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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.

Press Advisory For Immediate Release: 18 February 2016 Contacts:
 Lobsang Dorji 510-706-8721 Phuntsok Dolma 510-680-8352 Tenzing Dolma 510-254-1420 San Francisco Team Tibet Joins Global Commemoration of Tibetan National Uprising Tibet Ranked as 2nd ‘Worst of the Worst’ Places for Freedom in the World; only Syria scored lower WHAT: On March 10, 2016 hundreds of Tibetans and Tibet supporters in the San Francisco Bay Area will join thousands of people around the world in the annual global commemoration of the 57th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising. WHEN/WHERE: 8:30 AM Berkeley City Hall 2180 Milvia St., Berkeley 10:30 AM San Francisco City Hall 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco 12:00 PM March to Chinese Consulate 1:00 PM Chinese Consulate 1450 Laguna St., San Francisco 2:30 PM March to Union Square 5:00 PM Union Square Program 333 Post St., San Francisco WHY? It is 57 years since hundreds of thousands of Tibetans rose up and demanded an end to China’s illegal invasion and occupation of their country. China’s use of extreme force to quell these protests compelled His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama to escape to India, where he has lived in exile ever since. Today, China is stepping up its efforts to punish Tibetans in Tibet for expressing loyalty to His Holiness the Dalai Lama - a devotion that has not wavered despite the half century that has passed. The human rights situation in Tibet has declined dramatically in recent years with the fundamental rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, religion, and privacy highly restricted. Media is greatly restricted and near 150 Tibetans burned themselves alive since 2009 to protest conditions in Tibet under Chinese government rule. Freedom House’s 2016 assessment of political and civil freedoms in countries around the world ranked Tibet as the 2nd ‘Worst of the Worst’, with only Syria scoring lower. China’s tightening of restrictions in Tibet, including the increase in military presence, the criminalization of friends and relatives of protesting Tibetans and the escalation in anti “Dalai-clique” propaganda campaign are adding to the legitimate grievances of the Tibetan people. In 2013 the Chinese government re-joined the United Nations Human Rights Council and made commitments to uphold human rights and the integrity of the UN human rights system; the contradiction between these commitments and the human rights situation in Tibet under Chinese rule has never been more evident, especially given the strong criticisms of the United Nations Committee Against Torture during its November 2015 review of China. This March, thousands of Tibetans and Tibet supporters will be taking to the streets across the globe. BACKGROUND: San Francisco Team Tibet consists of Tibetan Association of Northern California (tanc.org), Bay Area Friends of Tibet (friends-of-tibet.org), San Francisco Regional Youth Congress (sfrtyc.org), Students for a Free Tibet – West (https://www.facebook.com/SFTWest/) ### Giovanni Vassallo President | Bay Area Friends of Tibet 1310 Fillmore Street #401 | San Francisco | CA | 94115 | PH: 415-264-3264 | giovanni@friends-of-tibet.org | www.friends-of-tibet.org | Facebook Twitter Bay Area Friends of Tibet was founded in 1983 to study, promote interest in and actively preserve Tibetan culture in all its aspects: educate the general public in matters pertaining to Tibet and the Tibetan people; and provide assistance to Tibetans.

Date: Monday, March 10, 2014 - 8:00am to 8:00pm Location: Berkeley and San Francisco PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release, March 7, 2014 SAN FRANCISCO TEAM TIBET COMMEMORATES 55th ANNIVERSARY OF TIBETAN NATIONAL UPRISING AND FIVE YEARS OF SELF-IMMOLATION PROTESTS IN TIBET ON MARCH 10 SF Team Tibet demands world governments Unite for Tibet, to press China to end its crackdown in Tibet and tackle China’s bullying of supportive nations. Contacts: Tenzing Tsephel, 510-393-6883 Giovanni Vassallo, 415-264-3264 Sonamtso Lama, 510-816-0600 (San Francisco) Tibetans and Tibet supporters around the world [1] are this week taking to the streets and organizing events to mark the 55th anniversary of the 1959 uprising in Tibet - a time when hundreds of thousands of Tibetans protested China’s illegal invasion and occupation of their country [2] - and the fifth anniversary of Tibetan self-immolation protests in Tibet. It is a particularly critical time in Tibet where, in the past 5 years, the situation has caused at least 127 Tibetans across the plateau, young and old, to set light to their own bodies in protest against China’s rule. [3] More than four out of five Tibetans who have chosen to burn themselves have died as a result, whilst the whereabouts of most of the survivors is unknown. “Five years on from the first self-immolation protest in Tibet by Tapey this is an extreme situation in Tibet,” said Tenzing Tsephel, president of the San Francisco Tibetan Youth Congress “The international community cannot expect Tibetans to live under such political and religious repression which affects their everyday lives. We pay tribute to the extraordinary courage of Tibetans resisting in Tibet, and urge citizens around the world to join us in calling for an end to China’s crackdown.” Since Xi Jinping became China’s President one year ago in March 2013, China’s grip on Tibet has tightened. The renewed clampdown includes mass detentions, violent military responses to peaceful protests, increased use of “patriotic re-education” campaigns and the criminalization of family members of those who have protested by burning their bodies. Several relatives have received severe prison sentences, and Dolma Kyab has been sentenced to death for the “murder” of his wife, who is believed to have self-immolated. [4] As these anniversaries are marked, China’s policies in Tibet are facing scrutiny from a number of quarters. On 19 March China will respond to its Universal Periodic Review at the United Nations Human Rights Council; there are already indications that Tibet-related recommendations will be rejected. [5] Later in March China’s President Xi Jinping will tour four European countries, [6] whose leaders are being urged by Tibet Groups to raise Tibet. Meanwhile, Spanish judges have issued a series of questions about China’s policies in Tibet to former President Hu Jintao, as part of the Tibet lawsuit China has been bullying Spain to shut down. Spanish politicians are currently working to eviscerate Spain’s laws in order to appease Beijing. [7] “It remains a critical time, which is why Tibetans in exile and Tibet activists around the world are intensifying efforts to urge world governments to unite to build pressure on China to end the severe repression in Tibet” said Giovanni Vassallo, president of the Bay Area Friends of Tibet. “By working in unison, governments can pressure China more strongly to end its dangerously provocative policies in Tibet, and send the signal that China’s bullying of individual nations that support Tibet is unacceptable.’ Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi’s field representative Sinead Doherty will be present to read the Congresswoman’s statement at 11:30 AM at San Francisco’s City Hall. Other elected officials such as San Francisco Supervisor John Avalos are scheduled to speak. WHEN: 8:00 AM Tibetan Flag-Raising Ceremony at Berkeley City Hall 10:00 AM Opening ceremony guest speakers at SF City Hall 12:00 PM March to Chinese Consulate, via Van Ness Ave & Geary Blvd 1:00 PM Rally & Demonstration at Chinese Consulate, 1450 Laguna St., SF 2:30 PM March from Consulate to SF Downtown, to Embarcadero 5:00 PM Candlelight Vigil, Speeches, Performances Closing Ceremony WHERE: 8 AM Berkeley City Hall, 2180 Milvia St., Berkeley 10 AM San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton Goodlett Place, SF 1 PM Consulate of the PRC, 1450 Laguna St. @ Geary Blvd., SF 5 PM Justin Herman Plaza, near Embarcadero, downtown, SF. NOTES: 1. See http://standupfortibet.org/global-action/10-march-uprising-2014/ 2. 10 March 2014 is the 55th anniversary of one of the most momentous days in Tibetan history; on this day in 1959 thousands of Tibetans in Tibet took to the streets of Lhasa to protest against Chinese rule and protect their leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama. As China shelled Lhasa, the Dalai Lama was forced to escape from Tibet. In 2008, 10 March was the beginning of the most widespread opposition to China’s occupation of Tibet as protests swept the Tibetan plateau. 3. See a short summary report of the five years of self-immolations in Tibet http://issuu.com/internationaltibetnetwork/docs/flames_in_tibet_five_years_of_resis or http://standupfortibet.org/learn-more/ 4. See http://www.savetibet.org/death-penalty-for-tibetan-after-death-of-wife-in-ngaba/ 5. See the Universal Periodic Review’s Working Group report online at http://www.upr-info.org/IMG/pdf/a_hrc_wg.6_17_l.3_china.pdf 6. See http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/22/us-china-eu-idUSBREA0L1S520140122. Tibet Groups in Europe are shortly sending joint letters to Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Netherlands, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo of Belgium, President Francois Hollande of France and the Presidents of the European Council, Parliament and Commission; Herman Van Rompuy, Michael Schulz and José Manuel Barroso. 7. See http://tibetnetwork.org/spain-lawsuit-response/ SAN FRANCISCO TEAM TIBET consists of Tibetan Association of Northern California (www.tanc.org), San Francisco Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (www.sfrtyc.org) Students for a Free Tibet (www.studentsforafreetibet.org) Bay Area Friends of Tibet (www.friends-of-tibet.org). For more information about global protests visit http://standupfortibet.org/global-action/10-march-uprising-2014/. press-release-mar10-2014.pdf Leader Pelosi's statement on March 10

