Buddhists and Catholics call for government reform

" South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and his administration remain under attack for failing to help the poor, protect the environment and for violating human rights.

Since the start of the month 124 intellectuals and university professors have complained that South Korea’s democracy, press freedom and media independence have been weakened. Two days ago Buddhist and Catholic religious leaders have joined the fight.

On Monday thousands of Buddhist monks and hundreds of Catholic priest issued separate statements calling on President Lee to change his style of government. "

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Journey to Zanskar

Screening of Journey to Zanskar

USC, Taper Hall 202
Los Angeles, CA 90089
Free and open to the public
Refreshments will be served
Time: 7:00PM - 9:00PM
Please RSVP: uschina@usc.edu uschina@usc.edu>

Filmmaker Frederick Marx, producer of Academy Award nominated "Hoop Dreams," will be premiering a rough cut of his new film.

This screening features an advance preview of Journey to Zanskar. The film will be completed and released in the fall. It focuses on Zanskar, in the northernmost part of India, one of the most isolated regions of the Himalayas. Inaccessibility and isolation has protected Zanskar - also known as "Little Tibet" - from cultural change. Today, it is considered the last place on earth where traditional Tibetan Buddhist norms and ways of life still exist. This will change when the Indian government completes a modern paved road into Zanskar to provide its military with access to India's fragile borders with Pakistan and China.

Several years ago the Dalai Lama asked two senior monks upon the completion of their training to devote themselves to educating the children of Zanskar so their rich cultural heritage could be preserved through reading and writing. The two monks selected 17 of the brightest children from among the poorest families and began a ten day trek over the snow covered Himalayas from Zanskar to a school on the other side of the mountains. The children's journey is the focus of the film.

Marx will introduce the film and take questions after the screening.

Parking is available for $8 in Parking Structure D (on Jefferson Boulevard, west of Figueroa Boulevard). Click here to see the USC University Park Campus interactive map < http://web-app.usc.edu/maps/> .

Project Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdkCMqqrlww <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdkCMqqrlww> )
Project Website (http://www.fmarxfilm.com/17paths.html <http://www.fmarxfilm.com/17paths.html> )
Project Blog (http://vcr.csrwire.com/node/12341 <http://vcr.csrwire.com/node/12341> )
Project Donation Page (http://www.fmarxfilm.com/donate.html <http://www.fmarxfilm.com/donate.html> )

Contact: US-China Institute
Phone: 213-821-4382
Email: uschina@usc.edu

Sponsor(s): USC US-China Institute, Religion, Identity and Global Governance, The Office of Religious Life