Obama administration told to stop expanding “corporate rights” in trade agreements

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One of the most controversial provisions in free trade agreements is the Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanism, which gives corporations the right to sue governments over public measures that undermine their expected profits. It’s a pretty outrageous assault on democratic structures. In fact, when I tell people new to the trade debate about it, at first they often don’t believe me. Continue Reading

The Jupiter International Hotel — Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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Although I have not rented a room and slept there, the Jupiter International Hotel has been a “home away from home” during my time in Addis Ababa. I have found the staff, the atmosphere, the food and managers much more than pleasant. There is a hospitality that I have never experienced in any of the hotel chains I have patronized back in the States. I come to the lobby bar of the Jupiter 3 or 4 mornings per week to use their free Wi-Fi, have breakfast and when I work into the afternoon, lunch and drink or two. 🙂 Continue Reading

Tibetans march on 55th National Uprising Day

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Several hundred Tibetans from Minnesota traveled to Chicago on Tuesday to mark the 55th Tibetan National Uprising anniversary with a protest in front of the Chinese Consulate.Waving Tibetan flags, the group shouted free Tibet slogans, drawing glances from Chinese officials from the windows of the Chinese overseas office.“Tibet belongs to Tibetans, China out of Tibet,” shouted the group.The group of Tibetans from Minnesota were joined by other Tibetans residing in and around Chicago. At the same time, a group of around 300 Minnesota Tibetans who couldn’t make the trip, instead marched across Downtown Minneapolis to call for international intervention to end the human rights crisis in Tibet.“Today is a historical day for Tibetans whole over the world as on this same day in 1959, thousands of Tibetans in Tibet rose up and revolted against the Chinese government in order to protect their leader (the Dalai Lama) and the Tibetan nation from the Chinese invation,” said Tsewang Rigzin, former head of the largest non-governmental Tibetan organisation, Tibetan Youth Congress.This article is reposted from TCDP media partner Asian American Press. Check out the links below for other recent Asian American Press stories:Hmong wearable folk arts multimedia projectDalai Lama praises Mao, urges Xi to think widelyLeft: A Tibetan child waves the Tibetan national flag in front in Minneapolis on Tuesday.“Until and unless, we success to protect our leader and our nation, it is the responsibility of all Tibetans to take part in the movement,” said the former head of Tibetan Youth Congress.Sonam Tsering, a Tibetan immigrant in the United States who calls “Minnesota as his second homeland” expressed his solidarity with the plight of Tibetans inside Tibet.“We Tibetans are always peaceful. Tibetans in Tibet never resort to any kind of violence when ever they protest against the Chinese government,” said Sonam Tsering.“But what the Chinese government do is put more security personels and more force leading to more arrest and more torture,” said Sonam.On several occasions in the United States and in India in recent months, Tibetan Spiritual Leader the Dalai Lama has urged its people to be “careful” before holding any protest against the Chinese government.The Dalai Lama told the Tibetans to think “twice” before holding any anti-China protest citing the consequences which he said would face by the Tibetans inside Tibet.“We can shout in exile, but Tibetans inside Tibet are under China,” said the Dalai Lama last weekend during a meeting with Chinese and Tibetan students in the Minneapolis.Under the patron of Tibetan spiritual leader, Tibetan Government in Exile had publically declared that Tibetans are willing to stay under the Chinese government if a “genuine autonomy” is given to the Tibetans. Tendar Tsering is a Tibetan freelance journalist based in Minnesota. Continue Reading

Humbly musing on borrowed ideas that somehow ended up on my hard-drive…

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“I loved my mother and father, not because they were perfect parents, but because despite whatever lenses they saw the world through, they held me in the deepest part of their hearts.” They struggled, with much effort, in extremely difficult circumstances, to give me the best of what they had materially, spiritually and intellectually. I certainly didn’t understand this on too many occasions as I was growing up and moving into my own adulthood, but now I see more clearly as I push toward 70 years. And yes, I am laughing out loud as I write this now! Continue Reading

Leymah Gbowee to keynote Nobel Peace Prize Forum

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Leymah Gbowee, Liberian peace activist and 2011 Nobel Peace Prize winner is the keynote speaker this coming Sunday, March 9 at the Nobel Peace Prize Forum’s ‘Global Day’, being held at the University of Minnesota’s Tedd Mann concert Hall at 4:15PM.Gbowee was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 for her “non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work.” Gbowee advanced the peace process and worked to facilitate free elections in 2005 via a women’s peace movement that aided in ending the Second Liberian Civil War in 2003. She is the co-founder of the Women Peace and Security Network Africa (WIPSEN-Africa).This article is reposted from TCDP media partner Mshale. Check out the links below for other recent Mshale stories:Seven Democrats help Republicans sink Debo Adegbile nominationImmigration reform advocates urge Obama to stop deportationsThis is the 26th annual Nobel peace Prize Forum. It is the Norwegian Nobel Institute’s only such program or academic affiliation outside of Norway and brings Nobel Peace Prize winners, civic leaders, and scholars together with students and other citizens. This year’s forum started March 1 on the campuses of Augsburg College and the University of Minnesota West Bank and consisted of an address by the Dalai Lama.Leymah Gbowee’s keynote address will close out the 2014 Forum.Tickets and information are available at the Nobel Peace Prize Forum website. Continue Reading