ON DISASTERS, MAN-MADE AND NATURAL

H

is Holiness Dalai Lama's statement released on Monday in regards to the devastating earthquake which struck both Tibetan and Chinese people in Ngaba Prefecture, Sichuan Province.

I am deeply saddened by the loss of many lives and many more who have been injured in the catastrophic earthquake that struck Sichuan province of China. I would like to extend my deep sympathy and heartfelt condolences to those families who have been directly affected by the strong earthquake on 12 May 2008. I offer my prayers for those who have lost their lives and those injured in the quake.

The Dalai Lama

May 13, 2008

Clearly everyone has great sympathy for the victims of this catastrophe, and those they've left behind in mourning. Our best wishes and hopes to the rescue teams and those bringing relief to the affected people in the area.

Is there anything remarkable about His Holiness' words? Not particularly, if one knows that he has always maintained his compassionate attitude toward the people of China, regardless of what their government has been doing to his people for so many years.

Disasters are not always natural phenomenon though, and a little compassion in the other direction would certainly not be out of place.

I was sent the following music video a few days ago, by the Danish band Shire. While we mourn for those lost in recent, massive natural calamities, and human hands are reaching out with help and comfort to the afflicted, let's not neglect the calamities also inflicted by the hands of men.

Perhaps His Holiness' words are remarkable after all. Much of the footage in this video comes from around 20 years ago.



I can't help wondering if that isn't a young Lodi Gyari being greeted by Tibetans (around the mid-point of the video), during a permitted visit by Tibetan representatives in the early 1980's.
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Labels: China, Tibet

- posted by Agam @ 1:15 PM 0 comments

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