Tibetan Headlines
Nov 24: Australian Delegation
An Australian Parliamentary delegation is visiting Dharamshala. Senator Derryn Hinch said, “I am certain that your backbone, your background and your passion will see you through”. The Hon Kevin Andrews said that “The Tibet issue needs to be continually spoken about and pressure placed on the Chinese government” and promised to “continue to raise the issue of Tibet in the Australian parliament and more broadly internationally”.
Nov 23: Blood Donors
Men Tsee-Khang College in Dharamshala has held a blood donation session, supported by the Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College in Kangra and the local Delek Hospital. They are urging people to save people’s lives “by sparing ten minutes to donate blood”. The initiative also aims to improve the relationship between the local Indian government and Tibetan hospitals.
Nov 22: EU-China Tourism
Two Members of the European Parliament (MEP) raised the issue of Tibet during the debate of EU-China Tourism Year at the European Parliament plenary in Strasbourg. Ms Scott-Cato said tourism is given priority over human rights, while Mr Csaba Sogor said the tourism agreement with China is without a single reference to human rights, which is not in line with the EU’s Universal and Foreign Policy values.
Nov 22: His Holiness Awarded
The Indian KISS Humanitarian Award 2017 has been awarded to HH the Dalai Lama by KISS – the Kalinga Institute of Social Science – in recognition of His Holiness’ contribution to humanity as a world leader and preserver of rich heritage and culture of non-violence. The KISS Award honours and recognises individuals who make an exceptional contribution to society. KISS provides education to overcome poverty and injustice.
Nov 21: Activists Disrupt Football
Tibetan activists delayed a friendly match between China’s U-20 football team and the German TSV Schott Mainz in the first of a series of friendly matches in Germany. Tibet-Initiative Germany activists unfurled Tibetan national flags resulting in the Chinese side walking off the pitch. The match was being broadcast live in China and the protest hit the media in Germany and Asia.
Nov 20: Kashag Statement
The Kashag – or Cabinet – of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile has released a statement giving further information about their decision to replace former Speaker Penpa Tsering as their North American Representative. They cite a “performance and trust deficit” as well as “insubordination” and have said that his removal followed formal warnings about his performance and actions. This statement was issued in response to ongoing demands for information from the media.
Nov 19: Earthquake
An earthquake magnitude 6.4 hit the Kongpo region in Ningchi prefecture in south Tibet not far from the border with the north eastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. The area hit is sparsely populated and no major casualties have been so far reported, although there have been power failures and damage to buildings in a number of villages around the epicentre.
Nov 18: Return to Tibet
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, 82, has spoken to a group of Tibetans who requested him to return to Tibet, saying that he would return to Tibet immediately if the Chinese government agrees to give genuine autonomy to Tibetans living there. His Holiness has left Dharamshala for a week long tour to Delhi, Bhubaneshwar and Kolkata and is scheduled to return to Dharamshala on November 26.
Nov 18: Celebrating Writers
The Day of the Imprisoned Writer, an annual event to honour, recognise and support writers imprisoned for resisting repression of human rights and freedom of expression, was marked in Dharamshala with an evening of poetry in the woods, organised by the Gu-Chu- Sum Movement of Tibet, the organisation of former political prisoners of Tibet.
Nov 17: Gedhun Choekyi Nyima
Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honorable Chrystia Freeland called on China to allow the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief to visit Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama. Gedhun Choekyi Nyima’s whereabouts have been unknown since he was forcibly abducted by the Chinese government in 1995 at the age of 6.
Nov 16: 30 Under 30
Tenzin Seldon, 28, a Tibetan woman living in the United States has made it to the Forbes magazine’s 30 under 30 list, as well as 30 under 30 listees set to influence the next century. She set up her company Kinset to help immigrants, like herself, find work by matching them directly with employment in the local community. Forbes is an American business and financial paper.
Nov 16: Monk Freed
Lobsang Jinpa, 35, a Tibetan monk jailed five years ago for his song lyrics, has been released from prison after serving his full term, reports Radio Free Asia. He is a monk from Nyatso Zilkar monastery in Tridu county which was raided in 2012. He was charged with collaborating with Tibetan singer Lo Lo for producing a music album containing a song in memory of the late Panchen Lama.
Nov 15: Environmental Campaign
Two Tibetan non-government organisations are campaigning for the forthcoming United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP) summit in Bonn, Germany, to discuss the significance of Tibet’s environment to the global climate. Students for a Free Tibet and the Tibetan Women’s Association jointly held a skit in McLeod Ganj, portraying China’s exploitation of Tibet’s water resources. 15,000 participants from all over the world will take part in the COP conference.
Nov 14: Nov 14: New Science Centre
A new branch of the Sager Science Centre has opened in Dharamshala under the monastic science initiative of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (LTWA). The Sager Science Leadership Institute – or Science for Monks” – brings western scientists to India to train monks and nuns to be leaders of science education and monastic science centres, and active participants in the monastics communities rapidly expanding relationship with science.
Nov 14: Nov 13: Round Table Talks
The Tibetan Centre for Conflict Resolution held a round table discussion Coexisting and Flourishing with representatives from both local Tibetan and Indian communities, and from non-government organisations, taking part. They discussed ways of addressing the issues and challenges – including youth, environmental problems and other social issues in Dharamshala. Around 30 people from 18 different organisations took part and the Mayor of Dharamshala promised to address the issues raised.