Fr
ee
འབྲེལ་གཏུགས་གསར་འཕྲིན།
Contact
A Free Monthly Publication For Tibetan Issues and Community Information RGD No. HPENG/2013/51798 Volume: XX Issue:5 JUNE 30, 2018 HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOUR HOLINESS! Lha Charitable Trust and Contact team send birthday greetings to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his 83rd Birthday. May you continue to be the beacon of hope and positivity in this world. May your teachings on compassion, love, nonviolence, humanity and warm-heartedness continue to inspire millions and bring changes to all sentient beings. Happy Birthday Your Holiness!
No Religious Freedom in Tibet Education or Indoctrination?
by Asmita Bakshi The International Religious Freedom Report 2017 was released by the United States State Department on May 29. The report is published annually and describes the status of religious freedom in every country, covering government policies which violate religious belief as well as US policies to promote religious freedom around the world. The report Continued on page 3
W www.contactmagazine.net
by Lodoe Gyatso The Chinese government is “training” Buddhist monks and nuns “to strengthen their political beliefs” the official news site Global Times reported on June 4. The article said that these “facilitators” were chosen based on the “firmness of their political stance and competence” and are expected to be “reliable in politics Continued on page 3
Contact News
Contact News
ABOUT LHA & CONTACT Contact, a free monthly magazine published by Lha Charitable Trust, is a recognised and registered publication under the Registrar Office of the Newspaper, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India. The registration number is HPENG/2013/51798. Acknowledged by Lonely Planet and other international travel resources, Contact has been a popular source of news and information on Tibetan issues, and the Dharamshala community, for over 20 years. 700 - 1,000 copies are printed per issue and distributed in the Dharamshala area, Delhi, and various diplomatic missions of India. Copies are also sent to various Tibetan schools, settlements, offices and NGOs in India and abroad. Please Note: The articles, stories and other material in Contact represent the views of the authors and are not necessarily the views of the Contact editing staff or Lha Social Work. All comments on this issue should be submitted by email to: editor@contactmagazine.net
Lha Charitable Trust
Institute for Social Work & Education Mission Statement:
Lha is a resource of education and knowledge that provides meaningful, multi-levelled social and educational services for the benefit of others.
Background:
Lha is an award-winning, grassroot and non-profit institute for social work and education based in Dharamshala, India. It is one of the largest social work organisations providing vital resources for Tibetan refugees, the local Indian population and people from the Himalayan regions. Lha offers free English, French, German, Tibetan, Chinese classes, cultural exchange programmes, IT classes, vocational training, health and environmental awareness education, distribution of clothes and medicine, a community kitchen, and many other programmes and activities. Through rehabilitation resources and social and educational services, Lha facilitates an easy transition for the Tibetan refugee community to India. On a daily basis, Lha serves over 250 people, hosts between 15 and 25 volunteers and provides up to 20 different services, including on average 50 nutritious meals per day for financially disadvantaged people. For more information about Lha, please visit: www.lhasocialwork.org Facebook: Lhasocialwork Twitter: Lhasocialwork
Lha Traveller Services and Volunteer Opportunities
Long or short-term, skilled or unskilled volunteers needed at Lha
• English conversation (Mon-Fri, 4-5pm) • English, French and Chinese teachers • Computer teachers • Web designers and IT professionals • Contributing writers • Environmental professionals • Medical and healthcare professionals • Fundraisers and grant writers • Project professionals • Chefs and cooks • And much more! Share your knowledge and skills with the local Tibetan, Indian, and Himalayan communities whilst gaining hands-on experience working with a social work organisation. TIBETAN HOME-STAY Lha arranges home-stays with refugee families giving visitors the chance to experience the Tibetan life style and a chance to connect and learn about each others’ cultures. Homestays include accommodation, breakfast, and dinner.
*All donations and fees from Lha classes and services directly benefit Lha community social work projects. Contact
RECEPTION & ORIENTATION Our services help smooth your arrival in Delhi and your onward travel to Dharamshala. We also orientate you to the Tibetan community here. Avoid the scams at Delhi Airport! Highly recommended for people who want a stress-free arrival, especially if you are arriving late at night or early in the morning, and can be purchased online in advance of your travel to India. TIBETAN COOKING CLASS Individuals and small groups can learn to prepare a variety of traditional and modern vegetarian Tibetan foods including momos, thukpa and Tibetan bread, with a qualified teacher. For information on cost, times and/or registration, please visit: Lha office, Temple Road, McLeod Ganj-176219 Dharamshala, Distt. Kangra H.P. (Mon-Sat: 9am-1pm & 2-5pm) office@lhasocialwork.org (0) 1892-220992 Websites associated with Lha: www.lhasocialwork.org www.samdhongrinpoche.com www.tibetfairtrade.com www.tibetnature.net 2
Acknowledgement
This issue of Contact is sponsored by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD). TFD’s kind contribution has made this publication possible. We thank TFD for supporting the publication of Contact.
Can you Donate to Lha? Lha collects all kinds of donations in the form of clothing, shoes, books, and language resources, computer and medical supplies, as well as any other useful items. Monetary donations are extremely helpful and are greatly appreciated, large or small. Please contact the office: office@lhasocialwork.org (0) 98823-23455 / 1892-220992 JUNE 2018
NEWS & ISSUES
Continued from page 1
No Religious Freedom in Tibet
is submitted in accordance with the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. In the section on China, the report highlights the control exercised by the Chinese authorities over religious freedom in Tibet in the year 2017, saying that while the constitution of the People’s Republic of China states that citizens “enjoy freedom of religious beliefs”, the authorities place strict regulations on the practice of Buddhism in the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR). The report brings out some of these regulations in detail – including the assertion of state control over religious venues, groups and personnel; the authorities reserving the right to “deny permission for a lama to be recognised as reincarnated”, saying that, “The government continued to exercise its authority over the approval of reincarnations of Tibetan Buddhist lamas and the supervision of their religious education,” and adding that “authorities closely supervised the education of many key young reincarnate lamas” and that “government officials, rather
than religious leaders, continued to manage the selection of the reincarnate lamas’ religious and lay tutors in the TAR and some other Tibetan areas”. It also referred to the authorities’ “formal control over the building and management of religious structures”. It reports the “forced disappearance, physical abuse, prolonged detention, and arbitrary arrest of persons due to their religious practice” and revealed that according to local sources, 11,500 monks and nuns were evicted from Buddhist institutes at Larung Gar and Yachen Gar by Chinese authorities, and the destruction of “as many as 6,000 homes where they resided and subjecting many of them to ‘patriotic re-education”. The report further states that cases of self-immolation as a means of protest against government policies doubled this year and stood at six, as against the previous year when three protestors lost their lives. The youngest of these protestors was 16-year-old Chagdor Kyab, who set fire to himself in Bora (Bola) Township of Xiahe (Sangchu) County, Gansu Province, “while
calling for Tibetan freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama”. The report drew attention to the fact that “government officials regularly denigrated the Dalai Lama publicly” and “continued to maintain tight control over the activities of religious leaders and religious gatherings of laypersons” including the prohibition that “many monasteries and laypersons [should] not celebrate or organise any public gatherings for celebrations of the Dalai Lama’s 82nd birthday in July”, among other significant commemorative events. The report stated that the “US government repeatedly pressed Chinese authorities to respect religious freedom for all faiths and to allow Tibetans to preserve, practice, teach, and develop their religious traditions and language without interference from the government. US officials expressed concerns to the Chinese government at the highest levels about the severe restrictions imposed on Tibetans’ ability to exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms, including religious freedom and cultural rights.
Education or Indoctrination? Continued from page 1
and take a clear-cut and firm stance” and continued, saying that facilitators are also required “to be profound in religious knowledge, be convincing in morality and play an active role at critical moments”. They are to “spread knowledge and policy to the public”. The Chinese news site the Tibet Daily stated, “Tibet is the key to national security and the frontline of the anti-secession struggle”. The Global Times article quoted Xiong Kunxin, a professor at Beijing’s Minzu University of China as saying, “Buddhist temples play a key role in Tibet’s stability. The facilitators spread the latest religious and political policies and spirit from the central government to monks Contact
and nuns, leading them to advocate socialist development with Chinese characteristics.” He continued, “having the Buddhist facilitators preach policies to monks and nuns is more effective than through a third-party lecture or directly from the central government” and added that as religious personnel, Buddhist facilitators have a better understanding of the thoughts and habits of their own group. In reporting this development, the Washington Post stated that the “Chinese authorities are ramping up political indoctrination among Tibetan Buddhist clergy and officials in charge of religious affairs as part of a campaign to strengthen the ruling Communist Party’s grip on 3
religion”. The journal continued, “Such indoctrination, along with compulsory political study in monasteries, aims to reduce the appeal of the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, as well as build loyalty to the officially atheistic party.” The Washington Post points out other religious groups that have also come under pressure with Christian churches destroyed and hundreds of thousands of Muslims held in reeducation centres. The exile Tibetan news site Phayul commented on, “the larger designs of the Chinese government to officially make the monastic community a channel to propagate its political influence in Tibet”. JUNE 2018
NEWS & ISSUES UN Condemns China’s Refusal to Give Access to Tibet and Xinjiang by Lodoe Gyatso Prince Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, in his final address made to the UN Human Rights Council’s 38th session on June 18 reported on the failure of some countries to grant access to UN Human Rights personnel. During the course of his speech, he rebuked China for not allowing his staff unfettered access to the country, including the Tibetan Autonomous Region and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, where the human rights situation is reportedly fast deteriorating. The High Commissioner noted that although two mandate-holders have visited the country in the past five years China has, in that period, accumulated more than 15 pending requests for visits.
He also stated his dismay at China’s continuing efforts to prevent independent members of civil society from engaging with human rights mechanisms. One example of such a mechanism is the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which involves a periodic review of the human rights records of all 193
UN member states. This year China, amongst others, is due to undergo its third UPR. The High Commissioner encouraged the Chinese authorities
to “enable all actors to contribute to all the international human rights mechanisms, and to cooperate with them in a spirit of open and mutual partnership, in order to improve respect for the rights and freedoms of China’s people”. He exhorted all nations to support the founding principles of the UN, namely the protection of peace, rights, justice and social progress. He stated that only by pursuing the opposite to nationalism – only when States all work for each other, for everyone, for all people, for the human rights of all people – can peace be attainable. He appealed to the international community “to do more, to speak louder and work harder for the common purpose and for universal human rights law, to better our chances for a global peace”.
