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The United States recognizes the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and Tibetan autonomous prefectures (TAPs) and counties in other provinces to be a part of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The U.S. Department of State follows these designations in its reporting. The preservation and development of the Tibetan people's unique religious, cultural, and linguistic heritage, as well as the protection of their fundamental human rights, continue to be of concern.
The PRC's Constitution provides for freedom of religion but limits protection of the exercise of religious belief to activities that the Government defines as "normal." The Government's 2005 White Paper on Regional Autonomy for Ethnic Minorities states, "Organs of self-government in autonomous areas, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and relevant laws, respect and guarantee the freedom of religious belief of ethnic minorities, and safeguard all legal and normal religious activities of people of ethnic minorities." Although the authorities permitted many traditional religious practices and public manifestations of belief, they maintained tight control on religious practices and places of worship. They promptly and forcibly suppressed activities that they viewed as vehicles for political dissent or advocacy of Tibetan independence, such as religious activities venerating the Dalai Lama, whom the Government continued to characterize as a separatist.
During the period covered by this report, the level of religious repression in the TAR and other Tibetan areas increased. Some of the Government's increased restrictions on religious freedom during the reporting period included interference with the process of selecting and training reincarnate lamas, stricter control over the ability of monks and nuns to travel between monasteries, and limits on the construction or renovation of monasteries. The Government also strengthened "patriotic education" campaigns in the monasteries, which required monks and nuns to spend several hours a day studying communist political texts and sign statements personally denouncing the Dalai Lama.
The patriotic education campaigns and other restrictions on religious freedom were major factors that led monks and nuns from a number of monasteries to mount peaceful protests in Lhasa on March 10, 2008. On March 14-15, the protests and security response devolved into rioting by Tibetans and a violent police crackdown in Lhasa. Additional protests, most led by monks and nuns, spread to nearly all Tibetan areas outside of Lhasa, with more than one hundred protests taking place in the following months. Estimates of the number of monks and nuns detained in the wake of the unrest varied between hundreds and thousands. The Government's respect for religious freedom in the TAR and other Tibetan areas deteriorated severely after the outbreak of violence in Lhasa on March 14. Following the unrest, authorities locked down monasteries as well as detained and physically abused an unknown number of monks and nuns, or expelled them from monasteries throughout Tibetan areas. The Government expanded and intensified patriotic education campaigns in monasteries and nunneries, prompting new rounds of protests throughout Tibetan areas specifically against this forced education. Government officials also increased harsh criticism of the Dalai Lama.
Societal abuses and discrimination that occurred between religious groups in Tibetan areas were also related to ethnic conflicts, economic disparities, and the lack of opportunities for advancement for Tibetan Buddhists. The March 14 rioting by Tibetans in Lhasa resulted in damage to government buildings, Han and Hui businesses and property, and a mosque.
The U.S. Government continued to encourage greater religious freedom by urging the PRC Government and local authorities to respect religious freedom and preserve religious traditions. The U.S. Government protested credible reports of religious persecution and discrimination, discussed individual cases with the authorities, and requested further information about specific incidents. Following the March 14 violence in Lhasa, the U.S. Government urged the PRC Government to engage in constructive dialogue with the Dalai Lama and his representatives and to address policies in Tibetan areas that have created tensions due to their impact on Tibetan religion, culture, and livelihoods.
Section I. Religious Demography
Tibetan areas total 871,649 square miles. According to the 2000 census, the Tibetan population within the TAR was 2.4 million out of a total permanently registered population of 2.8 million, while in the Tibetan autonomous prefectures and counties in the provinces of Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan, and Yunnan, the Tibetan population was 2.9 million. Most practiced Tibetan Buddhism, although a sizeable minority also practiced Bon, the related traditional Tibetan religion. This held true for many Tibetan government officials and Chinese Communist Party (CCP) members, even though the CCP and the Government prohibited officials from practicing religion.
Other residents of Tibetan areas include ethnic Han Chinese, who practiced Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, and traditional folk religions; Hui Muslims; ethnic Tibetan Muslims; and Christians. There are mosques in the TAR with approximately 4,000 to 5,000 Muslim adherents, as well as a Catholic church with 560 parishioners located in the traditionally Catholic community of Yanjing in the eastern TAR. Tsodruk, in Dechen TAP in Yunnan Province, is also home to a Tibetan Catholic congregation. There were a small number of Falun Gong adherents, as well as some unregistered Protestant churches, in the TAR.
The number of monks and nuns in the TAR continued to fluctuate significantly due in part to the "patriotic education" campaigns, which sometimes resulted in the expulsion from monasteries and nunneries of monks and nuns who were found to be "politically unqualified" or who refused to denounce the Dalai Lama. In 1996 official TAR government statistics estimated that there were 46,000 monks and nuns and 1,700 religious sites in the TAR, but this figure has likely varied over time due to government policy, politically motivated detentions, monastic secularization, and commercialization due to tourism. Furthermore, the government figure of 46,000 monks and nuns represented only the TAR, where the number of monks and nuns is strictly controlled. There are reportedly large numbers of unregistered monks both inside and outside the TAR, a factor that makes it difficult to produce reliable estimates. According to statistics collected by the China Center for Tibetan Studies, a government research institution, there are 1,535 monasteries in Tibetan areas outside the TAR. Informed observers estimate that 60,000 Tibetan Buddhist monks and nuns live in Tibetan areas outside the TAR.
Section II. Status of Religious Freedom
Legal/Policy Framework
The PRC Constitution and laws provide for freedom of religious belief and the freedom not to believe, although the Constitution only protects religious activities defined as "normal." The Constitution states that religious bodies and affairs are not to be "subject to any foreign domination." The Government sought to restrict religious practice to government-sanctioned organizations and registered religious groups and places of worship, as well as to control the growth and scope of the activity of registered and unregistered religious groups. The Government remained wary of Tibetan Buddhism and its links to the Dalai Lama in particular, and tightly controlled religious practices and places of worship in Tibetan areas. Although authorities permitted many traditional religious practices and some public manifestations of belief, they promptly and forcibly suppressed any activities that they viewed as vehicles for separatism, political dissent, or Tibetan independence. This included religious activities that officials perceived as supporting the Dalai Lama. During the reporting period, the Government intensified its rhetoric against the Dalai Lama. Shortly after the events of March 14, Secretary of the CCP TAR Committee, Zhang Qingli, told regional officials that "the Dalai [Lama] is a wolf in Buddhist monk's robes, an evil spirit with a human face and the heart of a beast," according to the domestic press. The Government also harshly repressed religious activity perceived as venerating the Dalai Lama, whom the authorities see as continuing a tradition of both political and religious leadership.
After repeated requests from the international community, officials from the Chinese Communist Party United Front Work Department and envoys of the Dalai Lama met informally in Shenzhen on May 4, 2008, to discuss the March 2008 events. Prior rounds of formal talks between envoys of the Dalai Lama and government officials occurred in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and late June 2007.
The Government expanded and publicized its "patriotic education" campaigns in monasteries and nunneries after 1995. As part of these campaigns, monks and nuns are required to affirm that Tibet is an inalienable part of the PRC, denounce the Dalai Lama, and recognize the government-appointed Panchen Lama. The primary responsibility for conducting monastic political education remained with monastery leaders. While the form, content, and frequency of patriotic training at monasteries varied widely, the conduct of such training remained a requirement and was a routine part of monastic management. Several media sources reported that frustration among Tibetan Buddhists with these campaigns was a source of unrest in Tibetan areas both inside and outside of the TAR.
