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By Giovanni Vassallo The 2008 Beijing Olympics offered a rare opportunity for Tibetans and human rights activists to shine a spotlight on the Chinese government's illegal, unjust occupation of Tibet that has lasted over 50 years. San Francisco (SF) was the sole United States stop on the Beijing Olympic torch relay, with the flame set to pass through on April 9, 2008. This gave San Francisco Team Tibet (SF Team Tibet), a coalition of five California-based Tibetan organizations, an opportunity to galvanize local and international Tibetans, supporters, and San Franciscans to oppose it. Leaders of SF Team Tibet Tibetan Association of Northern California (TANC): President Ngodup Tsering and Secretary Tsering Gyurmey San Francisco Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (SFRTYC): President Tenzin Dasang and Vice President Youtso Tenzin Students for Free Tibet (SFT): Board Member Yangchen Lhamo and Regional Coordinator Tenzin Seldon Committee of 100 for Tibet (C100): President Giovanni Vassallo and Board Member Geoff Lewis Bay Area Friends of Tibet (BAFoT): Secretary Barbara Green and others August 7, 2008 Demonstration & March On August 7, 2008, SF Team Tibet led a protest rally and march that began at the SF Civic Center Plaza facing San Francisco City Hall. Tibetans called on the Chinese government to end its egregious human rights abuses in Tibet and to resolve the issue of Tibet through earnest negotiations with the Dalai Lama or his representatives. SF Team Tibet called on Mayor Gavin Newsom to say “No” to Beijing’s torch as long as the Chinese government continued its brutal reign in Tibet. Video of the demonstration is available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ob2nawttKw&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fsfteamtibet%2Eorg%2F SF Team Tibet organizers delivered a letter to Mayor Newsom’s office informing him that an Olympic torch under the auspices of the Chinese government "does not represent any values consistent with those of the city of San Francisco." The letter explained: “There is a brutal repression still going on to clamp down on freedom of opinion and expression in Tibet. Olympics are China's excuse to further harass, arrest, intimidate, coerce, and beat Tibetans and human rights dissidents into silence… Your welcoming of the Olympic torch would suggest ... that you are ready to turn your back on a unique opportunity to promote legitimate international concerns and ... take a stand for justice in Tibet and China.” They marched about another mile to the Chinese consulate and held a press conference. Deyden Tethong of SFT spoke at the event, along with Laurel Sutherlin, who had been arrested and released by the Chinese government for assisting SFT demonstrators on Mount Everest earlier that year. SF Team Tibet was not going to allow the Chinese government to promote its propaganda. TIBETAN UPRISING DAY Every year, Tibetans and Tibet supporters gather to commemorate Tibetan National Uprising Day and the 1.2 million Tibetans killed due to the occupation of Tibet. This year, SF Team Tibet used the anniversary to protest the SF Olympic torch relay. 300 members of SF Team Tibet gathered as a large Tibetan flag unfurled over the flight of white stone steps leading into SF City Hall. They held a portrait of the Dalai Lama above the crowd next to banners stating: "Olympics in China, Torture in Tibet" "Truth is our only weapon" They pleaded for the Mayor’s help and urged city officials to pass a resolution calling on China to improve conditions for Tibetans in their homeland. The public was informed of the plan to line the April 9 Olympic torch route to protest. News helicopters flew overhead as the community gathered that evening for a candlelight vigil at Union Square, in the heart of San Francisco’s financial district. FREE SPEECH RESTRICTIONS? On March 12, the SF Chronicle reported that there were "tense times between Beijing and city officials over the possibility of protests along the torch route, especially after a 'Free Tibet' rally outside City Hall..." It also reported that the city would restrict free speech during the Olympic torch relay, noting that "despite grumblings from China, the city will provide 'free speech' zones at both the opening and closing ceremonies." San Francisco is often remembered as a great city for promoting human values such as human rights and civil rights. Unbelievably, city officials considered suppressing the voices of dissent or restricting free speech along the torch route. News of this plan caused outrage throughout SF among those concerned. Was the long arm of China’s government attempting to influence local SF policy and silence Tibet’s legitimate expression of concern for justice? Tibet groups had long been denied permits to use Civic Center Plaza and had been told that all the large SF gathering squares were on hold for the Mayor’s office. A March 18th SF Chronicle editorial pointed out that the planned intrusion of free speech rights was "undeserved," asking: "Beijing may like these plans, but why should San Francisco?" CRISIS IN TIBET SPURS RALLIES In March 2008, Tibetans in Tibet took part in the biggest protests in decades across all three Tibetan provinces of Amdo, Kham, and U-Tsang. SF Team Tibet organizers immediately supported the peaceful protestors, condemned the use of unwarranted force against them, and vowed daily protests and nightly vigils. Starting March 17, SFRTYC led daily protests outside SF City Hall. The Olympic torch was now the symbol of real-time oppression. Chants reverberated outside and around city hall every weekday until the week the Olympic torch relay was held: "Olympics in China: Torture in Tibet" "Human Rights In Tibet" "Reject China's bloody torch" "We will never give up" Signatures and letters were mailed to Mayor Newsom to seek his support to cancel the torch relay. Watch video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S52iOp4X24&eurl=http://exposebeijing.blogspot.com/ Organizers met almost daily and often nightly to draw up plans and various levels of action for the torch passing. RESOLUTION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS There was an effort to pass a human rights resolution for Tibet at San Francisco City Hall in the lead-up to the torch relay. SF Supervisor Chris Daly was approached to sponsor the resolution. He responded positively and included support for other victims of China’s lack of human rights. He presented a resolution to the SF Board of Supervisors: "commending the Tibetan Freedom Torch and the Global Human Rights Torch Relay and in their efforts to raise awareness regarding human rights violations in China and urging the San Francisco City Representatives accepting the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch to welcome the Torch in the explicit spirit of Olympism, consistent with the United Nations Charter established in this City, and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights." SF Team Tibet lobbied all SF supervisors to support it. Supervisor Carmen Chu did not support the resolution. She chaired the venue for the first vote on the resolution on March 20, 2008. Supervisor Daly presented the legislation. Around 200 people—mostly Tibetans—provided public testimony, while only about four members of the public opposed Daly’s resolution. Nevertheless, Chu produced her own resolution, which gutted any critical references to the Chinese government and commended the Beijing Olympic Torch. It passed 2 to 1 in this subcommittee, leading Supervisor Daly to remove his name as sponsor. Undeterred, Supervisor Daly reintroduced the original resolution to the full board. Both resolutions came up for a vote on April 1, 2008, following a huge rally on the City Hall steps. Chu’s resolution failed and Daly’s passed 8-3. It called for an international investigation into China’s recent crackdown on dissenters in Tibet and encouraged the city’s official representative at the torch festivities to accept the flame with “alarm and protest.” Representatives of the Chinese government tried to pressure supervisors and met with the Mayor regarding the votes, condemning both resolutions which they claimed would "harm San Francisco-China relations." Daly later acknowledged that he had been encouraged by Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s strong stand against the Chinese government’s oppression of Tibetans—calling on President George W. Bush to boycott the opening Olympic ceremonies in Beijing. Speaker Pelosi called for vigorous protest during the torch relay. The Mayor’s office finally released details of the torch route, which would employ around 80 torch bearers. SFT, TANC, and TYC members made numerous banners, placards, and shirts. Volunteers organized websites for the public and engaged in a huge public relations campaign. Tibetan bikers rode around Berkeley and SF leafleting about upcoming events. TANC members hosted hundreds of Tibetans who arrived from across the United States to attend the April 8–9 events. MEETING MAYOR GAVIN NEWSOM Mayor Newsom finally agreed to a meeting. On April 3rd, Ngodup Tsering, Tenzin Dasang, Barbara Green, Yangchen Lhamo, and Giovanni Vassallo met with him. They expressed concerns about Tibetan safety during the torch relay and asked him to support the Tibetan human rights resolution recently passed. They also requested that he reach out to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to seek their support in canceling the scheduled torch run through Tibet. The Mayor agreed to raise concerns with the IOC and later called for the cancellation of the Olympic torch relay in Tibet. SF Team Tibet and the Tibet movement’s efforts seemed to be taking effect. Suddenly, permits were no longer needed to demonstrate along the route, and the city backed off its plan to require protesters to be confined to free speech zones. GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE ACTION FOR TIBET On Monday, April 7th, three SFT demonstrators scaled cables near the south tower of the Golden Gate Bridge and unfurled two banners: "One World, One Dream, Free Tibet 08" (a play on the official Olympic slogan, "One World, One Dream") "Free Tibet" It turned out that the protesters had performed similar actions at Mt. Everest and later on the Great Wall of China. Laurel Sutherlin, Duane Martinez, and Hannah Strange firmly established themselves as champions of Tibet. TIBETAN FREEDOM TORCH & RALLIES Thousands gathered at United Nations Plaza on the morning of April 8 to witness the Tibetan Freedom Torch (TFT) ceremony and participate in a march to City Hall and the Chinese consulate. A press conference was held featuring speakers including: Giovanni Vassallo Tenzing Chonden (North American Representative of the Parliament-in-Exile) Charles Altekruse (Former Olympian) Representatives of SF Team Tibet Ceremony Highlights: Opening: Blessings, prayers, a dedication, and a moment of silence. Welcome Speech: Given by Ngodup Tsering. Performance: Vigorous performance by the Chaksampa Tibetan Dance and Opera Company. Presentation: The TFT was introduced and placed in front of a portrait of the Dalai Lama. Supervisor Daly and Tenzing Chonden presented Good-Luck scarves to the portrait. Oath & Anthem: Tenzin Dasang read a statement on the TFT and led the crowd in an oath to continue the struggle for Tibetan freedom, followed by the Tibetan National Anthem. Peace Symbol: A Tibetan monk released 50 white doves—one for each year Tibet had been under Chinese occupation. Key Speeches: Supervisor Daly called on everyone to receive the torch with "alarm and protest." Further speeches were given by Tenzing Chonden and Jamyang Norbu (a respected founder of TYC). Thousands then marched to SF City Hall. At City Hall, Tenzin Seldon addressed the crowd through a bullhorn, followed by Vassallo, SF Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, and Jigme Norbu (nephew of the Dalai Lama). The crowd then marched to the Chinese Consulate, where they sang the Tibetan National Anthem and sat in the street to listen to speakers: Namgyal Kyulu (President of the Tibetan Association of Southern California) Lhadon Tethong (Executive Director of SFT) Tenzin Dorjee (SFT) The crowd marched back to UN Plaza for another performance by Chaksampa and the tossing of Tsampa (flour) into the air to propitiate the Buddhas, Gods, and Goddesses for "Peace on Earth and Victory to the Truth." Candlelight Vigil That evening, thousands braved cold winds during a candlelight vigil to hear Tibetan speakers, followed by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who called on President George Bush and other world leaders to skip the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics for the sake of human rights. Actor Richard Gere, flanked by Tibetan Buddhist monks, echoed Desmond Tutu’s call as thousands joined in prayers for victims of Chinese government abuse in Tibet. OLYMPIC FARCE On April 9, SF Team Tibet gathered at Ferry Park, dispatching protesters in groups of 50 along the published route. Hundreds of pro-torch demonstrators carrying extra-large red Chinese national flags were present—many reported to have been bused in by the Chinese consulate and pro-China groups, though some claimed to have come on their own. Meanwhile, pro-Tibet, Darfur, and Burma activists carried Tibetan flags and shouted slogans demanding independence and human rights. The rerouting of the torch from its published course became widely publicized: Thousands of demonstrators were denied the right to protest along the torch route as previously promised. The closing ceremony at Justin Herman Plaza was canceled as thousands waited. After a brief opening ceremony, the torch was hidden for over 45 minutes, reappearing on Van Ness Avenue—far from the crowds gathered along the scheduled route. Escorted by police and security officials, the torch moved north to Bay Street and toward the Golden Gate Bridge before turning around and heading to San Francisco International Airport for a hasty closing ceremony, bypassing tens of thousands of people. Around noon, about 300 Tibetan protesters and Supervisor Daly pushed past a police line on the Embarcadero near Folsom Street along the torch route. Holding a 40-foot sign reading "San Francisco says: No Torch in Tibet," they stopped the 50-passenger bus carrying six Olympic torch bearers and Chinese officials near Embarcadero and Bryant Street. Topden Tsering, Barbara Green, Giovanni Vassallo, and Tenzin Dasang were among those in front of the bus. Video footage shows the bus continuing approximately 10 feet into the crowd after stopping; Tsering and Vassallo stepped in to prevent emotional crowd members from vandalizing the vehicle. Nine protesters lay down in front of the bus to block its passage until police removed them. Watch videos of the bus blockage: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4263514830983503897 http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2446307752428223316 Reaction to the Reroute The Mayor and Chief of Police stated to the press that the reroute was an eleventh-hour decision made after the bus was stopped. However, SF Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin strongly denounced the decision: "Gavin Newsom runs San Francisco the way the premier of China runs his country—secrecy, lies, misinformation, lack of transparency and manipulating the populace," Peskin said. "He misled supporters and opponents of the run. People brought their families and their children, and (mayoral officials) hatched a cynical plan to please the Bush State Department and the Chinese government because of the incredible influence of money.” Some demonstrators managed to catch up to the rerouted torch. Television footage captured a Tibetan protester being pulled back by police after trying to break through the security perimeter. Many others successfully displayed banners and T-shirt messages within clear view of the flame. VICTORY RALLY & LEGACY SF Team Tibet held a victory rally at Ferry Park, adjacent to the canceled closing ceremony location. The crowd cheered following a speech by Majora Carter, an official Olympic torch bearer who pulled a Tibetan flag from her sleeve and waved it shortly after receiving the torch. The crowd was also introduced to Bikers for Tibet, who were set to carry the Tibetan Freedom Torch down the coast of California. Gratitude was expressed to SFT’s Golden Gate Bridge activists for their brave action. Thousands who demonstrated on April 8 and 9 also saw a giant billboard displayed over one of the city’s busiest freeways calling on the public to “Stand up for Tibet.” Tibetans and San Francisco will forever be remembered in Olympic history for vigorously protesting and displaying tremendous alarm toward Beijing’s fake symbol of peace.