US Pulls Out of UN Human Rights Council by Rohini Kejriwal Council had an important part in rights in China as it paves the way The United States recently withdrew addressing serious rights abuses for a new world order centred on the from the United Nations Human worldwide, and the US’s withdrawal Communist Party. Rights Council, with Ambassador gives free reign to the ruling Chinese Prior to this, the International to the UN Nikki Haley calling it Communist Party to carry out human Religious Freedom Report 2017 was “a mockery of human rights” for rights violations unchecked. This in released by the United States State allowing China and several Department on May 29, other countries to join, and which highlighted the control for a rule that scrutinises over religious freedom Israel’s treatment of the exercised by the Chinese Palestinian people. She authorities, who claim that further declared that the “citizens enjoy freedom US’s commitment to of religious beliefs”. The human rights would not report also brings to light allow it to remain part of the “forced disappearance, a “hypocritical and selfphysical abuse, prolonged serving organisation that detention, and arbitrary makes a mockery of human arrest of persons due to rights”. their religious practice” and The US pullout has US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and US Secretary revealed that according to strongly affected humans of State Mike Pompeo announce US withdrawal from the UN Human local sources, 11,500 monks Rights Council rights activists and and nuns were evicted from dissidents who relied on its support turn means that other governments Buddhist institutes at Larung Gar and for taking actions against regular will have to increase their efforts Yachen Gar by Chinese authorities. violators such as China, Saudi to address human rights issues. The report further stated that cases Arabia and Venezuela, who have HRW’s China director Sophie of self-immolation as a means of lost out on a critic. According to Richardson has declared this move protest against government policies Human Rights Watch (HRW), the “highly problematic” for human doubled in 2017. Contact
4
JUNE 2018
NEWS & ISSUES Former Political Prisoner’s Family Harassed in Tibet by Tenzin Samten Monlam Kyi, 69, mother of former Tibetan political prisoner Tenzin Woeser, has been detained for interrogation by the Chinese authorities in Pema County in Golok Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. “The family was threatened
[with] severe consequences if they failed to hand over the former political prisoner to the authorities,” said a report released by the Tibetan Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (TCHRD) on June 11. According to the TCHRD report, Tenzin Woeser, 35, who has been living in India since 2000, said that local police detained his mother on May 29 and released her on June 6 after 10 days of intensive questioning about her
son. Woeser worries that his mother has undergone a traumatic experience. “I am very concerned about her health because she is also a heart patient,” said Woeser, speaking to TCHRD. Woeser’s mother Monlam Kyi is a retired primary teacher who is living the life of a lay Buddhist spiritual practitioner in Welshul village in Drubchen Township. She was visited by local Chinese police on May 22, enquiring about her son, despite the fact that he has not lived there since 2000. “They [the police officers] were carrying a file and looking at its contents while asking my family about my whereabouts. The file apparently contained details about me and other family members,” said Woeser. The report further stated that Woeser’s sister, a nurse at a local government hospital, together with her husband who works at a local mining office, were fired from their jobs on June 6. In addition, their ration cards and a plot of land they owned were confiscated. Woeser was a monk at Do Drubchen Gon Sangchen Ngodup Palwar Ling
Monastery. In 1997 at the age of 14, he and his cousin Dothuk, along with some other monks, were involved in a campaign pasting leaflets in their county town calling for Tibetan independence. He was later detained and sentenced to five years for engaging in political activity. However, due to his age, he was released six months later. He was barred from returning to his monastery after his release and was ordered to report to the County Public Security Bureau office every month. He fled to India in 2000 where he studied at the Tibetan Children’s Village school, Suja. Currently, Woeser is a member of staff at the Tibetan Children’s village school, Selakui, in Dehradun. “I have no idea why they are doing this. My biggest concern is my mother and other family members who are still in Tibet. They are innocent, especially my mother who dedicated her whole life as a schoolteacher. She should not be treated this way. I am equally worried about my sister and her husband. How can they survive without their jobs?” said Woeser, quoted in the TCHRD report.
Release Tashi Wangchuk!
by Deepak Rana Six United Nations Human Rights experts – five United Nations Special Rapporteurs and the Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention – issued a statement on June 6 condemning the five-year jail sentence handed to Tashi Wangchuk, the 32-year-old Tibetan language activist, by a Chinese court for voicing his opinions on the cultural and linguistic rights of the Tibetans. Last month, on May 22, the Intermediate Court in Yushu, Qinghai province announced the sentence – nearly five months after Tashi Wangchuk’s case was heard in court. In 2016 Tashi Wangchuk appeared in a New York Times video speaking about his efforts to preserve his native language in Tibet. The video showed Tashi’s attempts in Beijing to get state Contact
media and courts to address what he describes as the diminishing of the Tibetan language and the “systematic slaughter of Tibetan culture”. Tashi spoke in the video in Mandarin, talking
about the “pressure and fear” felt by Tibetans, though he never advocated independence from China – which was the primary accusation against him. He was arrested on January 27, 2016 for participating in the documentary and speaking against the oppression of Tibetan culture by Chinese authorities. He has been under arrest since then. The court made clear in its verdict that 5
it found him guilty of “incitement to separatism” and handed a five-year prison sentence. Following the verdict, a group of UN human rights experts issued a press statement condemning the sentencing and saying, “Governments should under no circumstances undermine or repress legitimate human rights advocacy and action, such as in this case, using national security, public order or antiterrorism discourses.” The UN Human Rights group, in its appeal, has asked the Chinese Government to provide information about specific measures undertaken to promote and protect the linguistic and cultural rights of the Tibetan minority. “We regret that, to date, the Government of China has not yet provided us with a satisfactory response,” they wrote on their website. JUNE 2018
NEWS & ISSUES
His Holiness Teaches Young Tibetans in Dharamshala
by Nivedita Nair His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama conducted a three-day teaching aimed at Tibetan youth in Tsuglakhang, the main temple in Dharamshala, from June 6. He addressed an estimated 9,000 people, the majority college and high school students, together with 150 Thai monks from the Thai
and kill each other, despite scientists observing that basic human nature is compassionate.” He explained that Nagarjuna had taught us that, “through the elimination of karma and mental afflictions there is liberation; Karma and mental afflictions come from conceptual thoughts and these come from mental elaborations. Elaboration ceases through emptiness.” His Holiness observed that, “Modern education is more focussed on achieving material development
His Holiness greeting the Thai monks
Dharamsala Charitable Society, around 2,000 foreigners and a number of local Tibetans. He opened the first day of the teachings by saying, “Students and school children are the main disciples on this occasion, but I am also glad to welcome monks from Thailand.” He continued, “In the past there has been little contact between members of the Pali and Sanskrit traditions.” He said that a “first step will be for monastics from each side to learn the other’s language”. Through all three days, he cited the book Guide to the Bodhisatva Way of Life and the wisdom of Nagarjuna, a Mahayana philosopher. He said that, “In today’s world people abuse
than on cultivating our basic human inclinations towards compassion.” His Holiness’s observation on the nature of negative emotions being a consequence of the modern day and age was brought up again on the second day, when he referred to the work of American psychiatrist Aaron Beck who has long experience of working with people deeply troubled by anger. His Holiness connected Beck’s reasoning on anger being a result of misguided mental projections with the idea that religious tradition aims
to develop peace of mind. He stated that, “The Buddhas uproot ignorance and lead beings to liberation by teaching about reality. The historical Buddha observed that each of us is our own master, implying that we can overcome suffering by eliminating ignorance from our own minds. No one else can do it for us.” In referring to the natural and social sciences, and tying them in with the teachings and verses of ancient Buddhist philosophers, His Holiness spoke of how the generation of tomorrow must concern itself with compassion towards one another, empathy and altruism, pride in one’s
Students from TCV School at Gopalpur demonstrating debate at the teaching Photo: OHHDL
own self and desire to contribute to the benefit of others, and reflection for the sake of attaining one’s own peace. He concluded with several readings, and said that, “In tackling disturbing emotions we need to use our intelligence and our ability to communicate through language.”
One Arrest and One Release in Tibet this Month
Jun 8: Monk Freed Lobsang Tenzin, 28, a Tibetan monk, has been released from prison, three
years early. He was serving a 10-year prison term for “aiding and abetting” Contact
the self-immolation protest in 2011 by fellow Kirti monk Phuntsog. Tenzin has returned to his home town in Ngaba. There is no news about his current health, and no reason has been given for his early release. Jun 6: Student Detained Student and writer Pema Gyatso, also known as Sota, 35, who had been taken into custody on unspecified charges on May 25, has been released. He runs a Tibetan literary forum on the social medial platform WeChat and has been 6
warned in the past that some of his writings were politically sensitive.
Gyatso is a student at the Northwest University for Nationalities in the Gansu capital Lanzhoue. JUNE 2018
NEWS & ISSUES
His Holiness in Europe : Raising Awareness
by Nivedita Nair His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited the eastern European countries of Lithuania and Latvia from June 13 to 18, where he met several political dignitaries and supporters of the Tibet cause. His teachings centred around the topic of human values in education, The Art of Happiness, Tsongkhapa’s In Praise of Dependent Origination, the Diamond Cutter Sutra and Manjushree Empowerment. Furthermore, he also delved into politics and philosophy. Addressing the crowd in Lithuania’s Siemens Arena, His Holiness spoke of how compassion and empathy can address bigger, universal issues of violence
His Holiness in Riga, Lativa Photo: OHHDL
and discrimination. He stated that, “Too much emphasis on ‘us and they’ are the source of all problems. Yes, on secondary levels, we have differences in nationality, religious faith, family backgrounds, educated, less educated but fundamentally all seven billion human beings want
Two Tibetan businessmen were detained early this month in Rimakor in Draggo county in Kardze, for being found in posession of photos of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The authorities are said to have launched a campaign to “combat criminal gangs and bad elementts in the region” reports Radio Free Asia. Contact
a happy life. That’s our right.” He continued by addressing moral values, and how kindness can be promoted by supporting the rise of women’s leadership around the world.
