Tibetan Exile Group Seeks Your Used Audio Recording Gear

A Tibetan exile group in Northern India (whose work I've reported on previously for Boing Boing, WIRED, and NPR) is seeking used voice recording gear for an upstart independent community radio station.

At left, a photo I shot of Phuntsok Dorjee with a fellow volunteer, setting up a wireless network relay point inside a tribal family's garage on the top of a mountain at the southern edge of the Himalayas. Goats and routers, under the same roof, not far from the Tibetan Government in Exile's home of Dharamsala, India.

Phuntsok says,

"We have 10 students in the radio team but have only 2 Sony IC voice recorders. A friend of the organization will be in San Francisco sometime in early July on his way to India and he can bring for us the voice recorder if we manage to get some."

Got any used voice recorders, or related gear you're not using? Email him at: phuntsok at tcv.org.in. These are good folks, doing innovative work without a lot of resources.

Related: A Wireless Network for 'Little Lhasa' (Xeni on NPR)

[Hamish June 18, 2009 2:48 PM]

m n mrcn wrtng frm Chn.

Mk n mstk, nyn wh ncrgs nt Chns ctvts n Tbt s sndng ths thy ctvt t hll. Thr s nvrsl sntmnt hr mng ll Chns tht Tbt s prt f Chn. Thy wll s LL thr stt pwr t kp t, jst s th ntd Stts wld t kp Hw, plc w stl n shrt whl g, jst ftr stlng Txs, Nw Mxc, rzn, nd Clfrn, whch fllwd th Lsn Prchs (Hw dd th Frnch gn pssssn f tht lnd?), whch ws ftr w hd klld nrly vry ndn w cld lct, nd wr lkng fr mr. My cntrymn shld vd gttng yng ppl klld n n ntrly ftl strggl hr, nd fcs n crrctng th bss w hv rnd n th Nrth mrcn ndns, nd gvng vry dscndnt f th slvs ft chck n cmpnstn.

[Anonymous June 18, 2009 3:04 PM]

Hamish isn't drinking the Kool-Aid he's chugging it. Sure we have made mistakes but that doesn't change the situation of China in the slightest. And there are many possibilities for Tibet between inclusion in China and independence. There are certainly gray areas in many areas of the Tibet issue but one thing is clear and that's the near certainty that in a century China will look back on their behavior in to Tibet with shame.

[Takuan June 18, 2009 3:05 PM]

well gee Hamish, maybe it doesn't matter since the Beijing government is already sending the Tibetans to hell in the first place. Who's talking about "anti-Chinese activities"? Or is anything pro-Tibet automatically evil? What would you have said in 1939 about Jews in Germany?

[hooeezit June 18, 2009 3:06 PM]

Xeni, what qualifies as 'used recording equipment'. For us non-sound-engineer-folks, a few keywords would be helpful. Does a tape-based pocket voice recorder sans tapes qualify? Batteries are not cheap in India - would they like a few extra ones?

@Hamish:
Apparently, most oppressive regimes don't realize that many people would rather die with freedom and dignity than serve in humiliation.
Amusing that you don't see the irony in what you are suggesting - correct past abuses, but ignore current ones. Separate abuses by separate peoples, but the fact remains.

[Antinous / Moderator replied to comment from Hamish June 18, 2009 3:18 PM]

Hamish,

We're not currently accepting PRC talking points.

[Takuan June 20, 2009 9:18 AM]

reaction to Iran uprising:

11:22 PM ET -- China censors order downplaying of Iran protests. Via reader Charlie, the South China Morning Post reports:

Mainland censors yesterday ordered state media and internet sites to play down news about post-election protests in Iran and government crackdowns there, amid concerns the situation in Tehran may inspire protests and cause instability in a sensitive year.

There are also fears that Iranian protesters' use of technology to circumvent government media controls may encourage mainlanders to follow suit.

Propaganda authorities issued an emergency notice last night urging newspapers and websites to reduce coverage on Iranian affairs and play down images of clashes between the protesters and government forces.

"[The notice] bans editors and columnists from criticising or commenting on the Iranian government's latest measures to control the disorder," a Guangzhou-based international news editor, who declined to be named, told the South China Morning Post

[versadial June 22, 2009 11:59 AM]

What the heck is that first comment? Must have slipped by the spam control.
In any case, where can we find more information on what these gentlemen are doing with voice recorders and their project in general?