During the reporting period, new rules and regulations came into force that increased government control over religious practices, relics, and traditions. On September 1, 2007, the Management Measures on Reincarnation (MMR) issued by the State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) went into effect, codifying government assertion of control over the selection of Tibetan religious leaders and reincarnate lamas. The regulations stipulate that local governments at the city-level and above have the power to deny permission for a Tibetan Buddhist lama to be reincarnated. Reincarnations must be approved by at least provincial-level governments, while the State Council reserves the right to deny the reincarnation of living Buddhas of "especially great influence." The regulations state that no foreign organization or individual can interfere in the selection of reincarnate lamas, and all reincarnate lamas must be reborn within the PRC and not abroad.
A December 27, 2007 article by the official Xinhua News Agency stated, "The rule is bound to have significant impact on standardizing governance on living Buddha reincarnation, protecting people's religious freedom, maintaining the normal order of Tibetan Buddhism, and the building of a harmonious society." Some criticized the rules as unwarranted government interference in the practice of Tibetan Buddhism and an attempt to minimize the influence of the Dalai Lama over the process of selecting and recognizing reincarnate lamas, including the crucial issue of the selection of his successor.
On January 1, 2007, the TAR Implementation of the PRC Religious Affairs Regulations (the Implementing Regulations) also issued by SARA came into force, superseding the TAR's 1991 regulations. The Implementing Regulations asserted state control over all aspects of Tibetan Buddhism, including religious groups, venues, and personnel. The Implementing Regulations codified the practice of controlling the movement of nuns and monks by requiring permission from county-level religious affairs officials for travel to another prefecture or county-level city within the TAR. In Tibetan Buddhism, visitation to different monasteries and religious sites for specialized training by experts in their particular theological tradition is a key component of religious education. The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) reported that monks and nuns who go to India claim that their main reasons for choosing to leave Tibet are to continue their studies, which they believe they are unable to do inside Tibet, and to obtain a blessing from the Dalai Lama.
The Implementing Regulations also increased the Government's control over the building and management of religious structures and over large-scale religious gatherings. Official permission is required for all monastic construction and "reconstructing, extending, or repairing religious venues." Likewise, monasteries must request permission to hold large or important religious events. During the reporting period, the TAR government tightened its control over Tibetan Buddhist religious relics. A July 2007 revision to the TAR Cultural Relics Protection Regulations asserted government ownership over cultural and religious relics, as well as religious institutions, which have been classified by officials as cultural sites.
The TAR government has the right under the Implementing Regulations to disapprove any individual's application to take up religious orders. Authorities curtailed the traditional practice of sending young boys to monasteries for religious training by implementing regulations forbidding monasteries from accepting individuals under the age of 18. In practice, many monks studied and worshiped within their monasteries without being "registered" or obtaining an official monastic identification card issued by religious affairs authorities.
Restrictions on Religious Freedom
Government officials often associated Buddhist monasteries with pro-independence activism in Tibetan areas. Although the Government did not contribute to the monasteries' operating funds, it oversaw the daily operations of major monasteries through the Democratic Management Committees (DMCs) and local religious affairs bureaus (RABs). Regulations restrict leadership of many DMCs to "patriotic and devoted" monks and nuns and specify that the Government must approve all members of the committees. At some monasteries, government officials are among the members of the committees.
The Government stated that there were no limits on the number of monks in major monasteries and that each monastery's DMC could decide independently how many monks the monastery could support. In practice, the Government imposed strict limits on the number of monks in major monasteries, particularly in the TAR and Sichuan's Ganzi TAP. For example, Ganzi TAP government order No. 2 of June 28, 2008 reduced the number of monks allowed in a specific monastery as punishment for that monastery's having provided refuge to a monk who had been expelled from another monastery. Since March 2008, monks in Gannan TAP in southern Gansu Province and in Aba TAP in Sichuan Province have reported that as part of new efforts to "reeducate" monks and nuns, they are required to pass a "patriotic" test to stay in the monastery. Some monks reportedly fled their monasteries to avoid these tests, which in some cases required them to trample a photo of the Dalai Lama.
In Tibetan areas of Sichuan Province, as part of "patriotic education" campaigns, hundreds of young monks were reportedly removed from monasteries, as were hundreds of schoolchildren from schools attached to monasteries. Such children were placed in public schools to receive officially mandated compulsory education. On April 8, 2008, authorities closed the Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastic School in Sichuan Province's Aba TAP and sent 500 novice monks and other Tibetan schoolchildren home. The monastic school, although governed by local authorities for a decade, was not accredited and thus unable to issue degrees that could provide access to higher education.
During the reporting period, local authorities frequently pressured parents, especially those who were CCP members or government employees, to withdraw their children from monasteries in their hometowns, private schools attached to monasteries, and Tibetan schools in India. In some cases local authorities confiscated identity documents of parents with children in Tibetan schools in India as a means of forcing the parents to make their children return home.
Some experts viewed the MMR, which allows the Government to control the process of selecting Tibetan religious leaders, as an attempt to minimize the Dalai Lama's influence and strengthen government control over the process of selecting reincarnate lamas, including the selection of the next Dalai Lama. Authorities closely supervise the education of lamas approved by the Government. For example, the education of the current Reting Rinpoche, who is 10 years old (born on October 3, 1997), differed significantly from that of his predecessors, and government officials, rather than religious leaders, managed the selection of his religious and lay tutors.
The Government severely restricted contacts between reincarnate lamas and the outside world. For example, the 11th Pawo Rinpoche, who was recognized by the 17th Karmapa in 1994, remained under government supervision at Nenang Monastery. Foreign delegations have repeatedly been refused permission to visit him.
The quality and availability of high-level religious teachers in the TAR and other Tibetan areas remained inadequate. Many teachers were in exile in India and elsewhere, older teachers were not replaced, and those who remained in Tibetan areas outside the TAR had difficulty securing permission to teach within the TAR. Furthermore, the head leaders of all major schools of Tibetan Buddhism lived abroad. For example, the Karmapa, leader of Tibetan Buddhism's Karma Kagyu school and one of the most influential religious figures in Tibetan Buddhism, remained in exile after departing the TAR in 1999. According to the Karmapa, he left because of government controls over his movements and the Government's refusal to allow him to go to India to be trained by his spiritual mentors or to allow his teachers to come to him.
In recent years, DMCs at several large monasteries began to use funds generated by the sale of entrance tickets or donated by pilgrims for purposes other than the support of monks engaged in full-time religious study. As a result, some "scholar monks" who formerly had been fully supported had to engage in income-generating activities. Some experts have expressed concern that as a result, fewer monks will be qualified to serve as teachers in the future. While local government officials' attempts to attract tourists to religious sites provided some monasteries with extra income, such activities also deflected time and energy from religious instruction.
Restrictions sometimes were applied even to monks visiting another monastery within the same county for short-term study or teaching. In December 2007 a Tibetan Buddhist monk told the Ganzi Daily, the official newspaper of the Ganzi Prefecture Communist Party Committee, that monks in Lithang, Ganzi TAP needed permission to leave their monasteries and enter town. Since the unrest in March 2008, monks in several Tibetan areas reported that they were unable to leave their home monasteries.
Authorities permitted resumption of the Geshe Lharampa examinations, the highest religious examination in the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddism, in July 2004 after a 16-year ban. According to officials, five monks passed the Geshe Lharampa exam in 2007, and four passed in the first half of 2008. In early 2008 monks at the Jokhang Temple, where the test is administered, said that the reinstated exam was of poor quality, that political content unrelated to the test's historical religious content had been added, and that the best candidates were not selected to sit for the exam. Restrictions on religious education made it difficult for monks to receive the level of instruction necessary to take or pass the Geshe Lharampa exam. Monks who wished to sit for the exam traditionally traveled to the TAR to study at such monasteries as Sera and Drepung; however, restrictions on the movement of monks from one monastery to another made it difficult, especially for those residing outside the TAR, to receive advanced religious education. These restrictions, along with regulations on the transfer of religious relics between monasteries, weakened the strong traditional ties between large monasteries in the Lhasa area and affiliates throughout Tibetan areas.