The talk, which was organised by the House of Tibet, a non-government organisation in Vilnius, was attended by 2,500 people, some of whom brought along Tibet’s national flag. Later that week, His Holiness conducted a three-day teaching in Riga, Latvia. He was welcomed by eight members of the Lithuanian Parliamentary Tibet Group and numerous supporters outside his hotel. He addressed the concerns surrounding the preservation of Tibetan culture and expounded on the difference between political and cultural boundaries. He said, “Political boundaries are the creation of bureaucrats, which may or may not reflect cultural boundaries. Historically the Chinese empire was characterised by political power, the Mongolian empire by its military prowess and the Tibetan empire by
Two Detained
7
its spiritual strength.” In making this distinction he explained that, “a map reflecting the extent of Tibetan Buddhist culture would be much larger than a political map of Tibet, as spirituality can spread across political boundaries. Thus Buddhist values and principles of compassion and love are universal.” During the final day of his teachings in Riga, he reaffirmed his commitment to the Middle Way Approach, which states that Tibet will not seek independence, but remain a part of People’s Republic of China. He urged the Tibetan community around the world to combine their sense of ethnic pride with the ideal of universal
His Holiness with the Mayor of Vilnius Remigiuus Simasius Photo: OHHDL
compassion, and encouraged young people to pursue modern education so that one day they can return to their homeland. Both men are restaurant owners, one is called Yama Tashi, the other’s name is unknown and both are reported as still remaining in detention. The images were found during a police raid on their homes - these raids are becoming commonplace under the current crackdown. JUNE 2018
NEWS & ISSUES Genesis of a Neo Earth The winning essay from Lha Charitable Trust’s essay competition to mark World Environment Day 2018 by Tenzin Yonten Zenang When Mr Leo Baekland invented Bakelite in 1907, he would have never imagined that a young eight-year-old Tibetan refugee who had never seen an ocean would swim in a pool of emptied plastic bottles in Mcleod Ganj, a town remotely located in North India, hubbub of politics and home for many Tibetan refugees. Back then it was quiet with countable vehicles in a town where the only entertainment was playing outside. Nothing was prevalent like today except for those plastic bottles. Of course plastic isn’t just for a package for drinking water, it is pervasive in just about everything, prevailing over traditional materials. Modern industries rely on plastic because it is cheaper, lighter, and durable. Yes, durable simply because it is composed of large molecules, this is where the real problem lies since it takes a very long time to decompose after being discarded. Reflecting back to the pool of plastic, back then I reckon not many were aware of a plastic crisis. Probably because plastic was a strong force behind the profit and countries’ growing GDP. Back then countries primary concerns were the efficient, least-cost allocation of scarce productive resources and the optimal growth of these resources over time to produce an ever expanding range of goods and services . According to a report prepared by FICCI and Tata Strategic Management Group (TSMG) on the plastic industry entitled Plastic Packaging – The Sustainable Choice, packaging is one of the fastest growing industries and stands at 700 billion USD globally. Plastics comprise 42% of packaging with a combination of rigid and flexible plastics in packaging. The Environmental Protection Agency points out that, on average, people only recycle one plastic bag in every 200 they use. Each year, an estimated 500 billion to one trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide. That comes out to over one million per minute – billions end up as litter each year. Those are big numbers and honestly quite nauseating. Anyways, remember that refugee I mentioned who never Contact
saw an ocean in the beginning? What prompted me to say this is because I am overwhelmed by David KA. Barnes’s statement (a marine scientist), that plastic bags have gone “from being rare in the late 80s and early 90s to being almost everywhere”. That’s, to me, mindboggling. Also, I have actually never seen an ocean. However I know how enormous the ocean is, covering ¾ of our earth, and that people are capable of polluting to such extent. My personal experience has been oblivious, and limited from swimming in empty plastic bottles to voluntarily participating in a local clean up group (Waste Warriors) in collecting garbage on the hill and the occasional prod by broken glass (thrown by a drunk) while swimming in the river. Oh, how can I ever forget cows/bulls chewing on plastic bags so deliciously but I can’t unsee a video where a veterinarian put his hand inside a living cow’s gut and pulled back a bunch of bags, undigested obviously. (I am glad we can’t smell in videos.) If it wasn’t the monetary issue, there is an option of bio-plastic, genetically engineered bacteria to synthesise completely biodegradable plastic such as Biopol. However, this is expensive. Therefore, the earliest approach to the plastic problem was met with a wide effort toward recycling. I have seen people reusing bags, however reusing plastic bottles can be harmful but still people continue, I guess we trust authority a bit too much and hopefully those reused plastic bottles aren’t polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic containers in which chemicals get dissolved gradually causing death due to cancer and other skin diseases. Eww! Scary. Well, studies and awareness campaigns effectively pursued have led many countries to ban plastic bags. In India, 20 states completely ban plastic bags and 5 states partially ban. Likewise, there are many organisations, individuals and foundations aiming to fight plastic. Recently, I saw this simple yet ingenious invention ‘Seabin’ - created by two Australian surfers, that literally sucks pollution out from the water’s surface. Mr Adrian Griffiths from the British 8
company Recycling Technologies is using a machine the size of a tennis court in a trash processing centre west of London to break down a variety of plastic products, including cling wrap and electronics, and turn them into usable materials or energy producing oil. If I could narrow our perspective a little, I read about the Indian lawyer Afroz Shah who decided to start cleaning the beach rather than resorting to complaining about it. He later received community support and after 48 weeks the beach has transformed into something no-one has ever seen, clean Versova beach. I will not go into great detail on how Tibet is polluted by the Chinese government, etc.… however I want to assert that many Tibetan individuals have dedicated their life to environmental conservation. The best example I can give you is Tulku Tenzin Delek who was recently persecuted and later allegedly killed by the Chinese. I believe Tibetans have a sense of keeping a clean environment, probably because His Holiness the Dalai Lama repeatedly educates on the importance of the environment. Maybe, the exile Tibetan community is small enough to spread awareness quicker. I know of a lady who collects garbage around Lingkor and everyone appreciates her initiative. The planet earth is 4.5 billion years old and she has gone through ice ages, volcanic eruptions and comets that wiped out the dinosaurs but earth still remains. It has been only 200,000 years since humans came into existence. We do not stand as a threat to earth, the earth can handle anything humanity throws at it and heals only on the millennial time scale, and the earth will be where it was meant to be. The real threat is to us. There is no distinction between our environment and us. Like astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson puts it, “We are part of this universe; we are in this universe, but perhaps more important than both of those facts, is that the universe is in us.” Thus, every effort we put into taking care of earth is an effort to save ourselves. Humanity’s major problem is with the excess of plastic, compared to Continued on page 11 JUNE 2018
NEWS & ISSUES
Renewed Concerns Along India-Tibet Border by Marvin Westerveld China continues to expand its mining activities in south Tibetan border areas. According to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the relatively independent newspaper published in China, geological surveys have found large deposits of gold, silver and precious minerals in Lhunze county – a mere 15 kilometres away from the disputed border with India’s Arunachal Pradesh. The report raises concerns about the motive behind China’s mining activities there. According to an interview with Zheng Youye, a professor at the Chinese University of Geosciences in Beijing, the discovered ores are expected to have a value of US$ 58 billion / £ 44 billion. But the article reports Zheng Youye as suggesting that the development of border areas might also be aimed at gaining control of Indian territories which are claimed by China [Arunachal Pradesh]. Within the last year, Lhunze county has turned into the biggest mining area within the Tibetan Autonomous Region, says the SCMP
report. But there are signs that China intends to further develop the area as construction is underway on an airport with the capacity to handle passenger jets. Several tunnels and roads have already been built in close proximity to the 3,488 kilometre Line of Actual Control [LAC, or the
McMahon Line, the de facto border between India and Tibet agreed in the early 20th Century by India, Tibet and the United Kingdom but never recognised by China]. Speaking about the South China Morning Post article in a press briefing the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said the area mentioned by the report “totally belongs to China”. He pointed out
“China’s sovereignity” regarding geological surveys and mining in its territory. While it is possible that the Indian side of the border offers similar minerals, the area has not been the focus of geological surveillance or development – causing many residents to leave the area. At the same time, Lhunze county on the Tibetan side shows an immense economic growth, with the average income of residents tripling during the last few years. The McMahon line south of Lunze county is held to be illegal by the Chinese government. They claim Arunachal Pradesh – an Indian state – as “Little Tibet” which, they say, is Chinese territory. “[China] never recognised the socalled Arunachal Pradesh,” said Geng Shuan, a Chinese government spokesperson, earlier this year. The SCMP quotes Professor Zheng as saying, “China conquered South Tibet after launching a war against India in the early 1960s. But our troops had to retreat quickly because we had no people there to hold the land.”
Crackdown in Shigatse
by Choeyang Wangmo Tibetans in Nyamo Township, Shigatse County in the Tibet Autonomous region led a mass appeal on May 6 against the local County administration, requesting them to re-examine a murder investigation dating back to 2016. In 2016 the police detained 14 people for the murder of an elderly Tibetan man, nine of whom are still in custody, five were released on May 18. All 182 households from the Nyamo Township took part in the mass appeal. Thirty-two police vehicles arrived to crackdown on the protesters. The Deputy Secretary Contact
of the local Communist Party and staff from the office were detained, accused of instigating the rebels and the protest in the area. Local Tibetans
say they will stop farming in protest if the authorities refuse to release the demonstrators. 9
The local Tibetans initially requested the County Headquarters to review the murder case. However the police released the suspect after accepting a bribe and beat the victim’s family. Voice of Tibet reports that the Chinese Communist Party plans to withdraw the town from the Annual Exemplary Award, saying the leaders have incited the locals to rebel and thus have failed to maintain peace in the area. The region is under tight security and the Chinese police have warned Tibetans against passing on any information about the incident. JUNE 2018
NEWS & ISSUES
Parliamentary Delegation Visit to Canada
by Deepak Rana The President of the Tibetan government-in-exile, officially known as the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), Dr Lobsang Sangay, and a delegation of legislators from the CTA visited Canada to attend official programmes from June 12 to 17. The parliamentary delegation was comprised of Dhondup Tashi Tsaneytsang, Tenpa Yarphel, Migyur Dorjee and Namgyal Dolkar Lhagyari. The delegation attended the “Thank You Canada” event in Ottawa, the capital city of Canada on June 12 - one of the “Thank You Year” evnts, a year-long campaign of the CTA to mark the onset of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 60th year in exile. The chief guest at the event was Melanie Joly, the Canadian Minister of Multiculturalism, and the
event was attended by close to 200 people including the local Tibetan community. In his address, Dr Sangay thanked Canada and its people and the friends of Tibet for being with Tibet and its people throughout. He referred to the advice of His Holiness the Dalai Lama who said people should make new friends while remembering old ones. On this occasion, His Holiness himself thanked the Canadian government and the people for their continued support for Tibet and the Tibetan people through a video message. The next day, the Senate Standing Committees on Human Rights, and Foreign Affairs and International Trade hosted a special meeting to hear the delegation speak on Tibet’s geopolitical importance and
aspirations of Tibetan people. During the event, Dr Sangay stressed the Tibetans’ pursuit of non-violence in their struggle against China’s constant exploitation of Tibetan heritage. He also criticised the imprisonment of Tibetan language advocate Tashi Wanchuk. He said that in contrast to the delegation from the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), the delegation led by him represents the true aspirations of the Tibetan people. During an interview with Canada’s National Post, Dr Sangay said, “Amid recent uncertainty with Canada’s biggest trade partner, the United States, it makes economic sense to engage with China. But Canada should be careful not to self-censor or turn a blind eye to human rights abuses by the Chinese government.”
