Tibet with its awe inspiring scenery and exotic Buddhist religion has drawn adventurous travellers and mountaineers from all over the world for many years. Also known as the roof of the world, it is on average 4000 metres above sea level and is surrounded by some of the worlds highest and most majestic mountains, with the Himalayas to the south and the Karakorum and the Kunlun ranges to the west and east.
Covering a huge area of over 1,220,000 square kilometres, it offers a vast array of different landscapes from stunning lakes and valleys to ancient forests and vast desolate plateaus.
The flora and fauna of Tibet includes many rare species of animals and plants due to its diversity of climate from relatively mild conditions in the south, to the desolate conditions of the west and the cold mountainous regions of the north.
Tibetan Buddhism is practised by the majority of the populace and its spiritual leader his holiness the 14th Dalai Lama is a man revered by the Tibetan people and loved by many around the world.
Religious architecture is plentiful in Tibet with superb monasteries, sculptures and colourful murals to be found in abundance all built in devotion to the great Buddha.
In September 1949 the Communist Chinese invaded Eastern Tibet and captured the headquarters of the Governor of the province in Chamdo. Despite protests about the Chinese aggression to the UN the matter was postponed. In November 1950 the Delai Lama aged just 16 became head of state and spiritual leader of Tibet due to the deepening crisis.
In 1951 a delegation from Tibet visiting Peking was coerced into signing a 17 point agreement on "Measures for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet" under threat of more military action. This unfair treaty was violated utterly by the Chinese as they carried on their colonisation plans in Tibet, despite strong resistance by the Tibetan populace.
In September 1951 the Chinese invaded the capital city Lhasa and imposed a regime of religious suppression and political denial on the people. Monastaries were systematically destroyed and thousands of arrests were carried out. Any resistance was met with terrible retribution and many innocent men, women and children were killed.
An uprising by the Tibetan people followed in March 1959 and was swiftly met by the ruthless killing of thousands of the Tibetan population, with many more being jailed or deported. Temples and Monasteries were shelled and Monks and Nuns were targetted for special retribution by the invading forces.
A week later the Delai Lama fled the country and sought sanctuary in India, he was followed by a massive exodus of Tibetan people forced to leave because of the terrible repression. There are estimated to be over 100,000 Tibetans in exile all over the world and it has now been 40 years since the occupation.
The Tibetan culture still survives but the rest of the world has ignored its plight and just offered platitudes and empty gestures against this terrible injustice.
The plight of Tibet has always made my blood boil and the dignity of the Delai Lama (awarded the Nobel peace prize for his non aggressive stance) has always amazed me.
This year the Olympic games are being held in Beijing and for the Tibetan people the spirit of the Olympics and the rhetoric from China will not ring true by any degree.
The chance to solve the injustices of the Tibetan situation whilst the world is focussed on the games has never been a better one.
