The land locked country of Tibet, nestled deep in the Himalayas, was colonised by the Chinese under the rule of Mao Zedong and the Communist Party in 1950. The Dalai Lama is the former spiritual and political leader of the predominantly Buddhist Tibetan nation; he has lived in exile in Northern India since 1959.

The Chinese Government claims that sovereignty over Tibet has existed for centuries, yet the Dalai Lama maintains that Tibet was previously an independent nation. Opinions also differ greatly regarding the political and economic relationships between the region of Tibet and China. For example, the Dalai Lama has stated that 1.2 million people have been killed under Chinese rule, yet this fact has been disputed. Conversely, China claims that they have improved the Tibetan’s health and economy since their troops marched into the region to claim it as their own, yet it seems to many as if development has largely favoured the Han Chinese population that has been encouraged to move to the Tibetan plateau.

Although it is very difficult, nigh impossible to obtain concrete facts and figures, many Tibetans fleeing their country, or attempting to return home, tell harrowing stories of life on the inside. China’s strict regulation of the media means that tales of persecution are kept contained to the extent that many Chinese citizens are not aware of even the allegations of cruelty and oppression.  According to the Dali Lama in a recent interview with  Radio Free Asia, there is hope that the truth is reaching the Chinese people: “Because we strictly follow [the] non-violence principle, large numbers of Chinese Han brothers and sisters, intellectuals, and some students fully support, fully appreciate, and show solidarity with us.” If true then this is a positive step and a demonstration that it is the Chinese authorities, not the people of China, who are at fault.

When I visited to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, four years ago, I met an intriguing young individual who told me of his harrowing journey to leave Tibet, travelling across the treacherous Himalayas by foot and eating only grass for an entire month. He, like many other spiritual pilgrims, yearned to be in the mountainous safety of Northern India, in the presence of his spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

The second most important figure to many Tibetans is Panchen Lama, who, like the Dalai Lama, is also seen as a reincarnation of his predecessor. The selection of both of these figures is a strict process, yet the eleventh reincarnation of the Panchen Lama created controversy when China and Tibet each selected their own figure. The Tibetan Panchen Lama, identified by the Dalai Lama, Gedhun Choekyi, was detained by the Chinese authorities as a young boy in 1995, and has not been seen since. His fate remains unknown.

Unfortunately, no other nations openly dispute China’s claim to sovereignty, and although the Tibetan’s plight has won the support of various individuals and political action groups, China has successfully blocked all UN resolutions on Tibet, grinding the movement to a halt.

In 2008, during the proceedings for the Beijing Olympics, it seemed the perfect opportunity to campaign for an independent Tibet, and many anti-Chinese protesters took the central stage when international attention focused upon the pro-Tibetan protests and stunts enacted during the Olympic torch relays in London, Paris and San Francisco. Unfortunately, the international attention has since diverted from the Tibetan cause, and with China’s influence and political power ever growing, it is becoming necessary to question whether Tibet will become a forgotten nation, amalgamated into the next world superpower.

The Dalai Lama has long since given up the fight for independence, settling instead for Tibet becoming an autonomous region of China. He has always advocated the route of non-violence and seeks negotiation with the Chinese authorities. China publicly accuses him of asking for full independence instead, which for them is a non-starter for any sincere negotiations.

It is interesting to watch how the next few years will progress for this colonised nation. Following the 2008 Beijing Olympics much of the world has already forgotten Tibet. Yet new advances may again bring these political issues to the forefront. The Dalai Lama gave up his political role earlier this year, after other exiled Tibetans elected their next leader, Lobsang Sangay. Although Sangay was born in a refugee settlement in India, he is a well educated man who attained a Phd from Harvard University and worked as a legal researcher. Perhaps even more importantly, he was elected democratically. While erring from the spiritual means of discovering the next reincarnation of the Bodhisattva of compassion, this democratic election can only further secure sympathy from the West.

The Dalai Lama was immensely popular, but he is now an elderly man, and passing on his leadership before he died was an ingenious move that hopefully gives the next generation of Tibetans living in exile a leader to fight for them, possibly allowing a return to their home. An important question must be asked, however, to the rest of the world: Will we stand up for what we believe in and start imposing sanctions upon China, or will we continue to let them get away with oppression? The opinion of the rest of the world carries incredible weight; China was required to demonstrate more tolerance before they were allowed to host the Beijing Olympics, a fact that the rest of the world seems to have forgotten.

Yes, it is an old subject. At times, quite a tired subject. But, a new wave of feminism has taken Europe by storm. From the intellectual “La Barbe” to “SlutWalkers”, the changing face of feminism demonstrates that individuals do have it in them to fight for equality.

The French feminist direct action group, La Barbe, or “The Beard” intranslation, created in March 2008, crash important meetings whilst wearing beards, in order to make apparent the absence of women from the decision making in France. The case against the former head of the IMF, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, saw protests in Paris against the scaleof male influence within French politics and media. According to LaBarbe, “the scale of the rally was a reflection…. Of the force with which French feminism has, over the past few years, risen from the ashes.”

On a less intellectual, but equally passionate level, we have the SlutWalk movement. Organised through Facebook and Twitter, these women march in their underwear, in a protestation against rape. The now infamous comment by a police officer in Toronto, visiting Osgoode Hall Law school, has seen a vast uprising in response to his statement that; “Women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimised.” One sees the Slut Walkers’ point in their attempt to reclaim the derogatory term. Yet, it is doubtful whether their particular re-branding of feminism will be as successful as other re branding campaigns.

Although the SlutWalks originated in the US, it has since spread throughout the UK, with marches in Cardiff, Newcastle, Edinburghand Glasgow. Tanya Gold from the Guardian newspaper credited them with “ripping through conventional gender stereotypes, which seem more solid and irritating than ever.” Gold cites the “Fragrant GoodWife” image of Samantha Cameron and the return of the Playboy club in London as examples of why women in the UK are becoming frustrated with being pigeonholed.

However, although all this energy and devotion towards equality seems on the surface a good, positive step forward, there could be hidden dangers lying in wait for the feminist movement. Feminism is intrinsically flawed, as there is only so far it can progress in its cause,until it becomes unequal again. For instance, while women banding together in support of “the sisterhood” seems friendly and benign, and whilst women can suffer great inequalities due to their gender, feminism needs to be careful of isolating and usurping men.

There should not be a “second sex”, as that idea is outdated, and it is imperative that any gender equalities be corrected. However, what about the many other minorities that are also discriminated against? Feminism needs to tread carefully and think about true equality instead. Equality for all people would be a much better agenda. We should celebrate individuality rather than being determined to craft new groups that only a select few fit into. In light of Cameron’s Conservative stance against immigration, the UK needs more people fighting for equality now more than ever.