Football: Not Just a Game for Tibetans
by Tenzin Samten The FIFA World Cup starting June 14 meant that football fever has not only hit the world but also the exile Tibetan community. The Tibetan Men’s National Football Team-in-exile participated in the CONIFA 2018 World Cup in London, United Kingdom – an alternative “World Cup” for nations, minorities and regions who are not members of the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA). The ten-day tournament was held from May 31 to June 9 – it was the second CONIFA World Cup since its inception in 2013 and the exile Tibetan team’s first time competing. This opportunity gave supporters from both inside Tibet and around the world a chance to experience the hope and pride of representing their nation. The team was knocked out after three matches. “It is a dream to play for the national team. Football is the game that can make your country proud, whether you win or lose. I feel proud to play for my nation,” said Gelek Wangchuk, Contact
midfielder of the Tibetan National Team, speaking to wamu.org. Passang Dorjee, the team’s manager told the Independent that the team was blessed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama who told them to be
“a compassionate Tibetan” wherever they go and to uphold and enhance Tibetan dignity. The Tibetan National team fielded 22 players from India, Nepal, Canada, United States and France who came together to represent their nation among the 16 teams playing in the CONIFA tournament – played in advance of the FIFA World Cup which starts on June 14. “Our main aim is always to bring people from across the world together 10
that wouldn’t meet otherwise. Having Tuvaluans meeting Tibetans is just an important mission to make the world a more connected place, at least mentally,” said Sascha Düerkop, CONIFA General Secretary, speaking to LiveMint. Back in the exile community in Dharamshala, the football has continued with the “Thank You India” tournament hosted by the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) – the largest non-government Tibetan youth organisation, with 16 teams participating. The opening day saw a match between the Indo-Tibet Friendship Association and the team that represented the Tibetan NGOs. The ten-day tournament wrapped up on June 10 with Victory Team winning the trophy after a tight match against Deckyiling Regional TYC with a ground packed with an audience of all ages – lay people and monks alike. TYC said the aim of the tournament is to promote health awareness and unity among youngsters as well as to thank India for their support for Tibetans living in exile. JUNE 2018
NEWS & ISSUES Tibet’s Rivers Under Threat
by Kyra Grue Tibet represents the largest body of ice and permafrost outside the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Melt water from Tibet’s glaciers and snowfall, and the rivers arising in Tibet provide 40% of the Earth’s population with fresh water. China commenced large scale dam building in 1958 and now holds half the world’s dams inside its borders. Two thirds of these 87,000 dams are located on the Tibetan Plateau with many new megadam hydropower plants underway – hydropower is the centrepiece of China’s expanding renewable energy strategy. The human cost of the dams is the displacement of an estimated 23 million people while dam breaks have killed approximately 300,000 people. The ecological cost of the dams has been documented, as diversions and alterations in natural hydrological flows put river ecosystems under pressure, often beyond the point at which they can adapt. The exploitation of rivers on the Tibetan Plateau is escalating. Shuang Jiang Kou dam is currently being constructed along the GyelmoNgul
Chu (the Dadu River – a Yangtse tributary) within Sichuan Province. This 312m high embankment dam, with a 3.1bn m³ reservoir, is expected to be the tallest dam in the world when completed this year (2018). Its wall will be higher than the Potala Palace
(from valley floor to rooftop) and its reservoir will hold over one-fifth the capacity of Tibet’s holy Yamdrok Yumtso Lake. A13-dam cascade is planned for the Nu River which originates on the Tibetan Plateau and flows through Myanmar where it is known as the Salween. It is the last free-flowing river in Asia. Developments for the largest cascade of hydroelectric dams in the world which are planned for it
Genesis of a Neo Earth Continued from page 8
paper, plastic never fully breaks down. To my understanding and with limited knowledge, I wanted to share some ideas on how to tackle the plastic problem, though it’s all repetition. The most important step to conserve the environment is the 3Rs: reduce; recycle and reuse. I love it when celebrities promote something meaningful such as minimalism. To me that is proper use of their charisma, fame and wealth. Thich Nhat Hanh said, “Conscious consumption is not only good for the earth, it’s good for you.” “Mindfulness”, says : • Education is key. I am truly impressed by Tibetan teachers in schools. I distinctly remember their advice on littering and using bins. I said impressed because when I got out of school, I have seen grown ups littering everywhere and spitting blatantly. Contact
• Proper use of social networks. Instead of following your exes, read something useful and share it with the world. • Best solution I believe is awareness. When a person realises that their problems are a consequence of their own actions then they will be cautious. I don’t mean putting fear in a person’s mind but with awareness make them responsible. Authority must facilitate training and workshops and give clear guidelines on use, recycling and disposal of plastic and clear guidelines to implement actions, including targets and deadlines. • Understanding sustainability is crucial. I remember when I was in second year college they started a new subject called ‘sustainable development’; the subject touches an array of topics but is mostly on the environment and it specifically stresses that the resources we enjoy have finite limits. • More budgets to do research in tackling 11
are currently on hold due to China’s present economic lag and power oversupply. However, if they go ahead, the dams will likely displace 50,000 people – people who are predominately of ethnic minorities, including Tibetans. The Yarlung Tsangpo river, with its source at Mount Kailash, has a proposed 27 more dams. In addition to the Zangmu power station built close to Gyaca in the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR), there are plans for a potential northward rerouting of water at the Great Bend, which flows by Pei, Tibet: another major scheme. These immense damming operations are already impacting downstream nations through altered and reduced river flows. Spearheaded by the Central Tibetan Administration, there is a campaign to make China accountable under the United Nations water convention, as well as promoting global awareness of the issues. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has said, “The Tibetan plateau needs to be protected, not just for Tibetans, but for the environmental health and sustainability of the entire world.”
plastic waste. Each country must work on it instead of offensive weapons. • Volunteer some more and donate a little to a good cause. I am not a biochemist or a scientist to come up with innovative solutions but what I can do is bear responsibility for my action. I believe anyone can be like Mr Afroz Shah who is well known for his effort to clean Versova beach. Invention may or may not entirely solve the world’s plastic pollution… real change can only happen when humans drastically change their consumption and plastic production habits. Though I mentioned that the earth can heal herself in millennia, it is evident that life on earth suffers from growing pollution, toxic smog and global warming. We must take responsibility. It may sound a cliché but truly each of us can make a difference with a small change in lifestyle. JUNE 2018
NEWS & ISSUES Jun 27: Support Torture Victims The Gu Chu Sum Movement, an association for former Tibetan political prisoners, observed International Day in Support of Torture Victims at the Tibetan Children’s Village school (TCV), expressing their solidarity with political prisoners. Gu Chu Sum held a talk with students at TCV, where the children expressed their support through drawings. Former Tibetan political prisoners have revealed that they suffered physical and mental torture in Chinese prisons. Jun 26: Dr Sangay’s First Visit Dr Lobsang Sangay, the President of Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has made his first official visit to Israel. Dr Sangay addressed the 2018 ROI Summit in Jerasulam, an annual meeting of 150 young Jewish minds across the globe. He also gave a public talk, Awakened Political Leadership: Myth or Reality. CTA’s president also said that Tibetans can take hope from Israel who regained their home after 2,000 years. Jun 23: Play Stopped in Nepal Kora - a play based on the plight of Tibetans living in Nepal and India – had to be stopped after pressure from the Nepalese Government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA). The play was running at Shilpee Theatre in Kathmandu from May 31 and was slated to go on till June 14. Director of the play, Loonibha Tuladha said that she received calls from MoFA warning her against running a play which is in contravention of Nepal’s “One China Policy”. Jun 22: Drashi Gyapon Kelsang Dadul Drashi Gyapon Kelsang Dadul, 93, former Secretary of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) passed away in his residence near Lhagyalri in Dharamshala on Jun 20. Kelsang Dadul served the Tibetan cause for over 40 years through various posts and to honour his service, CTA held a prayer service and offices were shut midday to pay respect to the deceased. He was from Chongye in southern Tibet. Jun 21: International Yoga Day Tibetans in Dharamshala gathered at Tsuglakhang courtyard this morning to mark the fourth international yoga day. A 45-minute yoga session was led by Tsering Yangzom, a fitness trainer and yoga instructor based in Gurgaon. The Contact
Tibetan Headlines
event, organised by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), was attended by the senior officials of the CTA along with staff, local public and students. Jun 20: Dhondup Wangchen Honoured Former Tibetan political prisoner and filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen was guest speaker at the annual meeting of the Tibetan Association of Connecticut in the United States. He spoke about his objectives for making the film Leaving Fear Behind and his experiences during his subsequent six-year prison term. Gyalwang Karmapa Rinpoche presented him with an award in recognition of his indomitable spirit and determination. Jun 19: Songs of Praise A new loyalty campaign has been launched in the formerly independent Himalayan region of Tibet, reports Radio Free Asia. People living there are required to learn songs praising the ruling Chinese Communist Party and are expected to perform them at an upcoming national holiday on July 1, the anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party in 1921. Fines are threatened for people refusing to comply. Jun 17: Guilty! Dorjee Gyantsan, 49, a Tibetan living in Sweden who was convicted of spying for China, has been given a 22-month prison term. He was found guilty of collecting information on the identities, political views, and travel of fellow Tibetans living in Sweden between July 2015 and February 2017, and passing it to a Chinese intelligence officer in Poland in exchange for 50,000 kroner (US$6,000 / £4,500). Jun 14: Chair of USCIRF The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has unanimously elected Dr Tenzin Dorjee as its Chair. Dr Dorjee is an Associate Professor at the Department of Human Communication Studies, California State University, and was appointed Commissioner to the USCIRF in 2016 and again in 2018. He has written many articles on Tibetan culture, identity and communication, non-violence and the middle way approach to the Sino –Tibetan conflict. Jun 14: His Holiness is Well Stories circulating on social media saying 12
that HH the Dalai Lama is terminally ill have been refuted by his personal physician Dr Tsetan Dorjee Sadutshang who said the information is “absolutely false and rubbish”. His Holiness did have signs of prostate cancer two years ago but the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minesota, has since pronounced him to be completely clear. Jun 13: More Airports China is to build three new airports in southern Tibet near the Tibetan–Indian– Nepal–Butan border, in addition to a new runway at Lhasa airport, for both domestic and international flights. Chinese state media has reported that they will “promote tourism and the economy”. The airports will all be above 3,900 metres in altitude and will cost around 16.7 billion yuan (US$2.6 / £1.9 billion). Jun 8: Letter of Solidarity A letter signed by 67 Chinese scholars, activists, policy experts, journalists and individuals from around the world calls on the Chinese government to resume dialogue with HH the Dalai Lama and expresses support for the Middle Way Approach. The letter was initiated by Professor Ming Xia of City University of New York under the campaign Chinese stand in support and solidarity with the Middle Way Approach. Jun 6: Tiananmen Remembered Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) marked the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre on this day in 1989 which left 10,000 Chinese people dead, by unveiling an artistic rendition of the Chinese national flag – with the yellow stars replaced by the iconic tank man resisting approaching tanks. The event took place in the main square in McLeod Ganj and SFT members distributed pamphlets to raise awareness. Jun 2: Tibetan, Please! Students living in the Qinghai province have written to the local authorities asking for teaching to be in Tibetan as well as Mandarin, saying that none of the recently appointed 359 teachers can teach in Tibetan. They ask that Tibetan-speaking teachers are recruited for the future. There were protests in 2010 when the authorities adopted a policy of teaching in Mandarin only and its implementation was postponed. JUNE 2018
NEWS & ISSUES
International Headlines
Jun 28: Germany Out Germany, defending champions and winners of last summer’s Confederations Cup, are out of the World Cup. The team has been the envy of the world, yet failed to score against South Korea who in turn got two last-minute goals. Kim Younggwon sealed their fate with a 94th minute goal, with Tottenham’s Son Heung-min’s second in the 96th minute adding insult to serious injury. Jun 27: Women Abused India is the most dangerous country in the world for women, according to a study by the Thomson Reuters Foundation. More than 500 experts on women’s issues took part in a survey covering areas such as healthcare, discrimination, cultural traditions, sexual and non-sexual violence and human trafficking. Afghanistan and Syria were ranked second and third. Jun 26: Drive On Saudi women can finally drive legally — part of a reform programme introduced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to transform the conservative petrostate into a modern economy. Although no law ever prohibited women from driving, police enforced the ban and licences were only issued to men.
Jun 23: Lost World Prehistoric frogs in amber have surfaced after 99 million years. The tiny creatures have been preserved in sticky tree resin since the end of the Age of the Dinosaurs. The four fossils give a window into a world when frogs and toads were evolving in the rainforests. Amber from Myanmar, containing skin, scales and even whole creatures, is regarded as a treasure trove by palaeontologists. Jun 21: Marijuana Legalised Canada’s parliament has passed a law legalising the recreational use of marijuana nationwide. The country is the second worldwide to legalise the drug’s recreational use. The Cannabis Act was passed with a 52-29 vote in the Senate. The bill controls and regulates how the drug can be grown, distributed, and sold, but Canadians will be able to buy and consume cannabis legally as early as this September. Jun 16: Weibo Blocked China has deleted 5,450 Sina Weibo accounts. Chinese State media Global Contact
Times said the action was taken to remove “posts that spread harmful information about current politics”. Weibo is the Chinese version of Twitter – there are around 360 million Sina Weibo users in China. The Chinese government considers “cyber sovereignty” one of its main priorities and last year blocked 128,000 websites in its drive to maintain “social stability”.
