Racing for Freedom – Josh takes his support for SFT to new heights

Racing for Freedom from John Silverstone on Vimeo.

Long time Tibet activist and SFT board member Josh Schrei is taking his activism for Tibet to a new level, and truly putting his body on the line by running 50km in one shot to raise funds for our hard-hitting campaigns and actions. Josh is not just an amazing athlete…he is a Rangzen warrior…just check out this short video shot and directed by John Silverstone and you’ll know what we’re talking about. Please spread the word and if you can, support Josh’s race – the 50k Jemez Mountain Trail Race – on behalf of the Tibetan people.

Please donate here: studentsforafreetibet.org/ultrarace

Read Josh’s poignant and moving Huffington Post article following the 2010 devastating earthquake in Kyegundo, Tibet: ” To Die With Dignity in Your Own Land: Tibet, China, and the Politics of Disaster.” Read more of his blog posts here>> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/josh-schrei

Stand-off in Ngaba: Tibetan monks need your help

Tibetan monks at Kirti monastery in eastern Tibet are in danger – and need your help.

As Beijing intensifies its sweeping crackdown on dissent, Chinese troops in Tibet are on the verge of “disappearing” hundreds of monks.

Tibetan monks in Dharamsala, India have received an urgent call for help from Ngaba County (Chinese: Aba County). They are reporting that Chinese troops attempted to storm Kirti monastery this morning. According to reliable sources, residents fear Chinese authorities are planning to forcibly remove all monks between the ages 18 and 40.

Local Tibetans, being alerted to the troops’ arrival, rushed to block the monastery entrance. The armed police and soldiers tried to break through the crowd by beating the Tibetans and setting police dogs on them. In spite of the violent attacks, the Tibetans stood their ground and the troops failed to enter the monastery’s inner gates. As of now, the standoff continues.

TAKE ACTION: Sign the petition to demand Chinese troops immediately stop the siege at Kirti Monastery.

Tibetans fear Chinese authorities are planning to transfer the monks from the monastery into local prisons where they will be subjected to China’s repressive political “reeducation”.

Tension in Ngaba has been high since the self-immolation of Phuntsok Jarutsang (pictured right), a 20-year monk from Kirti Monastery, on March 16, 2011. Chinese forces have been stationed around Kirti Monastery for weeks and more than a dozen monks have been arbitrarily arrested.

According to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights & Democracy as of yesterday, troops had completely sealed off the monastery. The monks’ dwindling food supplies are prompting fears of starvation in the monastery. The lives of many Tibetans are at stake.

Take Action: Let the Chinese authorities know the world is watching

1. Sign the petition and demand an end to the siege.
2. Organize a solidarity rally at the Chinese consulate nearest you or at a public landmark in your community. Find details of protests here. Send information about your protest to grassroots@studentsforafreetibet.org so we can alert others.
3. Spread the word. Forward this email to friends & family. Update your Facebook and Twitter status to “I stand with Tibetans in Ngaba”.

For more ways to take action, visit: http://www.studentsforafreetibet.org/ngaba

Let’s work together to end the siege at Kirti monastery, and to protect the monks and local Tibetans who are defending the monastery.

For more information, read the reports & articles below:

Chinese armed police cordon Ngaba Kirti Monastery, 2500 monks face food shortage (TCHRD)
http://www.tchrd.org/press/2011/pr20110411.html

Security step-up in Kirti monastery likely to starve monks (Phayul News):
http://is.gd/iaQ7tN

Ngaba Kirti Monastery Under Lockdown (Voice of America):
http://www.voanews.com/tibetan-english/news/Ngaba-Kirti-Monastery-under-Lockdown-119696874.html

More information about the incident on March 16th self-immolation:
http://www.studentsforafreetibet.org/article.php?id=2306

UC Berkeley SFT member represents at Tibet Lobby Day 2011

The DC I remember comprised of recollections of my 6^th grade visit, which was everything but political. However, the 3^rd Annual Tibet Lobby Day has completely re-sculpted those previous memories, and my current perception of DC isn’t all “Oh wow! I’m going to do all these touristy things”, but rather “Wow! I actually learned a lot about American Civics and Society, and the political structure on Capitol Hill.”

