Tags
afraid, archaeology, Archaologists, assimilate, assimilation, China, Copper, Culture, Environment, evil, lead, Mining, money, Nepal, pay-dirt, People, Railways, Route, Tibet, Tourism, Trains, Transportation, Travel, Treasure, Xinhua, zinc
I have always loved the sound of the trains as they go by. Indeed, how many times have they lulled me to sleep.
However, I fear that the sound of the Chinese Qingzang Railway will be the death knell of the Tibetan people and it’s culture.
This train will successfully bring approximately fifteen million people to the remote ancient capital of Llasa.
It is becoming more and more obvious that the upcoming tourist onslaught will do the Nepalese and their culture irreparable harm.
Having done some research, I have come up with some information that I’d like to share.
At first glance, this super-train might look like a good idea on several different levels, however there are points that need to be considered.
I fear that in less than one hundred years the Nepalese will have totally succumbed to Chinese rule and that there will be no more living culture and continuing history.
We will indeed have lost a pearl of great price.
The Chinese take this new railway very seriously. Why else would they have invested 4 billion dollars to see it to it’s fruition?
They claim that tourism will double.
This obviously is not a good thing for Tibet. The impact of this enormous surge in the tourist industry will no doubt threaten the fragile Tibetan environment. Up until now, Tibet has remained effectively independent in spite of the invasion by the communist Chinese in 1950.
We are about to once again witness the the truth of the saying, “The love of money is the root of all evil.” The Tibetan culture does not need money to survive. Rather, it needs global respect and above all, independence from China.
China’s official news agency Xinhua announced that a treasure trove of copper, iron, lead and zinc have been found by Chinese government archeologists along the route of the railway. They have hit pay-dirt which includes twenty million tons of copper, the second largest ever found in China and Tibet, alongside of ten million tons of lead and zinc.
So, there you have it.
If you are one who weighs everything by gain, then no doubt, this train and all that it stands for is right up your alley.
For those who are opposed to the cultural genocide of the Tibetan people and it’s culture we know that the global deck has been stacked against them and that the cards have been dealt.
There is no consolation in knowing that I am not alone in fearing the worst. Yes, governments will lament the passing of Tibet as the Chinese government assimilates all that this culture holds dear.
I am afraid for Tibet.
Very afraid.