Spiritual leaders reportedly encountered difficulty reestablishing historical monasteries due to lack of funding and denials of government permission to build and operate religious institutions. Officials in some areas contended that these religious venues were a drain on local resources and a conduit for political infiltration by the Tibetan exile community. In some areas the Government restored monasteries as a means to promote tourism and boost revenue.
After the outbreak of violence on March 14, 2008, security forces blocked access to and exit from important monasteries, including those in the Lhasa area. A heavy police presence in the monasteries restricted the movement of monks and prevented "unauthorized" visits, including those by foreign journalists.
The Government increased security measures during sensitive anniversaries and festival days in the TAR and other Tibetan areas. In March 2008 authorities in Lhasa heightened security in major monasteries in order to control possible gatherings to mark the 49th anniversary of the 1959 unsuccessful Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule.
The Government forbade religious or celebratory activities in Lhasa and closed several monasteries during the period when the Dalai Lama was awarded the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal on October 17, 2007. The prohibition against celebrating the Dalai Lama's birthday on July 6 continued during the reporting period. In December 2007 the Government banned participation of officials, workers, and students in the Ganden Ngamcho Festival. CCP members were threatened with demotions and salary cuts if they did not comply with the order. The ban on the Great Prayer Festival, or Monlam Chenmo, which is traditionally closely associated with the Geshe exam process, remained in effect.
Government officials maintained that possessing or displaying pictures of the Dalai Lama was not illegal and that most TAR residents chose not to display his picture. In practice, the ability of Tibetans to display the Dalai Lama's picture varied regionally and with the political climate. The Implementing Regulations state that "religious personnel and religious citizens may not distribute books, pictures, or other materials that harm the unity of the nationalities or endanger state security." Photos and books of the Dalai Lama are deemed to fall into this category. During the reporting period, pictures of the Dalai Lama were not openly displayed in major monasteries and could not be purchased openly in the TAR. In Tibetan areas outside the TAR, visitors to several monasteries saw pictures of the Dalai Lama displayed in inconspicuous areas.
The Government continued to ban pictures of Gendun Choekyi Nyima, the man widely recognized as the Panchen Lama. According to numerous reports, authorities in many Tibetan areas confiscated or defaced photographs of the Dalai Lama found in monasteries and private residences following the March 2008 unrest. Furthermore, authorities appeared to view possession of such photos or material as evidence of separatist sentiment when detaining individuals on political charges. Merchants who ignored the restrictions and sold Dalai Lama-related images and audiovisual material reported that authorities frequently imposed fines on them.
Authorities prohibited the registration of names for children that included one or more of the names of the Dalai Lama or certain names included on a list of blessed names approved by the Dalai Lama. As a result, many Tibetans have a name they use in daily life and a different, government-approved name for interactions with government officials.
Many Tibetans, particularly those from rural areas, continued to report difficulties obtaining passports. The application process was not transparent, and reported obstacles ranged from bureaucratic inefficiency and corruption to denials based on the applicant's political activities or religious beliefs. Passports previously issued were sometimes confiscated by authorities, especially in the wake of the March 2008 unrest.
Difficulty obtaining both a passport and an entry visa for India continued to limit the ability of Tibetans to travel to India for religious purposes. Nevertheless, thousands of Tibetans, including monks and nuns, visited India via third countries. The number of Tibetans who returned after temporary stays in India is unknown. The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees reported that 2,156 Tibetans arrived at the Tibet Reception Center in Nepal in 2007, compared to 2,405 in 2006.
There were continuing reports that the Government detained Tibetans seeking to go to India through Nepal. Such detentions reportedly lasted as long as several months and sometimes took place without the filing of formal charges. Returning exiles reported that authorities pressured them not to discuss subjects that the Government considered politically sensitive, such as the Dalai Lama.
Following the unrest that began in March 2008, passport and border controls were reinforced, making legal foreign travel more difficult and illegal border crossings nearly impossible.
In 2007 approximately 615 Tibetan religious figures held positions in local People's Congresses and committees of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Some religious figures accepted political positions in order to protect their monasteries, and some openly practiced Buddhism. The Government continued to insist, however, that CCP members and senior employees adhere to the CCP's code of atheism, and routine political training for cadres continued to denigrate religious beliefs and promote atheism. TAR officials confirmed that some RAB officers were CCP members and some lower-level RAB officials practiced Buddhism.
On January 1, 2007, new temporary regulations governing foreign media coverage of the 2008 Olympic Games came into effect, ostensibly permitting foreign journalists to conduct interviews and investigations outside of Beijing and Shanghai without official permission. However, these new regulations did not apply to the TAR, and foreign journalists were still required to secure official permission to enter the region. Following the March 14, 2008 protests, however, foreign media have been completely barred from most Tibetan areas, with the exception of a small number of closely monitored government-organized trips.
Travel restrictions for foreign visitors to and within the TAR increased during the period covered by this report, and the Government tightly controlled visits by foreign officials to religious sites in the TAR. In accordance with a 1989 regulation, foreign visitors were required to obtain an official confirmation letter issued by the Government before entering the TAR. After March 2008 the TAR and most Tibetan areas were completely closed to foreign visitors. Many foreigners were turned away at police roadblocks or denied long-distance bus tickets as they tried to enter Tibetan areas outside of the TAR that were officially open.
Abuses of Religious Freedom
The Government strictly controlled access to and information about Tibetan areas, particularly the TAR, making it difficult to determine accurately the scope of religious freedom violations. The Government tightened restrictions on access after the protests in March 2008. The Government's respect for religious freedom in the TAR and other Tibetan areas of China deteriorated further following the violent unrest of March 2008.
On March 10, 2008, monks and nuns in Lhasa and Tibetan areas of Gansu, Sichuan, and Qinghai provinces held peaceful demonstrations to mark the 49th anniversary of the unsuccessful Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule and protested against government policies, including restrictions on religious freedom. After security forces reportedly arrested protestors in Lhasa, monks from the Drepung, Sera, and Ganden monasteries, as well as nuns from the Chutsang nunnery, protested the arrests. After permitting the protests for almost 2 days, police began using tear gas to disperse the monks and then surrounded major monasteries in Lhasa. According to reports, on March 14 when the People's Armed Police (PAP) confronted a group of monks from Ramoche Monastery protesting near the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, Tibetan onlookers began pulling up paving stones and throwing them at the police. The police retreated, and Tibetan crowds began attacking Han and Hui civilians and their businesses. According to media reports, the police forcibly regained control of Lhasa by the evening of March 15. The Government then closed monasteries and nunneries in Lhasa, imposed a curfew, and prohibited foreign media from entering the TAR.
In the days and weeks following the violence in Lhasa, protests – nearly all of them peaceful – spread across Tibetan areas, including in Qinghai, Sichuan, and Gansu provinces. The Government responded with increased police and military presence in these areas. By March 27 more than 42 county-level locations, as well as Chengdu, Sichuan Province; Lanzhou, Gansu Province; and Beijing, reported protest activity. According to researchers at Columbia University, there were approximately 125 documented protest incidents between mid-March and early June 2008. Many protests that began peacefully were met by a forceful security response. In a small number of cases, local authorities effectively defused escalating tension through negotiation and dialogue with local religious figures. Daily protests were reportedly continuing in Ganzi TAP at the end of the reporting period.
Because the Government limited access to Tibetan areas, it was difficult to obtain precise arrest and casualty figures. According to government sources, 22 people were killed, and there was damage to schools, hospitals, residences, and stores. The India-based non-governmental organization (NGO) Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) estimated a total of 79 Tibetans were killed in Lhasa and areas outside the TAR during and following the March protests; reports from the ICT estimated the number of Tibetans killed at more than 200.