Date: Sunday, March 13, 2011 - 4:00pm to 6:00pm Location: UC Berkeley, Valley Life Sciences BuildingRoom 2060, Harmon Way, Berkeley, CA A talk by historian Jianglin Li In March 1959, a series of events marked the turning point of Tibetan history. In the official version of the Chinese government, the Lhasa Event has been described as a "pre‐arranged rebellion attempting to split the motherland". However, in the past 52 years, few detail were released to support the official conclusion. What really happened in March 1959? Why did Tibetans surround the summer palace? Why the "Lhasa Event" developed into "Battle of Lhasa"? What's the casualty from both side? What is the aftermath? Jianglin Li historian and author of 1959 Lhasa! will discuss details of her research on the March 1959 Lhasa events.

Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 - 8:00am to 8:00pm Transcript of Leader Pelosi's speech on March 10, 2015 Statement by Rep. Jackie Speier： Press Release Contacts: Tenzin Tsepel 510-393-6883 Giovanni Vassallo 415-264-3264 Sonamtso 510-816-0600 For Immediate Release: 05 March 2015 Photo Opportunity San Francisco Team Tibet, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi to commemorate the 56th Anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising and pay tribute to continued resistance in Tibet CAMPAIGNERS URGE WORLD GOVERNMENTS TO ‘UNITE FOR TIBET’ [1] TO JOINTLY TACKLE THE CRISIS IN TIBET WHEN: March 10, 2015 8:00 AM Tibetan Flag-Raising Ceremony at Berkeley City Hall 10:00 AM Opening ceremony guest speakers at SF City Hall 12:15 PM March to Chinese Consulate, via Van Ness Ave & Geary Blvd 1:00 PM Rally & Demonstration at Chinese Consulate, 1450 Laguna St., SF 2:30 PM March from Consulate to SF Downtown, to Justin Hermann Plaza 5:00 PM Candlelight Vigil, Speeches, Performances Closing Ceremony WHERE: 8 AM Berkeley City Hall, 2180 Milvia St., Berkeley 10 AM San Francisco City Hall, 1 Goodlett Place, SF 1 PM Consulate of the PRC, 1450 Laguna St. @ Geary Blvd., SF 5 PM Justin Hermann Plaza, Market St. and Embarcadero (San Francisco) Tibetans and Tibet supporters around the world [2] are this week taking to the streets and organizing events to mark the 56th anniversary of the 1959 uprising in Tibet - a time when hundreds of thousands of Tibetans protested China’s illegal invasion and occupation of their country.[3] Since March 2008 there has been a surge of protests inside Tibet with demonstrators calling for freedom in Tibet. At least 136 Tibetans [4], from all walks of life, have set fire to their own bodies in protest against China’s rule, calling for freedom and for His Holiness the Dalai Lama to be able to return to his homeland. The vast majority have lost their lives. “Tibetans are literally dying for freedom,” said Tenzin Tsepel of the San Francisco Tibetan Youth Congress. “It’s time for world governments to listen to the calls of the Tibetan people and to put pressure on China to resolve the ongoing crisis in Tibet.” Since Xi Jinping became China’s President in March 2013, China’s grip on Tibet has tightened [5]. The renewed clampdown includes newly-imposed “collective punishment” [6] policies that allow authorities to impose penalties against entire Tibetan communities infringing upon Tibetans’ right to freedom of religion and association, and raise the severe oppression in Tibet to a new increased level. Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi who will speak to SF Team Tibet at San Francisco City Hall said, “Tibetan Uprising Day is an opportunity for us to remember the sacrifices made by so many in the ongoing struggle of the Tibetan people to enjoy the religious freedom and human rights that all people deserve,” said House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. “What is happening to the people of Tibet is a challenge to the conscience of the world. This is also the time to renew our determination to fight with the people of Tibet for these rights. The American people are proud to stand with all Tibetans in advocating for freedom and peace.” Congresswoman Jackie Speier’s office will be represented and San Francisco Supervisor John Avalos will also speak at San Francisco City Hall. China’s response to protests has been brutal and the crackdown in Tibet has intensified in recent months to include a sweeping campaign to criminalize relatives and friends of those self-immolating, and the use of disproportionate - including lethal - force against peaceful gatherings of Tibetans. In August 2014 paramilitary police open fire on a crowd of Tibetans who were peacefully protesting the detention of a respected village elder; at least six Tibetans died from the incident and many more were injured. “It remains a severely critical time in Tibet, which is why Tibetans in exile and Tibet activists around the world are intensifying efforts to urge world governments to unite to build pressure on China to end the severe repression in Tibet” said Sonamtso of Students for a Free Tibet – West. “By working in unison, governments can pressure China more strongly to end its dangerously provocative policies in Tibet, and send the signal that China’s bullying of individual nations that support Tibet is unacceptable.’ Kaydor Aukatsang, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the Americas, said, “As we commemorate and remember the brave sacrifices made by the Tibetan people in Tibet, I extend my gratitude to all our friends and supporters. I urge the Chinese government to end the suffering of the Tibetan people by resuming dialogue with the representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan leadership. The solution to the Tibet issue lies with the Chinese leadership. The Tibetan people under the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama have carried out and will continue to carry out our freedom struggle non-violently and peacefully until Tibetan freedom and dignity is restored. We call on world governments to Unite for Tibet. By working in unison, governments can pressure China more strongly to end its dangerously provocative policies in Tibet, and send the signal that China’s bullying of individual nations that support Tibet, is unacceptable NOTES: Read and download the updated report “Unite for Tibet; A New Global Approach” at http://issuu.com/internationaltibetnetwork/docs/g20unitefortibet (high resolution), Google Docs (low resolution) - https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BznuJeH49IWRX1BpM2IyT2R5Vzg. The report was co-authored and updated by the Secretariat of the International Tibet Network, http://www.tibetnetwork.org/, a global coalition of more than 180 Tibet Groups, with Member Groups Australia Tibet Council http://atc.org.au/, US Tibet Committee, http://www.ustibetcommittee.org/, Students for a Free Tibet, https://www.studentsforafreetibet.org/ and Tibetan Women’s Association, http://tibetanwomen.org/. First published in June 2013. See http://standupfortibet.org/take-action/10-march-uprising-day-2015/ 10 March 2015 is the 56th anniversary of one of the most momentous days in Tibetan history; on this day in 1959 thousands of Tibetans in Tibet took to the streets of Lhasa to protest against Chinese rule and protect their leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama. As China shelled Lhasa, the Dalai Lama was forced to escape from Tibet. In 2008, 10 March was the beginning of the most widespread opposition to China’s occupation of Tibet as protests swept the Tibetan plateau. See http://standupfortibet.org/learn-more/protesters/ Freedom House, 2015 Freedom In the World Report, found that Chinese-occupied Tibet is among the 11 countries or territories ranked “Worst of the Worst” - https://www.freedomhouse.org/report-types/freedom-world#.VPR-qVPNKPR