Translate from 舊金山多族裔「國殤日」集會　籲停止迫害、捍衛自由人權 By Lin Ruoshui, The Epoch Times | San Francisco At noon on October 1, people from a range of ethnic and community backgrounds—including China, Hong Kong, Tibet, East Turkestan, Southern Mongolia, Vietnam, and the Philippines—gathered outside the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco for a joint protest marking a “National Day of Mourning.” Under the theme “Speaking Out for Freedom, Human Rights, and Dignity,” participants called for an end to political persecution and transnational repression, and for the protection of human rights, religious and cultural freedom, and regional peace. Participating organizations included the San Francisco branch of the China Democracy Party, the Chinese Democracy Education Foundation, the Northern California Hong Kong Club, the Hong Kong American Association, the San Francisco Tibet Support Group, and the Alliance Against China’s Occupation and Repression in Asia. Participants carried flags and signs in Chinese and English bearing messages such as “Free Speech Is Not a Crime,” “Human Rights Must Not Be Trampled,” “Stop Transnational Repression,” “Stop Political Persecution,” and “For Freedom, Human Rights, and Dignity.” One of the event’s hosts, Zhou Yunlong, said that while October 1 is celebrated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as “National Day,” for many who have experienced political persecution under CCP rule, the date is instead a “National Day of Mourning” commemorating suffering. He said the rally’s main demands included restoring civil liberties, democracy, and human rights in mainland China and Hong Kong; ending religious and cultural repression targeting Uyghurs, Tibetans, Southern Mongolians, and other groups; ending expansionist activities in the South China Sea; and respecting the territorial and maritime rights of other countries. Three Generations of Suffering — Zhao Ming: “Today, I Will No Longer Remain Silent” Zhao Ming, a democracy activist from Anhui Province, China, recounted the suffering endured by three generations of his family under CCP rule. Zhao recalled that around 1960, his grandfather, grandmother, and aunt died of starvation during the Great Famine. His father, who was only eight years old at the time, survived by wandering from place to place and begging for food. Decades later, Zhao said, tragedy struck his own family. In 2012, his wife became pregnant again. When she was more than four months pregnant, she faced pressure including the threat of losing her job, the possibility that their child would be denied household registration, and a massive fine. She was forced to undergo an induced abortion and subsequently suffered severe hemorrhaging. “I hate my own helplessness. I couldn’t protect my own flesh and blood!” Zhao said, his voice choking with emotion. Zhao said that in 2015, after signing a petition in support of journalist Gao Yu, he was taken away by state security officers, beaten at a police station, and forced to write a statement promising compliance. In 2021, his family home was forcibly demolished, and both he and his elderly father were dragged outside and pinned to the ground. After repeated attempts to seek redress failed, he eventually left China. He also said that even after he arrived in the United States, Chinese police continued to threaten his wife, who remained in China, and demanded that he stop speaking out overseas. “Today, I am no longer afraid. I will no longer remain silent!” Zhao said. He argued that without democracy, human rights, and meaningful constraints on government power, ordinary people’s property, freedom, and dignity cannot be adequately protected. Tibetans Remember Kelsang Namtso and Raise Concerns About Ethnic Policies and Cultural Preservation Several Tibetans and supporters of Tibet spoke at the rally about religious freedom, language, education, and the preservation of Tibetan culture. Giovanni Vassallo, president of Bay Area Friends of Tibet, said that for Tibetans, October 1 is not a day to celebrate. He specifically commemorated Kelsang Namtso, a 17-year-old Tibetan Buddhist nun who was killed on September 30, 2006. At the time, Kelsang Namtso was traveling with a group of approximately 70 Tibetans attempting to cross the Nangpa La Pass on the Tibet-Nepal border into Nepal when Chinese border guards opened fire on the group, killing her. Foreign mountaineers nearby witnessed and filmed the incident. A subsequent U.S. State Department report noted that video footage showed the Tibetans were unarmed and were fired upon from behind. Vassallo also criticized the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, which took effect on July 1 this year, arguing that the policy has intensified Tibetan concerns about the erosion of their language, religion, and ethnic culture. He also noted that information inside Tibet is tightly controlled, making it difficult for the outside world to obtain independent information following major natural disasters and human rights incidents. Gangchen Wangmo, a board member of the San Francisco Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (SFRTYC), focused on the Panchen Lama and the issue of Tibetan children in boarding schools. She spoke about Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. In May 1995, the Dalai Lama recognized the then-six-year-old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the 11th Panchen Lama. Several days later, he and his family were taken away by Chinese authorities. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom continues to list his status as “Unknown.” The Chinese government, meanwhile, has previously stated that he received an education, has a job, and does not wish to be disturbed by outsiders. Gangchen Wangmo also criticized the boarding-school system for Tibetan children, arguing that separating children from their families and native-language environment for extended periods threatens the continued transmission of the Tibetan language and traditional culture. Speaking about Tibetans who have carried out self-immolation protests against Chinese government policies in Tibet in recent years, she said that commemorating them is “not about glorifying death,” but about hoping for a future in which no one feels driven by despair to make such a choice. Tenzin Pema, an executive committee member of the San Francisco Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, addressed the rally from a broader multi-ethnic perspective. She read a joint statement covering issues involving Tibet, Uyghurs/East Turkestan, Southern Mongolia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The statement called for an end to cultural and ethnic repression, the restoration of freedoms in Hong Kong, the preservation of peace in Taiwan, and an end to transnational repression. Ginger Duan Speaking for Those Inside China Who Cannot Speak Freely Duan Jingji, president of the Chinese Youth Stand with Tibet, spoke in particular about the situation of Zhang Yadi, also known as Tara, a young member of the organization. Duan said that Zhang had previously studied in France and was arrested after returning to China in the summer of 2025 to visit her parents. She is currently facing accusations of “inciting separatism.” Duan said that those living overseas who are able to speak publicly should not only advocate for their own communities, but also speak for those who remain in China and are unable to express themselves freely. “I hope culture and language will not become barriers between us,” she said, calling on people from different communities to overcome their differences and stand “shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand.” Duan then recited a poem in Chinese commemorating political prisoners and victims of persecution, concluding her remarks with the words: “Free China.” Yang Chaoquan Reviews the CCP’s Political Campaigns Democracy activist Yang Chaoquan discussed the meaning of “National Day of Mourning” through the history of the 77 years since the CCP established the People’s Republic of China. He reviewed political campaigns and historical events including land reform, the Campaign to Suppress Counterrevolutionaries, the Anti-Rightist Campaign, the Great Leap Forward and Great Famine, the Cultural Revolution, and the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, saying that successive political campaigns resulted in enormous loss of life and shattered countless families. “Among them were teachers, students, fathers, and mothers. They could have been people from our parents’ generation,” he said. Speaking about the June 4, 1989 crackdown, Yang said that students and citizens at the time raised demands including fighting corruption and calling for dialogue with the government, but were ultimately met with armed suppression. More than three decades later, he noted, the Chinese government has still not released a complete death toll. He said that remembering this history is precisely why many participants refer to October 1 as a “National Day of Mourning.” Chen Suoming: “China Belongs to the Chinese People” Democracy activist Chen Suoming, also known as Albert, focused his remarks on China’s political system and civil rights. “Don’t believe something simply because the Chinese Communist Party says it,” he said. “Look at what it actually does.” Chen said that people in China should have the right to choose their government through democratic elections, that elections should be open and fair, and that governments should be subject to oversight by the people, the law, and the media rather than allowing one political party to permanently monopolize power. “We want freedom. We want democracy. We want basic human rights.” He concluded: “China belongs to the Chinese people, not to any political party.” Vietnamese Participants Raise Concerns About the South China Sea Representatives of the Vietnamese community brought attention to the South China Sea and the CCP’s foreign policy. Jack Duong, founder of the Alliance Against China’s Occupation and Repression in Asia and one of the event’s hosts, said the multi-ethnic gathering had three purposes: to draw attention to human rights issues under CCP rule, to defend national sovereignty and international law, and to demonstrate solidarity among different communities. He criticized the CCP’s militarization of the South China Sea and its maritime claims, arguing that its actions affect the rights and interests of neighboring countries, including Vietnam and the Philippines. Vietnamese community member Jennie Ha Phan likewise criticized the CCP regime’s expansion in the South China Sea and called on the international community to pay greater attention to the pressure it places on neighboring countries. The 2016 South China Sea arbitration addressed the relationship between China’s claims to historic rights within the “nine-dash line” and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The arbitral tribunal ruled that China’s claims to historic rights within the waters encompassed by the “nine-dash line” had no legal effect to the extent that they exceeded the maritime entitlements provided for under the Convention. Jennie Ha Phan said that people must unite in opposition to the CCP regime, warning that otherwise “they will ultimately destroy us.” She said the world must recognize what she described as the CCP’s ambition to control humanity, and accused the regime of committing genocide and engaging in unlawful expansion. “The world must wake up,” she said, urging people to spread the message widely and declaring that “the CCP regime must disappear completely from this world.” Different Communities, Shared Demands Flags representing Tibet, East Turkestan, Southern Mongolia, Vietnam, and other communities could be seen throughout the rally. Although participants came from different ethnic, cultural, and political backgrounds, speakers repeatedly emphasized a number of shared concerns: ending political persecution and transnational repression, protecting freedom of speech, religion, and culture, and calling on the international community to continue paying attention to China’s human rights situation and the CCP’s foreign policies. Chants in different languages and flags from different communities filled the area outside the Chinese Consulate. At the conclusion of the event, participants once again chanted slogans calling for freedom, human rights, and democracy, bringing the day’s rally to a close.

