends at Plaza can provide granny, and there is only so much one person can do. I am worn out emotionally and physically from doing my best and giving it my all since July 2008.

SPECIAL THANKS
My dear and deepest appreciation goes out to the nurses Kyra, Carrie, Deborah, Elise, Kathy, Nora, Judy and the newer RNs/Med Techs/LVNs that I have had the pleasure to meet, but have not had the opportunity to get to know in the same way that I did when I resided at plaza. Also, a special thanks to all the aids, admin, and therapist at Plaza - Denise H., Hilaria, Janeth, Billy, Teri, Stephani, Espi, Julia, Jennie, Lupe, Vicky, Maria, Donna, Shelly, Michele, Lynda, Teela, Doris, Wren, Mrs. Rosemary, Denise, Rae, Keith, Gerri, Theresa...and those of you who are no longer at plaza....Millie, Janise, Alicia, if I failed to mention your name many apologies...You all a great bunch of folks and I value the time and relationships that were established!!!

RECENT CHANGES & DEVELOPMENTS
I am always striving for a better me, although sometimes more actively than other periods in my life. My time in Kerrville has forced me to reflect on my life and do what Dr. Lewis calls, “Jenny Inventory.” What that involves is periodically evaluating  myself and my life to determine what I have, need, want, and the opposite thereof to decide how I will realize my ideal self in the upcoming days, weeks, months, and years. It involves coming up with a specific step-by-step process to obtain the best balance of emotional, physical, spiritual, and material wealth and advancement.

In short, what I came up with was that I had slipped into a mere existence in my life instead of actually living and loving life. I had fallen into a work-a-holic lifestyle leaving no time or energy for OTHER things I have a love, passion, interest, and need for. I do enjoy working, however, as a Libra and striving to be a well rounded individual in general, I seek a healthy balance, which I had strayed FAR from. In order to find balance, it is essential for me to find my center again -- a self defined sense of ‘chi’.

So its back to the basics for me. I have stopped smoking....cigarettes (for those of you who would ask). I have started a work out regiment and healthier eating routine. Since my cousin’s wedding in 2007, I have done nothing by blown up in terms of weight and broke out in terms of acne. That has to be reversed---NOW!!!

I have started going back to the hobbies and creative activities that satisfy my artistic self, to get in touch with a side of me that I tend to forget about when the stress of work and school utilize my time and energy. I have started to read a novel (instead of text books), which I have wanted to read since 2003....I have gone back to writing on a regular basis, and when the surge of creativity strikes, I going with the creative urges/visions instead of denying them. This results in more drawing/illustrating and have even played with making some music and motivation to learn how to make AMVs and figuring out how to animate my own work. I have taken in interest in Anime...which is turning me into a sure OTAKU slowly and surely.

Finally, another important aspect to this Jenny Inventory action plan was going from involved and practically married, to single and totally independent. Surprisingly enough, the transition out of a SIX YEAR relationship has been void of all emotion, which helps me identify with the fact that leaving the blood, sweat, and tears that six years dedicated to a life with my now ex-fiance was the RIGHT THING TO DO.  I will spare the details (both good and bad) to protect the ‘integrity’ of the relationship, but there are several realizations that can be extracted from the overall relationship and experience. First, I need to know what I want in my own life and relationships with others so I know when I am in fact settling for less than what I feel I need or deserve. Please do not misunderstand or jump to conclusions! I am not saying ‘he’ was a lesser person or anything negative about him as an emotional being. However, the TYPE of relationship that had developed between ‘him’ and I was not the TYPE of relationship that I wanted or needed to be in for the rest of my life. To be honest, I feel there is a better intimate match for him than myself...on all levels, and its too bad that we cannot remain friends. Second, I should not make excuses, try and justify, or sugar coat what other people decide or don’t decide to do to convince myself of anything. I am real and blunt with everyone else, so its time to be REAL & BLUNT to myself.

