Dear John,

What a transformative year for Tibet. Together in 2019, we made great strides
in pushing for reciprocity and more
access to Tibet, for Tibetans to maintain control of their own religion and for
preservation of the fragile environment of the Tibetan plateau.

You should be proud, John, of everything you helped
accomplish for the people of Tibet. Among so many notable events this year,
ICT’s community of compassion:

* Pushed the US government to fully implement the Reciprocal Access to Tibet
Act (RATA) , passed in December 2018; confirmed when the US State Department issued its
first report last March and again when US Ambassador for International
Religious Freedom Sam Brownback announced in early December that RATA will
soon be fully enforced. Now, we have a strategy to introduce RATA-like
legislation in Europe and Australia along with our international offices and
partner organizations.
* Secured introduction of the Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2019 (TPSA) and
approval by key committee , which would update and strengthen US policy on Tibet
in many areas and put
the US government officially on record supporting Tibetan Buddhists as the
only rightful determiners of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s succession—not the
Chinese government. The bill has since been approved unanimously by the House
Foreign Affairs Committee and will now go to the House of Representatives for
a vote.
* Helped secure US government funding for humanitarian projects for Tibetans both
living in exile and in Tibet amounting to approximately $20 million.
* Sent over 11,000 petitions and made over 75 in-person visits to Members of
Congress calling for co-sponsors of the Tibetan Policy and Support Act, plus over
9,000 messages and over 100 visits urging support for Tibet during our Tibet Lobby Day in March. These ICT
member actions bolster the ongoing advocacy efforts ICT’s team undertakes
throughout the year.
* Launched the Washington Internship Program for Tibetan Americans , which offers
Tibetan American college students a fully-paid fellowship
named after our former Executive Chairman Lodi Gyari to intern in
congressional offices and gain firsthand political experience.
* Hosted a special summit in San Francisco featuring Speaker Nancy Pelosi, ICT
Board Chair Richard Gere and Jetsun Pema, the Dalai Lama’s younger sister and
driving force behind the Tibetan Children’s Village school system , including
hundreds of ICT members in conversation on why Tibet matters
today.
* Celebrated the 30th anniversary of His Holiness the Dalai Lama being awarded
the Nobel Peace Prize , continuing his legacy of raising awareness of the Tibetan cause and
advocacy for peace.
* Submitted a Priority Petition asking the United Nations to take a stand for
Tibet’s environment —already in crisis due to China’s rampant manufacturing, mining and
industrialization—with over 7,000 signatures.
* Delivered over 5,000 ribbons proclaiming “I Stand With Tibetans” to Tibetan
refugees in Dharamsala— all signed by members of our community of compassion like you.

These are just some of the highlights of the work and impact you’ve helped make
possible, John. On behalf of the people of Tibet,
ICT’s Board of Directors and ICT’s staff, thank you for making a difference—and
I hope you’ll continue to stand with us in 2020.

Warm Wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year,

Matteo Mecacci
President


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