For more information see https://docs.google.com/document/d/129FTptrAOug3IgH-kSzjhpWWeSV1k79t4BYDmrh_1fM SAN FRANCISCO TEAM TIBET consists of Tibetan Association of Northern California (tanc.org), San Francisco Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (sfrtyc.org) Students for a Free Tibet (studentsforafreetibet.org) Bay Area Friends of Tibet (friends-of-tibet.org) Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 - 8:00am to 8:00pm Transcript of Leader Pelosi's speech on March 10, 2015 Statement by Rep. Jackie Speier Press Release Contacts: Tenzin Tsepel 510-393-6883 Giovanni Vassallo 415-264-3264 Sonamtso 510-816-0600 For Immediate Release: 05 March 2015 Photo Opportunity San Francisco Team Tibet, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi to commemorate the 56th Anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising and pay tribute to continued resistance in Tibet CAMPAIGNERS URGE WORLD GOVERNMENTS TO ‘UNITE FOR TIBET’ [1] TO JOINTLY TACKLE THE CRISIS IN TIBET WHEN: March 10, 2015 8:00 AM Tibetan Flag-Raising Ceremony at Berkeley City Hall 10:00 AM Opening ceremony guest speakers at SF City Hall 12:15 PM March to Chinese Consulate, via Van Ness Ave & Geary Blvd 1:00 PM Rally & Demonstration at Chinese Consulate, 1450 Laguna St., SF 2:30 PM March from Consulate to SF Downtown, to Justin Hermann Plaza 5:00 PM Candlelight Vigil, Speeches, Performances Closing Ceremony WHERE: 8 AM Berkeley City Hall, 2180 Milvia St., Berkeley 10 AM San Francisco City Hall, 1 Goodlett Place, SF 1 PM Consulate of the PRC, 1450 Laguna St. @ Geary Blvd., SF 5 PM Justin Hermann Plaza, Market St. and Embarcadero (San Francisco) Tibetans and Tibet supporters around the world [2] are this week taking to the streets and organizing events to mark the 56th anniversary of the 1959 uprising in Tibet - a time when hundreds of thousands of Tibetans protested China’s illegal invasion and occupation of their country.[3] Since March 2008 there has been a surge of protests inside Tibet with demonstrators calling for freedom in Tibet. At least 136 Tibetans [4], from all walks of life, have set fire to their own bodies in protest against China’s rule, calling for freedom and for His Holiness the Dalai Lama to be able to return to his homeland. The vast majority have lost their lives. “Tibetans are literally dying for freedom,” said Tenzin Tsepel of the San Francisco Tibetan Youth Congress. “It’s time for world governments to listen to the calls of the Tibetan people and to put pressure on China to resolve the ongoing crisis in Tibet.” Since Xi Jinping became China’s President in March 2013, China’s grip on Tibet has tightened [5]. The renewed clampdown includes newly-imposed “collective punishment” [6] policies that allow authorities to impose penalties against entire Tibetan communities infringing upon Tibetans’ right to freedom of religion and association, and raise the severe oppression in Tibet to a new increased level. Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi who will speak to SF Team Tibet at San Francisco City Hall said, “Tibetan Uprising Day is an opportunity for us to remember the sacrifices made by so many in the ongoing struggle of the Tibetan people to enjoy the religious freedom and human rights that all people deserve,” said House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. “What is happening to the people of Tibet is a challenge to the conscience of the world. This is also the time to renew our determination to fight with the people of Tibet for these rights. The American people are proud to stand with all Tibetans in advocating for freedom and peace.” Congresswoman Jackie Speier’s office will be represented and San Francisco Supervisor John Avalos will also speak at San Francisco City Hall. China’s response to protests has been brutal and the crackdown in Tibet has intensified in recent months to include a sweeping campaign to criminalize relatives and friends of those self-immolating, and the use of disproportionate - including lethal - force against peaceful gatherings of Tibetans. In August 2014 paramilitary police open fire on a crowd of Tibetans who were peacefully protesting the detention of a respected village elder; at least six Tibetans died from the incident and many more were injured. “It remains a severely critical time in Tibet, which is why Tibetans in exile and Tibet activists around the world are intensifying efforts to urge world governments to unite to build pressure on China to end the severe repression in Tibet” said Sonamtso of Students for a Free Tibet – West. “By working in unison, governments can pressure China more strongly to end its dangerously provocative policies in Tibet, and send the signal that China’s bullying of individual nations that support Tibet is unacceptable.’ Kaydor Aukatsang, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the Americas, said, “As we commemorate and remember the brave sacrifices made by the Tibetan people in Tibet, I extend my gratitude to all our friends and supporters. I urge the Chinese government to end the suffering of the Tibetan people by resuming dialogue with the representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan leadership. The solution to the Tibet issue lies with the Chinese leadership. The Tibetan people under the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama have carried out and will continue to carry out our freedom struggle non-violently and peacefully until Tibetan freedom and dignity is restored. We call on world governments to Unite for Tibet. By working in unison, governments can pressure China more strongly to end its dangerously provocative policies in Tibet, and send the signal that China’s bullying of individual nations that support Tibet, is unacceptable NOTES: Read and download the updated report “Unite for Tibet; A New Global Approach” at http://issuu.com/internationaltibetnetwork/docs/g20unitefortibet (high resolution), Google Docs (low resolution) - https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BznuJeH49IWRX1BpM2IyT2R5Vzg. The report was co-authored and updated by the Secretariat of the International Tibet Network, http://www.tibetnetwork.org/, a global coalition of more than 180 Tibet Groups, with Member Groups Australia Tibet Council http://atc.org.au/, US Tibet Committee, http://www.ustibetcommittee.org/, Students for a Free Tibet, https://www.studentsforafreetibet.org/ and Tibetan Women’s Association, http://tibetanwomen.org/. First published in June 2013. See http://standupfortibet.org/take-action/10-march-uprising-day-2015/ 10 March 2015 is the 56th anniversary of one of the most momentous days in Tibetan history; on this day in 1959 thousands of Tibetans in Tibet took to the streets of Lhasa to protest against Chinese rule and protect their leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama. As China shelled Lhasa, the Dalai Lama was forced to escape from Tibet. In 2008, 10 March was the beginning of the most widespread opposition to China’s occupation of Tibet as protests swept the Tibetan plateau. See http://standupfortibet.org/learn-more/protesters/ Freedom House, 2015 Freedom In the World Report, found that Chinese-occupied Tibet is among the 11 countries or territories ranked “Worst of the Worst” - https://www.freedomhouse.org/report-types/freedom-world#.VPR-qVPNKPR For more information see https://docs.google.com/document/d/129FTptrAOug3IgH-kSzjhpWWeSV1k79t4BYDmrh_1fM SAN FRANCISCO TEAM TIBET consists of Tibetan Association of Northern California (tanc.org), San Francisco Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (sfrtyc.org) Students for a Free Tibet (studentsforafreetibet.org) Bay Area Friends of Tibet (friends-of-tibet.org)

