Dharamsala, Dec.29 (DP.net).─ Last September, Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Washington, DC, for an official state visit with President Obama. The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) responded with vigor, holding high-profile demostrations with a coalition of human rights groups, including a rally near the White House and a "Stateless breakfast" in conjunction with the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission on the day of the official state Dinner.
By the end of September, ICT EU Policy Director Vincent Metten spoke at a side event held in conjunction with the 30th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that was titled "Torture and the Chinese Government", revealing China's systemic use of torture as a tool to supress human rights defenders and peaceful dissent. The ensuing debate also called attention to the opportunities that exist for states to challenge China's actions and encourage positive change.
On the following month, last October, the Chinese leader traveled to London for a state visit and banquet hosted by Queen Elizabeth II, where ICT played an important role in countering Chinese propaganda. Matteo Mecacci, presently presiding ICT, took part in a roundtable discussion at the Univ. of Westminster, which called attention to the British government focus on courting Chinese busines interests at the expense of human rights, particularly in Tibet. ICT also collaborated on a "Stateless Lunch" in Parliament, hosted by Member of Parliament Fabian Hamilton. This event honored Tibetan, Uyghur and Chinese human rights defenders, and participants urged PM Cameron to speak out on behalf of those persecuted by the Chinese government.
On October 25 in Philadelphia, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was awarded the 2015 Liberty Medal by the National Constitution Center in recognition of the Tibetan spiritual leader's pursuit of the ideals of freedom, dialogue and tolerance. ICT Chairman Richard Gere participated in the cremony.
On November 4, ICT and the Worldwide Movement for Human Rights coordinated another side event at the United Nations in Geneva, titled "The Situation of Tibetan Refugees in Nepal".
On 16 November, the ICT, in cooperation with the Office of Tibet, participated in a conference in the European Parliament on climate change and environment degradation
affecting Tibet, and on 8 December the ICT published amid COP21 talks its new report titled "Blue gold from the highets plateau: Tibet's water and global climate change", which documents the devastating consequences of China’s policies on Tibet’s environment, highlighting a staggering and little-known development – Tibet is a climate change epicentre that is warming nearly three times as fast as the rest of the planet. Its glaciers are melting, and its permafrost disappearing.
It is very sad to report about Tibetan desperation facing systematic repression, as two additional self-immolations have occurred last July and August, bringing the total to 143 self-immolations during the last 5 years.
This is a brief not including many other activities, events and reports targeted to let readers know the outlines about what is happening in that corner of the world and to urge them to take action in support of Tibetan autonomous freedom:
The bipartisan bill “Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act,” (H.R. 1112) introduced by Congressmen Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Joseph Pitts (R-PA), would deny access to the United States by Chinese officials who are responsible for creating or administering policies on travel to Tibetan areas until China eliminates discriminatory restrictions on access by Americans to Tibet. You can help by asking your congressmen and senators to support this bill - See more
In addition, please take action in support of the Tibetan people by sending Secretary of State John Kerry a message urging him to make religious freedom a priority in the US-Chinese relationship. Over the last decade, the Chinese government has developed new tools and authorities to clamp down on religion. The Chinese have imposed heightened restrictions on movement making it nearly impossible for Tibetans, especially Tibetan nuns and monks from outside the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) to the enter the TAR.These restriction together with the expelling of monks from monasteries adversely effect the quality of education of the Tibetan monk. The ICT has drafted a message of support that you may use HERE.