PLAN FOR THE NEXT YEAR
Now, I am planning a brief vacation over the new year to get a much needed break and to transition into the next stage of my life. I am in the planning phase of what has been a future vision of mine for quite some time now. I will be returning back to Austin to pick up somewhat where I left off. At that time I will work part time...so those of you that have any good job opportunities...holla at me!! I will work full time until the summer semester starts at SEU, which at that time I will continue to work, but only part-time, return to school part time, and full fill my McNair Scholar’s Program obligations, which include, taking the GRE and applying to at least ten graduate schools. When the fall semester begins I will concentrate on income from scholarships, work depending on the school work load, and get back on track full-time in school with graduation MAY 2010 in primary focus. As all of this is going on, behind the scenes I will making preparations to move to California to go to graduate school. Although I will be applying to schools all over the nation, my focus is on the West Coast, more specifically the Bay Area. I am sub leasing the condo to save money and income from regular employment will be saved for the move as well. For those of you that knew the situation when I left Kerrville, this will be as similar as possible -- The last day of class I will be getting into my car and driving to my new home, in a new city, starting the rest of my life. This time, however, I will at least stay to walk the stage...which will technically be the first time (seeing that I did not show up to my HS or Community College graduation ceremonies).

LOOKING BEYOND
After relocating to California, I expect to work a year or two to get settled before enrolling straight into graduate school. On the other hand, I am also PLANNING NOT TO PLAN the details that far in advance. I am leaving my specific plan for 2010 and beyond to be shaped by the events and relationships that develop in the coming year. I am learning how to release some of my control freakishness and not be so OCD ALL THE TIME. So we shall see what happens!

So I know many of you have been wondering what’s up with me.

Well here is the story.....

In July 2008, I was finishing up my research on solutions to rural poverty in China and getting ready to go to graduate school. It was on the last day of the McNair Scholar’s Program, granny was admitted into ICU with double phenomena. I turned in my final research paper on my way to Kerrville’s Peterson Regional Healthcare Center to see what I could do for my family. I decided to stay with her, sleeping in the hospital by her side. The doctor said early on that her situation was not only critical but also very complicated, and that we might want to call family members to let them know the situation and to come visit. My uncle came and stayed with her for a while. Overall, granny was in ICU for about 10 days. There was not much the family could do for her but keep her comfortable. We played soothing music, kept a cold cloth on her forehead, and fed her ice chips and her meals. Each day was a battle, but soon she was stable enough to transfer to a regular room, where she stayed for about a week before she was transferred to Plaza on the River Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Her progress was slow, but expected. She had to learn how to eat, walk, and basically live again. I shared a room in the nursing home with her for two months where she engaged in intense physical, occupational, and speech therapy. There I learned how to be a nurse, a nurse’s aid, and a therapist. With barely any sleep I became part of all three shifts at Plaza on the River, and made many new friends. Finally, the doctor discharged her to come home, but only under the condition that I would stay in Kerrville and give 24 hour care to granny. Now I am living back home and staying really busy with all the regular household chores (cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, etc.) as well as playing nurse (passing meds, taking vital signs and blood sugars, solving basic medical problems and conditions, and giving full reports to the doctor on a regular basis) and therapist (making sure she correctly continues her upper and lower body exercises and her speech therapy). Now that I am home, I am also watching over my granddad and helping him through the day with the common tasks my granny used to do. Although granny is home, her progress is slow. With her many and complicated health issues, it is unlikely she will recover 100%. There are not good days and bad, there are just good times and bad times of each passing day.

As for my personal life, I have put EVERYTHING on hold, and have refrained from making in life decisions. I am in Kerrville to take care of my grandparents until they no longer need me. At the start of this intense period, it was of great concern to my family that I was basically quitting school and giving up many of the current opportunities my hard work had brought about. I was supposed to speak at a national McNair conference at Berkeley this summer and start my final year of undergraduate studies on my path to graduate school. This also cause some conflict within the family because, the major decision makers wanted to hire someone to take care of granny, which I am firmly against. I am still determined to finish school and continue my research and pursue my dreams. So, the one’s that think I am out of the game have another thing coming.

I believe that there is a plan greater than my own and that plan is the one that will prevail. This is only preparation for bigger and better things. Perhaps my path is not even ready for me, and my life has been put on hold to prepare that path for me.

In T.I.’s “No Matter What,” my feelings are summed up in a couple of verses:

“....God will take you through hell just to get you to heaven

So even though it’s heavy, the load I will carry
Grin and still bear it
Win and still share it...

Life can change ya directions
Even when you ain’t planned it

All you can do is handle it
The worst thing you could do is panic
Use it to your advantage
Avoid insanity, manage to conquer
Every obstacle, make impossible possible
Even when winning’s illogical
Losing’s still far from optional....