Speaker: Giovanni Vassallo, President of the Bay Area Friends of Tibet & Co-founder of the Bay Area Chinese and Tibetan Friendship Group Good evening, dear Chinese brothers and sisters! My name is Giovanni Vassallo. I am honored to stand before you today as one of the founding members of the Bay Area Friends of Tibet, and as a co-founder of the Bay Area Chinese and Tibetan Friendship Group, which first began meeting back in 2009. Thank you so much for having me here today. I stand here today deeply inspired by the enduring spirit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, as well as the spirit of the late Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Liu Xiaobo. First and foremost, I offer my most sincere prayers for those who tragically lost their lives around the June 4th, 1989 event—those heroes who died for the cause of freedom, democracy, and human rights in Tiananmen Square and all across China. In Tibetan Buddhist circles, we hold a sacred prayer: Om Mani Padme Hum. It means, with my heart—with my entire body, speech, and mind—may love, compassion, and wisdom forever and ever remain with all under heaven and earth. According to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, these very ideals of freedom, democracy, and human rights are the core principles that serve as the true source of peace and stability in our world. Immediately after the June 4th massacre, His Holiness publicly expressed his profound sadness and disappointment. He openly offered his condolences, sympathy, and unwavering support to the victims and their loved ones who are still suffering from grief to this day. Those comments deeply angered the Beijing government, which cut off all contact with him for years. Yet, His Holiness willingly sacrificed his own political momentum for a free Tibet for the sake of what was right—standing up for his Chinese brothers and sisters who were being repressed by their own government. I was personally horrified back in 1989 when I watched the television screen myself and saw what was unfolding in Beijing on NBC. I was shocked that the Chinese government could act so brutally against its own people. Tragically, it was a brutality that I had already known for years from what was happening in occupied Tibet. Just a few months prior, in March 1989, at least 70 Tibetans were shot dead and at least 1,000 were detained. What happened in Tibet that month served as a grim rehearsal for what would take place on June 4th. On that fateful day, Tibetans joined hands with their Chinese brothers and sisters, and some Tibetans were shot alongside them. Today, Tibet remains a living hell on earth. But make no mistake. Even according to the General Secretary of the Communist Party at the time, Zhao Ziyang, the students involved in the Tiananmen Square movement were neither anti-communist nor anti-socialist. They spoke up in defense of Chinese constitutional rights, and they stood firmly against corruption. We will always remember this catastrophic event, and we will forever honor the extraordinary bravery of all those who took part in the 1989 freedom protests. We salute all of you here today, and everyone around the world who continues to stand up for the principles for which those heroes gave their lives on June 4th. Today, we also stand here in absolute solidarity with the recent statement from the Tiananmen Mothers. Commemorating this 37th anniversary, we fully back and support their three core demands: Disclose the full truth of the June 4th massacre. Provide just compensation for the victims and their families. Hold those responsible legally accountable in accordance with the law. We echo their call that the present leaders of the People’s Republic of China must uphold the selfless spirit of Hu Yaobang and find the moral courage to correct these tragic historical errors. As a dedicated friend to both the Chinese and Tibetan peoples, I call upon the Chinese government to: Respect basic human rights: Respect the freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly. Cease the harassment and arbitrary detention of individuals who dare to challenge the official state narrative of June 4th, 1989. Allow independent monitoring: Immediately allow unfettered, independent access to China, Tibet, and Uyghur areas for international human rights experts. End the systemic criminalization of the vital work of human rights defenders. Release prisoners of conscience: Immediately release all individuals subjected to the unlawful and unjustified deprivation of liberty. We demand the immediate release of Jimmy Lai, Tara Zhang Yadi, the Panchen Lama, and all Tibetan and Chinese political prisoners. Repeal oppressive laws: Withdraw all fraudulent “ethnic unity” laws and national security laws that directly denigrate the very ideals the people in the Tiananmen Square movement stood up and fought for. I also want to take a moment to honor and remember Dr. Liu Xiaobo once again. The 2010 Nobel Peace Prize winner, he was imprisoned until his final days for his courage in supporting the Tiananmen Square protests and for drafting Charter 08—a historic manifesto calling for peaceful political reform in China. At the same time, we mourn the devastating loss of freedom in Hong Kong, where the right to hold the annual June 4th candlelit vigil in Victoria Park has been banned for so long. So much more needs to be done. The international community’s response must rise to match the immense courage and conviction of all those who resist China’s human rights abuses from within the country. The Chinese government must listen to the voices of those it rules over. It must resolve the Tibet-China conflict. It must listen to its own people, to the Tiananmen Mothers, and to all of us here today who are truly standing up for the future of China and Tibet. As His Holiness the Dalai Lama wisely noted, a policy of openness and realism is what will bring greater trust and harmony within China, and it is what will truly enhance its international standing as a genuinely great nation. Therefore, today I stand here not only to pray for the dead, but to champion all the living victims and survivors of Tiananmen Square. I demand freedom in China! I demand democracy in China! I demand human rights in China! And together, we say: Free China! Free China! Free China now! Free China now! Let us change it together. Thank you. Editor：Ginger Duan with help of Gemini 校对：麦子

