Lobsang Sangay, Tenzin Tethong & Tashi Wangdi makes the final candidates for Kalon Tripa

From Left Lobsang Sangay, Tenzin Tethong, Tashi Wangdi

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Three distinquished candidates are now in frey for election for Kalon Tripa (English translation Prime Minister) of Tibetan Government based in Dharamsala, India. All three candidates brings in different attributes such as knowledge, experience, dedication, trustworthiness and academic background.

These attributes are necessary in any candidates seeking highest elected office. Perhaps we can say without any hesitation, this election is widely campaigned by the candidates themselves and by their ardent supporters through facebook and youtube. Thanks to technology, it has generated widespread awareness amongst youth and media.It goes without saying that because of unique nature of this election and the advancing age of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who has publicly expressed his desire to relinguish political responsibility and urge the  exiled Tibetans to take this election seriously. Please click this link for His Holiness The Dalai Lama's comment on importance of the coming Kalon Tripa election. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sl1HM9i1OxI
We owe it to ourselves that we exercise our democratic right with utmost sense of responsibility and duty. We still have some times between now and the day we go to the polling booth, to study the candidates carefully. Whatever the outcome, the voice and will of the majority will previal. Afterall, this is what  we call DEMOCRACY.

Season's Greeting & Happy New Year!!!!

TO ALL OUR AVID READERS!

A VERY HAPPY AND PURPOSEFUL NEW YEAR!

From Folks at TashiDelekAmerica.com

Canadian govt sponsors immigration for Tibetans in Arunachal

Source: Hindustan Times
Tibetans living in remote areas of Arunachal Pradesh bordering neighboring China could soon fly their way into Canada. Government of Canada has agreed to facilitate immigration of Tibetans living in Arunachal Pradesh. Canadian government’s initiative came following the request from Tibet’s exiled

spiritual leader the Dalai Lama to settle Tibetans inhabiting remote areas, many of them inaccessible by roads.

“His Holiness- the Dalai Lama had been moved by the plight of Tibetan exiles inhabiting the remote areas of Arunachal Pradesh which are underdeveloped as compared to other settlements in India,” senior bureaucrat in Central Tibetan Administration (CTA)  at its headquarters here told Hindustan Times while he confirmed Canadian government latest immigration program proposed for Tibetans.

Under proposed program, Canadian government would facilitate immigration of at least 1000 Tibetans refugees from Aruanchal Pradesh in next five years. Sources say that soon the Canadian government would work out on immigration process with Indian government in consultation with Dalai Lama’s – Tibetan – government-in-exile.

There are 39 Tibetan settlements across India, and three of them are located in Arunachal Pradesh which includes Bomdila, Tezu Tenzingang.

All the three are located on route followed by Dalai Lama to enter India after he escaped from Tibet when Chinese troops marched into Lhasa in 1959. Estimated 80, 000 Tibetans followed Dalai Lama to India. Dalai Lama who was conferred with Nobel Prize for peace seeks more autonomy the China administered Tibet.

This is not the first time Canada has assisted Tibetans. In 1972, Canada established the Tibetan Refugee Program and resettled approximately 230 Tibetans in Canada who had been living in Northern India. Tibetan officials say that government of Canada will develop special immigration. “Tibetans selected under would require to meet Canada’s requirements for immigration, including security, criminal, medical and background checks” said an official.

Canadian government offer came three years after Nepalese government rejected United States sponsored immigration program for Tibetans. United States program had hit the road block, as the coalition government led by Maoist refused to grant exit visa to the Tibetans living in Nepal.

“American programs had suffered set back as Nepalese government became reluctant to give exit visa to exiles” said CTA’s Cabinet Secretary Migyur Dorje.

The Bush administration had offered to settle as many as 1000 Tibetans exiles, particularly those whose kins had participated in American sponsored covert guerilla war against Chinese led from Mustang in Nepal.

Covert war met an abrupt end when the Dalai Lama sent a recorded message in 1972 appealing the guerillas warriors to give up weapons, many of them offended committed suicide and other took up petty professions like working on the roadside.  It is estimated that at least 20,000 Tibetans are currently living in Nepal, but the actual number could be well over 30,000.