On March 15, 2008, the Government reportedly arrested approximately 600 people in Lhasa. According to official sources, more than 1000 Tibetans turned themselves in to security forces at the end of March, following a government-issued request for surrender. Unofficial reports estimated that by the end of March authorities detained at least 1,200 Tibetan protestors in addition to those who voluntarily turned themselves in to authorities. Official sources reported in mid-April that 4,000 individuals had been detained in Lhasa and parts of Gansu Province, with nearly half of those detained being released several weeks later.
The number of monks and nuns at several monasteries reportedly decreased after March 14, 2008. Information about the location of many who were arrested was difficult to confirm. There were reports of ongoing mass detentions of monks and of monasteries being sealed off by police and military personnel as "patriotic education" campaigns intensified. More than 80 nuns reportedly were detained in Sichuan Province alone since March 2008.
According to numerous sources, many of those detained after March 10 were subjected to extrajudicial punishments, such as beatings and deprivation of food, water, and sleep for long periods. In some cases detainees reportedly suffered broken bones and other serious injuries at the hands of PAP and Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers. According to sources claiming to be eyewitnesses, the bodies of people killed during the violence or who died during interrogation were disposed of secretly rather than returned to their families.
On April 29, 2008, 30 individuals were sentenced on charges, including arson, looting, attacking state organs, and interfering with the work of public officials in relation to the events of March 14. They received sentences ranging from 3 years to life in prison.
Buddhist figures such as Gendun Choekyi Nyima, whom the Dalai Lama and the overwhelming majority of Tibetan Buddhists recognize as the Panchen Lama, and Tenzin Delek Rinpoche remained in detention or prison as did dozens of monks and nuns who resisted patriotic education campaigns. The Dalai Lama, the Karmapa (head of the Karma Kagga school), and leaders of all other schools of Tibetan Buddhism remained in exile. Diplomats and NGOs advocated for international access to Gendun Choekyi Nyima. Nyima turned 19 years old on April 25, 2008. On July 28, 2007, Nyima Tsering, the Vice Chairman of the TAR, told foreign journalists that Gendun Choekyi Nyima was a high school student in the TAR and had "asked not to be disturbed." The Government continued to insist that Gyaltsen Norbu (born on February 13, 1990), the boy it selected in 1995, is the Panchen Lama's 11th reincarnation.
The Government did not provide any information on Lama Chadrel Rinpoche, who was reportedly still under house arrest near Lhasa for leaking information about the selection of the Panchen Lama. In 2006 U.S. government officials asked for and were denied a meeting in Lhasa with Chadrel Rinpoche, reportedly under house arrest since 2002.
Limited access to information about prisoners and prisons made it difficult to ascertain the number of Tibetan prisoners of conscience or to assess the extent and severity of abuses. According to the Congressional Executive Commission on China's Political Prisoner Database, as of July 2007 there were 294 Tibetan prisoners of conscience, 225 of whom were monks or nuns.
According to a report by the TCHRD, 12 monks at the Dingri Shelkar Choedhe Monastery in Shigatse Prefecture, TAR, were arrested on May 19, 2008 for opposing a political education campaign at the monastery. Police provided no information about the monks' whereabouts or condition.
On April 8, 2008, police in Ganzi County reportedly fired indiscriminately into a crowd protesting the arrest of two monks for opposing the "patriotic education" campaign at Tongkor Monastery. Thirteen people were reportedly killed: Bhu Bhu Delek, Druklo Tso, Khechok Pawo, Tsering Dhondup the younger, Lhego, Khunchok Sherab, Tseyang Kyi, Lobsang Richen, Sonam Tsultrim, Thubten Sangden, Tsewang Rigzin, Tsering Dhondup the elder, Tenlo , and Kelsang Choedon.
In April 2008 monks at Kirti Monastery in Sichuan Province's Aba TAP were reportedly required to step on a photograph of the Dalai Lama as part of their "patriotic education." Monks who refused were reportedly beaten by PAP or PSB personnel.
No information was available on the fate of monks who protested in front of a group of foreign journalists at Lhasa's Jokhang Temple on March 27, 2008. Monks involved in a similar protest in front of foreign journalists at the Labrang Monastery in Gansu Province on April 9, 2008 were reportedly arrested, and there was no information available about their whereabouts at the end of the reporting period.
On August 1, 2007, Rongye Adrak was arrested in Ganzi TAP after calling for the Dalai Lama's return at a public event. On November 20 he was convicted of inciting separatism and sentenced to 8 years in prison. Rongye Adrak's nephew, Adak Lupoe, as well as Kunkhen and Lothok, were subsequently arrested and convicted of leaking intelligence and endangering national security after attempting to provide information concerning Rongye Adrak's arrest to foreign organizations. Another relative of Rongye Adrak, Atruk Kyalgyam, was sentenced to 5 to 9 years in prison.
In May 2007 Khenpo Tsanor, the head of Dungkyab Monastery in Qinghai Province, was forced to step down after refusing to sign a document condemning the Dalai Lama.
Legtsok, a 75-year-old monk of Ngaba Gomang Monastery, killed himself on March 30, 2008, reportedly after being arrested on the way to a prayer service and being beaten severely by security forces.
Two monks in their seventies from Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, Gyaltsen Tsepa Lobsang and Yangpa Lochoe, whom the Government and DMC had repeatedly harassed after accusing them of ties to the Dalai Lama, reportedly killed themselves in late 2007.
According to a report by Radio Free Asia on August 23, 2006, security officials arrested Khenpo Jinpa, a reincarnate lama and the abbot of Choktsang Taklung Monastery in Ganzi TAP, Sichuan Province, for distributing political leaflets calling for Tibetan independence and a long life for the Dalai Lama. On July 16, 2007, he was sentenced to 3 years in prison.
On August 15, 2006, police in Ganzi TAP detained Lobsang Paldan, a 22-year-old monk from Ganzi Monastery. He was sentenced to 4 years' imprisonment; the charges were unknown. Seven other monks from Ganzi Monastery were also arrested in August 2006 and remained in prison at the end of the reporting period.
The Government destroyed statues of Guru Rinpoche (also known as Guru Padmasambava) in Tarchen Town, Ngari, TAR, near Mt. Kailash and at the Samye Monastery in September 2007 and May 2007, respectively. The Government destroyed the statues in accordance with new restrictions requiring prior government approval for all construction and repairs of monastic property.
Destruction of monastic residences and expulsion of monks and nuns continued at Yachen Monastery in Ganzi TAP, Sichuan Province.
On October 18, 2007, PAP border guards fired on a group of 46 Tibetans attempting to enter Nepal at the Nangpa La Pass. Three were reportedly arrested, and nine were missing; the remainder reached Nepal.
On September 30, 2006, guards at the Nangpa La Pass shot and killed 17-year-old Buddhist nun Kelsang Namtso. From the group of 70 Tibetans, 43 arrived safely in exile; however, at least 25 others, including a number of young children, were taken into custody by the PAP. Film footage of the incident from a Romanian climber clearly showed that the Tibetans were unarmed and were fired on from behind.
Authorities reportedly continued to torture imprisoned monks and nuns, especially those detained after March 10. There were reports of severe beatings that resulted in broken bones and permanent injury. Following her release to the United States in March 2006, Tibetan Buddhist nun Phuntsog Nyidrol reported that she had been tortured by government authorities. She stated that religious prisoners were subjected to torture and were not permitted to meet with other religious prisoners, receive visits from family members, use their religious names in prison, or recite prayers in prison.
Forced Religious Conversion
There were no reports of forced religious conversion, including of minor U.S. citizens who had been abducted or illegally removed from the United States, or of the refusal to allow such citizens to be returned to the United States.
