The Destruction Of Tibet's Culture

Between 1949 and 1979, over 1.2 million people were either tortured, executed, starved to death, or committed suicide. Tibet has been suffering through this atrocity for decades; furthermore, China plans on destroying their entire lifestyle. Although the foundations of Tibet are strong, China is destroying their culture through invasion, genocide of both culture and people, and the fleeing of the Dalai Lama. Because the Chinese still follow the Seventeen Point Agreement, which states China 's rule over Tibet, they believe they have the authority to change Tibet 's culture to what they seem fit. On the other hand, Tibet declined that agreement and honors their culture as their own. In 1949, the People 's Republic of China launched their

The Dalai Lama addresses the Chinese invasion and how they are committing a cultural genocide instead of a physical genocide. "That culture is not just a by-product of the three-mile-high altitude, but is the heroic creation of thirteen hundred years of self-restraint, altruistic development, and intellectual achievement on the part of millions of Tibetans." Because the Tibetans don 't accept themselves as Chinese, the invaders, unashamed, announced their intent to destroy Tibet for the third time since 1949 (Thurman, Robert). From the time of the infiltration of foreign settlers, over 3,000 mine beds, around 102 types of minerals, were found. They add up to almost $100 billion. Dhardhowa compares this to the Blood Diamond situation in Africa, "...the term which refers to the conflict over criminally obtained diamonds; sold to finance serious violent acts, including genocide and human rights abuses." The government has uprooted $54 billion worth of trees, around 80% of their forests. They have also started to dump nuclear and toxic waste into the surrounding

Because of Dalai Lama 's spread of concern of the Chinese occupation of Tibet, countries such as the United States and India are aware of the consequences. Tibet is currently a military base for China 's nuclear missiles. The United States and India are China 's top competitors when it comes to most things, making them China 's main target. Chinese troops have the ability to strike these countries in an instant. The U.S. also had to chance to fix human rights towards China with Myanmar; unfortunately, they used this opportunity to hide their guilt of not helping. India, on the other hand, has three large rivers, the Brahmaputra, Ganges, and Indus, each starting in Tibet. China plans to divert the water away from India and towards China with the help of 20 hydroelectric dams causing India to go into a serious drought. Tibet is also China 's path to trade routes and can gain access to military goods and oil reserves