Please

Mcleodganj, Dharamsala -- The following poem was written by a friend, Lhasang Tsering, who owns a bookshop here. Lhasang is a very unique and compelling man, he's an old timer who escaped from Tibet many years ago after an extended stint as a freedom fighter, part of a guerilla outfit who fought the Chinese occupation violently.

Upon his arrival in Dharamsala, he was a co-founder and president of the Tibetan Youth Congress, a largely influential group (and voice) that advocates nothing less than full independence for Tibet, in conflict with HHDL's middle-way "autonomy' campaign.

I've known Lhasang Tsering for almost three years now, and as it was when I first met him, he cannot speak about Tibet without tears welling in his eyes and his fists clenching.

Please

People; O People of the Free World;
Leaders; O Leaders of the Free World;
Please help free Tibet before it is too late;
Please help free Tibet before there is no longer a Tibet.
Please, please help free Tibet!

Tibet is not just about Tibetans --
Tibet is about the weak against the strong;
Tibet is about the few against the many;
Yes, Tibet is another genocide;
So please, please help free Tibet!

Tibet is not just about Tibetans --
Tibet is about an endless arms race between India and China;
Tibet could well be the flashpoint of the next great war;
Yes, Tibet is about the future of world peace;
So please, please help free Tibet.

Tibet is not just about Tibetans --
Tibet is about the permanent snow on the Himalayas;
Tibet is about the timely flow of the monsoon winds;
Yes, Tibet is about the source of Asia's great rivers;
So please, please help free Tibet.

Tibet is not just about Tibetans --
Tibet is where China is dumping chemical and nuclear waste;
Tibet is about the world you want to live for your children
Yes, Tibet is about the future of all our offspring;
So please, please help free Tibet.

People, O People of the free world;
Leaders, O Leaders of the free world;
Please help free Tibet before it is too late;
Please help free Tibet while there still is a Tibet
Please, please help free Tibet.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
And again, Thank You!