Heart of a Mouse c. WTN: Fashion show with Tibetan, Uighur costumes triggers row in HK
d. WTN: A Letter from Tibet
e. Your Voice is Needed
f. CENTRAL ASIAN UIGHUR INFORMATION & PROJECT CENTER
1. Accomplishments
Working on press release
Wrote letters
2. Plans
Assimilate incoming data...
3. Action List
a. Florida Public School District Campaign !
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/1730/fpsd.html
We are putting together a package to send to the green targets and focus on them to start our campaign. Please send in your comments and suggestions.
b. Florida Pleasure Passport Campaign
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/1730/fpp1.html
The business arrangement between AAA, Splendid China, Bok Tower, Cypress Gardens, and Fantasy of Flight is known as 'Florida Pleasure Passport'.
We have suggested letters to these establishments to ask them to stop supporting FSC. Your letters are still coming in as well as the responses from the particulars named above (minus FSC).
Addresses for mailing letters
Bok Tower Gardens
1151 Tower Boulevard
Lake Wales, Florida 33853
Cypress Gardens
PO Box 1
Cypress Gardens, Florida
Fantasy of Flight
PO Box 1200
Polk City, Florida 33868-9417
American Automobile Association
Florida/Louisiana/Missippi AAA
1000 AAA Drive,
Heathrow, Florida, 32746-5080
Phone: 407-444-4000
c. Collecting letters/articles
Please send copies of your letters to the editors, school board members, etc., so that they can be included in our web-pages. Let your voice be heard. Thanks to those who have mailed your letters in.
Any articles mentioning Splendid China are welcome also, we prefer to re-print in it's entirety so we can't be blamed for an 'out-of-context' quotations.
4. Misc.
a. Taiwanese Collegian (TC) Introduction
Taiwanese Collegian (TC)
Our Purpose:
We are here to encourage Taiwanese students to care about Taiwan and help Taiwan become a free, equal, and democratic country. TC members share the view that the future of Taiwan should be determined by all the people living on Taiwan. This means no government or united international communities shall decide the Taiwan's political identity.
Introduction to Taiwanese Collegian:
Established in 1983, Taiwanese Collegian (TC) is the most organized and most well-connected organization among overseas students from Taiwan. It's also the largest non-government Taiwanese student organization.
TC holds its own political, social, and cultural activities and publicizes the events through periodic newsletters, magazines, and announcements. It also keeps its tie with the Taiwanese-American communities in the U.S. by helping various U.S.-based groups perform diplomatic tasks such as publicizing Taiwanese culture and pushing the awareness of Taiwan as an independent country.
To push the exchange of ideas between students in Taiwan and in America, we invite guest speakers from Taiwan to hold forum or give speeches on college campuses. We also help publicize events and activities sponsored by various progressive groups in Taiwan.
Currently, Our goals are
1. Encourage the cooperation among Taiwanese students in the United States
2. Train talents in preparation of building Taiwan as an independent country
3. Increase communications among new and old generations We aim at researching and developing proposals for political, societal, and cultural reforms in Taiwan. We want to communicate the ideas of a new Taiwanese generation and to experience teamwork spirit through participating in the Taiwanese community events. Perhaps most importantly, we wish to communicate the importance of Taiwan through association with international media, academic groups, and communities.
TC is associated with different Taiwanese Students Associations on 45 college campuses in North America. The 45 campuses include 11 colleges in the northeast, seven in the southeast, three in the south, nine in the west, eight in the midwest, five in the central, and one in Canada. Most of the TC members are graduate and post-doctorate students.
The Activities
We've Organized:
* September, 1993: Protested before China's Embassy in Washington D.C. against their official document titled "The Taiwan problem and China's Unification."
* March, 1994: Initiated "One person, One letter" protest against the magazine National Geographic, who misprinted Taiwan as a province of China in its issue.
* August, 1994: Organized a summer camp in Washington D.C. The theme was "Evaluation and initiation of Taiwan's independence movement and social movement."
* October, 1994: Mobilized TC members to write letters-to-the- editor to 50 newspapers in America; generated support from the American communities to support Taiwan using "Taiwan" to join the United Nation.
* December, 1994: Organized winter camp in Long Beach, California. The theme was "Change and Opportunity--The Restarting of overseas students organizations."
* June, 1995: Mobilized members to protect Taiwan's independent political power as President Lee Teng-hui visited Cornell University
* August, 1995: Co-organized "The First Diplomatic Personnel Training class" in Washington DC with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)
* October, 1995: Planned the demonstration organized with "?" Taiwanese Association; Announced to the international committees that the Taiwanese people are not willing to be controlled by China while China's premier Jiang Ze-min participated in the United Nation's Fifty Years Anniversary activities. December, 1995: Organized winter camp in Houston, Texas.
Assisted the preparation for the first "Taiwanese Women Camp."
* March, 1996: Initiated Vigil ceremony on March 22 (322) around the world in protest of China's military exercises near Taiwan's water during the Presidential Election.
