"There is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re
brave enough to be it."
— AMANDA GORMAN

* * * * * NEWS * * * * *

ICT’s Interim Vice President Tencho Gyatso on Losar, the Tibetan New Year
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In this video, hear ICT’s Interim Vice President Tencho Gyatso speak about
Losar, the Tibetan New Year, and the celebration held by the US State Department
that was developed with ICT’s assistance and included special remarks from
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and ICT Chairman Richard Gere— check it out!

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American officials join Richard Gere in celebrating Tibetan New Year
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In a first by a US secretary of state, Antony Blinken spoke at the State
Department’s annual Tibetan New Year reception, which also featured remarks by
International Campaign for Tibet Chairman Richard Gere, Representative of the
Dalai Lama, Tibetan and US leaders, and Tibetans across the country.

Watch Secretary of State Blinken’s remarks here:
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Watch the full event here:
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Dalai Lama offers sympathy and support following Uttarakhand disaster
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Following a deadly glacial burst in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, the Dalai
Lama has written to the chief minister of the state offering his condolences and
directed a donation to support relief efforts:

I offer my condolences to those who have lost loved ones, and pray for them. I
also pray for the safety and well being of those who are still missing. I
understand that both the Central and the State Governments are engaged in rescue
work and are doing their utmost to provide relief to people affected by this
calamity.

Read more online
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ICT calls for investigation after Tibetan dies following torture
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The International Campaign for Tibet urges the UN Human Rights Council to
investigate growing reports of torture in Tibet after Human Rights Watch
reported the death of a Tibetan tour guide whom Chinese authorities tortured and
abused.

Read more online
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Ask the UN to End Torture in Tibet!
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Call on the UN to seek justice for Tenzin Nyima and all Tibetans impacted by the
Chinese government’s torture and mistreatment. If you haven’t yet, please sign our petition to United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet today!

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New State Department leadership commits to supporting Tibet
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In its first substantive statements to the media on Tibet, the Biden
administration has come out strongly in committing to help the Tibetan people
and promote US interests in Tibet. Later, in their first call, Secretary Blinken
told China’s top diplomat that the United States will continue to push for human
rights and democratic values in Tibet.

Read more online
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Tashi Wangchuk released from Chinese prison, but remains incommunicado
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Although Tashi Wangchuk has returned home following the completion of his
sentence, reporting by the Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy
suggests that he may still be facing intense restrictions on his freedom; in an
update, they revealed that Tashi Wangchuk’s lawyer hasn’t been able to contact
him since his release.

Read more online
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National security programming for China’s new generation
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A new ICT report reveals how China’s national security education rules aim to
train an entire new generation of “vigilant guards” across China as part of an
effort to instill a hostile mindset against Tibetans and Uyghurs in the minds of
Chinese youth.

Read more online
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Tibetans face heavy restrictions on movement during Tibetan New Year
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Radio Free Asia reports that China has broadly the observation of traditional
festivities during the Tibetan New Year, known as Losar:

“I wanted to celebrate Losar openly. But then due to harassment and restrictions
put in place by the Chinese authorities, I don’t feel like celebrating at all.”

“The local authorities held a meeting before Losar and told us we had to stay at
home during the New Year,” added a resident of Sichuan’s Lithang county. “We are
not allowed to hold gatherings or even to go outside.”

Read more online
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* * * * * STORE * * * * *

The moment many of you have been waiting for…
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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!
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Sneak peek...
We will have some new items in our online store very soon, so check out www.savetibetstore.org
for the latest!

* * * * * BLOG * * * * *

On making a difference
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By: Ashwin Verghese

When you’re trying to help the victims of oppression, it can sometimes feel
hard to believe that anything you’re doing actually improves their lives.
But recently, the passage of new legislation—and the sight of Chinese military
helicopters—reminded me that our community of compassion at the International
Campaign for Tibet is making a difference.

A few months ago, I joined all of you in celebrating when the Tibetan Policy
and Support Act, the watershed bill we spent years advocating for, became law.
The TPSA promised to upgrade US support for Tibetans, defend the succession of
the Dalai Lama from China’s interference, address water security and climate
change in Tibet, and much, much more.

…As an ICT member, you’ve made a difference for Tibet and contributed to the
unprecedented momentum of the Tibet movement. The last few months have provided
a startling reminder of the real-world results of our activism. As we look ahead
to the rest of 2021 and the future, let’s try to give our dear friends in Tibet
more reasons for hope and celebration.

Read more online
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* * * * * EVENTS * * * * *

Tibet Talks: A Book Launch ‘Tibet in Chains: The stories of nine Tibetan nuns’
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Feb. 25 at 1 pm EST / 10 am PST

This book tells the personal stories of nine young Tibetan nuns, who were among
those imprisoned in the dreaded Drapchi prison in Lhasa in the early 1990s. They
were among a group of fourteen nuns, who became known around the world as the
Drapchi 14 or ‘the singing nuns” on account of their clandestinely recording
songs which made their way out of Tibet and the international community heard
their undying cry for freedom through the haunting songs about the hardships of
prison life, their love for Tibet and the Dalai Lama.

Tibet Talks are streamed through Facebook Live [[link removed]]
and on our website at savetibet.org/live [[link removed]].

Recordings of past Tibet Talks are available at savetibet.org/live [[link removed]]
and a podcast version of Tibet Talks is available on iTunes
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Spotify [[link removed]] and
Google Podcasts [[link removed]].

Learn more at savetibet.org/pod/
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Schedule of upcoming online public talks by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
(Please note that the dates given below are subject to change)
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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
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Feb. 26 at 10:30 pm EST / 7:30 pm PST
(India Time – Feb. 27 at 9 am)

His Holiness the Dalai Lama will give a short on the occasion of the Day of
Offerings - 15th day of the 1st Tibetan month (chotrul duechen).

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March 10-12 at 10:30 pm EST / 7:30 pm PST
(India Time – March 11-13 at 9 am)

His Holiness the Dalai Lama will give a talk on Buddhism and Science for Mongolian youth on the morning of March 10, and on March 11 and 12
mornings, His Holiness will give a two-day teaching on Praise to the 17 Nalanda Masters (pandit 17 soldep) & Je Tsongkhapa's The Three
Principal Aspects of the Path (lamtso namsum).

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April 6 at 10:30 pm EST / 7:30 pm PST
(India Time – April 7 at 9 am)

His Holiness the Dalai Lama will give a teaching on The Four Noble Truths (denpai shi) and The Two Truths (denpai nyi) followed by a question and answer session at the request of the Italian
Buddhist Union.

* * * * * SUPPORT * * * * *

AmazonSmile is now available in the Amazon app!
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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
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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!



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