Today, on 1 October, the Chinese Communist Party celebrates the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Meanwhile, for Tibetans, today is nothing to celebrate. For us, a coalition of more than 145 Tibet organisations from around the world, today is a day to stand together in our opposition to the CCP, its occupation of Tibet, its systematic eradication of Tibet’s identity and way of life and its violence against the Tibetan people. So long as we have voices to speak, we will challenge Beijing’s propaganda about Tibet and tell the world the truth about China’s 76-year occupation and the human rights abuses that prop it up. On 2 July of this year, Lobga Rangzen stood outside the United Nations Headquarters in New York with a Tibetan flag. He called for Tibet to be free and set himself alight. In this act of sacrifice, he expressed the frustration and determination of Tibetans as their homeland remains under occupation, China’s forced assimilation policies harden, and much of the world continues to look away. A day earlier, China’s Ethnic Unity and Progress Law entered into force. It institutionalised policies that threaten Tibetans’ very identity as a people. Far from promoting unity, the law promotes the Han Chinese identity at the expense of the other groups living under Chinese rule. It eliminates the rights previously granted to Tibetans and other peoples considered “ethnic minorities” by the Chinese Communist Party and codifies Mandarin Chinese as the official language taught in schools. The law also makes ethnic issues a matter of national security. Article 63 of the law states that organisations and individuals outside the mainland of the People’s Republic of China can be prosecuted if they commit acts that “undermine ethnic unity and progress or create ethnic division.” Now every Tibetan around the world is at risk should they celebrate or defend their unique Tibetan identity. This statement comes barely a month after flash flooding on the Tibet-Nepal border killed over a thousand people, with more still missing. This tragedy reminds us that Tibet, the roof of the world, is geologically unstable and at heightened risk as the global climate crisis intensifies. Nevertheless, Chinese companies tear this delicate landscape apart, with mega dams that flood villages and giant, polluting mines to extract precious minerals. Tibetans are given no say in these projects, and protesters are met with violent force. This disaster also reminds us that Tibet is cut off from the world and subject to some of the most extreme levels of censorship and surveillance on Earth. The Tibetan death toll from the flooding remains unknown. Independent access to Tibet is blocked to journalists, rights organisations, relief agencies and diplomats. Information published online by Tibetans is censored. All the while, Tibetans continue to be disappeared, tortured, or killed simply for speaking the truth, practicing their faith, or protecting their land. Despite these risks, monks, writers, singers, nomads, students, and countless other Tibetans continue to find ways to protect their culture and challenge China’s rule. Today, we also honor the memory of Kelsang Namtso, a 17-year-old Tibetan nun who was shot dead on 30 September 2006 while fleeing Tibet with a group of Tibetans. Her death remains a painful reminder of the dangers Tibetans have faced simply for seeking freedom and a life in dignity. We also remember the Lhasa uprising that began on 27 September 1987, which culminated in killings and arrests of Tibetans. In the years that followed, the expansion of surveillance, including through the so-called Red Arm Brigades, further suppressed Tibetans and restricted their ability to speak, organise, practice their faith, and preserve their culture. These histories are not forgotten. They are part of the continuing story of Tibet today. And they are why we take seriously the recent statements by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, who has called on China to reverse policies affecting Tibetans. Today, I express my solidarity with all the Tibetan organisations and groups participating around the world. From Tibetans inside Tibet to Tibetans in exile, and from human rights defenders to people who simply refuse to remain silent, we stand together in defending the right of the Tibetan people to preserve their identity, culture, language, religion, and way of life. This 1 October, as the Chinese regime celebrates its power and represses dissent, we stand steadfastly with the Tibetan people in their courageous resistance. We will not rest, we will not be silenced, and we will never stop speaking out until Tibet is free. Bod Gyalo! Free Tibet!

Note From the Editor Born in 1973, Dr. Xu Zhiyong (许志永) is a legal scholar, pioneer of China’s rights defense movement, and a founder of the New Citizens Movement. On April 10, 2023, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison on charges of “subverting state power.” Before this, he had served a separate prison term from 2013 to 2017 for his Citizens Movement activities during Xi Jinping’s first wave of crackdowns on civil society after coming to power in late 2012. Between the two prison stints from 2017 to the end of 2019, Dr. Xu wrote A Beautiful China (《美好中国》), a collection of 24 essays. It is a review of his journey and that of his generation’s struggle for a better China in what often appeared to be a hopeful era of rapid economic development and political awakening; it is also a vision for a China free of the totalitarian yoke. Dr. Xu Zhiyong’s imprisonment is a textbook example of how the paranoid Communist leadership deploys its rubber-stamp judiciary to imprison China’s brightest and bravest. Dr. Xu has since early this year been sent to Lunan Prison (鲁南监狱) in Shandong province to serve the remaining 10 years of his sentence – if the communist regime in China will last that long. Late last year, from the detention center in Linyi, Shandong, Dr. Xu wrote to China Change via his lawyers to express his wish that A Beautiful China be translated and published on this website. Honoring Dr. Xu’s work and his sacrifices for the sake of his country, today we begin serializing a translation of his 24 essays. Yaxue Cao February 12, 2024 In the fall of 2012, Xu Zhiyong made a trip to Ngaba, or Aba (阿坝), Tibetan Prefecture in northern Sichuan Province, looking for the family of a young Tibetan named Nangdrol who died in self-immolation on February 19, 2012, protesting Chinese rule. – The Editors The Tibetan Who Had Been a Party Secretary It was the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival in Xisuo Village (西索村), and the moonlight was brighter than I had seen it in years. I was in the living room of a Tibetan-style house, and the Mid-Autumn Festival Gala “Under the Same Moon, No Matter How Far Apart We Are” was blaring from the television. I went to the kitchen and struck up a conversation with the host. He was 68 years old, a retired township Party Secretary. His ancestors had served as laborers for the nearby Zhuokeji chieftain (卓克基土司). His son was deputy director of a regional government bureau, and one of his grandsons worked as a traffic officer who had followed us in his police car when we had come into the courtyard. “Do you believe in Buddhism, Sir?” “Yes, I do.” He hesitated slightly before answering. This question never used to be an issue in Ngaba. However, this family had a special status. In the kitchen, there was a small shrine dedicated to an unnamed living Buddha. In the upstairs hallway, a picture hung in the corner, displaying portraits of four generations of Chinese Communist Party leaders, along with the current nine members of the Politburo Standing Committee. I’d heard that the local government had been promoting the display of these leaders’ images in temples in recent years. But it was only here that I actually saw these portraits I’d heard so much about. “Do you believe in the Dalai Lama?” “We follow the Panchen Lama. He’s a very good man. When I was the Party Secretary, I had the honor of hosting him here.” “Many families around here keep portraits of the Dalai Lama in their homes. Does your family have one?” “No, we don’t.” “Is it because you don’t believe in him?” “No, that’s not it. We just don’t have one.” “Are you worried about something?” “We just don’t have one.” As I rudely pressed on with my questioning, his voice became softer and softer. “Seda (色达) has so many temples. It’s truly a magical place.” As we discussed the chieftain, he brought up Seda. He told me that his wife witnessed something extraordinary at a sky burial site: a living Buddha summoned six vultures, and miraculously, six vultures appeared. “It was magical,” he said, shaking his head in wonder. His face bore the rugged, weathered marks which are characteristic of life on the plateau — deep wrinkles etched across his skin, and an air of unspoken complexity. His wife, who was the same age, was the classic image of a Tibetan grandmother. His face radiated kindness and remained silent throughout our conversation. This man is a Tibetan. But to the local Tibetans, he represents foreign rule. He is part of an awkward group, shaped by the enduring myth of “serfs turned masters.” In the past, the Zhuokeji chieftains ruled, and now it has come to be their turn. Yet, it remains the rule of a minority over the majority. His generation was raised under years of materialist education. But this is his homeland, and in the end, his beliefs are still rooted in its ancient myths. Under the sweeping tide of modernization, those mysteries would have naturally faded away. For a people still struggling for freedom, they would rather return to the past. On the Road to Ngaba I chose not to visit Seda. I wanted to see the authentic lives of Tibetans, unaffected by the constant stream of tourists. And I also hoped to visit the home of a young man named Nangdrol (郎卓). At dawn, the Zhuokeji chieftain’s estate still lay in slumber. After a rushed Han-style breakfast, I flagged down an unlicensed taxi on the roadside. For 20 yuan, it took me from Zhuokeji to Barkam (Ma’erkang 马尔康). Barkam is the capital of Ngaba (阿坝) Prefecture. National Highway 317 is practically the town’s only main road, flanked by newly built Tibetan-style buildings. But this Tibetan style is just superficial. Apart from the Tibetan motifs painted on each window — narrow at the top and wide at the bottom — the construction quality, internal structure, and even the rapid pace at which they were constructed are the same as those in the rest of China. Newly developed towns like these have emerged in almost every Tibetan region. Zhongdian, north of Lijiang in Yunnan Province, is another example. This wave of development probably began after the March 14, 2008 unrest [in Lhasa]. By the time I reached the bus station, the direct bus from Barkam to Zamtang county had already left. I instead had to make my way several dozen kilometers away to transfer at Guanyin Bridge. There, the driver smiled warmly and kindly helped me arrange a bus from Jinchuan to Zamtang. This bus ride was different from those in tourist areas — nearly all my fellow passengers were Tibetans, though only about half were dressed in traditional Tibetan clothing. Among them, roughly 20 were from Guoluo, the neighboring Qinghai [Province, and they were making a pilgrimage to worship Guanyin [the Bodhisattva of Compassion]. A young girl in jeans told me she hadn’t done well in her college entrance exam, so she went to vocational school to study nursing. Now, she’s working at Zamtang Hospital. As the bus trundled on, we passed large advertisements from China Unicom dotting the roadside. A dark-skinned young man in traditional Tibetan clothing smiled at me after finishing a phone call. His slightly disheveled appearance made it obvious that he came from a pastoral area. Something about the man brought to my mind a journey to Tibet I had taken over a decade ago, a trip which had passed through Ngaba but was cut short. After the bus had crossed through Erlang Mountain, vast grasslands suddenly appeared before us. Instead of the usual green stretching to the horizon, it was a complex shade of brown — a sea of wildflowers, densely interwoven into a patchwork of colors, their fragrance floating lightly in the breeze. Back then, the Zoige grassland (若尔盖草原) was not a tourist destination. Plump marmots perched by the roadside with their tiny hands resting on their chests, watching curiously as our old bus rattled by. Fortune smiled on us that day — the bus broke down in the middle of nowhere. All of the passengers cheered as we rushed into the fields of flowers. From a distance, a Tibetan man named Tashi approached us, galloping on horseback. Tashi had just figured out a way of earning some money. Passengers took turns riding his horse, posing for photos. When they asked the price, he simply held up one finger. After some confusion, we figured out it was just one yuan. After the bus was finally repaired, Tashi galloped alongside us for quite some distance, waving his hand. That moment will forever be etched into my memories of Ngaba. Ngaba in Sichuan, Guoluo in Qinghai, and Gannan in Gansu form part of the traditional Amdo Tibetan region. This is where the Han and Tibetan cultures intersect, the borderlands. In the 1950s, intense conflicts erupted here during the “socialist transformation.” My first trip to this plateau was 21 years ago [in the early 1990s]. I went with my classmates from Lanzhou University to Labrang Monastery in Xiahe (夏河拉卜楞寺), where we met a young lama with the Chinese name Chen Lai. I remember him telling us how their Living Buddha endured great suffering and humiliation. Back then, ethnic tensions were already starting to surface, but overall, things were still mostly peaceful. Nowadays, though, bad news seems to come all too often. Seated next to me was a young lama. He was from a monastery in Hongyuan County, taking his mother to Barkam for medical treatment. He was taking the opportunity to visit Guanyin. He didn’t harbor any hatred toward Han Chinese, he told me — he had met many kind ones. He invited me to visit his monastery whenever I wanted. Cities, roads, and hospitals now stretched deep into these remote valleys and grasslands, reaching even the ancient temples. Along with them came large slogans. Passing a checkpoint, a red banner overhead read: “Leading the Way in Maintaining Stability and Responding to Emergencies.” The passengers remained expressionless. The young lama told me that what he hated most were the men with guns, mimicking the shape of a gun with his hands. This is a story of modernization — a long, winding road towards the painful transformation of an ancient civilization. You can feel that pain in every inch of this land. Do You Hate the Han Chinese? Zamtang is a county in Ngaba Prefecture, spanning over 6,000 square kilometers of plateau and valley. It is home to over 30,000 Tibetans. The county seat feels like a typical inland town in China. The two main streets are dominated by government buildings, while the rest are lined with small restaurants and convenience stores. There are only four buses running daily, heading to Chengdu, Barkam, Ngaba County, and Jinchuan County. Zamtang’s largest monastery is in ZhongZamtang Township, situated in a valley about 50 kilometers east of the town. I had lunch at a Sichuan noodle shop, run by a Han Chinese owner from the city of Mianyang. Just like in Lhasa, most of the businesses here are operated by Han Chinese, mainly from Sichuan Province. Outsiders come here seeking to make money and build comfortable lives, while the local Tibetans, unfamiliar with the workings of the market economy, often seek solace in the past and return to spiritual traditions, but at the same time find themself caught in a tug-of-war between tradition and the temptation of material wealth. This tension was part of the backdrop to the March 14th riot in 2008. Two young women sat across from me, both fashionably dressed. One was Tibetan, whilst the other was Han, both originally from Songpan County. Both had graduated from university just last year and passed the civil service exam, securing positions at the Organization Department of the Zamtang County Communist Party Committee. However, they would get no time off for the coming National Day holidays: a reflection of the ongoing tension in Ngaba. At the turnoff to ZhongZamtang, I managed to flag down a brand-new Chang’an sedan. The two young Tibetan men inside were on their way back to Namuda Township. When I asked how much they would charge to drop me off at ZhongZamtang on the way, the driver thought for a moment before replying —100 yuan. Due to roadworks, we had to wait until 7 p.m. for the road to reopen, and so a long wait stretched ahead of us. Hail pelted the car windows as flurries of snowflakes and raindrops swirled chaotically through the sky. The driver, Sonam, was 24 years old. He had bought the car only a few days ago in Chengdu and was thinking of starting some kind of business with it, though he hadn’t quite figured out what yet. “Do you believe in Tibetan Buddhism?” “Yes, we do.” He then showed me the image which hung from his neck. “Do you know who this is?” he asked. “Yes,” I replied, “it’s the Dalai Lama. Do all of you believe in him?” “Of course. He is the true living Buddha.” His face radiated a deep, sincere devotion. “Do you hate the Han Chinese?” He hesitated before answering, “There are good people and bad people, right?” I apologized and pressed the question again, “Do you hate the Han?” I had to ask, because in his last words, the young man named Nangdrol used a term — “Han demons.” “Do you know that some Tibetans have set themselves on fire, committed self-immolation?” I finally gathered the courage to ask. “Oh, yes, we know.” “Could you take me to see the family of one of them please— he was a young man named Nangdrol, 18 years old, who left words behind him… I’d like to meet his parents… to express my sorrow, as a Han Chinese.” They looked a little surprised but then grew even more welcoming. “Sure, I’ve been there, many Tibetans have. A white tent was set up at the crossroads where he died. In those days, hundreds, even thousands, of Tibetans came to mourn him and donated money to his family. Later, in response to his plea, Tibetans handed over their swords and knives to the monastery to be burned, and pledged to unite together. I have photos of the burning of the swords and knives at home. He is our hero.” “Thank you, for trusting me like this.” As we left the county seat and entered the vast grasslands. Small patches of snow still dotted the roadside. Golden sunlight spilled over the distant, rolling hills, the herds of yaks, and small huts where thin streams of smoke rose from their chimneys. The Angry Night By the time we arrived in ZhongZamtang, the night had already fallen. The moon was hiding behind the mountains and dark clouds. We stopped near a lamp-lit area, where Sonam got out of the car to ask a middle-aged man for directions. The man waved his hand dismissively. We tried asking a few other passersby, but they all shook their heads. At a crossroads, Sonam approached two men on motorbikes, and they seemed to start arguing. A lama passing by came to the window, and gave me a sharp, scrutinizing look. Their conversation seemed tense and dragged on longer than expected. Sonam returned to the car, looking apologetic. “I’m really sorry,” he said. “They were telling me off for bringing you here.” Another small van drew up next to us, and two men jumped out, angrily berating Sonam. Fear and hostility hung over here like the night itself. As we continued driving, leaving ZhongZamtang, I wasn’t sure if we had left this place of anger behind. We both fell silent. Sonam suddenly spoke. “You know, we are Tibetans, we believe in Buddhism, but we can’t go to Lhasa.” “I know.” Tibetans need special permission to go to Lhasa — their sacred city. Years ago, in Golmud, I saw devout pilgrims making full-body prostrations on the long journey to Lhasa. But now even that sacred freedom has been stripped from them, especially since the self-immolation incident in Lhasa last year. What Sonam might not know is that for a Tibetan or a Uyghur, traveling anywhere in mainland China now arouses suspicion. The moment they show their ID, the police treat them differently. Even finding a hotel in which to stay is becoming more and more difficult. They have every reason to distrust me, as a Han Chinese. That night, in a small inn called “Pengzhou Hotel” in Namuda Township, it began to drizzle softly outside again. I tossed and turned restlessly in my bed, with a slight headache from the altitude sickness, and wondered: Where will I go tomorrow? I regretted asking Sonam to ask for directions on my behalf. I should have faced the anger of the people myself. How can the deep, historical wounds of hatred be healed by anything other than love and sincerity? What, other than love and sincerity, can heal the deep wounds of hatred borne by history? The Morning Valley In the early morning valley, white clouds floated in the sky, sunlight bathed the fresh grasslands, prayer flags swayed gently in the breeze, and the golden dome of the majestic temple pointed toward the deep blue sky. On this beautiful autumn morning, I returned once again to ZhongZamtang, this land where sacrifices were made in the name of faith. The melodies of sacred chants echoed through the air. With humility, I stood watching the red-robed lamas engaged in their morning lessons, feeling somewhat like a child sneaking a glimpse into a schoolyard. After a while, a young lama, probably under twenty, walked by to fetch water. He kindly led me to the corner of the adjacent hall, where a middle-aged lama sat cross-legged in meditation. To my inquiry about Nangdrol, he asked if I had a photo of him. I apologized, saying I hadn’t brought one. “Then there’s nothing we can do,” he replied. A teenage lama mentioned that there was a Nangdrol in the second year of Buddhist studies. We asked several second-year students, but none knew of anyone who had self-immolated by that name. When I asked others in the area, some claimed not to know, while others just shook their heads. An elderly Tibetan woman who was practicing her faith here invited me into her small rented room and served me butter tea. I apologized, “I need to find Nangdrol.” She led me to a construction site beside the grand monastery, where another temple was being built, but still, nobody knew about him. Online, it said he was a student, so we went to ZhongZamtang Primary School, next to the large monastery. It was filled with soldiers in camouflage. I asked the armed guard at the gate where the middle school was. He suggested I check a nearby courtyard with a national flag. Asking around, it became clear that there was no middle school here. I had to leave. The road leading back to the county town is only open from noon to 1 p.m. each day. Beneath Ngaba’s heavy, melancholic sky, a row of poplar trees along the river shimmered with golden autumn leaves. In the fields, a group of young, red-robed lamas was practicing. I reluctantly got into the taxi, trying to imprint this last scene of ZhongZamtang in my memory. I felt utterly lost. He Died for Peace Silently, I prayed for this country, asking for help from above. After driving a few hundred meters, passing a small hillside dotted with houses, I begged the driver to wait just a little longer, no more than half an hour. At a small roadside shop, the shopkeeper hesitated when I asked about Nangdrol. I looked at him sincerely and said, “I’m really sorry, but I really don’t want to leave without finding him.” Finally, he relented. “Nangdrol’s home is right behind the old school next door.’ On the hillside, an elderly couple pointed toward a house not far away. “That’s the one,” they said. “He was such a good child,” the old woman added. The courtyard looked just like those in rural Gansu. The walls of the house and the yard were caked in mud. There were three small rooms, and the iron gate was tightly locked. The only difference here was that on the outside of one wall stood five tall prayer flags — the tallest in the whole village. I bowed my head in prayer before the gate. “Nangdrol, I love you.” I imagined an elderly couple opening the gate, kindly welcoming me as I knelt in front of them. But perhaps, instead, they would angrily turn me away, just like the old woman at the sky burial site in Lhasa had years ago. Still, I wouldn’t leave. I would silently endure whatever came — whether they beat me, cursed me, or did something worse, I would bear it all. And then, I would say to them, “I’m sorry. I truly am. I feel deeply for this beautiful highland, which I’ve visited many times…” As I stood there, a middle-aged woman named Dolmo and a young boy, no older than ten, named Soring, walked by. Dolmo said she had known Nangdrol. He was the most handsome young man in ZhongZamtang. His parents live far away at a cattle ranch, and he grew up in the pastures. She used to see him riding his motorcycle up and down these roads occasionally. That day, he dressed in brand-new clothes, everything on him fresh and clean. He had bathed and groomed himself. After getting a haircut at a barbershop near the crossroads, he put on his glasses and asked those around him, “Do I look handsome? Am I handsome?” Then, he made his way to the intersection, and there, he… I don’t hate Han people. We are a peaceful people; we’d rather endure suffering ourselves…” “He died for peace,” said Soring, standing beside me. “As he burned, he clasped his hands together, raising them above his head. He knelt down, stood up, raised his hands again above his head, then knelt once more. He repeated this six times.” We Love You Nangdrol was 18 years old. In the photograph, his young, handsome face is filled with the sorrow of an entire people, his eyes carrying the weight of a nation’s grief. On February 19, 2012, at noon, Nangdrol set himself on fire at the crossroads in front of the grand monastery in ZhongZamtang Township. In his death note, he wrote: “For the endlessly suffering Tibetans, I will set my body ablaze… I pray that the Tibetan people may be freed from the grip of the Han demons. Under the oppressive hands of the Han, Tibetans suffer unbearable pain…” Without visible scar tissues, the plateau has been tormented. I love this land, hoping she would remain forever on China’s map, but I’ve clearly felt the desire in the hearts of the Tibetan people to break free from it. In the last three years, more than 60 people have self-immolated in this region, one after the other. No other people have fought for freedom in a more devastating and tragic manner than the Tibetans. I’m so sorry for having been burdened by too many worries to act freely. This country harbors too many taboos which I have not dared to confront. I once traveled to Dharamsala and stood outside the gates of the Tibetan government-in-exile, but I didn’t reach out to them. So many times, I’ve remained silent. I’m sorry. We have been silent for far too long. I didn’t know how to convey my emotions. I took out the 500 yuan in my pocket and handed it to Dolmo. “I’m sorry. Please, give this to his parents. Tell them a Han Chinese came, and he was deeply saddened.” Nangdrol, I’m sorry. I came to your home hoping to tell you and your community that I am not a Han demon; that we are not monsters. The ancient people of the East are also victims — victims of a curse that has left us divided and trapped in cycles of infighting, hatred, and bloodshed. We have been silent for far too long. But your suffering has pierced my heart from the moment I learned of it. On the path to freedom — whether across the highlands, valleys, rivers, or plains, in the East or West, at dawn or dusk — this land is ours together, our shared home. It is our shared burden and, ultimately, our shared redemption. Nangdrol, we love you. October 2012 Original from China Change: https://chinachange.org/2024/11/17/a-beautiful-china-seventeen-ngaba/