Date: Friday, December 10, 2010 12:00pm Location: Chinese Consulate in San Francisco Celebrate Liu Xiaobo Nobel Peace Prize, International Human Rights at SF Chinese Consulate Press Release of 12/3/2010 Photo Opportunity WHO: Chinese Foundation for Democratic Education, Century San Francisco Bay Area to celebrate the founding of the organizing committee Xinhai, San Francisco Branch of China Democratic National Committee, San Francisco, the China Democracy Party Joint Headquarters Division, Bay Area Chinese and Tibetan Friendship, Bay Area Friends of Tibet, Activists from Burmese Community CONTACT: English: (415) 264‐3264, giovanni@friends-of-tibet.org, Chinese: (510) 908-2195, mandeusa@gmail.com, Burmese: (510)220-1323, nyuntthan@gmail.com WHEN: Friday, December 10, 2010, 1 PM WHERE: Consulate of the People’s Republic of China Laguna at Geary Blvd., San Francisco, CA (USA) (San Francisco, CA) On December 10 the Norwegian Nobel Committee will give out its annual Nobel Peace Prize at a ceremony to Liu Xiaobo who cannot attend it because he is jailed by the Chinese government. However, democracy advocates, members of the Bay Area Chinese and Tibetan Friendship, Fang Zheng and Feng Congde, will travel to Norway to attend December 10 awards ceremony. A coalition of Chinese democracy groups and others will rally outside the Consulate of the People’s Republic of China in San Francisco from 1-3 PM. “It’s an outrage that the Communist Chinese government is blocking Liu Xiaobo and his wife from receiving the award in-person, in Oslo,” said Baosheng Guo, of the San Francisco Branch of China Democratic National Committee. The public is invited and participate in speeches, songs and slogans and to join in the expressing indignation at situation of the jailed Nobel Peace Prize winner, Liu Xiaobo as well as call for international human rights. We demand that the Chinese Communist Party and Chinese Government: • respect for the human rights as described in the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights of the United Nations • grant freedom for each individual to express him/herself and to develop his talents and capacities fully and unlimited • (more) democracy On this International Human Rights Day we insist on: • the immediate and unconditional release of the Tibetan film maker Dhondup Wangchen who is sentenced to 6 years in prison by the Chinese government for making “Leaving fear behind”, an exceptional film made by Tibetans in Tibet who took great risk to document the true feelings of Tibetans living under the Chinese occupation; his trial was held in secret and he was denied access to a lawyer of his choosing • The immediate and unconditional release of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, a Chinese human rights activist who called for democratic reforms and the end of communist one-party rule in China; he was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment; Liu Xiaobo won the Nobel Peace Prize for his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China • The immediate and unconditional release of the Panchen Lama and all political prisoners in Tibet, in China and anywhere else in the world. • Support human rights in Tibet, China, and Burma and throughout the world.

Date: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 - 4:30pm to 5:45pm Location: McLaren Hall, 252University of San Francisco “Religion and History on the China-Tibetan Plateau: 1928-2008” A Documentary Film and Discussion with: Prof. Yongdrol TsongkhaLanzhou University, China

