Don't Blame It on Björk

As the protests and unrest continue on the streets of Lhasa, Tibet news watchers are preparing for the the inevitable crackdown from the Chinese government. It's hard to say whether or not the response from the Chinese will be more subdued due to the attention being lavished on the Olympic games host country. A bloody suppression of Buddhist monks may discourage McDonald's and Walmart from spending more on advertising during the Olympics telecast.

A China under the spotlight might be enough to give the Tibetan protesters reason to take on their Chinese overlords for the first time in two decades. Maybe that perceived heightened awareness that the world is watching China gives the Tibetans just enough motivation to take up the challenge again. Surely a government preparing to host people from all over the planet would not want to squander it's benevolent image over some street protests. I also think what we are seeing in Tibet is the leading edge of a movement that was triggered partially from the events in Kosovo where a long fought quest for independence was unilaterally declared by Kosovars and then recognized by the U.S and other Western democracies.

Maybe, just maybe the recent antics of Icelandic pop-star Björk during a performance in Shaghai were the final rallying cry needed for this latest movement in Tibet to coalesce. Let's hope there are democratic governments willing to take a stand for reforms in Tibet and remind the China of the 21st century this in not 1950.