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

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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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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:

Watch the full event here:

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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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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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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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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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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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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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We will have some new items in our online store very soon, so check out www.savetibetstore.org for the latest!

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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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Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021 at 1 pm EST / 10 am PST

This new book from the International Campaign for Tibet illuminates the lives of nine Tibetan nuns held in the notorious Drapchi Prison in the early 1990s. In this special Tibet Talk, you’ll get to hear excerpts from their stories of captivity, survival, resistance and freedom. The event will feature two of the nuns, Ngawang Sangdrol and Phuntsog Nyidron, and other special guests.

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

Recordings of past Tibet Talks are available at savetibet.org/live and a podcast version of Tibet Talks is available on iTunes, Spotify and Google Podcasts. Learn more at savetibet.org/pod/.

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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 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!

The Tibet Update Newsletter is a summary of news and governmental actions related to Tibet.

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