Jun 15: World Cup The FIFA World Cup has kicked off in Moscow with Russia beating Saudi Arabia 5-0 to win the opening match. British singer Robbie Williams sang hit songs at the opening ceremony with Russian soprano Garifullina. Russian president Vladimir Putin said football is a uniting force and continued, “I wish all the teams success and an unforgettable experience to fans. Welcome to Russia.” Jun 14: Racist? Albert Einstein’s newly published travel diaries have revealed that he had racist and xenophobic views. The diaries track his experiences in the far and middle east and record sweeping and negative generalisations, particularly of the Chinese who he called “industrious, filthy, obtuse people”. Later in his life he advocated for civil rights in the United States, calling racism “a disease of white people”. Jun 13: Lucky Find An 18th Century Chinese vase has sold for 6.2m euros (£14.2m) in Paris, the highest price ever reached for a single item sold by Sotheby’s in France. The vase formed part of a family’s inheritance – they found it in a shoebox which had been left in an attic for decades. They wrapped the box in newspaper and took the metro to Sotheby’s to get it valued. Jun 12: India Says No India has refused to endorse China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Indian and Pakistani leaders were attending the twoday Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Qingdao for the first time as full members but while Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have “reaffirmed their support for the Belt and Road Initiative”, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not.
by pupils in primary and middle schools. The new law is aimed at improving concentration in class as well as helping prevent cyber bullying and the viewing of pornography. The ban was an election pledge by President Emmanuel Macron. Around half of France’s 51,000 primary schools and 7,000 middle schools already ban mobile phones. Jun 7: More Women! Eleven of the 17 new cabinet posts in Spain have gone to women – a higher proportion than anywhere else in Europe and a marked contrast to the previous male-dominated cabinet. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has given women defence, economy, finance and education portfolios, with Carmen Calvo as deputy prime minister. France, Sweden and Canada are some of the very few countries with more women than men in cabinet posts. Jun 6: Volcano Erupts People in Guatemala are evacuating areas around the Fuego volcano following a new eruption: more than 1.7 million people have been affected since the eruption started on Sunday with at least 72 dead and 3,000 evacuated. Many are living in shelters. Villages have been buried in volcanic ash and mud. The initial eruption sent ash up to 10km (33,000ft) into the sky. Jun 5: Border Fence Denmark is to build a 68 km (42 mile) fence along its border with Germany to prevent wild boar from crossing into Denmark. Wild boar are bringing African swine fever into Denmark and infecting Danish pigs. Environmentalists say it won’t stop the animals entering Denmark, and others say Germany has no trace of the virus. The fence will be 1.5 m tall (almost 5 ft) and will cost around 80m Danish Kroner (€11m; £9m).
Jun 8: Mobile Phone Ban France is to ban the use of mobile phones
Jun 4: Migrants Drowned At least 35 migrants have drowned off the southern coast of Tunisia when their boat capsized. Sixty-seven others were rescued by the coastguard. Over the past year Tunisia has become a main route for migrants trying to make the crossing to Europe making an alternative to Libya where human traffickers have regularly enslaved, tortured or murdered migrants.
13
JUNE 2018
DHARAMSHALA VOICES
Son of the Mountains
by Jenny James Nima Tshering is a mountaineer and trekking guide. Follow him into the mountains and you know that nothing will go wrong, he will show you the way and keep you safe and sort any problems before they happen. Nima walks with a steady mountaineer’s pace, sure footed and agile on the mountain path, singing as he walks, totally at home. His sunny nature makes a friend of everyone he meets and even the birds seem to know him, answering him as he whistles their calls. He misses nothing and can tell you about flowers or wildlife or the lives of the people we meet on the way. He loves the mountains. “Other people pay to come here,” he says. “I love my work. I am very happy”. He has plans to start his own trekking agency based in Darjeeling where his family lives, but if the situation in Tibet changed they
would all go straight back. “It is my fatherland,” he says. His family left Tibet in 1982 when the Chinese started disrupting their village. “They were disturbing people, they do not want the Tibetan religion
and language,” says Nima. So they left their very successful business, using yaks and mules to transport Tibetan wool and yak cheese across the Nepali border to trade for clothes and sugar. What does Nima think of the Tibet situation now? There is a Tibetan
community in Darjeeling where they keep up with Tibetan news and they, too, have candle lit vigils to mourn the self-immolators. Nima went with them to the Solidarity Rally in Delhi, he takes part whenever he is not away in the mountains. “Slowly, slowly,” he says. He sees McLeodGanj as a hub, with Tibetan people going from there all over India and the world, spreading the word. “Nothing will happen soon, but eventually it will happen.” He says the problem is not the Chinese people but their government. The change Nima would like to see is that
the Tibetan religion and language should be taught in schools in Tibet. “We must teach the children, and this way we can keep our religion and language alive.” He sees the written language as particularly important for preserving their culture, especially in the face of growing westernisation among Tibetansin-exile. Nima has succumbed s o m e w h a t reluctantly to westernisation, w e a r i n g mountaineers’ clothes for his work, and with short, practical cropped hair. But 2 years ago Nima’s hair came down to below his waist. A vist to Bhutan and a hefty fine for having long hair – illegal there – and he cut it short. He left his cut hair as an offering 7,000m up in the mountains. Nima tells me that the great Sherpa mountaineers like Tenzin Norgay, one of the first two men to stand on the summit of Everest, are all Tibetans. “People think sherpas are Nepali,” he tells me, “but the name ‘Sherpa’ comes from the Tibetan word ‘shar’ meaning ‘east’ or ‘sunrise’. These were Tibetans who came across the mountains to settle in the Mustang region of Nepal. They are very strong and hardworking.” Nima feels he is a true son of the mountains. Walk up to a high place with Nima and while you gaze awestruck at the Himalayas spread out before you, he will turn towards a gap in the mountains where there is a pass through. His eyes light up as he says, quietly, “There is Tibet.”
Every month we feature somebody from the Tibetan community on our Dharamshala Voices page. You can read more Dharamshala Voices stories on the Contact website: http://www.contactmagazine.net/dharamasla-life/ The People stories on the Dharamshala Voices page online tell the stories of the people who make up the Tibetan exile community in Dharamshala and elsewhere, as well as the stories of Lha students and volunteers, told in their own words. Contact
14
JUNE 2018
World Environment Day
June 5 is celebrated as World Environment Day all over the world and Lha Charitable Trust observed it with an Open Essay Contest in Tibetan and English on the theme Beat Plastic Pollution. The Open Essay Competition was announced to the public on May 24 and 29 people participated. The winners have been announced on our official Facebook page on June 15 and have been awarded cash prizes of INR 7000, INR 5000 and INR 3000 respectively. Seven people competed in Tibetan, with Thinley Woeser from Varanasi winning First prize, while Tenzin Tharden won the Second and Seshul Rinchen Dhondup the Third place. There were 23 English language participants, with Tenzin Yonten from Dharamshala, working at Tibet Times, placed the First. Lobsang Dhondup and Urgen Dolma winning the Second and Third respectively. [see the winning entry by Tenzin Younten on pages 8 and 11 ] As a part of the monthly mass cleanup organised by Lha, our staff, volunteers, students and Soup Kitchen beneficiaries picked up trash from the forest area below the temple. [also see page 23 and 24 ]
CulturalExchangeGroup
In June, Lha hosted two student groups from Tulane University in the United States. The first group, of 16 undergradutes, was here for two weeks and participated in our mutual learning programme by partnering with Lha students who are learning English. Apart from learning about Tibetan culture and life in exile from their Tibetan learning partners, they visited Tibetan institutes in Dharamshala and Bir. The group was thrilled to get an opportunity to meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama and they had a short interaction with him. The second group, of 12 medical students, provided health screenings for vision, dental, medical and TB at Gaden Choeling Nunnery, Shuksep Nunnery and Nigma Monstery in Bir. They checked 182 nuns and monks and those who need additional treatment will be assisted further.
LHA NEWS AND PROJECTS Lha could not provide the services we do without the support of our wonderful volunteers who help in so many ways and inspire us with their enthusiasm. Every month we ask a volunteer to share their story. This month Tiziana Zamponi from Germany tells us her story. Volunteer Job at Lha: German Teacher
Developing a Sense of Universal Responsibility In one of his speeches His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama spoke of universal responsibility, saying that it is everyone’s job to develop a greater sense of universal responsibility and to learn to work not just for ourselves, or for our family or the nation, but for the good of humanity. My name is Tiziana. I was in McLeod the first time four years ago, visiting this beautiful range of mountains. At that time, I could not imagine that one day I would come here again, teaching for Lha. During the three months (March 2018 - June 2018) that I taught German language classes, His Holiness’s words were a source of daily inspiration for me. I was teaching every day, at first for one hour a day, and then through May and June for two hours a day. The German language is a complexe language but the students were, and are still are, very motivated to learn it. Sometimes we meet after teaching, drinking a lemon tea and discussing the lesson so people have better comprehension of what they have learned. We have conversations, writing exercises, role-play and looking at the structure of the German language. My work as a volunteer at Lha was not just an experience between cultures,
a human experience or the service of a teacher but a responsible job with the object of helping all the wonderful students of my class so that they can learn a new language in order to access a new future in their lives. I am deeply grateful to all my students for their sympathy, their willingness to learn, their daily efforts and for the linguistic goal reached by them in the German language. They were my teachers! Many of them came from far away
to attend classes at Lha. I wish them success in learning and hope they can reach their loved ones in Europe soon. I express my profound gratitude to Lha, the direction of the school and all the staff that supported me these months and have allowed me to teach and given me this great opportunity to work for the good of the Tibetan Community of McLeod and for the good of humanity. A service donated without personal interest is a spiritual service that I was invited to experience. Thank you, Lha you were not only an organisation for me, but more than that, my home. See you soon Lha!
Contact magazine is published by Lha Charitable Trust
Lha Charitable Trust is an award-winning, grassroots, non-profit organisation and one of the largest Tibetan social work institutes based in Dharamshala, India. Lha has been striving to provide vital resources for Tibetan refugees, local Indian communities, and people from the Himalayan regions for 20 years. Lha was registered as a charitable trust by the Indian Government in 2005. For more information, please visit www.lhasocialwork.org To keep up to date with news of what’s happening in Tibet and in the Tibetan exile community, follow Contact magazine online at www.contactmagazine.net Facebook: Contact News / Twitter: Contact News Contact
15
JUNE 2018
around town
Charities and Organisations
Central Tibetan Administration
The CTA serves in Dharamshala as the government in exile of Tibet. It is democratic with judiciary, legislative, and executive branches. Within the Executive branch there is the Kashag, consisting of the departments of Religion and Culture, Home, Education, Finance, Security, Information and International Relations and Health, and Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay. WEB: www.tibet.net LOCATION: Near Library PHONE: 01892-222218 HOURS: Mon-Sat: 9:00 am-5:00 pm EMAIL: kashag@tibet.net
The Office of His Holiness The Dalai Lama (OHHDL)
OHHDL is the personal office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The office organises his schedule, including appointments and travel plans, diplomatic and personal correspondence, and liaises with officials of the Central Tibetan Administration. WEB: www.dalailama.com LOCATION: McLeod Ganj, PHONE: 01892-221343 / 221210 EMAIL: ohhdl@dalailama.com
Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC)
The TYC is an advocacy and political action organisation with chapters around the world. The TYC organises cultural exhibitions, educational campaigns and social welfare activities. WEB: www. tibetanyouthcongress.org LOCATION: Tipa Road, McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala -176219 PHONE: 01892-221554 EMAIL:president@tibetanyouthcongress.org, tyc@tibetanyouthcongress.org
Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA)
The TWA conducts workshops on gender sensitization and domestic violence throughout Tibetan settlements in India, provides Tibetan women with education scholarships, and connects women with international sponsors. WEB: www. tibetanwomen.org LOCATION: Bhagsu Road, McLeod Ganj PHONE: 01892-221527 EMAIL: tibwomen@gmail.com
Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV)
TCV provides care to Tibetan children by creating a nurturing environment and fostering Tibetan values and culture while delivering a modern education. There is an Upper and Lower residential school in Dharamshala and day school in McLeod Ganj, with other branches throughout India. WEB: www.tcv.org.in LOCATION: Dharamshala Cantt.176216 PHONE: 01892-221354 / 221348 EMAIL: headoffice@tcv.org.in
Men-Tsee-Khang: Tibetan Medical & Astro. Institute
Men-Tsee-Khang is a facility for research, training and practice of traditional Tibetan medicine. Patients may seek treatment at Men-TseeKhang for both acute and chronic conditions. The facility provides extensive training and produces traditional pharmaceuticals.