I ain’t dead
I ain’t done
I ain’t scared
I ain’t run

But still I stand
No matter what people
Here I am
No matter what, remember

I ain’t break
I ain’t fold
They hate me mo’
Yeah I know

Here I go
No mater what, shawty here I go
No matter what shawty...

Somehow I rise above my problems and remain here

Yeah and I hope the picture painted clear
If ya heart filled with faith then ya can’t fear
Wonder how I face years ans I’m still chillin?
Easy, let go and let God deal wit it...”

I will be Preparing to present my research at UC Berkeley...I just completed a McNair Research internship, in which I engaged in research entitled, "Solutions to Rural Poverty in China." Next, I will be presenting this research at my first national conference August 7-11, 2008.

According to the World Bank, three-hundred million people in China are living on less than one dollar a day (2008). My interests in entrepreneurship, economic development, and China converged and are demonstrated in an award winning business plan for a non-profit, in which the purpose is to reduce rural poverty in China through helping villagers start and maintain their own small businesses. I want to test my ideas on entrepreneurial solutions to poverty through rigorous research and development before implementing the strategies in rural China.

 

Currently, I am engaging in directed academic research support my ideas, and I have been given permission to start the non-profit through an entrepreneurial internship at my university. For the next three years, I will be actively working to make this idea a solid reality, which I expect to also contribute to my acceptance into a leading doctoral program. This will ensure that my theories are correct and ensure that implementing the program will not further marginalize the poor population. Additionally, a Ph.D. will validate my endeavors and provide strong creditability when teaching others how to reduce poverty in their own communities.

 

I am prepared to dedicate both my academic and professional careers to reduce rural poverty in China. I hope that my research will add to the body of knowledge, so similar programs can be modified and executed in other regions world-wide.

 

 

 

World Bank. 2005 International Comparison Program: Tables of final results. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, The World Bank. Washington, DC. 2008.

Lack of academic opportunities to learn about my Thai culture prompted me to teach myself Mandarin to prepare myself for courses in Chinese. China emerged as my focus for graduate studies through recent Chinese economy and culture courses. If I was not afraid of turning away from my responsibilities, I would study a year or more in China.

 

Visiting in China would support my goals and be a unique experience, but there are many obstacles to overcome before it will be a reality. I have never traveled outside of the country. I fear that my family will need me or that my responsibilities will go unattended if I go to China for any length of time. Additionally, I am not yet fluent in the native language, so I will feel vulnerable in a new environment.

 

I desire deeply to go, so I am starting to alleviate my fears. I have started to arrange for others to assist my family when I am away. Also, I am looking for a trusted individual to handle my business responsibilities for the duration of my trip, and I am continuing to learn Mandarin through formal classes. Furthermore, I am meeting new people that have connections in China, so that I have people I know when I arrive that can guide me through the new culture.

 

My emotion may be filled with fear, but I am determined to eliminate the barriers that are causing the fear, so that I can accomplish great things and grow from new experiences.

Since the March 2008 worldwide protests, Tibet has been a recent hot topic. The controversy over Tibetan freedom; however, is not a new issue. Periodically through the last 50 years, the “Free Tibet” movement appears in the international media, typically during a global event like the Olympics. Now that Beijing is hosting the games, and China is emerging as a super power, attention on the Chinese-Tibetan relationship has intensified. People internationally are demonstrating and speaking out passionately on their views, and one by one nations are making public statements in support or in condemnation of the current state of Tibet. Should foreign nations interfere? Careful consideration must be taken of both the views of the Tibetan Government in Exile and the People’s Republic of China to understand the roots of the conflict and to fairly and confidently choose to support Tibet, China, or remain neutral.

While the Tang Dynasty in China was being established in 618[i], Tibet became a united nation for the first time under its 33rd King, Songtsen Gampo[ii]. The first recorded interaction between Tibet and China involved King Songtsen Gampo requesting a Tang princess in marriage and was refused by Emperor Taizong. Four years later King Songtsen Gampo attacked Chinese territory. After Tibet was defeated, King Songtsen Gampo sent tribute to the Emperor, again asking for marriage, and Princess Wencheng was offered to the Tibetan King[iii]. This event was significant because Chinese view it as the beginning of a merger process between China and Tibet. On the other hand, Tibetans view it as a peace offering and points out that the princess was one of King Songtsen Gampo’s five wives, one of which was also a princess from Nepal. Both princesses are thought to be reincarnations of the goddess of compassion, and contributed to bringing Buddhism to Tibet².

