deliriouslove1970. The life & times of Gary and Denise Flanders. (Free and worth every penny. If you would like to compliment the editor, send to garytheflan@deliriouslove1970.com. If you would like to complain, call your mother.)

Tibet (/tɪˈbɛt/ Tibetan: བོད, Standard pronunciation:[pʰøːʔ˨˧˩], romanized: Böd; Chinese: 西藏pinyin: Xizang), or Greater Tibet, is a region in the western part of East Asia, covering much of the Tibetan Plateau and spanning about 470,000 sq mi (1,200,000 km²).It is the homeland of the Tibetan people. Also resident on the plateau are other ethnic groups such as Mongols, Monpa, Tamang, Qiang, Sherpa, Lhoba, and since the 20th century Han Chinese and Hui. Tibet is the highest region on Earth, with an average elevation of 4,380 m (14,000 ft). Located in the Himalayas, the highest elevation in Tibet is Mount Everest, Earth’s highest mountain, rising 8,848 m (29,000 ft) above sea level.

The flag’s design features two snow lions holding a flaming blue, white and orange jewel and a blue and orange yin-yang symbol on a white mountain with a gold sun rising over it, all over 12 red and blue alternating rays with a gold border around the upper, lower, and hoist side of the flag.

It was designed in 1926 by the tailor to the 13th Dalai Lama, Gyalten Namgyal. It has been utilized ever since as the official flag of Tibet.

The flag is not without controversy. There is a story circulating that Mao did approve the flag and told the Dalai Lama at the time it is ‘approved’. The 14th Dalai Lama has been in exile for decades after he began the independent Tibet movement. Beijing now bans the flag and will not recognize an independent Tibet.

In a situation similar to what is happening in Hong Kong, young Tibetans are determined in their insistence on a ‘Free Tibet’.

Back to the Dali Lama, today is his 90th birthday. He is the 14th Dali Lama and the plans for number 15 has made all of the Buddhist world nervous.

Tibet sees the succession as vital for the continued sovereignty and freedom of an independent country. China sees it as an opportunity to, in their opinion, take back Tibet and return it to China, thus taking control of Buddhism.

On Wednesday, July 2nd, four,days before his birthday, the Dali Lama announced his successor…himself. He said he would be reincarnated so, number 14 will be number 15.