Cycling for Tibet

Contact is taking a holiday!

Contact is taking a break after 25 years of bringing you news of Tibet and Tibetan issues. We are celebrating our 25 years by bringing you the story of Contact and the people who have made it happen, and our archive is still there for you to access at any time, and below you can read the story of Contact, how it came into being and the wonderful reflections of the people who have made it happen over the years.

When and how Contact will re-emerge and evolve will be determined by those who become involved.

By Annapurna Mellor / December 2, 2013;

Rinpo Yak (centre) is greeted with traditional scarves by exile Tibetans upon his arrival in McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala
Photo: AP/Ashwini Bhatia

Dharamsala welcomed Rinpo Yak to India on Saturday November 30 at the conclusion of his 8,000 km solo cycling tour. Yak has been cycling through Europe and Asia to spread awareness about the Chinese rule in Tibet. The campaign, which started in March 2013 in Belgium, has taken Yak through 15 countries and along the way he has met over 150 Members of Parliament. Yak has said that he wants to let the world know the true aspirations of those who have self-immolated in Tibet.

Yak reached India by cycling through Nepal where he met the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and the US Ambassador in Kathmandu. On Saturday people wearing Tibetan flags lined the streets of McLeod Ganj and greeted Yak with silk scarves. Later, a ceremony was held at TCV Day School in his honour. Speaking at the event, Penpa Tsering, Speaker in the Tibetan Parliament, thanked Yak for his dedication to the Tibetan cause. In his speech, Yak spoke amount the importance of Tibetan unity around the world.

Yak, 42, is originally from Amdo and currently lives in the United States. Since the year 2000 he has spread his message across 40 American states. He is due to meet the Dalai Lama soon.