Starting in 670 a 150-year conflict between Tibet and China began over inner and central Asia. This was not a constant ongoing conflict, but periodic attempts by Tibet to expand. The first major conflicting view between Chinese and Tibetan interpretation of history occurs in 763. Tibet claims that they invaded the Chinese capital of Chang’an² (current day Xian), selected the next ruler of China[iv] when the emperor fled[v], and China had to pay an annual tribute to Tibet as a result². Another view specifically explains that Emperor Daizong of the Tang Dynasty was occupied with the seven-year Anshi Rebellion, in the second capital of China, Luoyang, at the time of the 16-day[vi] Tibetan invasion, and was completely taken by surprise[vii]. In 821 the conflict concluded with the Sino-Tibetan Treaty, in which three inscribed pillars located in Lhasa, Gungu Meru, and Xian to signify peace between the two nations.²

After the agreement Tibet saw its last King, Langdarma, enthroned and four years later killed. Tibet was divided into several princedoms or sects, which created a highly decentralized government with each principality governing itself.² Officials, nobles, and upper-ranking monks owned all the property in Tibet; including the people who where tied to the land. Laws defined three social classes in Tibet by their in worth in terms of gold or straw. Surfs had nothing and depended entirely on the landowners from generation to generation. The law gave owners control over birth, marriages, and deaths of the surfs. In addition, the law specified punishment could be at the will of the owner and outlined torturous methods such as eye gouging and the removing of arms and legs.[viii] China was also divided at this time into ten kingdoms under five dynasties.¹

In 1240 the Mongol King, Godan, took over a northern region of Tibet, but high lama Sakya Pandita convinces them to leave, and Sakya Pandita become King Godan’s spiritual mentor. King Godan’s son, Kubilai Khan, later adopted Sakya Pandita’s nephew, Dragon Choegyal Phagpa, as his spiritual mentor. Similar to the Chinese concept of guanxi, this relationship represented cho-yon, but in addition required Kubilai Khan to provide military protection for the lama.² This lead to the second major conflicting view of history between China and Tibet. When Kubilai Khan became king of the Mongols, Phagpa became the top spiritual authority. Tibet claims that in honor of the lama, Kubilai Khan gives Phagpa political authority over Tibet² when he names him “Buddha of the Western Paradise,” which started the title of the “Living Buddha.”[ix]  China, however, considered Tibet an administrative district of China⁹ when Kubilia Khan brings China together and establishes the Yuan Dynasty in 1271.¹ As Chinese Emperor, Kubilai Khan names Phagpa “Imperial Tutor” signifying his spiritual authority in China.⁹ Tibetans view the title as China recognizing Tibet as a separate nation, while China views the titles as authority under the Chinese Dynasties. Overall, this contributes to establishing the joint religious and political authority of high-ranking lamas in Tibet, and gives the Sakya Buddhist sect its dominate influence in Tibet.

China not only had influence on the political power of the lamas, but also influenced the succession system of the Living Buddha. In the same era, a different Emperor, Monge Khan, supported the separate but also influential bKav-brgyud-pa Buddhist sect in Tibet by giving Karma-pag-shi the title, “State Tutor” and giving him a seal of authority. This helped the sect become a powerful influence in Tibet, but there was no way to ensure the sect stayed in a position of authority from generation to generation. Karma-pag-shi decided to adopt the principal of reincarnation so the property and powerful title could be passed down and the teachings of his sect to continue. He developed an intricate system including funeral arrangements, praying, consulting oracles, observing sacred lakes, searching for young boys and repeatedly checked for the reincarnated soul by selecting objects left by the previous lama, and everything up to an enthronement ceremony of the new Living Buddha of the bKav-brgyud-pa sect. Since Tibet is so vast and numerous independent Buddhist sects exist, each of them also adopted reincarnation, creating over one thousand slightly different systems.⁹

