What is your job?
Vice-President
of SEIU Healthcare - Minnesota (Service Employees International Union)
representing over 17,000 healthcare workers in the state, part of the largest
and strongest labor union in North America with over 2.2 million members.
What causes are most important to you –
and why?
I participate
and stay involved in any and all causes and fights that emphasize the disparity
on racial, social and economic justice, anywhere in the world. But my most
important fight of course is for my country Tibet’s independence.
Since China
illegally invaded Tibet in 1949, over 1.2 million Tibetans have been killed,
more than 6000 ancient monasteries destroyed; there are countless political prisoners, forced labor camps, systemic torture, corrosive
colonization, cultural genocide forced
settlements of nomads, coercive birth control, population transfer, environmental
destruction, and the list goes on. Innocent Tibetans peacefully rallying on the streets of
Tibet are mercilessly shot with automatic weapons, ruthlessly beaten with
spiked batons or were later arbitrarily sent to prison to be tortured or killed.
What organizations do you support – and
how?
For almost my
entire life, I have been a member of the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC), based
out of Dharamsala, India. TYC is the largest Tibetan non-governmental
organization in the world fighting for Tibet’s independence.
Why do you have a passion for this one in
particular, is there a personal tie?
I have had the
honor to serve three terms (2 years each) at different times as an Executive
member, General Secretary and President of its regional chapters. My late
father strongly supported and stood with this organization’s aims and
objectives; one of his proudest moments (which I heard later) was my service to
this organization. I still overhear my nine year old daughter proudly speak of
my roles with TYC with her friends. This organization serves as one of the most
powerful platforms for Tibetans in-exile to effectively and effusively realize
their responsibilities and duties towards their country and its people.
Is there a particular way you would want
to encourage readers to be involved?
Over a hundred
young Tibetans have burned themselves calling for the return of His Holiness
the 14th Dalai Lama to Tibet and for Tibet’s independence. So
long as China continues to illegally occupy Tibet, the indefinable oppression of
the Tibetan people will continue; and so will continue the resistance by
Tibetans inside Tibet rightfully demanding for independence.
I urge readers to stand with Tibetans and supporters who’ve been repeatedly calling on
governments of this world and the United Nations to heed to the demands of the
Tibetans suffering in Tibet. They
can call on their government and speak to their elected leaders to recognize
the Tibetan people’s aspirations and to help ensure the demand for an
independent Tibet.
Do you have any tattoos that relate to your work?
On my right
hand: A Renaissance Era’s sad
cherub. Medusa. Themis, the Goddess of Justice.
These are
dedicated to the determination and defiance by women who have successfully fought
back and won when society underrated, devalued, cursed and misrepresented them. It was to honor my grandmothers who taught me
to fight back.
On my left
arm: A faded red dragon - a reminder of impermanence, no matter how terrorizing
and powerful it once may have been.
My next tattoo
will be on my left wrist: “Tibet Forever”
Mention artists if you’d like:
Someday when I
visit Dharamsala, I look forward to working with my Tibetan brother, the
amazingly talented tattoo artist Tamding Tseten
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