Section III. Societal Abuses and Discrimination
Since ethnicity and religion are often inextricably linked, it is difficult to categorize many incidents solely as ethnic or religious intolerance. Tensions among ethnic groups in Tibetan areas, including the Han, the Hui, Tibetan Muslims, and other Tibetans, escalated during the reporting period.
On March 14, 2008, protests by Tibetans in Lhasa escalated into violence, with attacks perpetrated against Han and Hui people, and vandalism perpetrated against Han- and Hui-owned businesses, property, and residences. After state media programs showed Tibetans engaging in unprovoked attacks on Han and Hui, citizens inside and outside the TAR reacted with anti-Tibetan sentiment. Domestic media coverage of the events in Lhasa on March 14 repeatedly showed rioting Tibetans beating Han and Hui residents and burning government or other buildings but did not show actions by security forces against Tibetan civilians. Official PRC news agencies reported that 19 Han residents of Lhasa, including 1 police officer, were targeted by rioters due to their ethnicity and killed during the riots, and 3 Tibetans were killed in the rioting. Domestic media attributed the violence in Lhasa to a small minority of outside agitators led by the Dalai Lama and intent on achieving independence for Tibet.
Friction between Tibetan Buddhists and the growing Hui Muslim population in Tibetan areas intensified during the reporting period. Tibetans burned part of a mosque in Lhasa during the March 14 riot; in August 2007 Tibetan monks destroyed a mosque under construction in a majority Tibetan area in Gabde County, Qinghai Province.
Section IV. U.S. Government Policy
The U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, and the U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu made a concerted effort to encourage greater religious freedom in Tibetan areas, using focused pressure in cases of abuse. In regular exchanges, including with religious affairs officials, U.S. diplomatic personnel consistently urged both the Government and local authorities to respect religious freedom in Tibetan areas.
Embassy and consulate officials protested and sought further information on cases whenever there were credible reports of religious persecution or discrimination. The U.S. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom called upon the Government to expand religious freedom in the TAR and Tibetan areas outside the TAR and urged the Government to engage in constructive dialogue with the Dalai Lama at the U.S.-China Human Rights Dialogue in May 2008.
Following the March 14, 2008 violence in Lhasa, the U.S. Secretary of State issued a statement calling on the PRC Government to exercise restraint in dealing with the protests, strongly urging all sides to refrain from violence and urging the Government to address policies that created tensions due to their impact on Tibetan religion, culture, and livelihoods.
On October 16 and 17, 2007, the U.S. President met with the Dalai Lama and presented him with the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor at the U.S. Capitol.
U.S. diplomatic personnel stationed in the country maintained contacts with a wide range of religious leaders and practitioners in Tibetan areas and traveled regularly to the TAR and other Tibetan areas to monitor the status of religious freedom. The ability of U.S. diplomatic personnel to travel freely and talk openly with persons in Tibetan areas was extremely limited. Not all requests to travel to Tibetan areas were granted. After the outbreak of unrest in the TAR and other Tibetan areas in March 2008, U.S. government officials repeatedly requested diplomatic access to affected areas, but the majority of these requests were not granted. Unpublished restrictions on travel by foreigners into the TAR and other Tibetan areas imposed in March resulted in U.S. diplomats and other foreigners being turned back at police roadblocks or being refused transportation on public buses to Tibetan areas outside the TAR that were officially open to foreign visitors.
The U.S. Government discusses religious freedom issues with the Government as part of its overall policy to promote human rights. Consulate general officers have made clear U.S. Government interest in the full protection and maintenance of freedom of religion. Consulate general officers at all levels, including the consul general, met regularly with religious leaders and community representatives.
The Government generally respected religious freedom in practice. There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom by the Government during the period covered by this report.
There were no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice.
The U.S. Government discusses religious freedom with the Government as part of its overall policy to promote human rights.
Section I. Religious Demography
The region has a total area of 11 square miles and, according to official statistics in 2006, a population of 530,000. Buddhism, which is practiced by nearly 80 percent of the population, is the largest religion. Approximately 4 percent of the population is Roman Catholic and more than 1 percent is Protestant. Smaller religious groups include Baha'is, estimated at 2,500 persons; Muslims, estimated at 400 persons; and Falun Gong practitioners, estimated at 200 persons.
There are approximately 50 Buddhist and Taoist temples, 60 Christian churches (of which 18 are Catholic), and 1 mosque. Approximately 50 percent of primary and secondary students were enrolled in schools operated or funded by religious organizations. These schools may, under law, provide religious education, but the Government did not maintain statistics on this subject.Many Protestant denominations are represented, including Baptist, Anglican, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Pentecostal churches. Evangelical denominations and independent local churches also exist in the region. The Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS) enrolled students in virtual seminary programs.
As of December 2006 an estimated 70 Protestant churches with 6,000 members conducted services in Chinese; attendance was reported to be approximately 4,000 worshippers every Sunday. An estimated 300 Protestants attended services conducted in foreign languages.
Section II. Status of Religious Freedom
Legal/Policy FrameworkArticle 34 of the Basic Law states that "Macau residents shall have freedom of religious belief, and freedom to preach and to conduct and participate in religious activities in public." Furthermore, Article 128 stipulates that "the Government, consistent with the principle of religious freedom, shall not interfere in the internal affairs of religious organizations or in the efforts of religious organizations and their believers to maintain and develop relations with their counterparts outside Macau or restrict religious activities which do not contravene the laws of the SAR."
The Religious Freedom Ordinance, which remained in effect after the 1999 handover of sovereignty to the People's Republic of China (PRC), provides for freedom of religion, privacy of religious belief, freedom of religious assembly, freedom to hold religious processions, and freedom of religious education. The Government generally respected these rights in practice.
The Religious Freedom Ordinance allows religious organizations to register directly with the Identification Bureau, the bureau that is required under the law to receive and process registrations; applicants need only supply their name, identification card number, contact information, organization name, and copy of the group's charter to register with officials. Religious entities can apply to media organizations and companies to use mass media (television, radio, etc.) to preach, and such applications are generally approved.The Religious Freedom Ordinance stipulates that religious groups may develop and maintain relations with religious groups abroad. The Catholic Church, which is in communion with the Vatican, recognizes the pope as the head of the Church. In 2003 the Holy See appointed the current coadjutor bishop for the diocese.
Many religious groups, including Catholic, Protestant, and Baha'i groups, provide extensive social welfare services to the community. The Government subsidizes the establishment of Catholic schools, child care centers, clinics, homes for the elderly, rehabilitation centers, and vocational training centers.
Restrictions on Religious Freedom
The Government generally respected religious freedom in practice. There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom by the Government during the period covered by this report. Under the Basic Law, the PRC Government does not govern religious practices in the region.
The Falun Gong is not registered with the Identification Bureau. While the Bureau has not issued instructions regarding the Falun Gong, senior officials have stated that Falun Gong practitioners may continue their legal activities despite their lack of registration.
According to Falun Gong practitioners, they were able to practice their daily exercises in public parks, although police observed them once or twice a month and checked personal identification. Falun Gong representatives, however, have claimed that they were denied entry into the region, especially during sensitive political periods, and filed complaints with the police about being denied the right to display photographs of religious activity or abuses against fellow practitioners. The matter had not been resolved by the end of the reporting period.
There were no reports of religious prisoners or detainees in the region.
Forced Religious Conversion
There were no reports of forced religious conversion, including of minor U.S. citizens who had been abducted or illegally removed from the United States, or of the refusal to allow such citizens to be returned to the United States.
Section III. Societal Abuses and Discrimination
There were no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice. Relations among the various religious communities were good, and citizens generally were tolerant of the religious views and practices of others. Public ceremonies and dedications often included prayers by both Christian and Buddhist groups.