In September 2003 His Holiness the Dalai Lama's guidance included telling us that one of the most important things that the Friends of Tibet can do was to bring the Chinese and Tibetan people together to bridge the gap in understanding about Tibet that exists between them. Humanitarian China note of thanks for Friends of Tibet solidarity on Tiananmen 25th anniversary Photographs of Tiananmen Square Commemoration on June 4, 2011 at Portsmouth Square, San Francisco Jianglin Li speaks on "1959 Lhasa: The Truth vs Propaganda" March 13 at UC Berkeley. Bay Area Chinese Tibet Friendship was able to bring over 50 Chinese students and scholars to attend the event with the Dalai Lama at Stanford University on October 15, 2010. Dalai Lama Happy to be Greeted by Bay Area Chinese and Tibetan Friendship Off campus, Dalai Lama talks China with students (Stanford Daily) Press Release on the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Liu Xiaobo Bay Area Chinese and Tibetan Friendship New Website in Chinese Aims to Close Information Gap on Tibet (ICT) www.liaowangxizang.net (in Chinese) China Tibet Friendship website (in Chinese) Tiananmen Commemoration May 31, 2009 Tibetans and Chinese friends commemorate 20th anniversary of June 4 Articles in Chinese Boxun.com Peacehall.com Justice.cn Arjia Rinpoche: What Are Real Tibetans Thinking? First Folk Tibetan Question Forum Stages Voices on Both Sides The Distorted Image of TibetSpecial interview with Chinese writerMs. Zhu Rui in the Epoch Times. Complete article in Chinese