Every year on March 10, Tibetans around the world and human rights advocates mark Tibet Uprising Day — a commemoration of one of the most dramatic turning points in modern Tibetan history. What Happened on March 10, 1959? On that morning in Lhasa, tens of thousands of Tibetans surrounded the Norbulingka Palace, the summer residence of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. Rumors had spread that Chinese authorities planned to detain him, and crowds gathered in a spontaneous act of protection and defiance. The demonstration quickly grew into a full-scale popular uprising against Chinese rule, which had been established following China's military entry into Tibet in 1950 and the subsequent Seventeen Point Agreement of 1951. The uprising was swiftly and violently suppressed by the People's Liberation Army. Fighting erupted across Lhasa, resulting in thousands of deaths. The Dalai Lama was forced to flee across the Himalayas into exile in India, where he established the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala — a government-in-exile that continues to operate today. Why Is It Commemorated? For Tibetans in exile and their supporters worldwide, March 10 is a day of solemn remembrance, political expression, and renewed calls for human rights and cultural preservation. Ceremonies are held in Dharamsala, major cities across Europe and North America, and wherever Tibetan diaspora communities exist. The Dalai Lama typically delivers a statement on this day, reflecting on the state of Tibet and appealing for dialogue, autonomy, and the protection of Tibetan culture, language, and religion — concerns that remain deeply contested between the Tibetan exile leadership and the Chinese government. The Broader Context China considers Tibet an integral part of its territory and characterizes its rule as having brought modernization and economic development to the region. The Tibetan exile movement and many international human rights organizations dispute this framing, pointing to ongoing restrictions on religious practice, freedom of movement, and political expression within the Tibet Autonomous Region. Tibet Uprising Day thus remains both a historical memorial and a living political moment — a reminder of unresolved tensions between Tibetan identity and aspirations on one hand, and Chinese sovereignty claims on the other. March 10 is recognized internationally as a symbol of nonviolent resistance. The Dalai Lama, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, has long advocated a "Middle Way" approach — seeking genuine autonomy for Tibet within China rather than full independence. The March 1959 uprising in Lhasa was triggered by fears of a plot to kidnap the Dalai Lama and take him to Beijing. When Chinese military officers invited His Holiness to visit the PLA headquarters for a theatrical performance and official tea, he was told he must come alone, and that no Tibetan military bodyguards or personnel would be allowed past the edges of the military camp. On March 10, 300,000 loyal Tibetans surrounded Norbulinka Palace, preventing the Dalai Lama from accepting the PLA’s invitation. By March 17, Chinese artillery was aimed at the palace, and the Dalai Lama was evacuated to neighboring India. Fighting broke out in Lhasa two days later, with Tibetan rebels hopelessly outnumbered and outgunned. Early on March 21, the Chinese began shelling Norbulinka, slaughtering tens of thousands of men, women and children still camped outside. In the aftermath, the PLA cracked down on Tibetan resistance, executing the Dalai Lama’s guards and destroying Lhasa’s major monasteries along with thousands of their inhabitants. China’s stranglehold on Tibet and its brutal suppression of separatist activity has continued in the decades following the unsuccessful uprising. Tens of thousands of Tibetans followed their leader to India, where the Dalai Lama has long maintained a government-in-exile in the foothills of the Himalayas.

Date: Wednesday, October 19, 2011 - 12:00pm to 2:00pm Location: Chinese consulate Laguna at Geary, San Francisco

The second Future of Tibet conference will take place in Paris, France from November 25-27, 2022. Tibetans in Europe are invited to join us for three days of talks, discussions and workshopping. The aim of the second conference is to create a coherent sequence of plausible segments that create vivid, compelling stories about what the future could look like for Tibet. The conference hopes to initiate discussion about the future of Tibet, especially with Tibetans living inside Tibet. There will be expert panels and speakers, but also plenty of room for everybody to take part and exchange ideas. Confirmed participants include Tibetan education expert Dr Gyal Lo (Canada), Buddhist scholar Geshe Thubten Jinpa (virtual), activist and community organizer Chemi Lhamo (Canada), University of Colorado Boulder anthropology Ph.D. candidate Dawa Lokyitsang (virtual), poet and filmmaker Jangbu (France), University of Edinburgh (Masters) and Druktalk podcast host Drukthar Gyal (United Kingdom), Oxford University Ph.D candidate Darig Thokmay (United Kingdom) and many more… Registration for ParisFull Rate - 45 USDStudent Rate - 15 USD Future of Tibet was established on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Tibetan Youth Congress and the Tibetan Youth Association of Europe by Wangpo Tethong, a former member of Tibetan parliament in Exile (Europe) and Tashi Namgyal, a former member of Tibetan parliament in exile (North America). The initiative was supported by many former central executive members of the Tibetan Youth Congress and the Tibetan Youth Association in Europe, and a large majority of its former presidents and its founding members. Future Tibet was established to strengthen the Tibetan Freedom Movement in the international community. In awareness of the lifelong responsibility for the Tibetan cause, and with a strong sense of gratitude for having had the chance to serve our people in various capacities, including the Tibetan youth organization, we felt that the time has now come to get together. We believe in the strength of unity as well as in the force of diversity. We might not subscribe to the same political convictions but believe in the value of truthful dialog. Moreover, we share a common belief that with the political changes in the world and in China, the Tibetan Freedom Movement needs a reflection about its future course. The first of the three gatherings of ‘Future of Tibet’ was conducted in Washington, DC on April 9-10, 2022, where participants contributed to the general discussion about the future of the Tibetan people with a special focus on how to better understand how the Tibetans inside Tibet think about the future. The next gatherings will take place in the coming months, one in Paris, and the last in India. Future of TibetYour contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. You may make a contribution right now via Paypal. Thank you.

Date: Saturday, March 10, 2018 - 8:00am to 8:00pm Location: Berkeley and San Francisco Contacts: Tenzing Dolma 510-254-1420 (Students for a Free Tibet) Tenzin Dolma 510-502-1180 (SF Tibetan Youth Congress) Giovanni Vassallo 415-706-3507 (Bay Area Friends of Tibet) San Francisco Team Tibet Joins Global Commemoration of Tibetan National Uprising WHAT: On March 10, 2018 hundreds of Tibetans and Tibet supporters in the San Francisco Bay Area will join thousands of people around the world in the annual global commemoration of the 59th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising. WHEN/WHERE: 8:30 AM Berkeley City Hall 2180 Milvia St., Berkeley 10:00 AM San Francisco City Hall 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco 12:00 PM March to Chinese Consulate 1 PM Chinese Consulate 1450 Laguna St., San Francisco 2:15 PM March from Consulate to SF Downtown, to Union Square, SF 5:00 PM Union Square Speeches, Performances, Concert WHY? It is 59 years since hundreds of thousands of Tibetans rose up and demanded an end to China’s illegal invasion and occupation of their country. China’s use of extreme force to quell these protests compelled His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama to escape to India, where he has lived in exile ever since. Today, China is stepping up its efforts to punish Tibetans in Tibet for expressing loyalty to His Holiness the Dalai Lama - a devotion that has not wavered despite the half century that has passed. The human rights situation in Tibet has declined dramatically in recent years with the fundamental rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, religion, and privacy highly restricted. Since the Chinese occupation in 1959, more than one million Tibetans have been killed. To fly a Tibetan flag, send an email abroad, or say the phrase "human rights," is cause for imprisonment and torture. 99% of all Tibetan monasteries have been closed. Media is greatly restricted and near 150 Tibetans burned themselves alive since 2009 to protest conditions in Tibet under Chinese government rule. This March 10, tens of thousands of Tibetans and Tibet supporters will be taking to the streets across the globe. BACKGROUND: San Francisco Team Tibet consists of Tibetan Association of Northern California (tanc.org), Bay Area Friends of Tibet (friends-of-tibet.org), San Francisco Regional Youth Congress (sfrtyc.org), Students for a Free Tibet – West (https://www.facebook.com/SFTWest/)