* June, 1996: Participated in the planning and execution of "622 Boycott on Made-in-China products"
* Nov, 1996: Issue statement "Recognition of Tibet is the Starting Point for Solidifying Taiwan's Sovereignty. Thirty Taiwanese students organizations in North America endorse this statement.
* March, 1997: Issue statement "Respect Tibetan People, Respect Tibetan Sovereignty". Receiving endorsement from Fifty nine Taiwanese, Tibetan and Tibet supporting organizations in seven countries.
Our Organization and Division of Labor:
Taiwanese Collegian (TC) is a umbrella group and grass-root student organization. So far, we have approximately fifty group members and 300 individual members. TC sponsors conference for members, conference for group members, and special committee.
The highest power level in TC is held in the Member's Conference. Member's Conference vote on committee members, amend TC Constitution, and vote on important agenda.
The Internal Affair Committee is the highest executive power. Committee members decide on general affairs by email or phone conferences. Committee members vote in the Member's Conference. The term for committee members is 2 years. Under the Committee there is financial, publication, organization training, external, e-mail, research and development, and information special committees.
We also divide the tasks of committee members by six geographic areas (east coast, west coast, south, southeast, midwest, and central regions) for the purpose of facilitating the development of grass-root movement.
In addition, we use e-mail to communicate with seven research and interest groups. These groups are: TW-Environment, TW-Women, TW-Diplomacy, TW-Study, TW-Culture, and TW-Indigenous. Our Publication:
In the 1980s, we published hundreds of newspaper issues titled Taiwanese Collegian. In the 1990s, we updated the Taiwanese Collegian and re-published it. So far, we've had 18 issues. Each issue prints 3,000 copies.
Also, TC publishes the "TC Members Updates" every other month and "The North America Taiwanese Students Movements" brochure every year."
Address:
Taiwanese Collegian P.O.Box 535 Madison, WI 53701-0535, USA
E-mail: tc-com@formosa.org
Web address: http://tc.formosa.org/
Person to Contact:
I Chung Lai
Spokesperson, Taiwanese Collegian
Tel/Fax: 607-266-8843 E-mail: iclai@lns62.lns.cornell.edu
b. Heart of a MouseA legend from India tells about a mouse who was terrified of cats until a magician agreed to transform him into a cat. That resolved his fear... until he met a dog, so the magician changed him into a dog. The mouse-turned-cat-turned-dog was content until he met a tiger-so, once again, the magician changed him into what he feared. But when the tiger came complainging that he had met a hunter, the magician refused to help.
"I will make you into a mouse again, for though you have the body of a tiger, you still have the heart of a mouse."
For fear only brings misery. Courage is fear that has said its prayer.
Courage is an outgrowth of who we are. Exterior supports may temporarily sustain, but only inward character creates courage. The greatest evil today is indifference. To know and not to act is a way of consenting to the injustices. The roots of all these injustices are the results of our own weakness and indifference.
c. WTN: Fashion show with Tibetan, Uighur costumes triggers row in HK (AFP)
-----------------------------------------------------------
HONG KONG, June 25 (AFP) - A pro-Tibet group lashed out Wednesday at a gala show celebrating the Hong Kong handover featuring costumes from Tibet and another Chinese region where activists are demanding self-rule.
The Association for Celebration of Reunification of Hong Kong with China on Wednesday was to hold a dress rehearsal for the July 1 extravaganza, inviting the world's press to view a "fashion show with national characteristics," including top models wearing costumes from "Chinese minorities."
They include costumes from Tibet and Xinjiang, a region where Moslem Uighurs have launched a sometimes-violent campaign for independence from Beijing.
"Tibet is an occupied country," said Alison Reynolds of the group Free Tibet, who is in Hong Kong for the handover.
"China is using this very patriotic time of the Hong Kong handback to put out messages about Chinese unity, when it is cracking down on 'splittist' activities in Tibet," Reynolds told AFP.
The show was "wholly inappropriate" because it sent the wrong message that the Tibetan minorities were happy under Chinese rule, she said. "That's not our experience," she said.
Organisers of the show said the celebration had no political overtones and was simply intended for entertainment.
"It's a song and dance show. We are not using these for political ends," said Christine Chie, the association's publicity officer.
"They (the costumes) are being used for entertainment. It's just a show. We have no connections with the political issue. We don't care about what is happening in Tibet or Xinjiang," Chie told AFP.
d. WTN: A Letter from Tibet
1. A letter from Tibet (DIIR)
-----------------------------------------------------------
from received by the
From "X" ( name withheld for safety )
Tibet Independent & Freedom
Lahsa Tibet
TIBET
To : The Chairman of U.N
The newsroom of VOA, CNN & BBC
New York, USA
Dear Sir,
We are Tibetan Independent and Freedom Party (I.I.F.P) I am the chairman of this party! We write this letter to you from Tibet on behalf of six millions Tibetan peoples.