BAY AREA FRIENDS OF TIBET ANNOUNCES 20TH ANNIVERSARY GALABAY AREA'S PREMIERE CELEBRATION OF TIBETAN CULTURE The 18th Annual Tibet Day Cultural Fair & Special Benefit Evening with Ngawang Choephel WHEN: Cultural Fair - Saturday, Nov. 15, 2003, 11-6pm Ngawang Choephel Benefit: Saturday, Nov. 15, 2003, 8PM WHERE: Fort Mason Conference Center, Bldg A, Buchanan Street & Marina Blvd., San Francisco ADMISSION: Cultural Fair - $10.00 Adults, Children under 12 years & Seniors $5.00 Ngawang Choephel Benefit: $20-100 (September 23, 2003) Experience a unique and exciting Saturday. Bay Area Friends of Tibet is pleased to invite you to our celebration of our 20th Anniversary at Fort Mason in San Francisco. Discover the 3rd largest Tibetan community in the US. Our 20th Anniversary Gala, promises to be the Bay Area's premiere celebration of Tibetan art, politics, culture, and MUSIC! Opening Blessings by high Tibetan Buddhist Lamas. Enjoy the music of Chaksampa & Semshug Pundha, world-famous & Bay Area Tibetan musicians! Watch a demo of Tibetan Thangka painting by renowned Tibetan thangka painter, Jamyong Singye of San Francisco. See a preview of his soon-to-be-released feature film! Watch Berkeley-based TANC's Tibetan Children's Chorus perform traditional Tibetan song and dance! Eat delicious Tibetan food and enjoy free anniversary cake! See and purchase beautiful Tibetan arts and crafts! -- 100s of items to choose from. Watch new Tibetan movies - including award-winning Tibet: Cry of the Snowlion! Lobby to help Free Tibet & achieve Tibetan Self-Determination. At 4pm *** At the specific request of His Holiness the Dalai Lama *** Engage yourself in a panel discussion with Arijia Rinpoche of Kumbum Monastery & local Chinese "Explorations in Tibetan-Chinese Outreach & Cooperation" Our 20th Anniversary Gala will feature delicious Tibetan cuisine, informative lectures, slide shows, panel discussions and performances of Tibetan music and dance. Beautiful handicrafts, including jewelry, clothing, rugs, and ritual objects will be available for purchase. Participate in cultural and political events. Meet local Tibetans. Materials will be available to help lobby for Tibetan Freedom and Self-Determination. Tibetans young and old will present aspects of their beautiful and intriguing culture. SPECIAL BENEFIT EVENING MEET WITH At 8pm - Evening of Tibet Day. Ngawang Choephel will offer a special preview of his film, "Through the Hollow Bamboo: Tibet in Song" narrated by Richard Gere. Ngawang will sing and speak about his experiences. His film examines the causes of decay of Tibetan culture in Chinese-occupied Tibet, and documents and preserves remaining oral and cultural traditions. Ngawang was a Fulbright Scholar, falsely charged with espionage by the Chinese government while recording folk music in Tibet, sentenced to eighteen years, imprisoned for six and released in 2002. He is currently seeking support for his film. You can help Ngawang preserve Tibetan culture by attending this fascinating evening. Donations: $20-$100. Sponsored by the Bay Area Friends of Tibet and the Tibet Justice Center. Proceeds from the Cultural Fair will go to assist Bay Area Tibetans and others worldwide as well as to provide for ongoing support for educating the Greater Bay Area about Tibet. Proceeds from the Special Benefit Evening with Ngawang Choephel will go to support Ngawang's film project and to cover the costs associated with the event. For further information contact Diane Hume at 415-626-7195, Giovanni or Tsering Vassallo at 415-586-9267 or visit Bay Area Friends of Tibet.

San Francisco Tibet Day's Culture & Politics Attract Hundreds by Giovanni VassalloNovember 15, 2003 Tibetan Cultural Fair Bay Area Friends of Tibet (BAFoT) hosted several cultural and political Tibet-related activities during its 18th Annual Tibetan Cultural Fair and 20th Anniversary celebration on Saturday, November 15, 2003. The day featured entertaining performances by renowned Tibetan opera artists and a presentation by thangka painter Jamyong Singye. A panel discussion explored Tibet-China cooperation and outreach. Attendees were presented with several options to spend their time at photo, slide, and material exhibitions to inform the public about the rich cultural heritage of Tibet, as well as the ongoing political situation in Tibet. The new movie, Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion was shown several times. Over eight hundred people including Tibetan vendors, Tibetan and non-Tibetan well-wishers gathered at Fort Mason Conference Center on the San Francisco waterfront. Members of many Bay Area Tibet-related groups such as the Tibet Justice Center, the Tibetan Association of Northern California, the San Francisco Regional Tibetan Youth Congress and the Committee of 100 for Tibet participated. A separate special benefit evening on behalf of ex-political prisoner Ngawang Choephel and his "work-in-progress" film project immediately followed the event. Around midday, Margery Farrar, Human Rights Special Assistant to Congressman Tom Lantos, expressed solidarity with the Tibetan people. Dan Bernal, Deputy District Director of Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, on the Congresswoman's behalf, reaffirmed the Tibetan people's right to self-determination and both expressed outrage at the current sufferings of the Tibetan people. Bernal presented an award, a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition, to BAFoT's President, Giovanni Vassallo, to honor the organization's "outstanding and invaluable support to the community on the occasion of your 20th Anniversary." Congresswoman Pelosi signed it. It was the second year in a row that BAFoT received this congressional commendation. Former Tibetan Security Minister of the exiled Tibet government, Pema Chhinjor, and Arjia Rinpoche of the Tibetan Buddhist Center for Wisdom and Compassion participated on a panel discussion entitled, "Explorations in Tibet-China Cooperation and Outreach." It was moderated by BAFoT president Giovanni Vassallo. Ngawang Choephel and Tashi Tsering, an environmental specialist who works for Tibet Justice Center also were panelists. Arjia Rinpoche elaborated on his person history of cooperation with the Chinese that took him from being abbot of one of Tibet's six most important Tibet Buddhist centers to being a farmer who worked in the fields during China's Cultural Revolution. Later, he became a research fellow in the Tibetan Department at Chinese Buddhism College at Beijing, where he studied with the late Panchen Lama. During this period, he was elected President of the Regional Buddhist Association, and Deputy President of the National Buddhist Association. In 1998, due to political and religious pressures, Rinpoche left China to settle in the United States. Pema Chhinjor explained that His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government-in-Exiled strictly supported the Middle Way Approach. He said that there was a referendum that reaffirmed support for His Holiness to decide how to deal with the Chinese government. He explained that the Middle Way position meant that Tibet could agree to be part of China as long as China granted Tibet what His Holiness calls "genuine autonomy." He reiterated that His Holiness and the exiled government were not secretly furthering any other approach. Ngawang Choephel took time to say that he could not yet elaborate on details of his confinement by Chinese authorities. Rather, he expressed tremendous gratitude and appreciation for the time when he was finally able to shake hands with his American liberators. He also expressed tremendous admiration to Arjia Rinpoche for his inspiring journey through Tibet-China relations. Only Tashi Tsering, a last-minute invitee to the panel, elaborated on specific ways to cooperate with the Chinese. "It is very difficult to effect change in the area of high politics," he said. " Areas in low politics, such as in environmental issues, provide a clear possibility to have open and fruitful negotiations with the Chinese government." He explained how he had negotiated "face-to-face" with Chinese representatives on Tibetan environmental issues. "The Chinese sometimes want to protect Tibet's environment," he said. "This provides us with some common ground." Afterwards, the panelists and the moderator were presented with khatas, ceremonial "good luck" scarves, by the representatives of the Tibetan Association of Northern California and the San Francisco Tibetan Youth Congress. Prior to the panel, BAFoT volunteers dished out hundreds of pieces of chocolate and vanilla cake in celebration of their 20th Anniversary. BAFoT President Giovanni Vassallo spoke during the cake distribution about the organization's history including its founding twenty years ago by Tenzin Sonam, son of Lhamo Tsering, Chief of Operations of the Mustang Resistance Force, Michael van Walt, current legal advisor to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and other notables such as Tenzin Tethong and Jigme Yugay. He recounted recent BAFoT campaigns and spoke about future plans. He said that BAFoT would continue to think, analyze and plan for campaigns to benefit Tibetans locally and internationally. "Tibetans and the friends of Tibet are survivors," he said. He said that he believed that the traits of survivors would carry us through the future. He also said that it was important to not be afraid to surrender to the realities of the Tibetan situation. He said that this included thinking, analyzing and deciding what is truly the best approach to achieving Tibetan freedom. "Should we focus on independence or the Middle Way?" he challenged the crowd. He further questioned: "Or should we step back and recognize Tibet's right to self-determination?" He ended by encouraging the crowd of well-wishers, supporters, and volunteers to do as His Holiness advised and "never give up" the fight for Tibetan and human rights. Earlier Chaksampa Tibetan Dance Opera and Semshug Pundha and other Bay Area Tibetan Dance groups delighted attendees throughout the day with special performances. The Tibetan Association of Northern California's Children's chorus produced special smiles and hand clapping among a crowd of about several hundred people. Dennis Cusack, former President of the Tibet Justice gave a brief report about the Fourth International Tibet Support Group Conference held in Prague in October 2003. Nyunt Than, General Secretary of the Burmese American Democratic Alliance, expressed his solidarity with the Tibetan people and admiration for His Holiness the Dalai Lama. During the event, Mr. Vassallo made a special appeal to the crowd to take action on behalf of political prisoner Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche who could face death by Chinese authorities as early as next April. He then led a moment of silence on behalf of all Tibetans who may have died, directly or indirectly as a result of the Chinese government's occupation of Tibet. The deep resonating vibrations of Karma Moffet's Tibetan horns followed this moment. Ngawang Choephel Evening Benefit BAFoT and the Tibet Justice Center co-sponsored a special benefit evening with Ngawang Choephel who is seeking support for his film project. About two hundred people attended it. Choephel, whose family fled in 1968 from Tibet to southern India to escape Chinese persecution, returned in 1995 to gather material for a documentary film on traditional Tibetan performing arts. More than a year later Chinese authorities indicated Choephel had been arrested and sentenced to 18 years in prison or "espionage and counterrevolutionary activities." A Chinese court tried Choephel in secret, but could never produce evidence that Choephel had been spying. Choephel spoke little about his experience in Chinese custody. He said that this was primarily out of concern for his fellow political prisoners. He showed a preview of this "work-in-progress" film at the event. The documentary film, narrated by Richard Gere, discusses the history of Tibetan music and the Chinese government's influence. The film includes early footage of Tibetans performing dances in traditional garb, the Chinese occupation and the introduction of the radio. Radio brought Tibetans songs whose Tibetan lyrics were changed into Chinese. It also was used to spread Maoist messages. The documentary discussed how more modern music is sometimes a mixture of Tibetan music and Chinese pop music. One scene included Tibetans singing for the camera. Before this scene, Choephel, in the film stated that the singers could be arrested for their specific participation in the film. It was evident by the crowd's reactions that they greatly enjoyed the preview film. Tenzin Tethong, former Chief of Cabinet of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, then spoke in support of the film project and of the two co-sponsors. The evening ended with a silent auction that raised funds for Choephel's work.

Date: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 - 4:30pm to 6:30pm Location: 350 Sansome Street, Suite 210, San Francisco Date: Monday, April 23, 2012 - 5:00pm Location: Bermann Hall, University of San Francisco Date: Saturday, April 14, 2012 - 6:00pm Location: Tibetan Community Center 5200 Huntington Ave, Richmond, CA Come and hear first hand Lhamo Tso, a mother of four and the wife of imprisoned film-maker Dhondup Wangchen, talk about her husband and his documentary "Leaving Fear Behind" that focused on how Tibetans in Tibet felt about the 2008 Beijing Olympics and for which he was detained by the Chinese authorities in March 2008. Dhondup Wangchen had just completed filming an extensive series of interviews with ordinary Tibetans who had bravely voiced to camera their true feelings on the upcoming Beijing Olympics and the Chinese occupation of Tibet. The interviews were smuggled out of Tibet at great risk and have been made into this remarkable documentary which has been seen screened in more than 30 countries and which was secretly shown to journalists on the eve of the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Join us to hear from Lhamo Tso, and learn of more ways in which you can help in the release of Dhondup Wangchen. Prior to hearing from Lhamo Tso we will be holding a wine and cheese reception featuring local Tibetan artists. Come join us at the Amnesty West office in San Francisco for this amazing event!