I intentionally arrived 2 days prior to the event, so that I could acclimate myself to the task ahead, and also attend the Lobby Day workshop which specifically focused on versing newbie’s like myself into the art of Lobbying. Furthermore, Mary Beth, ICT president, was such a wonderful and resourceful person to have on our side; as she had worked for the late Senator Claiborne Pell, the person that created Pell Grants. Yes, Pell Grants, can you believe that? (All my 3 years of college I have been a recipient and have benefited from Pell Grants.) Thus, through this workshop we were taught effective strategies to lobby the US Government to exercise its influence for the cause of Tibet; Tibetans living inside Tibet, and for the Tibetans in exile, and helping refugee settlements in India and Nepal.

Anyway, not to digress, but just to show the quality of people you as a participant during Lobby Day will probably meet, get to know and actually keep in contact and network with in the future are just incredible: ranging from Nancy Pelosi’s staffers, to California’s Sen. Boxer’s people, Sen. Feinstein’s people, and offices, and numerous other important congress people of both republican and democratic sides. If you are super lucky you might also get to meet the Senators and Representatives themselves, which actually was the fate of some Lobby Day participants.

Personally, I was extremely nervous at first, and did not feel entirely prepared for this very important event that I was going to participate in for Tibet’s cause, and I also doubted my own skills. My nerves however calmed down due to SFT’s extremely pervasive and organized help and support, and also the fact that ICT, had already taken care of all the knits and grits of this operation, and our appointments were already scheduled for us, and all we as participants had to do was: show up to the Congressional representatives and Senators offices, and articulate effectively our cause and iterate our asks to them, and also share our story, and our thoughts regarding the truth about Tibet.

Overall, I thought my group (the Cali Crowd) was obviously phenomenal and major props to all the organizations and people for planning and overseeing a very smooth, and effective 3^rd Annual Tibet Lobby day. Thus, I urge other young Tibetan’s as myself to sacrifice 2 to 3 days of your normal lives, and come out to DC in the upcoming Tibet Lobby Days, to not only support Tibet, Tibetans, and our cause, but also in addition with that gain a very valuable and unique experience, while networking and making friends from all over the country. Finally, don’t forget to enjoy yourselves. Bodgyalo!

Ngawang
Junior at UC Berkeley
Political Economies Major

Taking My Activism from the Streets of D.C. to the Halls of Capitol Hill

The second the buses arrived at the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. that icy morning in January, we started marching to the White House. Chinese President Hu Jintao was visiting  the U.S. capital for a summit meeting with President Obama for the next 3 days, in what would probably be his last visit to the U.S. as the president of China.

When we were out there in the icy rain marching and protesting, we had no idea our chants and messages would be heard loud and clear by President Obama, the First Lady, and Hu Jintao himself. As the Chinese President’s motorcade pulled up to the White House for the official state dinner – above the noise of the press cameras clicking – our chants were audible and impossible to ignore. “Hu Jintao Failed Leader” “President Obama Speak for Tibet” and “Free Tibet” are the messages heard by Hu Jintao that night.

In that moment, any doubt that I’d ever had about the purpose of street protests was wiped out of my mind. It became clear to me why we do what we do; our street protests make a difference. We shamed China’s leader and reminded our President that Tibet and the issues of human rights will continue to haunt them until concrete actions are taken to change the situation in Tibet.

Within a month’s time, I was back in our nation’s capital. I’d exchanged my worn winter garb for a suit for the 3^rd annual Tibet Lobby Day 2011. What better way to follow up on the protests from January than with meetings with our political representatives? Check out photos from Global Tibet Lobby Day 2011.

We took our activism from the streets of D.C. to the halls of Capitol Hill – and this time we advocated for Tibet as constituents of American politics.

