Reflections of New Minnesotans: Tibetans in Minnesota react to reports of self immolation protests in Tibet

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Ten self-immolations in the last eight months. What is going on in Tibet? Two Tibetans, living in exile in Minnesota, share their stories.  Listen as Jigme Ugen, president of the Minnesota chapter of the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, and Tenzin Khando, general secretary of the Tibetan Women’s Association of Minnesota, discuss Tibetan activism and movements towards standing in solidarity with Tibetan monks and nuns who face religious persecution. [Audio below]On Nov. 2, Tibetans around the US will rally in Washington, D.C., for a global day of action ahead of the G-20 summit of international leaders in Cannes, France. Continue Reading

Reflections of New Minnesotans: Celebrating this year’s Female Nobel Peace Laureates

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Its wonderful to see the Nobel Peace Prize committee acknowledge the work of women during conflict. This year’s laureates were Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, peace activist Leymah Gbowee, and Tawakkol Karman of Yemen, a pro-democracy campaigner. It is a victory in many ways: only one other African woman, the late Wangari Maathai have received this international recognition, and Karman is the first Arab and second Muslim woman to win a Nobel prize. But, most importantly, when discussing women are almost always portrayed as hapless victims, and these women tell a different complicated narrative on negotiating peace. The committee in announcing this year’s laureates said that they were recognizing the women for their “non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work.”Doris Parker, who runs the Minnesota-based organization Liberian Women’s Initiative, called into the studio to reflect on what this recognition means to her work and that of other women around the world. [Audio below] Continue Reading

Occupy MN – Indigenous People’s Rally on Day 4

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A prayer ceremony led by traditional drum groups and dancers of the North America, and Mexicas of Mexico and Central and South America at the Hennepin Government Center in downtown Minneapolis.“Indigenous peoples of North and South America [were at the People’s Plaza] to reoccupy our sacred Mother Earth. We will join together as one on this day of national mourning of the genocide of 120 million indigenous peoples of the Western Hemisphere, as American and the world celebrates the pirate Columbus.” Continue Reading

Reflections of New Minnesotans: Faustin Linyekul – catharsis of pain

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Faustin Linyekula is an incredible artist and thinker. A contemporary dancer, Linyekula who is from the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly known as Zaire), describes his performance as story telling where explores the possibilities of his body to tell stories; navigating between the past and present. His work is largely influenced by the political struggle of the Congolese. “It is not only about the beauty or the aesthetics of the body on stage but attempting to tell stories that are very dear to my art. Stories, not from exile, but from coming from my home country.”“My heritage is a pile of wounds and pain, but what do I do with it? It doesn’t do anyone any good to just talk about it.”Listen to my interview with Faustin as we talk history, dance, philosophy and spirituality. Continue Reading