1. I Love the Panchen Lama: I Love the Panchen Lama is a new webpage on the iheartibet website, that includes background information, an embedded music video by Sonam Tashi, a link to dedicated poems by Woeser (translated by High Peaks, Pure Earth), a message board and a link to an urgent action to United Front Minister Du Qinglin. Please visit this page and leave a personal message for Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as well as take part in the urgent action. 2. Urgent Action to Du Qinglin: The urgent action email (the text of which can be seen and copied at the end of this email) is available both through the Panchen Lama page above or by using the following link http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5380/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=2547. Please promote the urgent action via either weblink as far and wide as you can. 3. Messages to the Panchen Lama: Groups across the globe are holding Panchen Lama protests and candlelit vigils on or around 25 April 2010. Street based activities are a great way to collect messages for the Panchen Lama that can be spread across the internet and/or sent directly to Du Qinglin. Some suggested ways to collect and distribute message are: * Send individual birthday cards to Gedhun Choekyi Nyima via Du Qinglin, the Minister in charge of the United Front Work Department, which we believe is the body that has contact with Gedhun and his family. The postal address is: Minister Du QinglinUnited Front Work Department135 Fuyou RoadXicheng DistrictBeijing Municipality 100800People's Republic of China Reminders of other Political Prisoner actions: Tenzin Delek Rinpoche Petition: we have had numerous requests from Member groups to continue with the collection of signatures for this petition as groups believe they can collect many more. We are delighted with this and encourage all groups to collect more signatures during any of your activities. We have also been given some new audio material which we are making into a video, as a way to promote the on-line petition and we will be releasing this very shortly. Dhondup Wangchen follow-up: We would also like to remind groups of the suggested follow-up action we issued for the second anniversary of Dhondup's detention on 26 March 2010; we recommended that all member groups contact (or follow-up with) their Beijing embassy representatives, to urge them to do the following: - Press China for information about the status of Dhondup Wangchen's (Ch: Dunzhu Wangqin) appeal and express concern for the sentence that he has been given. - Support Dhondup Wangchen's right to appeal with independent legal representation chosen by his family If you have received any feedback from the embassy or your governments please let us know as soon as possible. Urgent Action Text to Du Qinglin:Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, Tibet's 11th Panchen Lama, will turn 21 on 25 April 2010. He and his family have been missing since the Chinese authorities abducted them in May 1995, when Gedhun was just six years old. Despite numerous requests by foreign diplomats and United Nations representatives for verification of his well-being and whereabouts, no access has been given to Gedhun or his family for almost 15 years. Most recently Padma Choling, Governor of the Tibet Autonomous Region, stated "As far as I know, his family and he are now living a very good life in Tibet". To confirm this, we call on you to allow an independent expert to visit and verify the wellbeing of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and also to verify that he and his family are free to travel wherever they wish. We also urge you to deliver the message below to Gedhun on the occasion of his 21st birthday. "21st Birthday Greetings to you, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet. Our thoughts are often with you and we long to see you free." 杜青林 部長閣下： 第十一世班禪喇嘛根頓確吉尼瑪於今年4月25日將已21歲。1995年5月，在他才六歲時，他和其家人遭中國當局強行帶走，從此失蹤。 儘管聯合國代表，以及各國外交官員曾經無數要求了解他的行蹤及近況，但，十五年來，根頓確吉尼瑪和他的家人完全和外界隔絕，音信全無。 第十一世班禪喇嘛根頓確吉尼瑪，祝您21歲生日快樂！我們的心經常與您同在，我們期盼見到您自由！

Solidarity for Tibetans, Uyghurs, Southern Mongolians, Chinese and Hong Kong People (San Francisco, California) WHAT: On 10 December 2014, Human Rights Day, Tibetans across the world will join Uyghur, Southern Mongolians, Chinese and Hong Kong friends to demand the rights and freedom of our people who are collectively oppressed by China's dictatorship. We will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and pay tribute to his fellow laureate Liu Xiaobo, who remains incarcerated in a Chinese prison. WHY? As tensions rise in Hong Kong and harsh sentences are handed out to individuals across the region who promote democracy or continue to resist China’s rule, we celebrate the solidarity between our movements and our shared efforts to challenge China. We embrace the theme Human Rights 365, meaning Human Rights for everyone, everyday, and call on like-minded governments to help make this vision a reality, by engaging in coordinated diplomatic action that will press China for urgent changes to its policies on dissent. WHEN: 10 AM – 12 PM 10 December 2014 WHERE: 1450 Laguna Street @ Geary Blvd. Outside Consulate of the People’s Republic of China Protests are being staged in cities across India, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Europe, and the USA For more information visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/1572034029695046/?notif_t=plan_user_joined

Protesters call on Obama to publicly raise Tibet with Xi San Francisco Team Tibet* plans protest at SF Chinese Consulate (San Francisco) Chinese President Xi Jinping is making his first-ever state visit to the White House to meet President Obama. This comes at a time when at least 143 Tibetans inside Tibet have self-immolated as a means of protest against Xi’s government, calling for freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. And just recently, on July 12, one of the most high-profile Tibetan political prisoners, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, mysteriously died in a Chinese prison after 13 years of torture for a crime he did not commit. Tibetans and supporters from all over the United States will rally to call on President Obama to turn up the volume and publicly speak out on Tibet when he meets Xi Jinping - to let Obama know that the United States’ decades of ‘quiet diplomacy’ approach in promoting rights and freedom in Tibet and China have failed. Protests are scheduled in Washington DC and San Francisco. Washington DC: Who: Tibetans and supporters from all over US, including DC, Boston, NYC, San Francisco and Minnesota will protest in front of the White House calling on President Obama to publicly raise Tibet during his meeting with Xi Jinping Where: Dupont Circle & President’s Park When: Friday, September 25 Time: 10 AM -11 AM: March from Dupont Circle to President’s Park; 11 AM – 8 PM: Protest at President’s park, including guest speakers from 2 PM-4 PM as part of the “Xi: Free Tibet Now!”

Date: Sunday, April 25, 2010 - 5:00pm 2010 Location: Berkeley Adult School , 1701 San Pablo ave.Berkeley, CA The event will be hosting the screening of the movie Tibet's Stolen Child and will also have three guest speaks talk on the issue. Following are the guest speakers for the April 25th event: Khen Rinpoche Kachen Lobzang Tsetan: Khen Rinpoche Geshe Kachen Lobzang Tsetan is Abbot of the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Bylakuppe, in southern India.He is a Tibetan Buddhist monk from Ladakh, India, who has lived and taught in the United States for more than fifteen years. He began his monastic life at age seven in Stok, his family village. At age thirteen he joined the Stok Monastery to study and memorize Buddhist scriptures. Tethong Tenzin Namgyal: Former Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in New York (1973-1986) and Special Representative of His Holiness in Washington, D.C. (1987-1990). Currently a distinguished Fellow of the Tibetan Studies Initiative, at Stanford University. Ruth Hayward: President and Executive Director of the "The Panchen Lama - Tashi Lhunpo Project", Inc - The Panchen Lama- Tashi Lhunpo project seeks to help fulfill the wishes of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama to improve the monastery of Tashi Lhunpo in exile, in honour of the Panchen Lama. All donation contributions from this event will go towards the Relief Fund efforts for the Kyihundo victims and survivors.

Date: Friday, September 24, 2010 - 11:00pm to Saturday, September 25, 2010 - 11:00pm Location: Memorial Park, Cupertino , California Join us again and share a better understanding of Tibet at the Silicon Valley Fall Festival. BAFoT will team up with the Bay Area Chinese and Tibetan Friendship and host a booth about Tibet and join others at the event meant for unity and friendship and fun. Check out http://www.cupertino.org/index.aspx?page=18&recordid=2349 The Silicon Valley Fall Festival is an evolution of the very successful Cupertino Jubilee and Fall Festival that has been held for the past five years. This year the festival will significantly expand its scope with the addition of a partnership with the World Journal, the largest Chinese language newspaper in the Bay Area, adding significant additional attendees through its broad community outreach. This fun and educational community event features health, education, and safety information, including emergency preparedness (CERT), healthy eating, and educational opportunities. It also features the Keep it Green Environmental Fair with solar products, CFL and LED lighting, alternative fuel and electric vehicles. Don't miss the cultural fair section with a sister cities booths, country booths, and an art show. There will be a Kids Fun Zone too, including children's and family entertainment, bounce houses and other children's activities, interactive crafts booths, and food and beverages. Join us and help us spread the education and culture of Tibet, with friendship and understanding

Date: Thursday, November 4, 2010 - 11:00pm to Wednesday, November 10, 2010 - 11:00pm Location: Landmark Shattuck Cinemas in Berkeley Screening of Tibet In Song at the Landmark Lumiere in San Francisco and the Landmark Shattuck Cinemas in Berkeley. Tickets at www.landmarktheatres.com

premiere Date: Tuesday, November 8, 2011 - 6:00pm Location: Opera Plaza TheatreSan Francisco Date: Friday, November 11, 2011 - 6:00pm Location: USF Cowell Hall2130 Fulton StreetSan Francisco

Date: Wednesday, February 8, 2012 - 5:30pm to 7:30pm Location: Chinese Consulate Laguna & Geary in San Francisco STAND UP FOR THE MARTYRS OF TIBET (San Francisco, CA) San Francisco Team Tibet, a coalition of Tibetan organizations in the Bay Area, will hold a candlelight vigil on Wednesday, February 8, 2012 in front of the Chinese Consulate, 1450 Laguna Street, San Francisco, CA 94115, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. The vigil is part of a worldwide effort by the international community to stand up together and demonstrate solidarity with the people of Tibet in response to gruesome killings of unarmed Tibetans by armed Chinese government police thugs.In the most recent incidents, Chinese government police fired indiscriminately on hundreds of unarmed Tibetans who had gathered peacefully on January 23rd and 24th, 2012 to claim their basic human rights, which have been systematically repressed since the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1959. Six Tibetans were reportedly killed and at least 60 more injured, some critically. A new report states that a seventh Tibetan was shot and killed when police fired on civilians a third time last week. Sources in Tibet report that the denial of basic human rights, the increasing destruction of the fragile environment, economic marginalization of Tibetans and the Chinese effort to suppress Tibetan cultural traditions and even the Tibetan language, are responsible for mounting resentment and anger among Tibetans, particularly since the Chinese government brutally mowed down a massive uprising in 2008. Tibetans are determined to leave fear behind in their struggle for the return of their national sovereignty and their most beloved leader, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Tibet remains in virtual lockdown to this day. Since that time, Tibetans have become increasingly desperate as evidenced by a wave of 17 self-immolations - 16 since March 2011 – by Tibetan monks and nuns. Twelve of the 17 have died. Under Chinese law, it is against the law to even display a photograph of the revered Tibetan religious leader, the Dalai Lama. On January 26th, Dr. Lobsang Sangay, the democratically elected political leader of the Tibetan government-in-exile, called for a “Loud and clear message to the Chinese government that violence and killing of innocent Tibetans is unacceptable!” He added, “I want to tell my dear brothers and sisters inside Tibet that we hear your cries loud and clear. We urge you not to despair and to refrain from extreme measures. We feel your pain and will not allow the sacrifices you have made to go in vain. You are all in our hearts and prayers each and every day.” He has also requested that all vigils on February 8th be conducted peacefully and with dignity. For further information, contact Bay Area Friends of Tibet at 415-264-3264 or e-mail bafot@friends-of-tibet.org.Press Contact: Giovanni Vassallo, President, Bay Area Friends of Tibet, giovanni@friends-of-tibet.org PH: 415-264-3264

CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY, CULTURE AND HEROIC COMPASSION WILL TAKE PLACE ON DECEMBER 8, 2012 (9 AM-10 PM) AT BERKELEY ADULT SCHOOL, 1701 SAN PABLO AVE, BERKELEY, CA MAP In effort to preserve the art and culture of Tibet, Bay Area Friends of Tibet (BAFoT) and Tibetan Association of Northern California (TANC) are pleased to invite you to the 27th Annual Tibet Day Festival: A Celebration of Community, Culture and Heroic Compassion. This is the largest annual celebration day of Tibetan culture in Northern California. Over the last 26 years, Tibet Day has showcased and educated people on the culture of Tibet to over 10,000 visitors, and has helped create many local businesses and non-profit organizations. “Tibet day is a day for celebrating Tibetans’ innermost and most profound aspirations” says Giovanni Vassallo, BAFoT’s president. Prepare yourselves to be inspired by live performances, films and panel discussions! You will also have a chance to admire and buy the rich ancient arts and crafts from local Tibetan and Himalayan merchants, and enjoy authentic Tibetan dishes. This year, Tibet Day will bring you back to Tibet’s past as a peaceful Buddhist nation through folk songs and dances. We will as well screen a few documentaries, including “Leaving Fear Behind”, a film by Dhondup Wangchen which describes the current living conditions in Tibet. This is the 5th year Dhondup Wangchen has been in prison for producing this film. You will have a chance to hear from and speak to Lhamo Tso about her journey as the wife of the imprisoned filmmaker. Tibet Day 2012 will be graced by wonderful performing artists, including the famed Tibetan opera performer, Loten Namling, TANC school children, the Dharma Bums, TseringCho, Semshug Pundha, Gyurme Tethong, and more. From 9 AM to 10:15 AM there will be a "Yoga for Self-Compassion" workshop taught by Thi Thach, RYT. All yoga levels are welcome. In this workshop you will be practicing therapeutic yoga, designed to restore the energy flow to its natural, harmonious state, thus bringing you greater overall well-being on all levels: body, mind, and spirit. Bring your own yoga mat. Tibet Day supports Tibetans of the San Francisco Bay Area and proceeds will help raise funds to renovate the community center of the Tibetan Association of Northern California (TANC) for the Tibetans of Northern California, host to the 3rd largest population of Tibetans in the United States, as well as the Dhondup Wangchen & Lhamo Tso Freedom Fund, and for BAFoT’s celebration of Tibetan culture and struggle for Tibetan independence. It is a community that brings messages of peace and harmony for all, as well as an awareness of our universal precious human rights. Tibet Day promises to be a great place to showcase and share community, people, and a rich cultural heritage with the public. The mission of the Tibetan Community Center is to empower Tibetan-Americans of all ages to thrive in the United States, while promoting the continuity and development of Tibetan social, cultural heritage and artistic traditions. The center will provide a mixture of social services and educational, recreational, and cultural programming to the Tibetans and Northern California communities. Please join us in celebrating the 27th Tibet Day on Dec 8. MORE ABOUT BAY AREA FRIEND OF TIBET ( BAFoT)Bay Area Friends of Tibet educates the public about Tibet, Tibetan history, culture, and its people. Through grassroots demonstration actions, outreach and education, we promote human rights, Tibetan self-determination, and peaceful resolution of the situation in Tibet. We are a bridge between Tibetans and non-Tibetan people. BAFoT helped sixty-seven Tibetans and their families resettled in Northern California over the years. For more info on BAFoT, please visit: http://www.friends-of-tibet.org/ MORE ABOUT TIBETAN ASSOCIATION OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA (TANC)The mission of TANC is to preserve the Tibetan culture and to promote self-rule in Tibet. To this end, TANC seeks to raise awareness about Tibet in the United States and to support the development of Tibetan social, cultural and artistic traditions in Northern California. For more info on TANC, please visit http://www.tanc.org/ Contact Thi Thach or Kunjo TashiProgram Director,Tibet Day Festival, BAFoT & Tibetan Association of Northern CAbafot@friends-of-tibet.org or board@tanc.org415-264-3264510-893-1850 Special thanks to our generous sponsors: The Dalai Lama Foundation Committee of 100 For Tibet Everest Waterproofing and Restoration Sharon Bacon

"Tibetan & Chinese Tales of Tibet" Come Celebrate Bay Area Friends of Tibet's 25th Tibet Day 21st Anniversary of the Dalai Lama’s Nobel Peace Prize You are Cordially Invited to Attend our 25th Anniversary of Tibet Day Community and Cultural Fair WHEN: Saturday December 11, 2010 11 am to 7 pmEvening Performance 8pm to 11pm. WHERE: Fort Mason Conference Center(MAP)San Francisco DONATION: $10 Adults, $5 Children 12 and under.Free with current paid BAFoT membership DAYTIME FILM FESTIVAL (included with admission) Richard Gere is my Hero Tibet: Spirit in Chains Tibet: Murder in the Snow Blessings: Journey to Nangchen EVENING CONCERT (separate admission) with these performers: Phurbu T Namgyal Dharma Bums Tenzin Dolma TseringCho Tsering Lodu TANC children's chorus Karma Moffet Semshug Phunda Su Wai & Klaya, Burmese harp and dance Experience a unique and enchanting Saturday at this Tibetan cultural fair and watch the creation of a Tibetan Sand Mandala, which is a picture of Universal Compassion. BAFoT is pleased to invite you to our celebration of all things Tibetan in San Francisco. Tibet Day is the Bay Area's annual tradition and celebration of Tibetan art, politics, culture, and music! Come enjoy the unique people and culture of Tibet, and celebrate dialogue with friends. Learn more about Tibetan culture through discussions and film. Buy wonderful holiday gifts from local Tibetan and Himalayan merchants. Enjoy a Tibetan-Chinese panel discussion at 5 PM. Watch “Sand Painting” in action as the monks of Drepung Loseling Phukhang Monastery make a blueprint for world peace as part of their U.S. West Coast Tour. Tenzin N. Tethong, candidate for Kalon, Tripa, Prime Minister, of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, will speak at 3 PM. World-acclaimed Tibet pop star Phurbu T.Namgyal will highlight the evening performance. Child-star, Tenzin Dolma traveling from New York, New York will perform traditional Tibetan songs. Tibetan artist, TseringCho will also perform. Her voice has been featured in musician and composer Jah Wobble's album, "Mu;" a Buddha Bar compilation CD; the film, "Pirates of the Caribbean;" and in many movies and other media. The lovable musical group, Dharma Bums will come back to Tibet Day for a second year in a row and requests your help to find further “gigs.” Semshug Phunda, the Tibetan “Brothers of Courage” will join the evening performance. Wonderful music will be provided by Su Wai, a very accomplished musician playing the Classical Burmese Harp (accompanying her own vocals). Burmese performer and dancer, Klaya will also join her. Watch cultural and political Tibetan films such as “Tibet: Murder in the Snow” and “Richard Gere is my Hero,” with film maker Tashi Wangchuk who will be available for questions and answers.” “Journey to Nangchen: The Tsoknyi Nuns of Tibet” will also be shown and contributing filmmaker Barbara Green will be on hand to answer questions. Further, Pat Stengle will be available for the screening of her documentary, “Tibet: Spirit in Chains.” BAFoT President Giovanni Vassallo will give an update on his recent trip to India to attend the 6th International Tibet Support Group meeting facilitated by the Department of Information and International Relations of the Tibetan Governmentin-Exile. Tibet Day will feature delicious Tibetan food and numerous Tibetan vendors and nonprofit organizations. Tibetan pop star Phurbu T. Namgyal will join us for the evening concert. Tsering Cho Tsering Chowas born in India to the Gyangzurtsang, a family of noble descent from Kutse in eastern Tibet. TseringCho first recorded these chants in the 1990s with Heart of Asia, a Singapore based record company. Her voice has been featured in muscian and composer Jah Wobble's album, "Mu;" a Buddha Bar compilation CD; the album "Waterbone," produced by Jimmy Waldo and D. Kendell Jones; the film, "Pirates of the Caribbean;" the Bollywood film, "Garwale Baharwale;" and in many other media. Su Wai Su Wai plays the Saung Gauk (Burmese harp). She was born and raised in Burma, where she was inspired by hearing her father play Burmese mandolin in the evenings in the small village where they lived. She studied with a Burmese harp player and was admitted into the Cultural University, where she excelled in harp and other studies. She is not only proficient in the ancient royal classical repertoire, the Mahagita, but also in modern Asian and Western pop music. She and her husband live in the Bay Area, where she is very popular in the local Burmese community. KLAYA Kayla is from Rangoon Burma. Imbued with an artistic and creative nature, she made her dancing premiere at the age of 5. She has been performing traditional Burmese dances in the Bay Area since 2005. This is her third guest appearance at Tibet Day. Among her interests is preserving and sharing the great traditional arts of Burma. A teacher of note within the Burmese community. she also tutors non-Burmese. KLAYA and SU WAi often collaborate as sisters in the arts. The Dharma Bums will perform at the evening concert Semshug Pundha will perform at the evening concert

STOP - NBC, BBC, CBC, Sky, Discovery, and Eurosport among top broadcasters targeted by more than 200 campaign groups San Francisco, December 2, 2021 — With just two months until the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, activists across the globe are lobbying Olympic broadcasters—including NBC, BBC, CBC, and Sky—to “immediately cancel broadcasting deals” to telecast the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, or face a serious risk of being complicit in CCP China’s plan to “sport wash” [1] their severe and worsening human rights abuses. The public letter [2], signed by a coalition of over 200 Tibetan, Uyghur, Southern Mongolian, Hong Kong, Taiwanese, Chinese democracy, and human rights campaign groups, outlines the stark hypocrisy of media companies’ human rights policies that claim to promote and protect individuals. [3] The reality is that Tibetans, Uyghurs, Hongkongers, Southern Mongolians, and Chinese people live under some of the worst oppression the world has ever seen. On December 10, International Human Rights Day, join us to urge NBC to do the RIGHT THING and NOT broadcast the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games (CCP’s Genocide Games). We demand that the IOC do the RIGHT THING by moving the 2022 Winter Olympics from Beijing. A coalition of 13 human rights organizations will march peacefully from the NBC office to the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco. Calling the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics the “CCP’s Genocide Games,” Tao Tenzing Dhamcho of International Tibet Network and a Tibetan Californian states: “This broadcast will legitimize the Chinese government’s exceptionally repressive policies and atrocious human rights record.” He urges world leaders and nations to respond strongly and boycott these games, sending a clear message to the CCP regime. He also calls on the IOC to follow the example of the WTA and suspend the Olympic Games until athletes such as Peng Shuai are known to be safe and free from censorship. Giovanni Vassallo of Bay Area Friends of Tibet states: “The broadcast of these games will further embolden the Chinese authorities to continue carrying out gross human rights atrocities against the Tibetan people and genocide against the Uyghur people.” “Tibetans have never been a part of China, and now they are a minority in their own country,” states Lobsang Choden, a local Tibetan and member of the Tibetan Youth Congress. She adds: “Chinese repression has led to over 150 Tibetans self-immolating themselves, and it is criminal to possess a picture of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.” Ken Chan of the San Francisco Hong Konger group and Kevin Young of Santa Barbara Friends of Tibet state: “We are encouraged to see a growing number of Western democracies, including the U.S. government, considering a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympic Games. We appeal to broadcasters such as NBC and corporate sponsors of the Games to do the RIGHT THING and not risk being seen as complicit in these human rights atrocities.” Kunga Gaton, President of the Tibetan Association of Northern California, states: “Beijing has no right to host the Olympic Games, and shame on the IOC for awarding the Games to Beijing, because Tibetans, Uyghurs, Hongkongers, and other ethnic groups have no human rights, no freedom of religion, and no peace.” CONTACTS Tao Tenzing Dhamcho International Tibet Network 310-658-6776 TaoDhamcho@gmail.com Giovanni Vassallo Bay Area Friends of Tibet 415-264-3264 Giovanni@friends-of-tibet.org Lobsang Choden San Francisco Regional Tibetan Youth Congress 857-615-0046 SFRTYC@gmail.com – END – NOTES TO EDITORS: 1. “Sports washing” is the practice of an individual, group, corporation, or nation-state using sport to improve its reputation, through hosting a sporting event, the purchase or sponsorship of sporting teams, or by participation in the sport itself. At the nation-state level, sports washing has been used to direct attention away from a poor human rights record. While at the individual or Corporate level sports washing is used to cover up and direct away attention from said person's or company's vices, crimes, or scandals.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sportswashing 2. Letter can be viewed at: https://tibetnetwork.org/200-rights-groups-call-on-broadcasters-to-drop-beijing-2022-2/ 3. Examples include: CBC, https://site-cbc.radio-canada.ca/media/2877/code-conduct-en.pdf; BBC, https://www.bbcstudios.com/ethical-policy/; SKY, https://www.skygroup.sky/bigger-picture/better-business; NBC, ttps://www.nbcuniversal.com/article/comcast-announces-100-million-multiyear-plan-advance-social-justice-andequality; Discovery, https://www.discovery.co.za/assets/discoverycoza/corporate/legal/human-rights-policywebsite-version.pdf The situation in occupied Tibet has dramatically deteriorated and in 2021 it was ranked by Freedom House as the least free place in the world for civil and political rights, alongside Syria. https://freedomhouse.org/countries/freedom-world/scores?sort=asc&order=Total%20Score%20and%20Status; - In Hong Kong, where Beijing has implemented a draconian National Security Law that bans acts of “splittism, subversion, foreign intervention, and terrorism”, freedom and democracy are under attack, and youth activists are being rounded up and imprisoned en masse https://unpo.org/article/22064; - In mainland China, the Chinese authorities routinely disappear government critics, feminists, and academics, as they attempt to stifle all forms of peaceful dissent. At the same time, Beijing has intensified its decades-long tactics of geopolitical bullying and intimidation of democratic Taiwan. https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/06/04/1025774/china-tiananmen-anniversary-protest-censorship/; https://in.news.yahoo.com/chinas-bullying-aggression-becoming-more-002815497.html 4. MPs in House of Commons support a diplomatic boycott of Winter Olympics in China, https://www.skysports.com/olympics/news/15234/12356751/beijing-2022-mps-in-house-of-commons-supportdiplomatic-boycott-of-next-years-winter-olympics-in-china; European Parliament votes to boycott Beijing Winter Olympics, https://www.euronews.com/2021/07/09/european-parliament-votes-to-boycott-beijing-winter-olympics; ‘Canadians won’t be safe at 2022 Beijing 7Winter Olympic, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/olympicscanadian-athletes-boycott-china-b1901766.html; Czech Senate Calls for Political Boycott of Winter Olympics in China,https://praguemorning.cz/czech-senate-calls-for-political-boycott-of-winter-olympics-in-china/; IPAC coordinates legislative actions on Beijing Olympics across 11 parliaments: https://ipac.global/ipac-coordinateslegislative-actions-across-11-parliaments-on-beijing-olympics/