Contact
WEB: www.men-tsee-khang.org LOCATION: Gangchen Kyishong, PHONE: 01892-223222 / 223113 EMAIL: info@men-tsee-khang.org
Tibetan Library (LTWA) (Centre for Tibetan Studies)
The Library of Tibetan Works and Archives has the purpose to restore, protect, preserve, and promote Tibetan culture in all its aspects. They offer courses in Tibetan and Hindi language and Buddhist philosophy and can provide affordable accommodation for those enrolled in two or more courses. WEB: www.tibetanlibrary.org LOCATION: Gangchen Kyishong PHONE: 9882255047 EMAIL: ltwa1970@gmail.com
Delek Hospital
Delek Hospital is a small, Tibetan run hospital in Dharamshala. It has 45 inpatient beds, holds outpatient hours from 9am to 12pm Monday through Friday, and can handle most small procedures. Patients are responsible for a 10 Rupees registration fee. The hospital has a pharmacy on site. WEB:www.delekhospital.org LOCATION: Kharadanda Rd, Dharamshala; Delek Clinic, Bhagsu Rd, Dharamshala HOURS: Outpatient, Mon-Fri: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm; Specialist clinics, Mon-Sat: 2:00 pm-4:30 pm; Emergencies, 24 hours daily PHONE: 01892-222053 / 223381 EMAIL: delek@bsnl.in hospitaldelek@yahoo.com
Sambhota Tibetan Schools Society The society was established in 1999 to provide educational and administrative guidance to all Tibetan schools in remote areas of India and Bhutan that do not fall under the guidance of Tibetan Childrens Village. Today there are 12 schools under this organisation. WEB: www.sambhota.org LOCATION: Session Rd, Dharamshala176215 PHONE: 01892 - 228877 | 226877 EMAIL: stss1999@gmail.com
Tong-Len Charitable Trust
Tong-Len’s mission is to help displaced communities in North India achieve a secure and sustainable future. Tong-Len projects include educational and health programs, childhood education and sponsorship, primary and nursery tent schools, and children’s support hostels. Volunteer opportunities available. WEB: www. tong-len.org LOCATION: Top Floor, Bank Of Baroda, Kotwali Bazaar, Dharamshala-176215 PHONE: 01892-223930 EMAIL: jamyang@tong-len.org
Students for a Free Tibet (SFT)
SFT is an international NGO that promotes the Tibetan cause among the non-Tibetan community. The organisation attempts to build international solidarity by advocating for a free Tibet through chapter organisations at Universities around the world. WEB:www.sftindia.org, www.studentsforafreetibet.org LOCATION: Jogiwara Road, McLeod Ganj
16
PHONE: 9882786875
Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD)
TCHRD advocates for human rights and provides education on the human rights situation in Tibet. The centre publishes journals and articles, as well as conducting workshops and campaigns. WEB: www.tchrd.org LOCATION: CTA, Dharamshala - 176215 PHONE: 01892-223363 EMAIL: office@tchrd.org
Lha Charitable Trust (Lha)
Lha, a Tibetan grassroots NGO based in Dharamshala, is one of the largest social work organisations providing vital resources for Tibetan refugees, the local Indian population, and people from the Himalayan regions. Lha offers free English, French and Chinese classes, cultural exchange programs, IT classes, vocational training, health and environmental awareness education, distribution of clothes and medicine, a community kitchen, and many other programs and activities. (see page 2) WEB:www.lhasocialwork.org LOCATION: Temple Road, McLeod Ganj, Opposite State Bank of India PHONE: 01892-220992, 988-2323-455 EMAIL: office@lhasocialwork.org
The Kangra Distt. Red Cross Society
The Kangra District Red Cross Society renders its humanitarian services, projects and activities with the help and the co-operation of people at all levels of society by donation. WEB: www.redcrosskangra.org LOCATION: Red Cross Bhawan, Dharamshala PHONE: 01892-224888 / 9418832244 EMAIL: sharmaopl12345@gmail.com
Gu-Chu-Sum Movement Association of Tibet is an organisation of former political prisoners of Tibet and former activists currently in exile that engages in their complete assistance from medical, financial, basic education and vocational training. It also organises lobby and advocacies about human rights abuses in Tibet. WEB: www.guchusum.org LOCATION: Jogibara Road, McLeod Ganj, PHONE: 01892-220680 / 220679 EMAIL: guchusum1991@gmail.com
Tibet Charity
Tibet Charity provides programs including English and computer classes, an animal care program, and a variety of medical and educational financial support programs. WEB: www.tibetcharity.in LOCATION: Temple Road, McLeod Ganj PHONE: 01892-221790 / 221877 EMAIL: director@tibetcharity.in
Norbulingka Institue
Centre for Tibetan culture with studios and artists at work. Temple, tour guides of the workshops, and gardens. LOCATION:Sidhpur, Dharamshala PHONE:9882144210 EMAIL: info@norbulingka.org WEB:www.norbulingka.org
JUNE 2018
around town
Charities and Organisations
Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA)
Established in 1959, under the vision of HH the Dalai Lama, TIPA strives to preserve and promote Tibetan theatrical tradition. The Insitute imparts comprehensive training and lessons on Tibetan folk dance, folk song, traditional instruments and tradition of Tibetan opera. TIPA also hosts a beautiful theatrical museum which remains open during working days. We organise a special group tour of our campus every Wednesday (10 am). WEB: www.tibetanarts.org LOCATION: TIPA Road, McLeod Ganj Dharamshala-176219 PHONE: 01892-221478 EMAIL: tibetanarts2012@gmail.com
Learning and Ideas for Tibet (LIT)
Learning and Ideas for Tibet (LIT) is a nongovernment, non-profit adult education centre in Dharamshala, North India. LIT provides Free Education, Health Care and Skills Training to Tibetan Refugees to help eradicate poverty and illiteracy amongst the Tibetan population. WEB: www.learningandideasfortibet.org LOCATION: Jogiwara Road, Mcleod Ganj, Dharamshala 176219 PHONE: 01892-220690 EMAIL: learningandideasfortibet@gmail.com
Tibetan Centre for Conflict Resolution (TCCR)
Tibetan Centre for Conflict Resolution is a nonprofit, educational organisation dedicated to the non-violent management of conflicts in the Tibetan Community and the world as a whole. They work to promote the approaches and tools of non-violent conflict resolution and democratic processes in the Tibetan community in exile and elsewhere. WEB: http://tccr.org LOCATION: Session Road, Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamshala 176215 PHONE: 01892-226627 EMAIL: tccrteam@gmail.com
Rogpa Baby Care Centre
The Rogpa Baby Care Centre helps low-income Tibetan families to become self-sufficient by providing free child care for infants so that their parents can work. The centre needs volunteers to help with art, games, singing and other tasks including diaper changing. WEB: www.tibetrogpa.org LOCATION: Jogiwara Road, McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala- 176219 PHONE: 9857973026 EMAIL: rogpa2004@yahoo.com
Gamru Village School
Gamru Village School is a successful NGO that provides free high-quality education to any children who encounter serious barriers to education and who have a low standard of living. WEB: www.gamruschool.com LOCATION: Village Gamru, P.O Kotwali Bazaar, Dharamshala, Distt Kangra 176215 PHONE: 9816105554 EMAIL: tashu72004@yahoo.com
Contact
Clean Upper Dharamshala Project
Founded in 1994 to provide a waste management system in and around McLeod Ganj, the Green Workers, the Handmade Recycled Paper Factory, the Green Shop and the Environmental Education Centre are part of the Clean Upper Dharamshala Project. Weekly guided tours are offered on Wednesdays at 3 pm. WEB: www.tsodhasa.org LOCATION: Bhagsu Road, McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala - 176219 PHONE: 01892-221059 EMAIL: cudpswm@gmail.com
Nyingtob Ling (Realm of Courage)
Nyingtob Ling supports Tibetan children from disadvantaged families. The children make handicrafts and paintings. They are so friendly and love to have visitors. WEB: www.nyingtobling.org LOCATION: Near Norbulingka, Sidhpur PHONE:01892 211042 / 9816028149 EMAIL: nyingtob_ling@hotmail.com
Women’s Team
Volunteers needed to teach English to Indian women and children in the village of Kaniyara near Dharamshala. Contact Jitender. EMAIL: jitenderje@gmail.com PHONE: 7831956680 / 08894435595
The Active Nonviolence Education Center (ANEC)
ANEC facilitates trainings, workshops and open forum discussions on nonviolent strategies to help resolve disagreements and differences at all levels of human society. ANEC welcomes
volunteers from western countries to participate in informal panel discussions on ideas of regional and global peace and nonviolent strategies. Free lunch and tea and many more benefits for volunteers. LOCATION: No. 262, 1st floor, Khajanchi -Mohalla, Khunyara Rd, Lower Dharamshala PHONE: 9882077708 / 9882921477 EMAIL: wangduemiddleway@gmail.com Website: www.anec-india.net Facebook: www/facebook.com/anecpeace
National Democratic Party of Tibet
The NDPT is currently the only Tibetan political party. With 5000 members in 36 regional chapters throughout the world, the main aim and objectives of the NDPT are to prepare for the establishment of a political party in a future Tibet, to promote democracy, to educate the Tibetan people about the significance of political parties and to create awareness among the people about Tibetan issues. WEB: www.ndp4tibet.org LOCATION: Dharamshala–176219 EMAIL: tibetparty4@gmail.com PHONE: 9882787633 / 9882673330
Tibetan Dubbing Society
Tibetan Dubbing Society, founded in 2015, is a non-profit organisation working towards preserving Tibetan language through various forms of entertainment and dubbing animation movies into Tibetan language for Tibetan children. LOCATION: Near Norbulinga Institute WEBSITE: www.tibetdub.org EMAIL: savetiblang@gmail.com CONTACT: +91-8629837735
BUS SCHEDULE * Times and prices may vary. Please check with the bus stand ahead of departure. Leaving from the McLeod Ganj bus stand, unless otherwise stated: DELHI: Ordinary Bus: 4:00am (Rs 554), 6pm (Rs 580), 7:30 pm (Rs 570) Semi Deluxe Bus: 5pm (Rs 590) , 6:30pm (Rs 590) Full Deluxe Bus: (Rs683) AC Volvo Semi-Sleeper: 8:15 am (Rs 1243), 5:35pm (Rs 1275), 7:00pm (Rs 1275), 8:50pm (Rs1275) AC TATA: 5:50pm (Rs 972) AMRITSAR: Ordinary Bus: 5am (Rs257) *from Dharamshala DEHRADUN: Ordinary Bus: 2pm (Rs 560) 8pm (Rs 551); VOLVO: 7pm (Rs 1199) MANALI: Ordinary Bus: 7:10am (Rs358 *from Dharamshala / VOLVO: 11:30 pm (Rs 782) PATHANKOT: Ordinary Bus: 5am (Rs 136) * from Dharamshala SHIMLA: Ordinary Bus: 5am (Rs 408), 6am (Rs 360), 7:50am (Rs 375), 8:am (Rs 520) 7:45 pm (Rs 363), 12pm (Rs 367) *from Dharamshala, Semi-Deluxe Bus: 9:30pm (Rs455) *from Dharamshala FOR BOOKINGS: Location: Ticket stand under McLLo’s, McLeod Ganj Main square Hours: 10am-5pm, daily Phone: 220026 (McLeod bus stand), 224903 (Dharamshala) For deluxe buses, book through any travel agency. TA X I S A private taxi to Lower Dharamshala will cost you Rs 200. Cram into a jeep (from the bus stand), and it’ll only cost you Rs15.
