Dear John,

Thank you for your incredible support of the Tibetan people over the past year. Despite the many challenges faced across the world, through the dedication of members like you, ICT pushed forward in our work of furthering His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s vision of peace for Tibet.

And while 2020 was difficult for so many, I’m proud to say that our combined advocacy for the people of Tibet did not wane in the slightest. Indeed, our community of compassion came together for the Tibetan cause stronger than ever.

Among many notable achievements for Tibet this year, you helped accomplish the following:

• The Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2020—the biggest piece of pro-Tibet legislation in years—became US law, upgrading the United States’ support of Tibet in a number of key areas. Critically, it makes it official US policy that the Dalai Lama’s succession should only be determined by Tibetan Buddhists, not the Chinese government.
• The State Department began restricting visas for the officials in China’s government responsible for cutting off access to Tibet, as part of the enforcement of the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act. Additionally, you helped raise the call to the European Union to implement similar legislation on reciprocity by supporting the publication of “Access Denied”, a critical truth-telling report on the restrictions on access to Tibet.
• The first ever fully virtual Tibet Lobby Day was a huge success, with 11,284 petitions sent by over 4,000 online supporters to elected officials urging them to support Tibet.
• After several ICT reports documenting the dangers of China’s river manipulation in Tibet, Congress passed a law that will for the first time require the State Department to report on the impact of changing water flows and Chinese dams on the Mekong (Tibetan: Dzachu) River and Tibetan plateau, signaling the growing international concern for Tibet’s water security and water access for more than 1 billion people downstream.
• You helped keep the Tibetan cause a priority in this year’s elections, with thousands of supporters urging both presidential candidates to support pro-Tibet legislation through our Tibet 2020 campaign.
• On social media, you helped raise awareness of Tibet’s environmental crisis on Earth Day, spreading the word about China’s reckless industrialization, damming and mining of Tibet using the hashtag #savethethirdpole.
• Due in part to our sustained advocacy, Secretary of State Pompeo appointed Robert Destro as the Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, filling an urgently needed position in the State Department dedicated to promoting dialogue between the Chinese government and the envoys of the Dalai Lama. We fully intend to press the next Administration to follow suit with their own appointment.

Thank you for making a difference for Tibet in 2020.
 

As you likely know, I’ve been appointed to a new position with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. So, while this is sadly the last time I have the privilege of writing you as the President of ICT, I am happy to say that this organization has a staff and a board that are talented and committed to continue this essential work with your help.

Finally, let me say from the bottom of my heart that I couldn’t be more honored and grateful to have spent these past seven years working for the Tibetan people alongside compassionate and dedicated ICT members like you. I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished together—especially this year—and I hope you are too.

From all of us at ICT, I wish you a very happy new year.

In Solidarity Always,

Matteo Mecacci
President