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www.garthgrif.com/documentaries.html


Dear You,

April's arrival brings with it two meaningful dates for Tibetans: the 3rd anniversary of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche's arrest, and the 16th birthday of the Panchen Lama, who has been imprisoned for ten years. You can help free them by taking action this month.


Background:
Tenzin Delek Rinpoche was taken from his monastery by Chinese police in a nighttime raid on April 7th, 2002. He was held for almost eight months before being sentenced to death in December. This January, after massive international pressure, his death sentence was commuted to life in prison. In a tape recording smuggled out of prison in January 2003, Rinpoche said, "I was wrongly accused because I have always been sincere and devoted to the interests and well-being of Tibetans. The Chinese did not like what I did and what I said. That is the only reason why I was arrested."


Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, Tibet's 11th Panchen Lama, was adbucted on May 17th, 1995, along with his parents. The Chinese government admitted in 1996 that they are holding him in "protective custody." The Panchen Lama is one of Tibet's most important spiritual leaders. He is growing up under house arrest. Numerous requests from governments, human rights organizations, and the United Nations to see him have been denied, and his health and whereabouts are unknown. The Chinese government appointed another boy as the Panchen Lama in place of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. He is kept in Beijing and appears periodically at official functions.


What you can do:
1. Commemorate April 7th by sending a card of sympathy and good wishes to Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, care of the authorities in Beijing. Be aware that your card will be read by Chinese officials. It may never reach Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, but it will convey a different sort of message to the Chinese government. Send to:


Tenzin Delek Rinpoche
c/o Minister of Justice
Zhang Fusen
Sifabu
10 Chaoyangmen Nandajie, Chaoyangqu
Beijingshi 100020
People's Republic of China


2. Mark the Panchen Lama's birthday, April 25th, by bringing more people into the campaign for his release. Hold an event on that day to raise awarness about his plight: table at your school with information and action suggestions, show a video to your friends and family, or order postcards for his release.

- http://www.studentsforafreetibet.org

[ericg]

Uhmmmmmmmmm... BUMP

You know,
Just 'cause...!

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Uhmmmmmmmmm... BUMP

You know,
Just 'cause...!

[ericg]

Hi,

Thank you to the 2,500 people who sent messages to the Chinese foreign minister calling for the release of the Panchen Lama on his 16th birthday, April 25th. Now, there is another opportunity to help.

JOIN the Global Vigil for Tibet's Panchen Lama on May 17th!


May 17th will mark 10 years since Gedhun Choekyi Nyima's disappearance, and people around the world will be commemorating that day with a "Global Vigil for Tibet's Panchen Lama." The vigil will begin in New Zealand at 6:00pm on May 17th and travel around the world, ending at 7:00pm in Alaska.


The Global Vigil will mark the beginning of a year of intensified activities to call for the Panchen Lama's freedom and for a representative of the United Nations to visit him, as well as commemoration of the decade during which Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, who means so much to Tibetans, has been lost to them. Your vigil will be listed on a new website, www.freepanchenlama.org, that has been launched by the International Tibet Support Network. Tibet supporters in Brazil, Israel, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, Mexico and the United States are already planning events.

Whether big or small, your activities that day will make a difference. Some tips for organizing a vigil are listed below. If you can organize a vigil, please let me know by sending an email to campaigns@studentsforafreetibet.org. Please include the following information so it can be listed on the site:

City:
Time:
Name of Location: (eg. Outside the Chinese Embassy, outside City Hall)
Address:
What to bring: (eg. Candles, Tibetan flags, signs calling for the freedom of Tibet's Panchen Lama.)
Organised by:


The site, www.freepanchenlama.org, also houses a Virtual Vigil where people can go and light a candle (actually, a Tibetan butter lamp!) and write a message of hope. The virtual vigil tallies the number of butter lamps lit and from how many countries. We will be watching as this number grows and be conveying the number of appeals we receive in correspondence with the media and/or politicians. Please encourage people to light a Tibetan butter lamp and write a message of hope on this site!

Thank you for adding your voice to the many around the world calling for the freedom of Tibet's Panchen Lama.

Sincerely,


Freya Putt
Program Coordinator


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Tips for Organizing a Vigil (also available at www.freepanchenlama.org)


Choose a prominent location. Possible locations include outside the Chinese Embassy, in front of a UN building, at a church or dharma centre or school, or outside a local government office.
Permits are often required when using a public space – be sure to get permission from the local authorities if necessary.
Advertise your event. Download a flyer here: http://www.studentsforafreetibet.org/downloads/Vigil.doc
Notify the local media in advance of the vigil. Promote it in "Weekly Listings/What's On" columns and encourage photo journalists to come down and take photos for publication.
Take photos!
Stand in a line or in a circle so that they vigil can easily be seen and have a strong visual effect.
Set up signs with images of the Panchen Lama’s face, calling for his freedom.
Designate someone to speak at the beginning of the vigil. They should welcome everyone and provide instructions for the format of the vigil.
Encourage Tibetan activists to address the crowd and invite members of your local Tibetan monastic community to read statements about the Panchen Lama and do recitations or chants.
Vigils work very effectively when there is complete silence. Tibetan music or prayers* (see below) could also be chanted or played in the background.
Have someone distribute informational material about the Panchen Lama and Tibet. There is a sample flyer downloadable at http://www.studentsforafreetibet.org/downloads/PLflyer.doc
Ask people to bring their own candles but be sure to provide extra!
At the end of the vigil, make sure all candles are fully extinguished. Pick up any litter and leave the area tidy.
Following your event, please email us the best photos of your vigil so that we can upload them on the www.freepanchenlama.org website. Send us copies of any news clippings that are published on your event.
* The International Tibet Support Network has graciously been allowed to provide an .mp3 copy of the "Long Life Prayer for H.H. the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedun Choekyi Nyima", Sung by the Tibetan Monks from Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. Please feel free to download and play this song here: www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0009IZRLU/103-8390116-2099848