The Gelug sect is a different Buddhist school, from which the current Dalai Lama is a decedent. It became a dominant Tibetan influence when the Phagmodru family took over the power of the Sakya family in 1350.⁴ The third reincarnation of the Gelug sect founder, Panchen Gedun Drup, was honored with the title “Talai Lama” by Mongol Emperor Altan Khan, which was retrospectively applied to the previous lamas, starting the line of lamas with the official “Dalai Lama” title.² This was during the Chinese Ming Dynasty, which respected the different titles given to various sect leaders and had them to participate in the Tibetan government.⁹

The influence of the Gelug sect and the successive Dalai Lamas was solidified politically in the 1640’s, when the fifth Dalai Lama was endorsed by both the Mongol Prince, Gushri Khan, and the Manchu Chinese Qing Dynasty. Tibet views the endorsement of the Mongols as the beginning of the Dalai Lama’s position as sovereign head of state.² The Chinese Qing Emperor, Shunzhi, gave the fifth Dalai Lama the title, “The Dalai Lama, Overseer of the Buddhist Faith on Earth under the Great Benevolent Self-subsisting Buddha of Western Paradise” and a gold seal of authority. The Chinese view their support of the Gelug sect as the mechanism to enforce governance over Tibet through the sect, in which they consolidated the thousands of reincarnation systems into one standardized succession system and officially established the Pachen and Dalai Lama’s authority in the Chinese central government.⁹

Shortly afterward, Tibet was plagued with a series of foreign invasions and civil wars, in which the Chinese Emperor came to Tibet’s aid.⁴ To prevent further turmoil, Chinese Emperor, Qianlong, developed a “29-Article Ordinance for the More Efficient Governing of Tibet.” This established the selection system of the reincarnated soul of the Dalai Lama to ensure the continuation of the Yellow (Gelug) sect. It involved writing the names of the candidates in three languages on ivory slips, which are placed in a gold urn, prayed over for seven days by the learned Living Buddha, and lot selected with various political and religious leaders as witness. This was to prevent the rampant corruption related to the Dalai Lama, because the highly desired position created tension within the Tibetan privileged class.⁹ Tibet, however, claims that the 29 points were simply a suggestion to the sovereign nation, which choose not to adopt the new system, and maintained past traditions.² In response, China points out that both the seventh and eighth Dalai Lamas issued public statements in support of the system, even going as so far as promising severe punishment for maintaining the former system of selection.⁹

At this point, Tibet sees itself as independent, while China sees Tibet as part of the Motherland. There in lies the third major conflicting view between China and Tibet. Starting in the 1840’s Tibet sees sixty years of foreign attacks, but China could not be focused on defending Tibet because it was concentrated on the first and second Opium Wars, numerous rebellions and massacres, the Bubonic Plague, Sino-French War, and Sino-Japanese War.¹ In 1903 British-India invades Tibet, but a year later, with the signing of the Lahsa Convention, foreign troops begin to leave Tibet. Soon, Tibet claims to have comes under the attack by Chinese troops, which prompts the 13th Dalai Lama’s escape to India, but later proclaims independence with the victory over the Chinese over Tibet.² Without the consent of Tibet and the Dalai Lama, however, the Lhasa Convention was renegotiated twice in 1906 and 1907. It became an Anglo-Russian agreement covering Persia, Afghanistan, and Tibet, in which all parties agreed to only deal with Tibet through China.[x] Additionally, the Chinese paid a large indemnity to India to withdraw British troops from Tibet.[xi]

After a history of war, the People’s Republic of China is established in 1949 by Mao Zedong. It could now focus on national development and liberation Tibet, Xinjang, Hainan, and Taiwan.² China went to Tibet to end the feudal system and defend itself against the West to prepare for national development.⁸ Tibet claims it attempted to negotiate border disputes, but the People’s Liberation Army came to Tibet in unfair and illegal violence, torture, and slaughter.² “The 17 Pacts” were signed by a Tibetan delegation to formally accept the new People’s Republic and establish the First People’s Congress of Tibet.⁸ Tibet claims the delegation had no authority to sign on behalf of Tibet, the Dalai Lama was unaware of the existence of the agreement, and the Dalai Lama’s position on the Tibetan Congress had no real authority. Tibet continued to endure frequent attacks on religious places and people in what some consider a “blood bath.”⁸ March of 1959, part of the Tibetan National Uprising protested in opposition to the PRC² and began the “Free Tibet” movement, and the Dalai Lama fled for asylum in India.² In response, the Chinese government moved forward with reforms, general elections were held in 1961 for government officials, and in 1965 the Regional People’s Government was established.⁸