Section IV. U.S. Government PolicyThe U.S. Government discusses religious freedom with the Government as part of its overall policy to promote human rights. Officers from the U.S. consulate general in Hong Kong met regularly with leaders of all religious groups and spiritual organizations in the region.


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As A Senior In 2013-14: Indoor Track: Qualified for the New England Championship with the team's fastest time of the season, 15:01.39, taking sixth at the Atlantic 10 Championship (2/23) ... Also competed in the event at the New England Championship (3/1) (15:12.65) ... Ran the 3,000m at the Giegengack Invitational (2/8) (8:55.60) ... Raced the mile in three meets, posting a season-best time at the Northeastern Invitational (1/24) (4:30.57). Outdoor Track: Logged UMass' top-three times of the season in the 5,000m run ... Won the event at both the (4/26) (14:53.06), qualifying for the New England Championship, and at the (4/19) (15:00.38) ... Clocked a season-best time of 14:47.50 at the New England Championship (5/9) ... Ran the 1,500m twice ... Posted top time of the season at (4/12) (4:01.47) ... Competed in the 10,000m run at the Atlantic 10 Championship (5/3) (32:18.74).
As A Junior In 2012-13: Indoor Track: Ran the 3,000m run in three meets, including the Atlantic 10 Championship (2/16) and the New England Championship (2/22) ... Posted a New England qualifying time of 8:40.90 at the A-10 meet ... Saw action in the 5,000m run at both the Atlantic 10 Championship (2/16) (15:07.06) and the New England Championship (2/22) (15:13.49) ... Competed in the 1,000m run at the Sorlein Invitational (1/20) (2:37.29) ... Raced the mile in two meets ... Posted a season-best time of 4:26.51 at the Yale Invitational (1/12) ... Took sixth in the event at the Sorlein Invitational (1/20) (4:27.18) ... Ran the distance medley relay at the Yale Invitational (1/12) ... Was a part of a 4x400m relay squad at the Sorlein Invitational (1/20). Outdoor Track: Ran the 1,500m at both the Minuteman Invitational (4/13) and the Holy Cross Invitational (4/20) ... Top time of the season came with a fifth-place finish at the Minuteman Invitational (4/13), 4:01.86 ... Competed in the 5,000m run at the UMass Pre-Conference Meet (4/27), finishing sixth with a time of 15:52.83 ... Ran the 10,000m at the Atlantic 10 Championship (5/5) (32:24.66).
As A Sophomore In 2011-12: Indoor Track: Competed in five meets ... Placed seventh in the one mile run at the Giegengack Invite (2/4) with a time of 4:19.67.
As A Freshman In 2010-11: Outdoor Track: Competed in six meets ... Placed second in the 3200 meter run at the UMass Pre-Conference Meet (4/30) by recording a time of 9:21.97 ... Recorded a personal season best in the 5000 meter run at the Larry Ellis Invitational (4/22) by crossing the line at 14:45. 02 while placing 65th in a highly competitive field ... In 3:58.09, placed second in the 1500 meter run at the UMass Invite (4/9). Indoor Track: Competed in all eight meets as a freshman ... By crossing the line at 8:29.90, placed 28th in the 3000 meter run at the IC4A Championships (3/5) ... At the A-10 Championships (2/18), crossed the line at 4:20.34 in the mile run, taking seventh overall ... Qualified for the New England and IC4A Championships while placing 34th and setting the best team season time in the 3000 meter run at the Valentine Invitational (2/12) with a time of 8:25.24 ... Placed third in the mile run at the Sparks Sorlein Invitational (1/15) by crossing the line at 4:29.66.
Before UMass: Competed for Mansfield High School under coach Julie Collins ... Helped Hornets to a state title in cross country as a junior ... Was the Hockomock League, Eastern Mass. Division II and state cross country individual champion as a senior ... Part of the indoor track state championship team as a senior, finishing as the runner-up in the 1000m at the 2010 indoor state meet (2:31.81) ... During the outdoor season, won the two-mile at the Division I State Meet and was seventh in the 3,200 meters (9:11.28) at the New England Championship ... Named the Gatorade Massachusetts Runner of the Year and Boston Globe Runner of the Year in 2010 ... Earned All-Star recognition from the Sun Chronicle and Boston Globe in 2009 ... Set school records in the mile both indoors (4:21.73) and outdoors (4:18.51).
Personal: Born Patrick James McGowan on Mar. 26, 1992 in Boston, Mass. ... Son of Kevin and Kathleen McGowan ... Brother of Kaitlyn and Michael ... Intends to major in Business and minor in Art.
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Sep 3, 2013
Alabama continues its week of practice on Wednesday afternoon and will begin preparations for No. 7/7 Texas A&M later in the week. The Tide and Aggies are slated to square off on Saturday, Sept. 14, in College Station, Texas. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT and will air on CBS.
Get all the latest information on the team by following AlabamaFTBL on Twitter and Facebook and AlabamaFBL on Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.


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About Restaurant:
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Everyone is invited to attend the MixAgogo Launch Party on Thursday, April 10 at R10 Social House in Redondo Marina.
The brainchild of locals Joann Galin, Daniel Quisenberry, Bibi Goldstein and Valerie James, MixAgogo is the go-to place for networking in the South Bay!
Join the local business community from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. for an evening of doing what they do best – mixing, networking and enjoying a great night of fun.
The evening includes drinks and appetizers, live entertainment and a photo souvenir.
Guests are encouraged to try the signature MixAgogo Cocktail and then step in front of the camera on the Mor Synergy carpet and see what develops!
The cost is $5 with RSVP and $10 without RSVP – so save a few bucks and RSVP now at http://mixagogo.com/.
For additional information and to subscribe to the mailing list, visit the website at http://mixagogo.com/.
R10 Social House is located at 179 North Harbor Drive in the Redondo Marina in Redondo Beach.


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An inmate starved to death in the Kentucky prison system has led to the sacking of the doctor overseeing the mental health of those incarcerated at the Kentucky State Penitentiary in Eddyville, near the Cumberland River. Two other staffers are also being let go after the inmate, 57-year-old James Kenneth Embry, starved himself to death. Prosecutors are now investigating how it is that a prison inmate, under alleged constant care and supervision, could die from a lack of eating.
According to a report today from The Associated Press, as carried by abclocal.go.com, the hunger strike was a clear lapse in medical treatment. Embry had served six of his nine years on drug related offenses. According to the AP report, approximately one year ago, Embry stopped taking anti-anxiety medication. This led to erratic behavior and threats to kill himself, as well as his repeatedly smashing his head on the cell walls, and refusing his meals. The 6-foot Embry had dropped to 138 pounds at his death.
The Inquisitr says that doctors at the facility failed to provide Embry with the proper medication that would have kept his unpredictable behaviors and suicidal thoughts at bay. Additionally, a lack of regular medical checkups contributed to Embry's worsening condition. At the time of his death, he has lost over 30 pounds.
Louisville attorney Greg Belzley, who specializes in inmate rights litigation, said: "It's just very, very, very disturbing. How do you just watch a man starve to death?" Lyon County Coroner Ronnie Patton ruled Embry's death as suicide, with the main factor in his death cited as an "extreme dehydration with starvation as an auxiliary factor."
The AP report picks up the story:
A nurse checked on Embry on Jan. 4, finding him weak and shaky, and advised him to resume eating. Embry responded that it had been too long for him to start taking food again. Nine days later, on the very day he died, an advanced practice registered nurse named Bob Wilkinson refused a request from other medical staffers to move him to the infirmary at 11:51 a.m. and said the inmate should be taken off a hunger strike watch, according to the internal investigative report. Guards found Embry unresponsive in his cell hours later, his head slumped to the side. He was pronounced dead at 5:29 p.m.
