India, Aug. 26 -- Traffic flowed along New York's First Avenue outside the United Nations (UN) headquarters as passing cars witnessed a 52-year-old former Tibetan monk engulfed in flames. The self-immolation of Tibetan activist Lobga Rangzen (Lobsang Palden) marked the first such protest on US soil. It occurred one day after Beijing enacted its sweeping Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress Law, legislation that critics argue significantly expands the State's capacity to influence Tibetan linguistic and cultural identity. Rather than seeking the attention of the Chinese government, Lobga Rangzen offered his life to force a response from the UN. Ultimately, his sacrifice exposes the catastrophic failure of the UN, proving that international ...