17
JUNE 2018
activities and information UPCOMING EVENTS June 28, 2018: Universal Prayer Day July 6, 2018: His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday July 16, 2018: Buddha’s first teaching (Choe Khor-Duechen) Sep 4 - 7, 2018: His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teaching in Dharamshala
BUDDHIST PHILOSOPHY Library of Tibetan Works and Archives WEB: www.tibetanlibrary.org LOCATION: Gangchen Kyishong, between McLeod Ganj and Lower Dharamshala HOURS: Mon-Fri: 10:30 - 11:45 am PHONE: 9882255047
Public Audience with HH Karmapa WEB: www.kagyuoffice.org LOCATION: Sidhpur HOURS: Wed & Sat: 2:30pm PHONE: 01892-235307
YOGA AND REIKI Yoga & Reiki Courses
Location- Om Yoga Ashram,Near Dal Lake Mob- 9805693514 /981649432 Email - om.yoga@ymail.com web- http://www.omashram.in
Shivam Neelkant Yoga Kendra LOCATION: Upper Bhagsu PHONE: 098165-65138 WEB: www.shivamneelkant.yoga.com
MASSAGE Nature Cure Health Club
Shiatsu massage LOCATION: Near Tibetan Ashoka, Jogiwara Road PHONE: 07833047078 EMAIL: mahinder_m@hotmail.com
Men-Tsee-Khang
LOCATION: Mcleod Ganj Branch Clinic, 1st floor, TIPA Road (2 mins from Main Square) PHONE: 98828-60505 EMAIL: therapycenter@men-tsee-khang.org
Om Massage Centre
LOCATION: Bhagsu Road, Opposite the Green Hotel, Mcleod Ganj PHONE:7018483961/9857999373 EMAIL: kunsangdolma75@gmail.com
Dorjee Spa LOCATION: Pema Thang Guest house, Hotel Bhagsu Road PHONE:9816393673 / 9857108408 WhatsApp: 9816393673
Contact
MEDITATION Ocean of Harmony
Taught by an experienced and qualified coach WEB: www.oceanofharmony.org PHONE: (+91) 99798-94585 EMAIL: ohlifeandwellness@gmail.com
Tushita Meditation Center WEB: www.tushita.info LOCATION: Dharamkot HOURS: Mon-Sat: 9:30-11:30am PHONE: 0898-816-0988 EMAIL: spc@tushita.info
Shivan Neel Kanth Yoga
WEBSITE:www.shivamneelkant.yoga.com LOCATION: Bhagsu Nag, Near High Sky PHONE: 09816565138 EMAIL: yogi_shivam@yahoo.co.in
Om Meditation Ashram
Location-Om Yoga Ashram,Near Dal Lake Mob-01892 220333 /9805693514 web - www.himalayanashram.com
COOKING
Lha Tibetan Cooking Classes - for groups LOCATION: Lha Soup Kitchen, Temple Rd, Just below the Dalai Lama’s temple HOURS: Registration, 9:00-11:00am PHONE: 01892-220992
Indian Cooking and Knitting with Ms Rita Kapoor LOCATION: Old German Bakery, 1st Floor, Room No. 2, Opp. Buddha Hall, Bhagsunag PHONE: 94592-06586
Indian Cooking Classes
LANGUAGES Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo Translators Program LOCATION: Rato Chuwar Labrang, Phuntsok Gatsel Session Road Hours: 10:45-5pm Email: lrztp.manager@gmail.com
REETA THAKUR HINDI CLASSES Location: Near Dal Lake Mob - 9816494732 Tibetan Language
LOCATION: The Tibetan Library *see Buddhist Philosophy Listing
Hindi Lessons with Kailash
LOCATION: Hotel India House, Bhagsu Rd PHONE: 01892-20063, 941-816-1947
Esukhia Online Tibetan Courses and Tibetan Immersion Spoken LOCATION:Tilak Ray Building, Bhagsu Rd PHONE: 8679502538 / 98820-04965 EMAIL: contact@esukhia.org
Sanskrit Language Study Program at Vikramashila Foundation India (VFI) Location: Vikramashila center, 1st flr, Ketan Lodge,Jogiwara road, McleodGanj, Dharamshala, H.P Email: vikramashilafoundation@gmail.com
ART AND MUSEUMS Tibet Museum
LOCATION:Near the Main Temple and Namgyal Monastery gate, McLeod Ganj HOURS: Tue-Sun: 9:00am-5:00pm
LOCATION:Jogiwara Rd, next to Tibetan Ashoka Guesthouse HOURS: 10:00am-6:00pm PHONE: 07833047078 / 0988230136 EMAIL: mahinder_m@hotmail.com
Tibet Photo Exhibit: 50 Years of Struggle and Oppression
Lhamo’s Kitchen: Tibetan Cooking Classes
The Tibetan Institute for the Performing Arts (TIPA)
Sangye’s Kitchen: Traditional Tibetan Cooking Classes
Kangra Art Museum
LOCATION: Bhagsu Rd, near the Green Shop HOURS: 8:00am-9:00pm PHONE: 981-646-8719
LOCATION: Lung-ta Restaurant, below the Tashi Choeling Monastery on Jogiwara Road HOURS:10:00am - 4:00pm PHONE: 981-616-4540 EMAIL: sangyla_tashi@yahoo.co.in
COMPUTER CLASSES Tibetan Career Centre, Dharamshala LOCATION: Jogiwara Road, Mcleod Ganj HOURS: 9:00am-6pm PHONE: 9882321424 /9880969175 Email at : yesheadconsultant@tibet.net
Lha Charitable Truse
LOCATION: Near Dolma Chowk, Mcleod Ganj PHONE: 9882323455 / +91 (0)1892 -220992 WEB: www.lhasocialwork.org
18
LOCATION: Gu-Chu-Sum hall, Jogiwara Rd HOURS: Mon, Wed & Fri: 2:00pm-5:00pm
WEB: www.tibetanarts.org LOCATION: Tipa Road, McLeod Ganj PHONE: 1892-221478 EMAIL: tibetanarts2012@gmail.com
LOCATION: Near Bus Stand, Kotwali Bazaar PHONE: 01892 224214 HOURS: Tue-Sun: 10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm
Men-Tsee-Khang Museum
LOCATION: Near CTA, Gangchen Kyishong PHONE: 01892-223222 / 223113 EMAIL: info@men-tsee-khang.org HOURS: 9am-5pm. Closed on Sun, 2 and 4th Sat
Center for Living Buddhist Art WEBSITE: www.livingbuddhistart.com EMAIL: sarikalochoe@hotmail.com
PHONE: 9418655401 HOURS: 9 am- 5 pm LOCATION: Khanyara Road
JUNE 2018
activities and information HEALTH SERVICES Perfect 32 Dental Clinic Dr Natasha Mehra LOCATION: Near Hotel Mount View, Jogiwara Road, McLeod Ganj PHONE: 09218742046 EMAIL: perfect32dentalclinic@gmail.com Tibetan Physiotherapy Clinic Specialised in Muscle and Joint Pain LOCATION: Near Delek Hospital, Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamshala 176215 HOURS: 10am - 5pm (Appointment Bases) PHONE: 9882322783 / 9882321532 EMAIL: jigten17@yahoo.co.in WEBSITE : tibetanphysiotherapy.com Tibetan Delek Hospital LOCATION: Gangchen Kyishong, between McLeod Ganj and Lower Dharamshala PHONE: 01892-22053 / 223381 HOURS: Outpatient services, Mon-Sat: 9:00am-1:00pm; Specialist clinics, Mon-Sat: 2:00-4:30pm; Emergencies: 24 hrs daily Maanav Health Clinic LOCATION: Main Square HOURS: 10:00am-12:30pm and 2:00-5:00pm PHONE: 941-815-5795 EMAIL: maanavcare@yahoo.co.in Men-Tsee-Khang LOCATION: Below Delek Hospital, Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamshala 176215 PHONE: 01892-223222 / 223113 EMAIL: info@men-tsee-khang.org Primary Health Centre LOCATION: Jogiwara Rd, main market HOURS: 9:30am-4pm, Mon-Sat Nature Cure Health Club LOCATION: Jogiwara Rd, next to Tibetan Ashoka Guest House-Map #10 HOURS: 9:30am-6:30pm PHONE: 7833047078 / 9882320136 EMAIL: mahinder_m@hotmail.com Dr Tandon Advanced Dental Orthodontic & Implant Centre Location: Opp. AP Travels, Mcleod Ganj Phone:9418462936 Email: dr.rahultandon@gmail.com
Tibet-Related Websites
News:
tibet.net - official website of the Central Tibetan Administration in exile phayul.com -Phayul is published in Dharamshala,has opinion, reviews, photos, etc contactmagazine.net - Contact magazine online news rfa.org/english/news/tibet - Radio Free Asia’s mission is to provide accurate and timely news and information to Asian countries whose governments prohibit access to a free press voatibetanenglish.com - Voice of America’s Tibet pages - VOA is an international multimedia broadcasting service funded by the US government thetibetpost.com - Tibet Post International online news tibetexpress.net - Tibet Express online news guardian.co.uk/world/tibet - the UK Guardian newspaper’s Tibet pages scmp.com/news/china - the South China Morning Post – one of the more independent news sources in China thetibetpost.com and tibetexpress.net are both sources of news and information
News, information and campaigning:
dalailama.com - for broadcasts of His Holiness’s teachings, his schedule and information about Tibet and the Dalai Lama tchrd.org - Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy - a nongovernmental organisation and a research centre to protect the human rights of Tibetan people and promote the principles of democracy tibetanyouthcongress.org - an international non-governmental organisation that advocates full independence for Tibet from China studentsforafreetibet.org - a global grass roots group campaigning for full Tibetan independence tibetanreview.net - news, opinions, reviews and information freetibet.org: - UK-based campaigning organisation, also a good news source savetibet.org - Website of the International Campaign for Tibet and a good resource for news, campaigns, fundraising and projects tibetnetwork.org/home - a coalition of more than 190 Tibet organisations dedicated to campaigning to end human rights violations in Tibet and restoring rights to the Tibetan people tibetanjournal.com - Tibetan Journal - news, reviews and opinions
Writings:
highpeakspureearth.com/category/woeser - occasional translations of Woeser’s enormously popular blog – Woeser lives in Beijing and is continually harassed by the Chinese government for her courageous writings.