SAN FRANCISCO (December 27, 2017) – Tibetan independent filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen arrived at San Francisco International Airport on Christmas Day, 2017. He has been reunited with his family after having been separated for more than ten years during which he was held incommunicado, detained, imprisoned, and subjected to deprivation of political rights in the People’s Republic of China. He conveys his thanks to the governments, organizations, and individuals who made this day possible. Dhondup Wangchen and Golog Jigme Gyatso made a documentary – Leaving Fear Behind – based on interviews with Tibetans in China between 2007 and 2008. Dhondup Wangchen, now 43 years old, was taken into custody in March 2008 and formally detained in June the same year. He was convicted of inciting splittism and sentenced to six years imprisonment and three years’ subsequent deprivation of political rights by the Xining Intermediate People’s Court in Qinghai Province on December 11, 2009. He began serving his sentence in Xining Prison in 2010. In response to his faltering health, and due to international concern, the prison authorities in Qinghai Province transferred Dhondup Wangchen from Xining Prison to Qinghai Provincial Women’s Prison in late 2012. He received better treatment there, and his health gradually improved. Dhondup Wangchen was released from Qinghai Provincial Women’s Prison on June 5, 2014. He returned to his home village in Gansu Province where he served his three-year sentence of deprivation of political rights. That sentence expired on June 4, 2017. “Although many people, organizations, and governments worked hard to bring about Dhondup Wangchen’s release and safe journey to the United States,” remarked John Kamm, executive director of Dui Hua, “the person who worked hardest and deserves the most credit for this happy development is his wife Lhamo Tso. While raising the couple’s four children and grappling with health issues of her own, Lhamo Tso worked tirelessly to free her husband and bring him home to her and their children. Dui Hua salutes her, and joins people around the world in rejoicing at the news of Dhondup Wangchen’s arrival in the United States.” For questions, please contact John Kamm at jkamm@duihua.org or at 415-986-0536. Dui Hua Foundation

Date: Friday, March 10, 2017 - 12:00am Location: Berkeley and San Francisco, California Contacts: Tenzing Dolma 510-254-1420 (Students for a Free Tibet) Tenzin Dolma 510-502-1180 (SF Tibetan Youth Congress) Giovanni Vassallo 415-706-3507 (Bay Area Friends of Tibet) San Francisco Team Tibet Joins Global Commemoration of Tibetan National Uprising WHAT: On March 10, 2017 hundreds of Tibetans and Tibet supporters in the San Francisco Bay Area will join thousands of people around the world in the annual global commemoration of the 58th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising. WHEN/WHERE: 8:30 AM Berkeley City Hall 2180 Milvia St., Berkeley 10:00 AM San Francisco City Hall 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco 12:00 PM March to Chinese Consulate 12:30 PM Chinese Consulate 1450 Laguna St., San Francisco 2:15 PM March to Justin Herman Plaza 5:00 PM Justin Herman Plaza Market St @ Embarcadero, San Francisco WHY? It is 58 years since hundreds of thousands of Tibetans rose up and demanded an end to China’s illegal invasion and occupation of their country. China’s use of extreme force to quell these protests compelled His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama to escape to India, where he has lived in exile ever since. Today, China is stepping up its efforts to punish Tibetans in Tibet for expressing loyalty to His Holiness the Dalai Lama - a devotion that has not wavered despite the half century that has passed. The human rights situation in Tibet has declined dramatically in recent years with the fundamental rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, religion, and privacy highly restricted. Since the Chinese occupation in 1959, more than one million Tibetans have been killed. To fly a Tibetan flag, send an email abroad, or say the phrase "human rights," is cause for imprisonment and torture. 99% of all Tibetan monasteries have been closed. Media is greatly restricted and near 150 Tibetans burned themselves alive since 2009 to protest conditions in Tibet under Chinese government rule. This March 10, tens of thousands of Tibetans and Tibet supporters will be taking to the streets across the globe. BACKGROUND: San Francisco Team Tibet consists of Tibetan Association of Northern California (tanc.org), Bay Area Friends of Tibet (friends-of-tibet.org), San Francisco Regional Youth Congress (sfrtyc.org), Students for a Free Tibet – West (https://www.facebook.com/SFTWest/)

On 28 December 2009, filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen was sentenced to six years imprisonment for "subversion", following a secret trial in Xining. Dhondup Wangchen had been detained shortly after completing filming for a documentary called “Leaving Fear Behind”. His film portrays the actual living conditions in occupied Tibet and features interviews with Tibetans talking about the situation in Tibet. It was shot secretly and smuggled out of the country in March, 2008, just days before mass demonstrations erupted around the anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day. In Dhondup Wangchen’s own words: “At a time of great difficulty and a feeling of helplessness, [the idea of our film is to] get some meaningful response and results. It is very difficult [for Tibetans] to go to Beijing and speak out there. So that is why we decided to show the real feelings of Tibetans inside Tibet through this film.” His family believes he has been tortured while imprisoned, and that he has contracted Hepatitis B and that his health is failing. His wife, Lhamo Tso, has been living under hard conditions since she escaped to India and has had to support not only her four children, but also the parents of her husband. She is now living in the United States. Lhamo Tso is in San Francisco to build awareness of the case of her husband, and to campaign for his release. She needs your help to free her husband, support their 4 children and Dhondup’s parents. Watch "LEAVING FEAR BEHIND" Committee to Protect Journalists says this is a dangerous time for Dhondup Wangchen Lhamo Tso granted political asylum in US Dhondup Wangchen’s wife launches campaign for Jigme Gyatso Free Tibetan Heroes Website United States of America on Dhondup Wangchen US government and lawmakers on Dhondup Wangchen State Departement: http://1.usa.gov/14H4eht Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi: http://www.democraticleader.gov/news/press/pelosi-statement-tibetan-upri... US State Department highlights Dhondup Wangchen's case http://www.filmingfortibet.org/2012/04/22/state-departement-highlights-d... Public recognition in US for Dhondup Wangchen - CPJ US award for Dhondup Wangchen http://www.filmingfortibet.org/2012/11/20/press-freedom-prize-goes-to-dh... Support for Dhondup Wangchen in US, experienced by the public, Lhamo Tso in the US http://www.filmingfortibet.org/2012/04/30/itinerary-of-lhamo-tso/ The Bay Area Friends of Tibet – an organization advocating for Tibetans’ rights since 1983 – believes the case of Dhondup Wangchen highlights the urgent need for basic human rights and democratic freedoms in Chinese-occupied Tibet. The Bay Area Friends of Tibet president Giovanni Vassallo has called on the Chinese government to release Dhondup Wangchen immediately, if only on humanitarian grounds. He also said, “Please give your help to this kind and brave lady and reunite her with her most courageous husband, who did nothing wrong.” He added, “Please give gener ously to Lhamo Tso and Dhondup Wangchen, and show your support by donating badly needed funds for this freedom-loving family.” Watch Lhamo Tso speaking.