Prison officials kept track of the meals that Embry skipped. Out of the 37 meals given to Embry, he had refused to eat 36 of them. According to the Daily Mail, the reason that Embry was taken off the hunger watch was because "he drank a cup of tea."
The AP has learned that lead prison psychologist, Jean Hinkebein, was placed on administrative leave, and reported that the prison is in the process of firing her and at least one of her associates. Embry was a heating and air conditioning repairman, and according to prison officials, he never had visitors and no one stepped forward to claim his body. Embry was buried in a field near the penitentiary.
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- Megan Huntsman: Huntsman killed and boxed up six babies, appears in court


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by Heather
(New Zealand)
A one year old White Shaver (or Leghorn) has dried blood in the feathers below her vent and bleeding from rear.
There are three hens of the same age/breed in her chicken tractor. A couple of weeks ago, for several consecutive days, there was blood on one of the eggs laid.
All three hens continue to lay. They have mites and have received treatment for it several times.
We are in NZ where the soil is known to be deficient in many nutrients and minerals. We feed them layer pellets, oyster grit, wheat and comfrey.
They have fresh grass daily.
Does any one have any suggestions?
Sometimes there is some blood when a hen lays an egg.
A small amount might be normal when a pullet starts laying, or hen restarts laying after a break.
An excessive amount of blood, that appears day after day, could be from her oviduct or possibly some blood in her droppings.
Blood in the oviduct might be from her producing larger than her normal sized eggs, or straining to lay. She may have been injured or possibly new "blood feathers" have been disturbed by pecking from other chickens.
Sometimes mites can irritate feather follicles causing a hen to bite at herself, like a dog might bite at a flea.
Blood feathers are the spiny looking beginnings of new feathers. The shaft of the feather is filled with little blood vessels that supply nutrients for feather growth.
Once the feather is done growing, the blood supply retracts and the shaft of the feather becomes mostly hollow and dry.
Blood in droppings can indicate irritation in her intestinal tract, which can be caused by excess bacteria, possibly Cocciodisis.
You might want to get a stool sample checked by your vet to rule out intestinal problems.
Most antibiotics instruct ceasing to use the hen's eggs for human consumption for a period of time after treatment; so I like to be sure antibiotics are definitely required before treating any hens.
If you believe the soil is deficient in minerals, you might want to find an appropriate mineral and vitamin supplement for your hens and give it regularly.
Providing a calcium supplement is important for laying hens, and can aid with laying issues. Calcium provides strength to muscles as well as to egg shells.
Return to Raising Chickens Home Page
Return to Chicken Vent Questions.


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Where can I find Rabbi Avigdor Miller's Shiurim online to download for free?
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London City Airport's 2006 Master Plan set out our growth and development plans through to 2030. It was developed in response to the Government's 2003 Aviation White Paper, 'The Future of Air Transport', which required specified airport operators to outline their vision for growth up to 2030.
Travelling on public transport in London? Order a Visitor Oyster Card
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Cows are holy in India, and as such, are not to be eaten. However, many cows are not owned by anyone, and are not only not fed properly, but are left to exist on grain or ceremonial flowers from some worshipper, or trash, which is primarily comprised of plastics and paper. This book takes you on a journey through India, and no matter where you go, you will always see the cows, always present, always there, somewhere.
My photography is about people and places in the world. My books open a window into the lives of people from around the world, where they live, and how they live. Come along with me for the joy of the journey.
Comment posted.
NickisPhotos says Very interesting. As a teacher, I would show this to my students.
posted at 01:39AM Apr 23 PST
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College Hockey:Ortega scores two as Nebraska-Omaha routs Miami
OMAHA, Neb. – Considering Miami came into Friday's game 7-1-0 after scoring first, things were looking great for the RedHawks when Bryon Paulazzo scored 13:16 into the game.
And then the second period happened.
No. 8 Miami held the run of play early in its season-opener with Nebraska-Omaha, and went back to the dressing room with a lead after 20 minutes. So far so good for the RedHawks, then.
However, five unanswered goals from the Mavericks in the first 17:35 of the second period proved too much for Miami to recover from, and UNO eventually coasted to a 6-3 win at CenturyLink Center.
With its win, UNO saw its record improve to 7-6-0 overall, 4-1-0 in the NCHC, and 5-2-0 so far this month. Miami fell to 7-5-1 overall and 2-3-0 in the league.
The RedHawks should be pleased with their first-period performance Friday. They held a very potent UNO offense to six shots in the period, and Miami picked up a deserved lead when Paulazzo cleaned up the rebound from a Riley Barber shot and beat UNO goaltender Ryan Massa from in tight at 13:16.
The second period, though, was an entirely different story.
UNO wasted no time scoring its equalizer, with Mavericks forward Dominic Zombo racing in down the left-side wall and firing a wrist shot in off the near-side post and past Miami goalie Jay Williams just 22 seconds into the second period.
The period wasn't even half-over before UNO doubled its lead.
Johnnie Searfoss gave UNO the lead at 2:07 after taking a centering feed from linemate Zahn Raubenheimer and beating Williams from in tight. At 7:21, Mavericks freshman forward Austin Ortega scored the first of his two goals on the night thanks to, again, a centering feed from the goal line.
It was then that Williams left the game with an undisclosed injury. Fellow sophomore goalie Ryan McKay came in in relief.
Life got even better for the hosts at 13:33 when Massa stopped Miami forward Austin Czarnik on a penalty shot. Czarnik had been pulled down on a breakaway thanks to a slash from UNO defenseman Ian Brady, but when the RedHawks forward came in on his free shot, he went in probably too far and shot right at Massa's midsection.
Mavericks coach Dean Blais felt that penalty shot, and not the UNO goals that came before it, was the turning point in Friday's game.
"It's a game of momentum, and certainly if he scores, they have it," Blais said. "You can just see (attitude of) the bench lift."
It did indeed, and UNO forward Brock Montpetit netted his seventh goal of the season 37 seconds later with a wrist shot through traffic from the top of the slot that found its way past McKay.
Just 3:25 after that, Ortega's second goal of the night and third of the season came on yet another centering feed that found Ortega at the far post with enough time to fire into the net before McKay could get there.
Miami forwards Sean Kuraly and Kevin Morris then scored two goals 19 seconds apart in the final minute of the second period to get Miami back in it. What could have been a big momentum shift there didn't last though, as UNO forward Josh Archibald put the game to bed with his 10th goal of the season 11:14 into the third period.
RedHawks coach Enrico Blasi felt UNO's execution in the second period made the difference in the game.
"They outplayed us in the second period and got that big lead and we didn't have probably as good a second period as we wanted to," Blasi said, "And (that period was) the game."
Blais, though, thought it was Massa and the UNO defense in front of him that won the Mavericks the game.
"We're a pretty good offensive team," Blais said. "But you don't win championships with offense — you do it with defense. I
thought we had guys in position tonight, but (Miami's) a good team and they created a lot of offense.
"They scored goals we maybe could have prevented, but then they didn't score goals when Ryan made saves."
The following is a self-policing forum for discussing views on this story. Comments that are derogatory, make personal attacks, are abusive, or contain profanity or racism will be removed at our discretion. USCHO.com is not responsible for comments posted by users. Please report any inappropriate or offensive comments by clicking the "Flag" link next to that comment in order to alert the moderator.
Please also keep "woofing," taunting, and otherwise unsportsmanlike behavior to a minimum. Your posts will more than likely be deleted, and worse yet, you reflect badly on yourself, your favorite team and your conference.


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Hey everyone, I have a table that looks something like this:
ID | Keyword | Category | Sub-Category | Sub-Sub-Category | Sub-Sub-Sub-Category
Do i need to split it up in two tables (a keyword table and a categories table with parent id) if one keyword can only belong to one category,sub-category...etc. meaning there are no repetition. is there still a need to split it up?


