Archive for March, 2008

Support Tibet

Thursday, March 20th, 2008

Free TibetThe repression in Tibet continues, and many people are wondering what they can do to help the Tibetan people in their struggle to be heard. Below are some ideas to get you started. Please add comments if you have further suggestions of your own.

What can I do to help support Tibet?

  1. Send a letter/email/fax to Gordon Brown. Urge him to call for a UN team of investigators into Tibet as soon as possible.

    • Fax: 020 7925 0918
    • E-mail the PM.
    • Write to: Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP, 10 Downing Street, London SW1A 2AA
  2. Write to your MP. You can find your MP’s contact details here.
  3. There is a march in support of Tibet taking place in London. Join the march from Park Crescent (west side) to the North terrace of Trafalgar Square: Starts 12 noon, Saturday 22nd March.

    Edit: This has now taken place. Read the Times Online write-up.
  4. Sign this petition at avaaz.org.
  5. Sign this petition at thepetitionsite.com.
  6. If you are a British citizen or resident, sign this petition at petitions.pm.gov.uk.
  7. Further ideas on what to do.
  8. For the latest news and what you can do to help, go to FreeTibet.org

Indian Corvids

Tuesday, March 11th, 2008

Many thanks to Shuman Dasgupta for sending in these photos of Indian crows, taken on holiday. Shuman says …

Indian House CrowThe first is the Indian House Crow. They are extremely bold and curious. I have seen them hitching rides on trucks and lorries. They have also been spread around various parts of the world by their habit of hitching rides on ships. There is even a very small colony in Holland having been brought there by American warships. Whilst I was in India I remember having to discard my cup of tea which I was drinking outside. I turned my back on it for less than a minute to look at something. When I turned around a house crow had its beak very close to my tea.
Indian Treepie

The other picture is of the Indian Treepie. It is India’s version of the magpie. Its Bengali name translates as thief of shiny coins. I took both pictures on my recent trip to India in January/February 2008.