Date: Thursday, December 3, 2015 - 5:30pm to 9:00pm Location: Sundance Kabuki Theatre 1881 Post Street San Francisco, CA 94115 Tickets available at: http://www.universe.com/socuspremiere ABOUT THE FILM: Two American filmmakers go undercover in Tibet during a full scale media blackout. Entering the hot-bed areas in closed off regions of Tibet, they try to help get information out of the region. As they document heartrending stories of the Tibetan struggle for human rights, a dangerous game unfolds as secret police maintain 24 hour surveillance. Unable to document their intended subjects, the filmmakers themselves become the target. Every move is followed, leading to hotel break-ins, equipment theft, and cyber-assault - ultimately putting the filmmakers’ lives in danger. Forced to flee, they work with leading cyber experts to uncover that their entire production team were victims of a pervasive cyber-assault; an assault that plays out globally with far-reaching national security implications.

Date: Sunday, October 18, 2015 - 3:00pm to 7:00pm Location: Mitchell Park Community Center, El Palo Alto Room3700 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94303 Who? Organized by Jady Tian, Kelly Liu, Janis Iourovitski, Julia Huang and Ilana Silverstein, current juniors at Gunn High School, featuring other teen photographers. What? An exhibition where high-quality photos taken by teens are sold. The event will also feature a presentation of Braille Without Borders. Why? To fundraise for Braille Without Borders, a non-profit school in Tibet to support and educate blind children. More information http://eyesteenphotoevent.weebly.com/photos.html

Date: Friday, September 25, 2015 - 10:00am to 8:00pm Location: Dupont Circle and President's Park Washington, DC Tibetans and supporters from all over US headed to DC to protest Xi Jinping’s Visit 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 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!”

Tell Mayor Ed Lee to stand up for Tibet Tibetans detained after supporting dead monk (Amnesty International) Free Norzin Wangmo Put Tibet back on the map Protest executions in Tibet Free Tibetan Heroes International Tibet Support Group Urgent Actions Tibet Third Pole Campaign International Tibet Support Group Campaigns Visit this link for urgent action and help to free Tenzin Delek Rinpoche U.S. Tibet Committee Students for Free Tibet International Campaign for Tibet Tibetan Uprising Congress.org Get contact info for your elected representatives On May 14th, 1995, His Holiness the Dalai Lama announced the selection of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the eleventh reincarnation of the Panchen Lama. Shortly after that announcement, the new Panchen Lama and his parents were kidnapped by the Chinese Communist Government. Since that time, no one has seen or heard from the Panchen Lama, though junior Chinese government officials state that he is attending school in Beijing. Repeated requests by thousands of Tibet supporters, governments, and human rights organizations to seek independent verification of this boy's well being have been ignored by the Chinese government. In his place as Panchen Lama, the Chinese Communist Party has selected the son of one of its Tibetan party members to serve as its puppet. To respond to these grotesque actions committed by the Chinese Communist Party, BAFoT has formed the Panchen Lama Committee. The goals of this committee are: Take action for the Panchen Lama! to obtain as soon as possible the release of the Panchen Lama and his family; to demand immediate access to the Panchen Lama by an independent organization, such as the International Red Cross, in order to ascertain the state of his health and well-being; to insure that the Panchen Lama receives the proper traditional education befitting the high spiritual office of the Panchen Lama; to establish access to the Panchen lama for his spiritual followers throughout the world. In order to accomplish these goals, the Panchen Lama Committee will organize and engage in: demonstrations, boycotts, public communication, letter writing campaigns and other forms of protest. The Panchen Lama Committee is also committed to work for religious freedom in Tibet and to exert as much pressure as possible upon the Chinese Communist Party to stop its merciless repression of Tibetan Buddhism. On April 25th 2010, His Holiness the 11th Panchen Lama turned 21 years old. Abducted by the Chinese government at the age of 6, his whereabouts still remain unknown to the world. Free Tenzin Delek! Free Dhondup Wangchen!

Date: Saturday, May 16, 2015 - 12:00am to Sunday, May 17, 2015 - 12:00am Experience a traditional Himalayan bazaar under towering oaks and redwood trees as Live Oak Park in Berkeley transforms into a vast market place of arts, crafts, traditional music, dance and food. Performances include the beautiful classical Indian dance forms of South India and of Orissa (Odissi dance by Jyoti Kala Mandir) will entrance viewers, as will colorful folk dances by local Nepali, Tibetan and Bhutanese community associations. Join in the fun of a Bhangra dance lesson and performance by Dholrythms, and a rollicking Bollywood performance by Dance Identity." Musical offerings include stirring performances blending traditional Qawwali and modern styles by noted vocalists Sukhawat Ali Khan and Riffat Sultana. The original sound and technical wizardry of Ancient Future will surely draw listeners to the stage in the late afternoon. A Berkeley tradition since 1983, the Himalayan Fair will be celebrating its 32nd anniversary this year. Since its inception, the Himalayan Fair has raised over $300,000 from gate donations and raffle sales. The proceeds have supported over 50 non-governmental organizations, working to improve education, health and the care of orphans in the Himalayan regions. Admission is FREE, donations accepted, $5.00 raffle tickets support the charities and provide a chance to win great prizes, including air fare to Himalayan regions. For details on the Fair visit: www.himalayanfair.net