Published by: World Tibet Network News, Monday, May 6, 1996

Weekly Planet (Tampa, Florida)

May 2-8, 1996 -Vol. 9 Number 5

When Splendid China theme park opened in December 1993, visitors were confronted by Buddhist monks and human rights activists protesting the park's opening.

Their gripe ? Splendid China offers a whitewashed view of Tibet as a peaceful, happy place. Protesters say the park is a propaganda tool for the repressive Chinese government.

Pinellas County teacher Dennis Harrison agrees that the picture's not so rosy, and history indeed tells another story.

"China invaded the sovereign nation of Tibet in 1949," explained Harrison. "Since that time an estimated 1.3 million Tibetans have been killed and the Chinese have transferred more than 7 million of their own people into occupied Tibet in violation of the Geneva Convention."

Harrison was troubled by the prospect of Florida's schools using the theme park as a tool to teach students about China, so he proposed a resolution to the Pinellas Classroom Teacher's Association asking teachers not to use the park for 'educational or personal purposes'.

The PCTA approved the resolution, and agreed with Harrison that the Chinese-owned park does not offer am accurate view of life in China, and its portrayal of Tibet as a happy, autonomous state is complete propaganda. The union also backs Harrison in his request that the School Board ban trips to Splendid China, but the board has not yet made a decision.

'I am not anti-Chinese, " Harrison said emphatically. 'The Chinese are a wonderful people. Our students should be taught Chinese history and culture, but this can be done without lending support with our presence and our dollars to a government-owned theme park that does not teach the truth.

'It's my commitment to teaching peace and non-violence that has brought me to be involved in supporting the non-violent struggle of the Tibetan people."

One of the prominent dis0plays at the theme park is a miniature replica of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, the fabulously ornate 1,000-room palace, surrounded by Tibetan figures in colorful robes. In reality, the palace suffered severe damage during the Chinese invasion and now houses only a few monks who are under constant scrutiny from microphones and cameras installed in the palace by Chinese soldiers monitoring their behavior. The area surrounding the palace is now filled with Chinese prostitutes and vendors, evidence of Chinese occupation.

Human rights organizations worldwide have condemned the Chinese government for its treatment of the Tibetan people. Historically Tibet has been recognized as a non-violent culture, a sort of theocracy headed by the beneficial Dalai Lama.

When the Chinese invaded Tibet they destroyed many of the centuries-old temples and killed or imprisoned the Buddhist monks. The Dalai Lama escaped with some of his followers to India and established a colony in Dharamsala. He has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work with the non-violent struggle in Tibet.

Though Harrison has received support from many corners, he still hears from detractors who say he's off-base or misguided.

"They don't understand the work I do," he replies, looking thoughtfully quiet. "I teach multi-cultural education and conflict resolution, which falls under the heading of peace education and non-violence. In addition to teaching students, I also provide training in multi-cultural education and non-violence to agencies and districts throughout the west coast of Florida."

Recently Harrison received an award from the community organization Common Ground for his work in multi-cultural diversity and non-violence in schools.

At the headquarters of the International Campaign for Tibet, a human rights watch group in Washington, D.C., John Ackerly said he was pleased by the PCTA action.

"We're very encouraged by this. Whenever we hear of large organizations planning to visit Splendid China we recommend that they not go there," Ackerly said. "Large tour groups and school groups are their main thrust. They even ask school groups whether they want hot dogs or Chinese food." Ackerly also said the Chinese Embassy hands out tickets to Splendid China as perks for embassy employees and business people.

"Its quasi-official," he said. "They're using it as an outreach facility to promote goodwill towards China and tourism."

Some people feel the learning value of the exhibit is too great to prohibit school children from visiting the attraction.

Harrison's reply is that giving the park money is supporting it. "In America we teach our young people about the Holocaust and the importance of universal responsibility and standing against injustice," Harrison said. "Now we're watching the genocide of a peaceful people. If we want our young people to accept non-violent resolution as a way of life, we as educators and parents must practice and demonstrate its cause every opportunity we have."

The resolution was approved by the Florida Teaching Professionals-NEA convention in Orlando, two weeks ago.

"Last year about 20,000 students visited SC, and all they learned that Tibet is autonomous," Harrison said. "Discrimination (against Tibetans) is rising in Tibet. The demographics are changing so fast through the Chinese influx Tibetans are now a minority in their own land."

-Nano Riley

Subitted by Jack E Churchward