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