"In a gentle way, you can shake the world."
— MAHATMA GANDHI

* * * * * NEWS * * * * *

ICT’s President Matteo Mecacci shares news about his exciting appointment to
the OSCE [[link removed]]
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In this video, hear ICT’s President Matteo Mecacci, share about his appointment
as Director of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Office
of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. This is BIG news—check it out!
[[link removed]]

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ICT’s Board of Directors Congratulates Matteo Mecacci on his appointment to
lead the OSCE/ODIHR
[[link removed]]
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The Board of Directors of the International Campaign for Tibet is very pleased
that ICT President Matteo Mecacci has been appointed by the Ministerial Council
of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe as the new Director
of the Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, based in Warsaw.

ICT Chairman Richard Gere said, “I’ve known Matteo for many years from his work
with the World Parliamentarians’ Convention on Tibet. We were happy to have him
join us as President during an exceptionally challenging time for human rights
and democracy in the world, which is uniquely challenging in Tibet and for the
Tibetan community in exile. Matteo has done a terrific job in leading our
international efforts and we are sad to see him leave, but this is an
extraordinary opportunity- not only for Matteo- but for us to continue our work
together for human rights. We congratulate him on this special appointment and
wish him great success in this new chapter.”

Under the leadership of interim President Bhuchung K. Tsering and interim Vice
President Tencho Gyatso, the Board of Directors will work closely with Matteo to
ensure a smooth transition of leadership and seamless implementation of ICT’s
mission, including passage of the Tibetan Policy and Support Act.

Read the statement online
[[link removed]]

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New Tibet special coordinator encourages youth at ICT event
[[link removed]]
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You have a big job ahead of you, Robert A. Destro, the new special coordinator
for Tibetan issues in the State Department, told Tibetan American youth at an
International Campaign for Tibet event last month. Destro was speaking live on
Nov. 19 on ICT’s Tibet Talks [[link removed]]
alongside young Tibetan leaders Aftab Pureval, clerk of the courts for Hamilton
County, Ohio, and Dawa Lokyitsang, a PhD student at the University of Colorado,
Boulder.

Read more online
[[link removed]]

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ICT addresses Tibet religious freedom at US Mission in Geneva event
[[link removed]]
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ICT’s Tencho Gyatso was one of the main speakers at “Religious Freedom in Tibet:
The Appointment of Buddhist Leaders and the Succession of the Dalai Lama.” The
virtual event on Dec. 4 was hosted by Ambassador Andrew Bremberg, permanent
representative of the United States of America to the Office of the United
Nations and other international organizations in Geneva.

Read more online
[[link removed]]

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House passes resolution calling for enactment of new Tibet legislation
[[link removed]]
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The House of Representatives passed a resolution on Nov. 18 urging “the swift
enactment” of the Tibetan Policy and Support Act, a comprehensive bill that will
dramatically upgrade US policy on Tibet [[link removed]],
particularly on issues related to the succession or reincarnation of the
Dalai Lama, water security and environmental concerns. The resolution also
promotes autonomy for the Tibetan people and offers them support over a number
of issues they face under the repressive rule of the Chinese government.

Read more online
[[link removed]]

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Words of gratitude from Team ICT to our wonderful ICT Members!
[[link removed]]
—
Lizzy Ludwig, ICT’s Director of Development shares on behalf of the entire ICT
Team how much gratitude we have for our truly incredible community (spoiler
alert: it’s a lot!) and the wonderful progress we’ve made together toward a more
just and peaceful Tibet. Watch the video and learn how you are making a difference!
[[link removed]]

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The moment many of you have been waiting for…
[[link removed]]
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ICT's 2021 wall calendar Tibet: Sacred Journeys is finally available in our online store!

In the vastness of the Tibetan plateau, there were not only thousands of
monasteries and temples but also a myriad of sacred mountains, lakes, rivers,
boulders, and other elements of the natural environment that were either deemed
to manifest sacred entities or charged with special blessings. The Tibetan
people are singularly devout, and the tradition of pilgrimages goes back
thousands of years, with pilgrims from across the farthest reaches of the
Tibetan plateau wishing to go on yearlong pilgrimages at least once in their
lives—often on foot, with some even prostrating themselves full length on the
road for the entire journey. This calendar shares a glimpse of such sacred
journeys in the lives of Tibetans.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have a limited quantity of this year’s
annual calendar, so grab yours today! [[link removed]]

We also restocked many of our popular prayer flags and will have some new items
coming soon, so check out www.savetibetstore.org for the latest!

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ICT welcomes EU Global Human Rights Sanction Regime, urges its use in Tibet
[[link removed]]
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The EU Global Human Rights Sanction Regime targets individuals, entities and
bodies responsible for, involved in or associated with serious human rights
violations and abuses worldwide. ICT welcomed the adoption of the new regime and
called on the EU and its Member States to use this new mechanism to target
Chinese officials responsible for grave human rights violations in Tibet.

Read more online
[[link removed]]

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China’s seventh national census a tool for controlling citizens
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China began its seventh national population census in November this year with
about 7 million staff scheduled to visit homes for registration work, according
to Chinese state media. While projected as a means to collect information needed
for the government to shape its economic development plans, some changes in the
forms this year raise questions about whether the census will be used to further
tighten control over the people.

