The most important thing that may come from this year's Olympic games will not be gold metals, but awareness on Tibet's struggle for independence from China. While the world engages in sport, Tibetans continue to live in perpetual fear of house raids and midnight arrests. Torture against political prisoners is widespread and unchecked because news coverage of this issue is limited by China's strict control over all forms of media in the region. To learn more about Tibet's struggle for independence, click here.
This poster merges the Olympic flag with the Tibetan Endless Knot. The love knot, luck knot, infinite knot is a symbol of Buddha's endless wisdom and compassion. The campaign to free Tibet is unusual in that it focuses on peaceful resistance rather than terror and violence. However, Tibet needs a way to position itself on the world stage and have it's struggle taken seriously. Hopefully the Beijing Olympics will provide ample opportunity.
In researching this post I came across Remember Tibet, an online initiative to raise awareness about Tibet's struggle for independence through the creative arts. Any resemblance between this week's propaganda and the Remember Tibet logo are entirely coincidental. Conceptual development and design of this piece had already been complete before I ever laid eyes on Remember Tibet. That being said, I wholeheartedly endorse this initiative and suggest everyone to click through to their site—after you've downloaded the poster that is.
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