Now Hong Kong is handovering to China from British. All over the world are pay attention to this affairs! But no any country or organisatin realize Tibet- Chinese colonized. No one report about Tibetan condition! We think our country - Tibet is colonial country. Tibetan peoples are under colonial rule. China is colonialist! So we make urgent appeal. We asking china government give up colonial rule in Tibet. Special this time when china is taking back Hong Kong from British hand!
Tibet have been getting too much troubles since 1950. We almost lost all of our civilization. Forty years gone now. We are still living in the bitter chinese colonized dominated. But no one pay attention about china colony- our country Tibet! As you know. We have more than the thousand years independent history before 1950. Tibetan people are expecting for free and independent from china since 1950 upto now special this time! British give up Hong Kong's colonized ruling!
So we, most of Tibetan people also demand china that china should give up colonized rule in Tibet! We think that get freedom our Tibetan right! Tibet not belong to china like Hong Kong not belong to British! Why China can take back Hong Kong from British colonized rule. But don't give up its colonized rule in Tibet! U.N and any country should think about it! This not only for Tibet! This is for human right! for human's Dignity and Freedom! Including Tibetan people's!
That We most of the Tibetan special requiring chinese government. Finish chinese colonized rule in Tibet. Set Tibet refree! We are also asking U.N and all of the world pay close attention to Tibet situation! We are expecting from your support and help! We are one tape of humanity. We also need dignity and free life!!!
Yours faithfully
"X"
Lahsa Tibet
20 JUN 1997
Released by the Department of Information and International Relations Dharamsala
e. Your Voice is Needed
Dear friends:
In a few days, Ablajan Barat, the president of the Taklamakan Uighur Human Rights Association, Ghulamidin Pahta from the Eastern Turkistan Research Center and two leaders of the Uighur organizations in the Central Asia countries are going to meet the United States officials to seek the Uighur broadcasting of Voice of America. I think everyone of us know the importance of the program. But does the program knows our importance? The world is ignoring us as a little dot on a huge political picture of China.
But do we have to ignore ourselves too? Whether we are an insignificant little dot or not has to be defined by ourselves. If you think you and Uighur people worth something more than ignorance, please show it by your support for Uighur Broadcasting program. This is a democratic country, a voice can make difference. I believe the Uighur people on this list are some of the most educated among Uighurs. We can not always look at the people back home to see who the Uighurs are, the answer is on ourselves.
Are we able to do something more than just "gone with the wind"? I know everyone of us has a life to live and a lot of things to take care of, but just five minutes of your busy time might make a difference for you if you are an Uighur. Because your fate is tied to that of Uighur people. Uighur people is less than fortunate at this time. We, the people here, can get away but can not hide from ourselves. We have to face ourselves and do something about our fate. We can not continue to let people play God on us.
At this time all you have to do is show your support for the program by sending your signature and address to Ghulamidin Pahta who might be a better choice as your security security concerns. It is all confidential. Ghulamidin Pahta will be the only person to have access to your name. Ghulamidin Pahta escaped from Eastern Turkistan along with his parents when the Communists came and settled in US thirty years ago. He should be free of suspicion. If you have concerns you may contact him directly.
His email address: Uyghur@aol.com
f. CENTRAL ASIAN UIGHUR INFORMATION & PROJECT CENTER
CENTRAL ASIAN UIGHUR INFORMATION & PROJECT CENTER
Bishkek, Kyrghyz Republic
Dear friends:
The Central Asian Uighur information & Project Center is an independent
nongovernment organization created to support development of the Uighur nation, which is the most ancient and the most numerous in Central Asia.
Nowadays, by virtue of historical circumstances, the Uighur people does not sovereignty and have to solve problems of self-identification, self-determination and national development in conditions of coexistence with the other peoples of Central Asia and China, and within frameworks of their state formations.
The Central Asian Uighur Information & Project Center provides information to the Uighurs living in the countries of the region, and information about Uighurs to the world community. The Center also conducts analytical and design works in order to create programs and projects that can ensure steady national development and solve existing problems. The Center's priority areas are:
(*) Creation of a social economic system and economic bases of the Uighur national development;
(*) Creation of the national information exchange system;
(*) Creation of the national system of education and personnel training;
(*) Reviving of the Uyghur culture.
We would be grateful for support and cooperation with your organization in various forms (information exchange, methodical, consulting, personnel training etc.).
The Central Asian Uighur Information & Project Center has an opportunity to assist and to carry out joint activities on obtaining general information and analytical research materials on Central Asia, researchers training, language training and consultation, implementation of various research works in the region, and other. Upon request, we can send a catalogue of informational and analytical services that can be carried out by the Center.
With hope of close cooperation,
Nurmuhammed Kenji,
The director
Central Asian Uighur information & Project Center
22, microdistrict #11, apt. 66
720060, Bishkek,
Kyrghyz Republic
Ph.: (3312) 460-909
Fax: (3312) 235-735
E-mail: nurkenji@cauipc.freenet.bishkek.su
