Twitter, the Friendly Ghost

                                                      

Following your favorite celebrity on Twitter? Maybe not! While the whole world is a ‘twitterin’…was it any wonder that a certain level of the elite twitterati would eventually find a way to game the system. The latest trend a foot is “Ghost Twittering.” The term was coined to describe when someone, usually a celebrity, politician, sport figure or a corporate brand pays another person or persons to update their Twitter account on their behalf. The use of ghostwriters has been around in the literary world since literature was first penned. Now,it appears it is prevalent in Twitterdom as well. But, while it may make sense for our busy world leaders to farm out their tweets, when celebrities engage in this practice it really seems to be defeating the purpose.

Peace conference ‘postponed’ after Dalai Lama refused visa

 

A conference celebrating South Africa’s emergence as a multi-racial society after decades of white minority rule has been called off after the Pretoria government refused to give a visa to a principal guest, Tibet’s spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

The peace conference bringing together South African Nobel Peace Prize laureates and international advocates of peaceful reform was due to be held in Johannesburg on Friday as a prelude to South Africa’s hosting of the World Cup of soccer next year.

West ‘lacks information about Tibet’

TORONTO: Independence for Tibet can never be accepted, but talks with representatives of the Dalai Lama could resume “at any time” if the political exile gives up his separatist stance, a visiting living Buddha from the autonomous region said over the weekend.

“The door remains open and talks could resume at any time if the Dalai Lama meets the requirements of the central government,” said Shingtsa Tenzinchodrak, head of a delegation of five Tibetan National People’s Congress (NPC) deputies to North America, while addressing local media and overseas Chinese.

China “opposes any platform” for Dalai Lama’s secessionist activity

                    

BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) — China opposes the government of any other country providing support or a platform for the Dalai Lama’s secessionist activity, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a regular press conference here Tuesday.

    Responding to questions on the South African government’s refusal of a visa to the Dalai Lama, Qin said: “China applauds the position of those countries that respect China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, adhere to the one-China policy and oppose the independence of Tibet.”