Problem Loading Page: Tibetan Blogs and Social Networking Site Inaccessible

Here at High Peaks Pure Earth we are in our third year of monitoring Tibetan blogs and social networking sites. At around this time every year, we usually notice Tibetan bloggers either posting less than usual or unable to, due to sites being closed down. Sometimes the closure of sites are temporary and sometimes they are permanent.

"Three Provinces of the Snowland, Losar Tashi Delek!" By Woeser

High Peaks Pure Earth has translated a blogpost by Woeser that was originally written for broadcast on Radio Free Asia on March 1, 2011 and posted on her blog on March 4, 2011.

Woeser's blogpost is timed to coincide with Losar, Tibetan New Year. This year, there has been much discussion amongst Tibetan netizens on the regional variations when it comes to celebrating Losar, as well as the conflict in celebrating Chinese New Year when the timing does not coincide with Losar. For more on this topic, see the previous posting here on High Peaks Pure Earth titled "One Tibet, Many Tibetan New Years".

One Tibet, Many Tibetan New Years: Tibetan Bloggers Call for Unity

A Losar Card found on the popular social networking site RenRen.Com
The Tibetan reads: Good Losar, Happy Losar, Hope after Losar There Will Be A Change

High Peaks Pure Earth has been monitoring Tibetan blogs in the run up to Losar (Tibetan New Year). In 2009, we noticed that many sites were closed down in this period for "maintenance", partly also because the sensitive date of March 10 was approaching and also because many blogposts had been appearing, urging Tibetans not to celebrate Losar that year. 

After Metok County was “Opened Up” By Woeser

High Peaks Pure Earth has translated a blogpost by Woeser that was originally written for broadcast on Radio Free Asia on January 29, 2011 and posted on her blog on February 17, 2011.

“Waterfall of Youth - Dhondup Gyal” Music Video by Yudrug (Green Dragon)

"Waterfall of Youth - Dhondup Gyal" by Yudrug (Green Dragon) 

from HPeaks on Vimeo

CCTV Says Lhasa People Are “Happiest” By Woeser

High Peaks Pure Earth has translated a blogpost by Woeser that was originally written for broadcast on Radio Free Asia on January 23, 2011 and posted on her blog on February 5, 2011.

In this blogpost, Woeser returns to themes that she explored earlier in a blogpost titled "Happiness Under Gunpoint" and also "What is Happiness". This is also a timely blogpost as Tibetan New Year and March 10 are both approaching and security is usually tightened in Lhasa at around this time, see our blogpost from a few days ago titled "Fear and Discrimination in Lhasa".

For readers curious about the CCTV 2010 Happiness Survery, see this analysis on the website Beijing Review.

*UPDATED* Tsampa Eaters and Sweet Tea Drinkers: Tibetan Identity Assertion Through Food

High Peaks Pure Earth has updated this post from January 19, 2011 to include some more interesting food-related trivia and new photos. We are keeping the original post up on the previous URL here. Since publishing this post as part of GOOD's "Food for Thinkers" week-long online blog festival, we have received great feedback and information. We have also read with great interest the long article by Jamyang Norbu all about tsampa and look forward to the rest of his series "In Defence of Tibetan Cooking". 

Below is the updated version of "Tsampa Eaters and Sweet Tea Drinkers: Tibetan Identity Assertion Through Food"

Fear and Discrimination in Lhasa

High Peaks Pure Earth has noticed several status updates and anecdotes by Tibetans on social networking sites recently that give an insight into everyday life for people in Lhasa.

Previous posts on High Peaks Pure Earth that deal with the issue of discrimination against Tibetans include examples of Tibetans not being allowed to stay in hotels in Beijing or needing to be reported in public hostelries and baths.