Jun 7, 2009 in Featured, News
U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) arrives in D.C. for the 20th anniversary of protests in Tiananmen Square/AFP
Dharamshala: Marking the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre on Thursday (4 June), US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined fellow members of the US Congress and human rights activists to express their commitment to work until freedom and openness prevails in China and in Tibet.
China’s right activist Yang Jianli and the Initiatives for China organised the gathering at the US Capitol Hill.
“Words fail me to adequately tell you what an honor it is to be on the same stage and in the presence of so many of the heroes of June 4 – to have a message at the same time from His Holiness the Dalai Lama in solidarity for more openness in China and Tibet.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s statement in Chinese and English languages were read out on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, Speaker Pelosi said: “We stand here in front of the Capitol of the United States, a beacon of freedom to the world, with a great history of free speech and open discussion.
“On this side of the Capitol, here on these grounds, we stand with people who took to heart and to mind, the words of our Founders. In our Declaration of Independence, in our Constitution, our words talked about every person being equal and ‘endowed by their creator.” ‘Endowed by their creator,’ not by the state, but ‘endowed by their creator’ of certain rights like liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And it was for life and liberty – and some people paid that price in Tiananmen Square. They paid with their lives and their liberty to speak out for freedom. Read the rest
Jun 7, 2009 in News
RFA's Tibetan broadcaster Tseten Dolkar receives the 2009 David Burke Distinguished Journalism Award at a ceremony in Washington, US, on 3 June 2009/Photo: RFA
Dharamshala: Tseten Dolkar of the Tibetan Service of Radio Free Asia (RFA) was honoured with the 2009 David Burke Distinguished Journalism Award for her outstanding reporting during 10 months of 2008 covering the peaceful Tibetan protests.
Dolkar, a member of Radio Free Asia’s Tibetan service, received the award at a ceremony held by the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) in the Cohen Building in Washington on Wednesday, 3 June.
Named after former BBG Chairman David Burke, the award recognizes courage, integrity and originality in reporting by journalists within the BBG broadcast organizations.
“She helped cover the earliest stories of Tibetan unrest due to the Tibetan peoples’ trust in her objectivity, as she employed multiple sources, including the Chinese police, and triple-checked her stories before broadcasting,” said BBG Governor Blanquita Cullum.
“We are proud of Tseten Dolkar, who is deserving of this wonderful honor and high praise, as is the staff of Radio Free Asia’s Tibetan service, for their tireless work in breaking this story,” RFA’s website quoted Libby Liu, President of Radio Free Asia as saying. Read the rest
Jun 4, 2009 in Featured, News
Click to Enlarge
Jun 3, 2009 in Featured, News
His Holiness the Dalai Lama being greeted by the public at the inter-faith prayer gathering. Photo by Ragnar Axelsson
Reykjavik, 1 June: The most prominent Church here, called Hallgrimskirkja, was today packed to capacity with 1200 people as they came to hear His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his first ever visit to Iceland. Many people were also seen standing on the sides of the church hall with all seats being filled and many others unable to fit in waited outside to have a glimpse of His Holiness as he made his way out.
The Tibetan Nobel Peace laureate was invited by the Bishop of Iceland, His Grace Karl Sigurbjornsson, to address the special inter-faith gathering of “peace and prayer” held in the Church located in downtown area of the country’s capital Reykjavik. This public inter-faith event attended by representatives of various religious and faiths such as Islam, the Catholic Church of Iceland, the Bahai Community of Iceland, the Russian Orthodox Church of Iceland, etc., was organised especially to coincide with His Holiness’ June 1-3 visit to Iceland.
His Holiness being welcomed by the Bishop of Iceland at the special inter-faith gathering. Photo by Ragnar Axelsson
Bishop Sigurbjornsson in welcoming His Holiness spoke about the Tibetan leader’s untiring witness to peace and hope.
“The suffering of your people and country, Tibet, from which you had to flee fifty years ago, has touched a deep cord in our hearts. We Icelanders are a small nation cherishing our freedom and we can identify with the pain of oppression. In a world of escalating violence, hate and retaliation your witness to the way of peace, compassion and reconciliation has been beacon for us all,” the Bishop said. Read the rest
Jun 2, 2009 in Featured, News
His Holiness the Dalai Lama (R), walks hand in hand with Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen/Photo:AFP
Copenhagen: His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived here Friday afternoon and straight away proceeded in a motorcade, escorted by five Danish police motorcyclists, to first meet Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and later Foreign Minister Per Stig Møller.
His Holiness thanked Prime Minister Rasmussen for meeting him on the first day of his visit to Denmark that is taking place primarily at the invitations to give teachings and a public talk on “Peace Through Inner Peace.”
His Holiness said that all his trips abroad are spiritual and educational in nature and that in this connection he tries to fulfil his two main commitments of promoting warm-heartedness as a member of the same human family and inter-religious harmony as a religious practitioner.
The prime minister said that he was pleased to meet with His Holiness and that although there are not many Buddhists in Denmark, many Danish people admire and have great respect for His Holiness.
He said Denmark supports human rights for the Tibetan people and said as His Holiness will later be meeting the Foreign Minister, they should discuss the situation in Tibet. His Holiness was accompanied at this meeting by his Secretary Mr. Tenzin Taklha and London-based Representative Mr. Tsering Tashi. Read the rest
For more information | 