DHARAMSHALA CONTACTS Ambulance: 01892-102, 222189 Tibetan Delek Hospital Location: Gangchen Kyishong, CTA Hours: Outpatient services: 9am-1pm, Mon-Sat; Specialist clinics: 2-4:30pm, Wed only; Emergencies: 24-hrs, daily. Phone: 222 053,223 381 Kangra Airport: 01892-232374
Contact
Bhagsu Taxi Union: 01892221034 Tourism Office: 01892-224430 , 223325 Rail Booking & Enquiry: 01892265026 Police Superintendent: 01892222244 Police Contact Information Location: Past St.John’s Church on the road to Dharamshala in
19
Cantt. area. Phone: 221 483 McLeod Ganj Post Office Location: Jogiwara Rd, past Peace Cafe Hours: 9:30am-1pm and 2-5pm, Mon-Fri; 9:30am-noon, Sat. Parcels and money orders can be sent in the mornings only. Phone: 01892-221 924
JUNE 2018
advertisements
To advertise here, Contact Lha office at Temple Road, McLeod Ganj Or Call on our number 9882323455 Price of advertisements depends on the size of your Ad
Our specialty: Chocolate Vegan cake, Gluten free cake, Fresh Coffee Beans, cappaccino, Chocolate chilli lollipop 9am to 7pm - Closed on Monday
Below “Black Magic Hotel” on Jogiwara Rd -Map#4
HANDMADE RECYCLED DIARY WHOLE SELLER SHOP Opp. to India house bhagsu road, Mcleog Ganj Facebook page : Lobsang diaries Contact no : 9882861220 / 7018447280 Opening time : 10:30am to 9:00pm
TO POST YOUR ADVERTISEMENT HERE Call on our number - 9882323455
8 AUSPICIOUS HIM VIEW HOTEL
8 beautiful rooms with balcony facing the Himalayan Range. Enjoy the sunrise from your bed! Phone: 01892-220567 Cell: 9418236603 Jogiwara Rd (Map #12) Email: tseringd@aushimview.com
Nature Cure Health Club
Jogiwara Rd, next to Tibetan Ashoka Guest House - Map #23 Mobile: 07833047078 /09882320136 / Email: mahinder_m@ hotmail.com 20+ yrs’ experience: Swedish massage courses & treatment, Zen Shiatsu courses, treatment, reflexology treatment, SPA, Singing Bowl Treatment and many more!
TIBETAN OM MASSAGE THERAPY Bhagsu Road, Opp.Green Hotel Mcleod Ganj - Map #27 Email: kunsangdolma75@gmail / Mobile : 7018483961 / 9857999373
I) COURSES
• Thai Massage ( 90 minutes for 3 days - Rs 4500 ) • Traditional /Ayurvedic Acupressure (90 minutes for 3 days - Rs 4500 ) • Litho Us Therapy (60 minutes for 3 days - Rs 4000) • Deep Tissue (90 minutes for 2 days - Rs 3000) • Swedish Massage (90 minutes for 2 days - Rs 2000) • Foot Reflexology (90 minutes for 1 day - Rs 2000) • Back Massage (120 minutes for 1 day - Rs 2000) • Head Massage (90 minutes for 1 day - Rs 1500) • Chair Massage (90 minutes for 1 day - Rs 1500) • Yoga Classes (5 days course - Rs 1000)
II) MASSAGES
• Lithos Therapy ( 70 minutes - Rs 1600) • Thai Massage ( 60 minutes - Rs 1500) • Deep Tissue Massage ( 60 minutes - Rs 1300) • Compresss Therapy ( 60 minutes - Rs 1300 ) • Kerala Traditonal Massage ( 60 minutes - Rs 1000) • Swedish Massage (60 minutes - Rs 1000 / 90 minutes - Rs 1500) • Reflexology ( 30 minutes - Rs 600) • Chair Massage ( 30 minutes - Rs 600) • Baliness Back Massage ( 30 minutes - Rs 500) •Ayurvedic Head Massage ( 30 minutes - Rs 500)
Contact
20
JUNE 2018
advertisements
Contact
21
JUNE 2018
advertisements Map not to scale
Map of McLeod Ganj showing locations of places of interest
BHAGSU NAG 16
See advertisement pages for details of advertisers TIPA
21
DHARAMKOT
27
26
Vipassana Centre
Naddi Village Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV)
15
Tushita Centre
22
MAIN SQUARE
3
McLEOD GANJ 25 Main Bazaar
27
Cantt Police Post
6
23
4
20
28
1
24
12
11
10
5
Lha
29 14
2
13
Road to Dharamshala
1. Lha Headquarters and Tibet Fair Trade 2. Namgyal Cafe 3. Common Ground Cafe 4. Dr Mobile, Woeser Bakery 5. Black Tent Cafe 6. Carpe Diem Restaurant 10. Perfect 32 Dental Clinic 11. Hotel Ladies’ Venture 12. 8 Auspicious Him View Hotel 13. Ahimsa House and Lha Soup Kitchen 14. Chonor House 15. Lhamo’s Croissant 16. Shivam NeelKanth Yoga Kendre
17. Central Tibetan Administration,Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, Tibetan Library 18. LRZTP Tibetan Language Programme 19. Tibetan Museum and Temple 20. Tibetan Handicraft Centre 21. Taste of India 22. SnowLion Custom Tattoo 23. Nature Cure Health Club 24. Dr Tandon’s Advanced Dental 25. Smile Dental Clinice & Implant Center 26. Himalayan Yoga Retreat 27. Om Massage Centre 28. Chapri Handicrafts 29. Dorjee Spa
Dr Natasha Mehra @ Perfect 32 Dental Clinic Location: Near Hotel Mount View Jogiwara Rd, McLeod Map #10 Email: perfect32dentalclinic@gmail.com /Call: 09218742046 Website: www.perfect32dentalclinic.in
BOOKWORM - THE COMPLETE BOOKSHOP is the oldest bookshop in Mcleod Ganj, where the Lonely Planet Guide (India) calls it the Best bookshop in town.
Location: Pemathang road, few steps from Dolma Chowk • •
LOCATION: UpperBagsu, next to Namaste Cafe & behind Reggae Cafe Yogi Shivam has 28 years of yogic practice experience from from his master Dooni Nath Babaji! Daily Yoga - 7 am to 9:30 am Website: www.ShivamNeelkantyoga.com Email: yogi_shivam@yahoo.co.in Phone: +91 9816565138
Online shopping gives us only the books we already want. Bookshops draw us into the ones we didn’t know we wanted
Lhamo’s Croissant Vegetarian and Vegan Food
Bakery, Coffee shop, Gluten Free and Fresh seasonal juices and salads
Roof top terrace with stunning views
Facebook: Shivam Neelkanth Yoga Kendra
Contact
Road to Dharamshala
Location: First floor opp. Municipal Parking near HH Dalai Lama Temple #Temple Road • Extensive vegtarian menu • The best pizza in Mcleod Ganj • Good music and friendly staff Open every day from 7am to 8:30 pm Mobile: 7018919310 (Map#2)
NEED A DENTIST?
Daily meditation @ 11:30 am
18
Shifted to New Location!
For all your dental requirements under one roof, in a sterile and state of the art clinic
YOGA TEACHER TRAINING May 7- 30, 2018 200Hour / One Drop Meditation with Yogi Shivam. Experience a taste of love. One drop of love, happiness & joy.
17
Namgyal Cafe Pizza Place
Enjoy traditional Taiwanese and Chinese food and peaceful environment, just one minute from the Bus Stand, just behind Asian Plaza! (Map # 3)
Shivam Neelkanth Yoga Kendra
19
Bhagsu Road, just after Tibetan Settlement Office Map#15 22
JUNE 2018
lha news and advertisements Smile Dental Clinic & Implant Center
Oppo. Walia Medical Store Near State Bank of India ATM, Mcleod Ganj. MOBILE NO: 7018354594 / 8629011445 Map#25 website: smiledentalclinicmcleodganj.com
Ocean of Harmony Programmes for Wellbeing Meditation Intensives Meditation Therapies Intensive Yoga Courses/Retreats Stress Management Integrated Healing Therapies Wellness Retreats
To advertise here, Contact Lha office at Temple Road, McLeod Ganj
For upcoming events, visit www.oceanofharmony.org For intensive trainings around the world (any country) contact: Shalu Patel (experienced & qualified life and wellness coach for international trainings)
Phone: (+91) 9979894585 Email: ohlifeandwellness@gmail.com
On June 5, World Environment Day, Lha Charitable Trust organised an open essay competition Beat Plastic Pollution in Tibetan and English. We received 29 participants this year. Below are the winners of the competiton. Prize money sponsors are featured on the back cover - next page. We would like to thank all the participants as well as the sponsors for their involvement and support!
World Environment Day Essay Competition Winners in the Tibetan Language
Thinley Woeser (First Position)
Tenzin Dharden (Second Position)
Rinchen Dhondup (Third Position)
World Environment Day Essay Competition Winners in the English Language
Tenzin Yonten (First Position) Contact
Lobsang Dhondup (Second Position) 23
Urgen Lhamo (Third Position) JUNE 2018
Lha Charitable Trust World Environment Day Open Essay Competition Sponsors Thank you for collaborating with Lha Charitable Trust and sponsoring cash prizes for the winning participants! KUNGA GUEST HOUSE & NICK’S ITALIAN KITCHEN (VEGETARIAN FOOD)
PEMA THANG GUEST HOUSE & RESTUARANT (HOME AWAY FROM HOME)
Location: Bhagsu Road, Mcleod Ganj Phone: +91 98574 -21180 Email: dechendolkar2@gmail.com Website: kungaguesthouse.com
Location: Hotel Bhagsu Road Road, Mcleod Ganj Phone: +91 1892 221991 /9882678007 Email: pemathangguesthouse@gmail.com Website: www.pemathang.net
TIBET KITCHEN Location: Main Square, Mcleod Ganj
SHANGRILA HOTEL & RESTUARANT (BRANCH OF GYUDMED TANTRIC MONASTERY)
Phone: 7807419692 / 9717367675
Location: Next to Main Square, Mcleod Ganj
Please turn to pages 8 and 11 to see the winning English medium essay. To advertise call Lha office: 01892-220992 or visit Lha office at Temple Rd, McLeod Ganj Map #1
འབྲེལ་གཏུགས་གསར་འཕྲིན།
Contact Newsletter Managing Director Ngawang Rabgyal
Follow Contact website us-
ing the
QR
Phone: 91(0)1892-220992 Email:editor@contactmagazine.net Facebook: ContactNews Twitter: @ContactTibet Printed at Imperial Printing, Dharamshala Phone: 222390 Email:ippdsala@gmail.com
Editor-in-Chief Jenny James Editor Tenzin Samten Assistant Editor Dorji Kyi Circulation Manager Lobsang Rabsel Published by Lha Charitable Trust Web:www.lhasocialwork.org www.contactmagazine.net www.samdhongrinpoche.com