The Dalai Lama, who arrived today in Rotterdam, the Netherlands on the second leg of his European trip, will take part in a conversation with International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) Chairman Richard Gere on Sept. 16, 2018 about how ICT can continue to advance the Dalai Lama’s work.
The discussion is part of the 30th anniversary events of ICT, which was established on March 15, 1988 to support the Tibetan people and the vision of the Dalai Lama.
Over the past three decades, ICT has made significant contributions as a champion of human rights and democratic freedoms for the people of Tibet. The ICT community, now over 100,000 strong and spread across the United States and Europe, is a vibrant collection of individuals who are not only an effective support base for the people of Tibet, but also a powerful voice for resolving conflicts through dialogue instead of violence. Having started with just one office in Washington, DC, today ICT also has offices in Amsterdam, Berlin and Brussels.
In a video message to ICT in March 2018 on the occasion of ICT’s 30th anniversary, the Dalai Lama said, “Your organization has been, for 30 years, showing genuine support for Tibetan cause. I always describe that the supporter of Tibetan cause is not pro-Tibetan, but rather pro-justice. So your work also, you see, [provide] some sort of help in China proper, to people who are passing through difficult life.”
ICT Chairman Richard Gere said, “Supporting the Tibetan issue is about people who tell the truth as it can teach you how to live with each other and embrace each other. For ICT, the 30th anniversary is not just a celebration but a time to honor the dedication and support shown to the people of Tibet and the Dalai Lama by our membership and friends from all over the world.”
The Rotterdam event will include the unveiling of an initiative by ICT to support the Dalai Lama’s message of spreading compassion through secular ethics.
ICT Board Member Tempa Tsering said, “ICT’s work is not finished, as the Tibetan issue is yet to be resolved. ICT supports the Tibetan issue because it is based on truth and justice; an issue with global implications, including in the environment field; and one with strategic implications.”
ICT applauds the courage and determination of the Tibetan people and is committed to ensuring the fundamental rights of all Tibetans; to defending their unique culture; and to realizing their right to self-determination.
Watch a livestream of the Dalai Lama’s conversation with Richard Gere.