Of these, less than 20,000 are believed to have Registration certificate and new regulations enforced by Nepalese government is making it increasingly difficult for exiles to obtain and renew RC’s on an annual basis.

Nepal stopped allowing Tibetan refugees to settle in its land following diplomatic pressure after a flood of refugees fled in the wake of the 1987-89 Lhasa protests.

WikiLeaks cables: the Dalai Lama is right to put climate change first

Source: guardian.co.uk

The Dalai Lama, according to the latest release of WikiLeaks cables, told US diplomats that, for Tibet, climate change is a more urgent issue than a political settlement. This will certainly dismay some of the more radical elements of the region's independence movement. Many of the younger Tibetans in exile are already frustrated with their spiritual leader's moderate and non-violent approach. For them, independence will always trump the environment.

But if the concern is the survival of the nomadic peoples of the Tibetan plateau, the Dalai Lama is right. Exile activists, with a familiar cast of celebrities and sympathisers, have done much to define western perceptions of Tibet as primarily a political issue. But the Dalai Lama's efforts to secure a meaningful autonomy for Tibetans have not flourished. Nor has any pressure applied by the US measurably improved Tibetans' freedom; and today, with an increasingly confident and nationalist China, the prospects for progress are in retreat.
Meanwhile, beyond the Himalayas, the profound and irreversible impacts of dramatic environmental changes are overtaking politics as a threat to the Tibetan way of life. The signs are everywhere: in melting permafrost; changes in surface water on the grasslands; disrupted rainfall patterns; and the retreat of most of the Himalayan glaciers – the largest store of ice outside the north and south poles.
Beijing has invoked climate change as the final argument for the forced settlement of about 100,000 Tibetan nomads, blaming them for damaging the vulnerable grasslands by overgrazing. The nomads' new homes are bleak and isolated housing settlements, where they cannot keep their animals and where there are few other ways to make a living. The programme heralds the death of a way of life that has been maintained, sustainably, for centuries.
And, further, China's ambition to integrate Tibet – with the pressure of inward migration by Han Chinese; rapid infrastructure development; and a push to exploit Tibet's rich timber and mineral resources to fuel China's economic growth – is putting heavy pressure on a rich but fragile environment.
The push for hydro-power development, part of China's climate mitigation strategy, is leading to the world's biggest programme of dam construction in the Himalayas – in a region highly prone to earthquakes and mostly built with scant regard to the interests of those downstream, or of the people whose homes and lands are drowned.

These are urgent threats to the habitat on which all Tibetans depend. Even in the unlikely event of an imminent political settlement, the impacts of damaging models of development and of climate change would continue. And while China's policies are an important cause of the developing environmental crisis, so – as the Dalai Lama pointed out – is the lack of US action on climate change. The effects of rising temperatures on the plateau, already painfully evident, will continue for decades. But any hope of slowing or reversing those impacts depends on action taken now.

The Dalai Lama is 75 and the end of his leadership of the Tibetan people is in sight. He has announced his retirement and is unlikely to see a political settlement in his lifetime. Without him, Beijing calculates that the exile effort will falter and the last impediments to its Tibet policies will disappear. But Beijing would also do well to understand that, unless the Dalai Lama's environmental warnings are heeded, theirs will be a hollow victory. And the US should see that to support Tibet's political cause while doing nothing to prevent the climate change that risks devastating lives across the Himalayas amounts to little more than gesture politics.

At least 22 killed in Tibet Grassland Fires

At least 22 people have been killed while fighting the grassland fire in the Tibetan mountains, reports Chinese news agency Xinhua.
The fire broke out in the Daofu Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, 580 kilometers from Chengdu (Sichuan province) Sunday afternoon. More than 2 thousand people were engaged in putting out the fire that engulfed over 46 hectares of grazing land.
According to reports, during the fire fighting 15 soldiers, two officers from the county forestry administration and five local residents were killed. Another three people were hospitalized in serious condition.
The county Daofu is home to about 45,000 people, the vast majority of them are Tibetans.
Cause of fire is yet to be clarified by the officials. Moreover, according to media reports in recent weeks various parts of China often have seen wild fires, which the experts attribute to characteristic of dry weather this winter season.

