After playing Tibet House’s annual benefit this year, Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne is wondering about Tibet’s situation. According to Spinner, he’s said of Tibet House (and, presumably, its mission to preserve Tibetan culture):

“I’m not going to put it down — these are humane peaceful people trying to do something. That being said, if I had been oppressed for [this long], I think I’d just accept it and say ‘Who gives a s—?’” …Yes, that does sound bleakly negative and resigned, but Coyne turns his view to himself and qualifies things: “Kind people that make the world a better place, but I don’t know if I’m like that.” (More, via Spinner, here.)

Whether Wayne’s in for next year or no remains to be seen, but Tibet House still could benefit from your help and attention. Check out them here.

It would look that way.

Tibetan hip-hop? Well, why not? …I mean, sure, it might look at first like they’re trying to be too Western in their approach — the regrettable inclusion of Auto-Tune doesn’t help things — but these ain’t like most Western rap lyrics. And: Dude who comes in at 1:10 kinda has the best voice and delivery EVER.

“New Generation” by Yudrug (Green Dragon) from HPeaks on Vimeo.

Heidiminx — the very model of the punk-rock dharma activist — rules. But you knew that, right? Well, if you didn’t, check out her new video, “Tattoos and Tibetan Ex-political Prisoners.”  In it, she interviews a member of the Tibetan ex-political prisoners association, GuChuSum.

As Heidiminx writes, “While there are numerous sites and TV shows dedicated to the meanings of tattoos, the tattoos of Tibet’s ex-political prisoners have not been well documented. Their experiences are crucial to understand the human rights violations China commits on a daily basis.”

Support and follow Heidiminx’s work here. And visit GuChuSum here.

Huge thanks to the mighty Konchog Norbu for a heads-up on what looks like a must-see film (at least for this Worst Horse):

“Journey of a Dream is a feature-length documentary that will take audiences on a global journey into heavy metal music, exile, Buddhism, and Tibetan roots. How one man is trying to find solace and self-realization through Buddhism, living the life of a refugee, and playing death metal.

I am IN. Are you? Watch the trailer here.

If you haven’t heard about the earthquake in Yushu county, a Tibetan autonomous prefecture in western Qinghai Province of northwest China — that is to say, Kham, Tibet – here‘s a good start.

More importantly: Tibet Relief Fund has launched an appeal for victims of today’s earthquake. Donations can be made here.

The tattoo in question, via farm4.static.flickr.com

Sports site TSN reports that:

“English welterweight Dan (The Outlaw) Hardy’s stomach tattoo was airbrushed out of the UFC 111 fight poster because it is ‘anti-Chinese government stuff,’ according to UFC president Dana White.

‘”I’m trying to get into China,” he told fans at a question-and-answer session Tuesday. ‘I don’t need anti-Chinese government stuff on my fighters.’

“Hardy, however, says the tattoo — the fighter’s favourite — is a Tibetan Buddhist prayer written in Sanskrit.

‘”It’s basically just like a prayer for focus,’ Hardy said. ‘It keeps me walking the path that I should be walking without veering off and distracting myself.’

“Apprised of that explanation, White said: ‘That’s not what I heard.’

[...] “‘I heard that it was anti-Chinese government, so I ripped that thing off it. I’m not going to put him on a poster with anti-Chinese government writing on it when we’re trying to get into China. . . . I don’t know what this stuff means, so I’ve got to be safe.’

But, as the MMA site Bloody Elbow (nice name, that) points out:

“The tattoo is the well known Buddhist mantra “Om mani padme hum” which has no political significance in relation to China.”

Well, not quite no political significance.  While the tattoo isn’t an overt anti-China statement, China sure is sensitive to hearing about Tibetan Buddhism. Some, like Robert Thurman, would even go so far as to say that the Chinese government is trying ‘re trying to, um, airbrush it away.

“The Dalai Lama is set to give a public talk in Reykjavik (Iceland) next week, which will be followed by a performance by Sigur Ros.” Here‘s one link to the story, and another here.

Metal News is reporting that the Dalai Lama has just blessed the black metal band Chthonic for their pro-Tibet stance. Wonder if he’s heard them. Have you?

Now you have.