Tibetan Culture Targets at ModernizationSimilar to other cultures in the world, the Tibetan culture cannot shun the process of modernization, some experts on Tibetan studies said Thursday.At the ongoing 2001 Beijing Seminar on Tibetan Studies, which started Wednesday at the China Center for Tibetan Studies, Ding Xiaowen, associate research librarian with Administration College of Jiangsu Province, said that the time-honored Tibetan culture has a good tradition of learning from others, including the other elements of the Chinese culture. He said the Tibetan culture also sticks to its own core with regional characteristics. By learning outstanding traits from other cultures, the Tibetan culture enriches and develops itself, Ding said. Tsering Dondrup, librarian of Archives for Garze Prefecture in Sichuan Province, said that traditional Tibetan culture features high ethical standards, pioneering spirits and patriotism. Gedun Samtan, professor at the Tibetology Department of the Northwestern Institute for Nationalities, said, "at present the Tibetan culture needs to give play to its ethical progress through education and make a contribution to the world culture." Tibetan Culture Helps Protect EnvironmentParticipants said that traditional Tibetan culture could educate people to protect ecology and the environment.Yang Shenglong, an official with the State Commission of Ethnic affairs, said that Tibetan people believe in a harmonious way of life which stresses the joint development between people and their surrounding environment. According to their traditions, the Tibetan people love nature and are eager to protect various plants and animals, Yang said. Rapid social and economic enhancement might result in ecological and environmental challenges for areas in which Tibetans inhabit, experts said. Environmental protection of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau will also play an important role in environmental protection worldwide, they said. People in those areas should effectively use land resources and curb pollution, Yang said. |
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