Tonight at 8 PM in Havemeyer 309, Rebiya Kadeer, the woman dubbed the “Uyghur Dalai Lama” and the famed advocate for minority rights in China, will speak at an event sponsored by Columbia International Relations Council and Association in conjunction with Columbia Political Union and Amnesty International.  She’s the President of the World Uyghur Congress, the President of the Uyghur American Association, and one of the Chinese government’s least favorite people; Bwog also hears that free food will be served.

Kadeer was imprisoned for five and a half years in northwestern China after she allegedly provided “secret information to foreigners.”  She was only released after the US government, members of Congress, and groups like Amnesty International campaigned for her freedom.  She currently advocates for the rights of the Uyghur ethnic group in the western Chinese province of Xinjiang, a group which is oppressed and marginalized by the Chinese government.  If you’ve never heard of the Uyghurs, here’s another reason to go see Kadeer; the Chinese government claims that she masterminded the race riots this summer in Xinjiang, a charge which she denies. 

If global affairs don’t tempt you, remember that the freshmen aren’t disenchanted with CCSC quite yet — there are multiple parties running for election!  The CCSC 2013 Debate is happening tonight at 9 PM in the Roone Arledge Auditorium.  We’re guessing that the freshmen student council hopefuls may not be quite as articulate as Ms. Kadeer, but head to Lerner to see if good Karma can beat out those who just want to Party.