A Review Presented at the 23rd Annual Tibet Day, Fort Mason, San Francisco — December 6, 2008 Introduction On December 6, 2008, the Bay Area Friends of Tibet (BAFoT) gathered at Fort Mason in San Francisco to mark a profound milestone: 25 years of unbroken dedication to the Tibetan people and their struggle for freedom. The occasion was the 23rd Annual Tibet Day, and it offered an opportunity not only to celebrate, but to reflect on a quarter-century of grassroots activism, community building, diplomatic outreach, and tireless advocacy on behalf of an occupied nation. From a modest founding meeting in Berkeley in 1983 to co-organizing international Tibet Support Group conferences in India in 2008, BAFoT's journey is one of sustained moral commitment — and a testament to what a small, determined community can accomplish. Mission: A Bridge Between Americans and Tibetans BAFoT was established with a clear and enduring mission: to serve as a support group dedicated to assisting Tibetans in their struggle for the right to self-determination, independence, and the preservation of their culture. The organization has always understood itself as a bridge — connecting Americans with Tibetans, and local communities with the global cause. To fulfill this mission, BAFoT set out to: Educate the public about Tibet and the Tibetan people Organize grassroots projects and events Cooperate with other Tibet Support Groups (TSGs) locally and internationally These foundational commitments have guided every initiative BAFoT has undertaken across its 25 years. Founding: October 9, 1983 BAFoT was founded on Sunday, October 9, 1983, at 2961 Bienvenue Avenue, Berkeley, California 94705. Twenty-nine individuals put their names to the founding document, a diverse gathering of Tibetan exiles, American activists, scholars, and concerned citizens united by a shared belief in Tibet's just cause. The original BAFoT founders were: Carol Fields Chris Ng Bertha Ng Jim Quartieri Elissa Mannheimer Cheimed Lee Adam Druckman Jeff Wagner Ritu Sarin Eric Ingersoll George Nichols Ruth Eckland Jigme Yugay Nima Yugay Dorje Lama Pema Wangyal Tashi Norbu Geshe Thardo Michael Van Walt Tenzin Sonam Judy Weitzner Tsewang Chodon Tatz Chris Kemper Rose Berryessa Gail Harris Thepo Tulku Geshe Lobsang Gyatso Lobsang Chonjor Atul Vaidya Among these founders were individuals who would go on to play lasting roles in the Tibetan freedom movement — including Ritu Sarin and Tenzin Sonam, who became internationally recognized filmmakers documenting the Tibetan cause, and Jigme Yugay Raptentsetsang, who helped narrate BAFoT's early history at the 25th anniversary event. Background: Why Tibet? To understand BAFoT's founding, one must understand the situation facing Tibet in the early 1980s. Tibet — often called "The Land of Snows" — had been invaded and occupied by the People's Republic of China beginning in 1950. By the time BAFoT was founded, Tibetans had been living under occupation for more than three decades. The Tibetan people faced: Subjugation and suppression of their political freedoms Status as a minority in their own homeland A deep crisis in cultural, religious, and social life A large exile community scattered across India and the world Tibet's status on the international stage remained precarious, and advocacy organizations like BAFoT were essential to keeping the cause alive in the consciousness of the Western public. Early Years (1983–1990) In its founding years, BAFoT established the rhythms and traditions that would define its next two and a half decades. The 1989 BAFoT Board received a blessing from His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Mount Tamalpais — a moment that symbolized the spiritual grounding of the organization's mission. A landmark event of this period was the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1989, a moment of international recognition that validated the nonviolent approach at the heart of the Tibetan struggle and energized Tibet support groups worldwide. Three Tibet Conferences (Late 1980s–Early 1990s) Among BAFoT's most significant early contributions were three major conferences organized in the late 1980s and early 1990s, each addressing a critical dimension of the Tibetan cause: 1988 — A conference centered on the Five Point Peace Plan, proposed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1987. The plan called for the transformation of Tibet into a zone of peace, the cessation of population transfer, respect for human rights and democratic freedoms, the restoration of Tibet's natural environment, and the commencement of earnest negotiations on the future status of Tibet. 1990 — Endangered Tibet, a conference focused on the ecological disaster facing Tibet, bringing environmental dimensions of the Chinese occupation to public attention. 1992 — Tibet: The Road to Independence, held to commemorate the International Year of Tibet (1991–1992) and to assert Tibet's right to full independence as an essential framework for justice. These conferences demonstrated BAFoT's commitment to intellectual engagement and public education as tools of advocacy. The Tibetan Resettlement Project One of BAFoT's most tangible and life-changing contributions has been the Tibetan Resettlement Project, led by Julia Shepardson. Over the organization's 25 years, BAFoT successfully resettled 67 Tibetans and their families to the Bay Area — providing them with a new home, community support, and a foundation from which to rebuild their lives in freedom. This program gave real, practical meaning to BAFoT's role as a bridge between Americans and Tibetans. The 1990s: A Decade of Expanding Coalitions Under the leadership chronicled by Bonnie McCalla, the 1990s saw BAFoT broaden its coalitions and deepen its engagement with both local and international communities. Key milestones of the decade include: June 1994 — The Tibetan community of the SF Bay Area joined the local Chinese community to commemorate the Tiananmen Square Massacre, organized in conjunction with TANC (Tibetan Association of Northern California), demonstrating solidarity across communities facing Chinese authoritarian repression. June 1995 — BAFoT and TANC organized demonstrations at the 50th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, pressing the international body to uphold the rights of the Tibetan people. 1996 — BAFoT representatives attended the international TSG conference in Washington, DC, strengthening ties with the global Tibet support movement. January 1997 — BAFoT co-sponsored the Third Western Region Tibet Support Group conference in San Francisco. Representatives from 30 TSGs across 14 western states attended, reflecting BAFoT's growing regional leadership. June 1997 — BAFoT co-sponsored and coordinated a landmark public talk featuring His Holiness the Dalai Lama alongside two other Nobel Peace Prize laureates: José Ramos-Horta (East Timor) and Rigoberta Menchú (Guatemala) — an event of remarkable moral and political significance. Throughout the 1990s, BAFoT also co-organized and co-sponsored an annual calendar of cultural and political events, including: Annual Losar (Tibetan New Year) celebrations Annual Tibetan Uprising Day demonstrations (March 10) Annual Tibet Day celebrations Annual celebrations of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's birthday in July Annual International Human Rights Day demonstrations Political Alliances and Government Outreach BAFoT cultivated important relationships with elected officials who championed the Tibetan cause. Congressman Tom Lantos, a Holocaust survivor and champion of human rights, was a devoted and vocal supporter of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and a dear friend of Tibet. His staff, including Marilyn Wacks, represented him at BAFoT events such as the March 10, 2007 Tibetan National Uprising Day commemoration. Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi — who would go on to become Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives — attended Tibet Day in 1999 and was photographed with the BAFoT Board, underscoring the organization's ability to engage the highest levels of American political leadership on behalf of Tibet. Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, now Speaker of the US House of Representatives attended Tibet Day in 1999 BAFoT Board with Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi at Tibet Day 1999 2000–2007: Deepening Engagement Under leadership reviewed by Diane Hume, the 2000s brought continued momentum. Notable highlights include: September 2003 — BAFoT co-organized the visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama with the University of San Francisco, bringing his message of compassion and nonviolence to Bay Area audiences. September 2003 BAFoT co-organized the visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama with the University of San Francisco Tibet Day 2004 — BAFoT hosted Ngawang Choephel, a former Tibetan political prisoner, as a featured speaker. Choephel, a Fulbright scholar who had been imprisoned for six years by Chinese authorities for documenting Tibetan folk music, embodied the human cost of the occupation and the power of cultural resistance. Hosting Former Political Prisoner Ngawang Choephel who was featured at Tibet Day 2004 Throughout this period, BAFoT continued producing its celebrated Tibet Day postcards — beautiful visual tributes to Tibetan culture and the freedom struggle that became cherished keepsakes for the community. Marilyn Wacks, Staff of Congressman Tom Lantos reads the Congressman’s statement at March 10, 2007 2008: A Year of Urgency and Action The year 2008 proved to be one of the most politically charged in the Tibetan freedom movement — and BAFoT rose to meet it. The Olympic Torch Campaign With the 2008 Beijing Olympics approaching, Tibet supporters around the world saw an opportunity to draw global attention to the occupation. BAFoT was an active member of San Francisco Team Tibet, which co-organized protests around the Olympic Torch Relay as it passed through San Francisco. The campaign was a remarkable success: through sustained protest and civic pressure, the torch did not set foot anywhere along the official torch route in San Francisco. Bikers for Tibet and other demonstrators gathered at Ferry Park in San Francisco in a Tibetan Victory Demonstration after the torch was effectively rerouted out of the city. In August 2008, BAFoT organized protests outside the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco, maintaining pressure during the Olympics themselves. Finally holding the Olympic Torch – After it was purified August 2008, Protest outside the Chinese Consulate International Tibet Support Network Meeting BAFoT co-organized the 2006 regional meeting of the Americas and Australia/New Zealand with the International Tibet Support Network — an event that reinforced BAFoT's role on the international stage. In November 2008, BAFoT President Giovanni Vassallo attended a Special International TSG Meeting in Gurgaon, India (November 28–29, 2008), joined by over 100 representatives from 30 countries. The meeting was a pivotal moment: many attendees recommended that His Holiness the Dalai Lama reassess the Middle Way Approach — his policy of seeking genuine autonomy rather than full independence — if China remained intransigent in negotiations. Ritu Sarin & Tenzin Sonam, BAFoT Founders with Giovanni Vassallo, current BAFoT President At this meeting, Vassallo met with key figures in the Tibetan leadership, including Samdhong Rinpoche, the Prime Minister of the Tibetan Government in Exile, and Lodi Gyari, His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Special Envoy to China — conversations that connected BAFoT's grassroots advocacy directly to the highest levels of Tibetan governance. BAFoT President and Samdhong Rinpoche, Prime Minister of the Tibetan Government in Exile Lodi Gyari, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Special Envoy to China and BAFoT President Giovanni Vassallo 25 Years of Action: A Summary Looking across a quarter century, BAFoT's record of action is extraordinary: 23 Tibet Day Cultural Fairs organized 24 Tibetan National Uprising Day commemorations (March 10) 13 Abducted Panchen Lama observances — marking the disappearance of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the child recognized by His Holiness as the 11th Panchen Lama 24 Himalayan Fairs and numerous tablings at community fairs and educational events Co-organized visits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan dignitaries Vigorous and numerous protests, candlelight vigils, and letter-writing campaigns Local SF Bay Area government outreach for Tibet Resettlement of 67 Tibetans and their families to the Bay Area Continued financial and moral support for Tibet and Tibetans The Way Forward As BAFoT entered its 26th year, the organization articulated a clear vision for the future under President Giovanni Vassallo: Putting Tibetans First — centering the needs and voices of the Tibetan community in all advocacy work Increasing Concrete Government Support — pressing elected officials and government bodies for meaningful policy commitments to Tibet Spotlight on Chinese Leaders — holding Chinese leadership accountable before the international community Chinese Outreach — engaging with Chinese citizens and diaspora communities, recognizing that the path to Tibetan freedom runs through dialogue and mutual understanding Continuing to Educate the Public about Tibet — sustaining the long commitment to awareness-raising that has always been at BAFoT's core Conclusion Twenty-five years after its founding in a Berkeley living room, the Bay Area Friends of Tibet had grown into a respected, effective, and internationally connected voice for Tibetan freedom. Its founders — Tibetan exiles and American allies alike — had built something lasting: not just an organization, but a community of conscience. The 23rd Annual Tibet Day in December 2008 was both a celebration and a recommitment. As the political situation for Tibet remained urgent — with negotiations stalled, Chinese repression ongoing, and the world's attention still needed — BAFoT's mission was as vital as ever. The story of BAFoT is ultimately the story of what ordinary people, sustained by moral conviction and organized determination, can do on behalf of justice. It is a story still being written. Bay Area Friends of Tibet — Founded October 9, 1983 · Berkeley, California Original file：