March 10 is the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan people’s uprising against Chinese occupation. In 1959 Tibetans filled the streets of Lhasa to protest China’s invasion of their country; one week later the Dali Lama was forced into exile and the Chinese government began eliminating Tibetan dissenters.

This morning supporters of the Dali Lama, Tibetan monks and other concerned parties again took to the streets to protest continued Chinese occupation as well as the upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympics. There has been much debate about whether US athletes should boycott the games; President Bush is unconcerned, however, saying he views the Olympics simply as a sporting event.

These pictures were taken about an hour ago on Centre Street, just below our headquarters. We heard the megaphones a mile away.

credits: Settlement Heart

Olympic=Blood Olympics

credits: Settlement Heart

There was a fanfare blowing to the sun...

credits: Settlement Heart

I was hoping for replacement when the sun burst through the trees

credits: Settlement Heart

There were peasants singing and drummers drumming...

credits: Settlement Heart

Well I dreamed I saw the knights in armour coming saying something about a queen...

credits: Settlement Heart

Flying Mother Nature's silver seed to a new home in the sun

credits: Jonny Santos

The yellow haze of the sun...