More than a hundred Tibetans and Tibet supporters took time off work and school to be part of the third annual Tibet Lobby Day. SFT’s young leaders from California, Kentucky, Utah, New York, Virginia, DC, Maryland, New Hampshire, Florida, Maine, Wisconsin and Massachusetts made their presence felt and their voices heard in the halls of political power.

In advance of Lobby Day, SFT held a 2-day training at American University to prepare. Over 25 participants attended workshops on Public Speaking, Teaching Tibet, Media & Messaging and we were lucky to get the lowdown on Understanding Why We Lobby with International Campaign for Tibet’s (ICT) president Mary Beth Markey.

The purpose and goal of Lobby Day extends beyond the “asks” we bring up with our Members of Congress. We meet with our political representatives to thank them for their support and to encourage greater political and programmatic support for the Tibetan people. At the same time we are fostering invaluable relationships with our nation’s decision makers and building the voice and presence of Tibetan-Americans as a critical constituent base. Most importantly, we are empowering our next generation of young leaders to assert themselves in the struggle for Tibet’s freedom.

I can remember my first year lobbying in 2009. I was a bundle of nerves and three years on I still felt that rush of nervous energy as I climbed the stairs of the Senate building. But one thing I’ve learned ­– and reminded myself in that moment – is that I have agency. Unlike my fellow countrymen and women in Tibet, I am free to speak up and I have a responsibility to share the dreams and desire of my people for freedom – wherever and whenever I can; whether in the streets or in the offices of my elected leaders.

If you are a Lobby Day veteran, I encourage you to participate next year and the year after. It might make not make a difference today, or tomorrow, but when a decisive moment for Tibet’s future comes – and we know it will – our friends in the U.S. Congress can help tip the balance in favor of freedom. And for those of you who haven’t taken the blue pill, I strongly urge you to give it a try and challenge yourselves to experience this next level of outreach and advocacy for our cause. You’d be surprised how great you’ll feel!

Show your love for Tibet

Valentine’s Day is here…and it’s a perfect time to show your love for Tibet and win your special someone’s heart by giving them an SFT Rangzen Circle membership.

Rangzen means freedom in Tibetan, and the Rangzen Circle is an intimate group of Tibetans and supporters who make an exceptional contribution to the Tibet cause by giving a monthly donation to Students for a Free Tibet.

A Rangzen Circle membership makes a small dent on your wallet but makes a big difference to SFT. It’s as little as 17 cents a day, a movie ticket, or a few coffees a month – for a lasting impact for Tibet’s freedom.

Sign up today: http://sft.convio.net/site/Donation2?df_id=1600&1600.donation=form1

SFT has national networks in Canada, UK, India, Japan, Germany, Taiwan, Australia – we are truly global!  The following SFT offices also have Rangzen Circle membership programs:

If you live in Canada, please join SFT Canada’s Rangzen Circle:

http://sftcanada.org/index.php/make-a-donation

If you live in the UK, please join SFT UK’s Rangzen Circle:

http://www.sftuk.org/donate-us/

If you live in Japan, please join SFT Japan’s Rangzen Circle:

http://www.sftjapan.org/nihongo:rangzenclub

Your monthly support will help SFT:

• Train Tibetans and students in the art of nonviolent direct action and strategy
• Amplify the voices of Tibetans inside Tibet and support their courageous actions for freedom
• Pressure corporations to stop supporting Beijing’s destructive policies in Tibet
• Lobby government leaders to support a political resolution for Tibet

Your monthly gift provides SFT with reliable long-term funding to sustain and advance the movement for a free Tibet. When you sign up for a Rangzen Circle membership in honor of a friend or loved one, SFT will send your Valentine an email, notifying them of your gift. They’ll also receive a Rangzen Circle welcome package that includes a welcome letter, a Rangzen bracelet – a symbol of Tibetan resistance, and an SFT sticker to proudly display.

You can make a Rangzen Circle gift in honor of your friend or loved one online by filling out a secure form here: http://sft.convio.net/site/Donation2?df_id=1600&1600.donation=form1

Thanks for sharing the love.