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|Berkeley Parents Network
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Re: Woman pediatrician who takes Medi-Cal
The primary care clinic associated with Children's Hospital Oakland take Med-Cal. There are many female pediatricians there. Myself, Dr. Mandel, others: Dr. Marbin, Dr. Shrestha, Dr. Noor, Dr.Lewis, Dr. Meade, Dr. Simms-Mackey, Dr. Chase, Dr. Halberg, and others. I think we do good work at the clinic and we would love to see you there. I take my daughter there too! Amy
Has anyone had any experience with Dr Betts at the childrens hospital in Oakland? We have an appointment with him soon for my son, and of course I am nervous about the whole prospect of my toddler needing surgery. Any words of wisdom, or reassurance?? Thanks for your help, anxious mama
My son has been assigned Dr. Kim at Children's Hospital for his hernia surgery. I see a few names on BPN with good recommendation, but he's not mentioned anywhere. Does anyone have an experience with him? We could delay the surgery a few days, I think, to choose a different doctor. Any information would be helpful. Jenn
Re: Tonsilectomy & Other Surgeries at Children's Hospital:
Many parents are not aware that Children's Hospital (both the outpatient surgery center and the regular hospital) has a wonderful group of highly trained social workers called ''Child Life'' counselors who will meet with you and your child to show your child the masks and other potentially scary things they will see when they come for surgery. This brief visit will help prepare them and empower them, and take much of the fear out of the surgery. Many doctor's offices do not understand the value of this (free) service and do not mention it to parents. ASK your doctor's office or call the hospital to schedule a Child Life meeting a few days before the surgery (call to schedule as soon as you know your date to be sure to get an appointment). It's too stressful to do the same day as surgery, but you can combine it with the pre-op appointment if that's on a different day. (Also, we read a great book called ''Goodbye Tonsils'') Suzanne
My 8-year-old daughter has recently been diagnosed with tethered cord. She will be entering Children's Hospital in Oakland in a week or two to have surgery to correct this defect in her spinal cord. Her neurosurgeon is Dr. Nagle. If anyone has any experience with this condition, or with surgery at Children's, or any advice on how to make this as untraumatic as possible for her, me, and her 3-year-old sister I would be most grateful. You may email me directly. I am a single parent with no family in the area, and have recently used up all my sick leave and most of my vacation leave because I have been out with pneumonia, and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by it all ... Melinda
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SOFAZ cites revenues from ACG, Shah Deniz projects
By Aynur Jafarova
Since early 2001 as of October 1, Azerbaijan's state oil fund SOFAZ received over $90.878 billion within the implementation of the project on developing the giant Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (AGC) block of oil and gas fields in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea, SOFAZ told Baku-based Trend news agency on October 18.
SOFAZ, an entity that accumulates and manages Azerbaijan's oil and gas revenues, reported that it received over $12.107 billion under the ACG project in January-September 2013.
The ACG block of fields has been producing since 1997. The production started from the Chirag part of the field and continues successfully. This was followed by the Azeri Project: Central Azeri production started in February 2005, West Azeri began producing in December 2005, and East Azeri came on stream in October 2006. The Deepwater Gunashli section launched production in April 2008.
Equity participation in the ACG contract is as follows: BP (operator) with 35.78 percent, Chevron with 11.27 percent, Inpex with 10.96 percent, AzACG with 11.65 percent, Statoil with 8.56 percent, Exxon with 8 percent, TPAO with 6.75 percent, Itochu with 4.3 percent; Hess has sold its 2.72 percent share to India's ONGC.
Furthermore, since 2007 SOFAZ received over $1.5 billion within the implementation of the project on the development of the giant Shah Deniz gas condensate field in the Caspian Sea.
The volume of the fund's revenues within the Shah Deniz project amounted to $289.8 million in January-September 2013.
The Shah Deniz field, which is one of the world's largest gas-condensate fields, was discovered in 1999. Its reserves are estimated at 1.2 trillion cubic meters of gas. Overall, the field has proved to be a secure and reliable supplier of gas to Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey as well as Europe.
Currently, the potential daily volume of production at Shah Deniz is 27.3 million cubic meters of gas (depending on demand) and 55,000 barrels of condensate.
SOFAZ was established in 1999 with assets of $271 million. The main purposes of the fund are the accumulation of funds and placement of assets abroad to minimize the negative impact on the economy, preventing the 'Dutch disease', to ensure savings for future generations, and to maintain the current social and economic standards in the country.
According to SOFAZ's investment strategy, up to five percent of the fund's total investment portfolio may be invested in stock, up to five percent - in real estate, and another five percent in gold.


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Peter Macdissi Movies and Career Information
May 14, 1974
May 14, 1974
Peter Macdissi is an actor who was born in Beirut, Lebanon. His filmography consists mostly of television work, most notably playing long-time recurring character Olivier Castro-Staal on Alan Ball's HBO series Six Feet Under. In 2007, he appeared in Towelhead, a feature film written and directed by Alan Ball, who is also his partner. Along with his partner, he is one of the executive producers of the Cinemax series Banshee.
- Peter Macdissi Movies before 2015
- Towelhead 2008
- Bad Company 2002
- Tiptoes 2000
- Three Kings (2000) 1999
- And God Spoke 1993


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Health & Parenting
Disappointing Diets for Children
March 4, 2004 (San Francisco) -- While a low-carb diet may add up to quick weight loss in adults, preschool children who cut back on carbs are likely to end up as fat teens, according to new findings from researchers with the Framingham Children's Study, an offshoot of the ongoing Framingham Heart Study.
When children ages 3 to 5 are fed low-carb diets, the results show up during their teens, says Framingham researcher Lynn Moore, DSc, associate professor of medicine at Boston University.
And that's not all. Moore tells WebMD that both low- and high-fat diets during the formative years also add up to flabby teens.
She says that one way to protect against teenage obesity is to increase intake of dairy products among 3- to 5-year-olds. Children who averaged than more than two glasses of milk or more than two servings of cheese or yogurt a day were more than an inch slimmer as teenagers.
Moore says that the minerals calcium and magnesium are probably the major players in preventing normal-weight kids from turning into plump teens. Dairy, fruits, and vegetables all add up to leaner teenage years, she says.
Green leafy vegetables are rich in magnesium. Unrefined grains and nuts also have high magnesium content.
But kids who eat high-fat diets -- meaning that more than 35% of their calories come from fat-laden foods -- accumulate about "an inch more in body fat" by the time they reach their teens, she says. When little children are fed low-carb diets, they average about three-quarters of an inch in added girth by the teenage years.
Noting that children on low-fat diets, which were defined as diets in which less than 20% of calories came from fat, added about a third of an inch of fat to teenage bodies, Moore says, "The message of the study is moderation. Diets that have moderate amounts of fat and carbohydrates as well as dairy and fruits and vegetables are less likely to be associated with obesity during the teens."
The message for parents, says Moore, is that a diet that might lead to weight loss in adults is not useful as an obesity prevention strategy for children.


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Photo courtesy of Utah Children's Theatre
Utah Children's Theatre announced they are extending the run of Robin Hood, their action packed adventure and romance about the outlaw who robs from the rich to give to the poor, for another week.
The show was originally scheduled to run through March 23, but the last show will now be March 30.
Here are the remaining shows:
Friday, March 22 at 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 23 at 1 p.m.
Saturday, March 24 at 4:30 p.m.
Friday, March 29 at 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 30 at 1 p.m.
Saturday, March 30 at 4:30 p.m.
And if you've already seen the show (or will), you can bounce back this weekend or next for half price. Just call 801-532-6000 or show your receipt at the door. Click here for tickets.