Read more online
[[link removed]]

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ICT testifies at German parliament hearing on China’s human rights record
[[link removed]]
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In his testimony before the German Bundestag’s Human Rights Committee, ICT
Germany Executive Director Kai Mueller spoke about Beijing’s “Sinicization”
policies that threaten the survival of Tibetans’ self-determined culture,
religion, ways of life and economic subsistence. Mueller called for a response
by the German government, as public appeals to the Chinese government would be
welcome but not enough.

Read more online
[[link removed]]

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Chinese response to UN experts on Panchen Lama is absurd historical falsehood
[[link removed]]
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In a response made public recently [[link removed]]
by the United Nations, the Chinese government bluntly refuted concerns [[link removed]]
by five UN human rights experts and expert bodies about its intervention in the
appointment of Tibetan Buddhist leaders and the case of the “disappeared”
Panchen Lama. But according to ICT’s Kai Mueller, China’s response only
underscores the criticism it’s received about how it always rejects criticism.

Read more online
[[link removed]]

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Dalai Lama congratulates President-Elect Joe Biden
[[link removed]]
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“I would like to thank you for your support for the Tibetan people, during your
time in Congress and the previous administration, as well as for your statement
in September this year [[link removed]],”
His Holiness wrote to the incoming US president. The Dalai Lama added: “I
wish you every success in meeting the challenges that lie ahead in fulfilling
the hopes and aspirations of the people of the United States and in contributing
to a more peaceful and harmonious world.”

Read the rest of the Dalai Lama’s message online
[[link removed]]

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How China’s 13th Five Year Plan impacted its Tibet policy
[[link removed]]
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The fifth plenary of the 19th Chinese Communist Party Central Committee meeting,
which took place Oct. 26-29, started the process of formulating the 14th Five
Year Plan, which will cover 2021 to 2025. The five-year plans are an integral
part of China’s governance strategy. This report looks at the 13th Five Year
Plan as it relates to Tibet and how it has shaped Chinese policies toward the
Tibetan people.

Read more online
[[link removed]]

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Beautiful view
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His Holiness the Dalai Lama enjoys gazing at the freshly snow-covered Dhauladhar
Mountains across from his residence in Dharamsala, India on a beautiful, clear
autumn day, Nov. 27, 2020. (Photos: Tenzin Jamphel)

* * * * * BLOG * * * * *

Long march to perfecting the state of surveillance in China
By: Tenzin Norgay
[[link removed]]
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Three years ago, during a mock exercise Chinese police in Guiyang City
challenged the BBC’s John Sudworth to go anywhere in the city without being
found by them. Within seven minutes after the reporter left the surveillance
control room, he was caught by security officers based on his location caught on
camera. Through this mock exercise, China sent a loud message: the Chinese state
is omniscient and omnipresent.

Read more online
[[link removed]]

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Catch up with "Tibet Talks" by subscribing to ICT's podcast
[[link removed]]
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A new podcast [[link removed]] from the
International Campaign for Tibet is presenting in-depth discussions
with US officials, Tibetan leaders, psychologists, professors, activists,
artists and others engaged with and inspired by the Tibetan cause.

Interested? Listeners can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes
[[link removed]],
Spotify [[link removed]]
and Google Podcasts [[link removed]].
Learn more at savetibet.org/pod/ [[link removed]]

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Schedule of upcoming online public talks by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
[[link removed]]
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(Please note that the dates given below are subject to change)

Watch these live webcasts in Tibetan, English, Chinese and other languages on
the official website and Facebook page of the Office of His Holiness the Dalai
Lama. People are requested to please follow local social distancing rules while
viewing. For more information please see www.dalailama.com/live.

Dec. 9 at 10:30 pm EST / 7:30 pm PST
(India Time – Dec. 9 at 9 am)

His Holiness the Dalai Lama will engage in a conversation on The Necessity of
Compassion for the Survival of Humanity with Ms. Melani Walton of the Rob and
Melani Walton Foundation, and Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Chief Medical Correspondent of CNN,
organized by Emory University's Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-Based Ethics.

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Dec. 10 at 10:30 pm EST / 7:30 pm PST
(India Time – Dec. 9 at 9 am)

His Holiness the Dalai Lama will give a teaching on Tsongkhapa’s In Praise of Dependent
Origination (tendrel toepa) and Concise Stages for the Path to Enlightenment (lamrim dudon).

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Dec. 15 at 10:30 pm EST / 7:30 pm PST
(India Time – Dec. 9 at 9 am)

His Holiness the Dalai Lama will give a general talk on Education followed by a question
and answer session as part of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay's Techfest
Online Lecture Series.

* * * * * SUPPORT * * * * *

AmazonSmile is now available in the Amazon app!
[[link removed]]
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In these trying times when many of us are doing more of our shopping online, you
can provide a little extra support for ICT through the AmazonSmile Program.
Through this FREE program, Amazon will make a donation for the value of .5% of
your qualifying Amazon purchases to ICT! All you have to do is designate ICT as your charity
[[link removed]]
of choice and be sure to use smile.amazon.com every time you shop with Amazon.

These small donations add up to significant funds for ICT- funds that are
especially needed and appreciated during this challenging time!

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Want to make a difference?
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The Tibet Update Newsletter is a summary of news and governmental actions
related to Tibet.

Update Address [[email protected]] | Unsubscribe [[link removed]]

International Campaign for Tibet
[[link removed]]
1825 Jefferson Place NW | Washington, DC 20036 | United States of America
[[link removed]]
Phone: (202) 785-1515 | Fax: (202) 785-4343 | [email protected] [[email protected]]