Prior to 1950, Tibet had seen little advancement from its primitive methods of herding and farming. In addition, there was no evidence of science, technology, industry, commerce, or healthcare and education beyond the monasteries. The most common cause of death was hunger, cold, poverty, and disease. Since liberation, China has continued with its national development initiatives. 12 billion dollars have been spent on infrastructure alone by the Chinese government. Other expenditures include, highways, airports, water conservancy projects, factories, banks, trading companies, post offices, farms, schools, social and disaster relief, and disease prevention. Then brought technology to expand farm and husbandry production and medical services. The Household Responsibility System gave former Tibetan surfs land-use rights.⁸ In 2007 the First Forum on the Development of Tibet was held to build a new strategy to attract foreign investment, promote ecological and environmental protection, increase competition in industry, strengthen technology exchange with south Asia, and more infrastructure development.[xii]

The differences in the Chinese and Tibetan views in History can partially be attributed to cultural differences in the interpretation of symbolic actions taken by China. China saw the marriage between the Tang Princess and the Tibetan King as a symbol of a merger of two nations. If Tibet viewed it in this way, Tibet would also be merged with Nepal from marring the Nepalese princess. When different honorific titles were given to Tibetan lamas, it increased their political and spiritual authority. This authority was given to different sects leaders by both Chinese and non-Chinese leaders, so when China changed Dynasties, or when Tibet’s dominant sect changed, confusion arose as to who’s power was legitimate and respected and whose was not. China viewed the titles as symbolically acknowledging the lama’s influence in Tibet and formally solidifying that power under Chinese authority. Tibetans understand the titles as outwardly recognizing Tibet’s sovereignty separate from the Chinese Dynasties. Additionally, the power that accompanied the honorific titles given to lamas by China initiated the need for a succession system among the leading lamas in each sect and makes Tibetan Buddhism unique. It also created a more intense power struggle between sects and within the privileged class. Where China thought it was coming to aid Tibet in defending itself against civil and foreign wars, some Tibetans view Chinese as invaders trying to control their religion and destroy their people. China observes Tibet’s weaknesses and attempts to strengthen its existing political and economic systems, but the unclear distinction between religious, political, and social structure makes it appear that China is trying to change Tibet’s religious traditions and over run Tibet with Han influences.

The complexities in the Chinese-Tibetan relationship should not be considered independent of each other. By acknowledging Tibetan view and neglecting the Chinese view, or vice versa, key issues are lost in translation and cultural differences. There is too much historical controversy to designate one side more important or more accurate than the other, nor would it clarify the situation. The fact remains that history is as real as the perspectives in which it is interpreted. There is no act or influence that will change the historical views of either side, so solutions must be forward focused, but reflective of how to avoid past conflict. To derive at a solution, the core problem must be identified; however, the cultural conflicts cause each side to define the core issue differently, therefore possible solutions will be equally incompatible unless the problem and possible solutions are identified through dialogue between China and Tibet Government in Exile. Communication is essential. Past conflict can be summarized into misunderstanding, which can only be avoided through open communication and education about the values, obligations, and consequences of each side. No matter how many people protest for or against “Free Tibet”, no matter what nations decide to interfere, and no matter who is responsible for what, the historical views will never coincide and a productive solutions will not be discovered unless there is meaningful conversation and discussion between Tibet Government in Exile and China. Finally, the controversy behind Tibet is extremely complicated when just the Chinese and Tibetan views are investigated. Tibet also has history with other nations like India, Nepal, Bhutan, etc. These perspectives further complicate the issue, making it more difficult to see the real problem and possible solutions. Those who are passionate about the future of Tibet in relation to China should be urging dialogue between The Tibet Government in Exile and The People’s Republic of China. If Western nations decide to interfere, what will be their contribution-- beyond adding to the complexities?

 SEE TWO SIDES OF TIBETAN HISTORY WITH CHINA TIMELINE:

http://web.mac.com/jrangubphai/Jennifer_Rangubphai_Personal_Site/Tibetan_History_Timeline.html

 

 

Charon, Joel. M. Ten Questions: A Sociological Perspective. “Are Human Beings Free.”             Thomson Wadsworth. Belmont. 2007. pp. 110-143.

Guo, Yong. “National Integrity System Transparency International Country Study             Report: China 2006.” Transparency International. 2006.

Information Office of the State Council. “Tibet’s March Toward Modernization.” People’s             Republic of China. Beijing. 2001.

Pistono, Matteo. “In pictures: Tibetan nomads.” BBC News.             <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/06/asia_pac_tibetan_nomads/html/1.stm> 03.10.08.

Xinhua English. “Tibetans live with democracy for half a century.” SINA.com. 09/01/05.

 

“Free Tibet! Free Tibet!” Is a chant that people have become familiar with over the years, but what would it really mean for the autonomous region economically? Tibet is a developing region that lacks education, infrastructure, and technology needed to expand its production capabilities and to increase communications, trade, and social services. Tibet cannot survive independently in today’s global economy without outside assistance because the local government does not have the resources to provide the foundation required for economic development .

            One foundation for sustained economic development is education. 73% of the population are poor, rural farmers and herders and only 61% of the population is uneducated (Hui, 2006). Lack of eduction and training have kept the majority of the population in traditional sectors, and no region has seen economic growth on agriculture alone. In addition to increasing agricultural output, the population must expand into other sectors like manufacturing and services industries. For this to be possible, Tibetans need education. Prior to China’s official acquisition of Tibet, relatively modern schools were non-existant and provided exclusively by monasteries (Information Office of the State Council, 2001). Between 1996 and 2001 alone, China’s education expenditures doubled from 2262 million yuan to 4260 yuan, but the quality of education is poor, facilities are inadequate, and some teachers must abandon the children to work in other sectors to survive (Bhartso 2006). If Tibet would no longer take the assistance of China for education, education itself would be non-existant except for religious education.

            Infrastructure is essential for economic development because it creates a means for social services to distributed, it establishes a framework for goods, services, people, and therefore money to move from one place to another, and allows information to be shared more efficiently. Even today, there are some monestaries with no running water or electricity and Tibetans still rely on monks for medical remedies (Pistono 2008). The rough, diverse, and vast geography makes transport difficult, timely, and expensive. Before China’s influence, many districts enjoyed self-governement because the distance between settlements and the lack of modern communication systems (Government of Tibet in Exile 1996). Over the last 40 years the Chinese government has allocated 12 billion UDS to infrastructure in Tibet (Xinhua 2005). This includes building of roads and railways for transportation, telecommunications, hydroelectric plants, irrigation, electricity, etc. The labor required to cary out these projects has also come from China. Since Tibetans lack the education and skills, there has been mass migration of Han Chinese to the area (Lim, 2004). The progress Tibet has made through infrastructure has not been due to their own contributions, but the support of the Chinese.

Through the 20th century Tibet has seen little advancements because of its isolation from the rest of the world. They maintained primitive methods of herding and farming and there was little evidence of science and technology before China was a major economic influence (Information Office of the State Council). Tibet gained access to techonology and research through its relationship with China. Agricultural production has increased because of scientific fertilization, improvement of breeds, pest control, and stock raising (Information Office of the State Council). Other technological advancements can be seen in traditional culture as well. Tibetans still use ancient astrological  planning for weddings, farming, and medicinal purposes, however, computers are used by monks to predict and decipher the meaning of the stars (Xinhua English 2006). Without new technology, Tibet will go undeveloped. Tibet must depend on outside sources, in which China has been the primary contributor.

Tibet’s local government has initiated development projects of its own, however, progress has been marginal. With the help of the Chinese government, GDP has risen, industry has expanded outside the agricultural sector, and overall standard of living has increased (Information Office of the State Council). Separation from China would have devastating economic repercussions because most of the recent growth is due to support from the Chinese government. Tibet has become dependent of the financial support of China, and without the support all progress would be negated.

 

References

 

Bhartso, Dhondup Dolma. “Education Funding in Tibet.” Tibetan Bulletin Online. Vol. 10, Issue 1. 2006. <http://www.tibet.net/en/tibbul/2006/0102/develop.html>

 

Lim, Louisa. “China's drive to transform Tibet.” BBC News. Sept. 16, 2004.<http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3625588.stm>

 

Hui, Lu. “Tibet’s population reaches 2.76 mln.” XinhuaEnglish. SINA.com. 03/21/2006.

 

Information Office of the State Council. “Tibet’s March Toward Modernization.” People’s Republic of China. Beijing. 2001.