128Thouands Tibetans living outside Tibet: Tibetan survey

Sourece: Hindustan Times

Over 127,935 Tibetans have been living outside Tibet till April 12 2009, as compared to 111,020 persons in 1998, a survey reveals. As per a report published by the Planning Commission of the Central Tibetan Administration on the latest population census, of the total population till 2009, 70,556 were males and 57,379 females.
94,203 of the population lived in India, 13,514 in Nepal, 1,298 in Bhutan and 18,920 elsewhere, the study titled Demographic Survey of Tibetans in exile-2009.
Tibetans in exile make up about 3 per cent of the total ethnic Tibetan population in the world, with the rest, living in the Tibetan areas of People's Republic of China.
The annual growth rates which were hovering around estimated 2.8 per cent for the last thirty years, has declined below 2 per cent, the study states.
According to the survey, the annual growth rate of the Tibetan population in exile is 1.96.
The Total Fertility Rates, based on "own-child method" for the period prior to 1998 was estimated to be as high 4.9 during 1987-89 has gone down to 1.18 in 2009, thus showing a total decline in the fertility level of 3.65 in 2009.
The survey lists two major factors that might have caused the fertility transition in Tibetan population.
Literacy figures confirm that child bearing Tibetan women are more educated than their parents and were brought up in relatively better economic positions.
This cohort takes longer time in building their careers that delay their age at marriage resulting in fewer children or forgoing having them altogether.
Besides, the contraceptive prevalence has risen substantially from only 10 per cent among the married women in 1980's to 95 per cent in 2001.
The sex ratio for Tibetan population in exile is 798 females per 1000 males, which is an improvement of 6 points over 792 recorded in 1998.
As per the latest survey, there is an impressive surge of 10.1 per cent in general literacy rate from 69.3 per cent in 1998 to 79.4 per cent in 2009.
The infant mortality rate of the Tibetan population in exile was recorded as 15.44 per 1000 child-births and it has gone down to 60.3 percent in comparison to 1998.

males and 57,379 females.
94,203 of the population lived in India, 13,514 in Nepal, 1,298 in Bhutan and 18,920 elsewhere, the study titled Demographic Survey of Tibetans in exile-2009.
Tibetans in exile make up about 3 per cent of the total ethnic Tibetan population in the world, with the rest, living in the Tibetan areas of People's Republic of China.
The annual growth rates which were hovering around estimated 2.8 per cent for the last thirty years, has declined below 2 per cent, the study states.
According to the survey, the annual growth rate of the Tibetan population in exile is 1.96.
The Total Fertility Rates, based on "own-child method" for the period prior to 1998 was estimated to be as high 4.9 during 1987-89 has gone down to 1.18 in 2009, thus showing a total decline in the fertility level of 3.65 in 2009.
The survey lists two major factors that might have caused the fertility transition in Tibetan population.
Literacy figures confirm that child bearing Tibetan women are more educated than their parents and were brought up in relatively better economic positions.
This cohort takes longer time in building their careers that delay their age at marriage resulting in fewer children or forgoing having them altogether.
Besides, the contraceptive prevalence has risen substantially from only 10 per cent among the married women in 1980's to 95 per cent in 2001.
The sex ratio for Tibetan population in exile is 798 females per 1000 males, which is an improvement of 6 points over 792 recorded in 1998.
As per the latest survey, there is an impressive surge of 10.1 per cent in general literacy rate from 69.3 per cent in 1998 to 79.4 per cent in 2009.
The infant mortality rate of the Tibetan population in exile was recorded as 15.44 per 1000 child-births and it has gone down to 60.3 percent in comparison to 1998.

Ski Tibet: Attempting a first descent

Source: ESPN
This fall, a four-person team -- including myself, Andy Tankersley, Todd Passey, and Kim Havell -- attempted to make a first ski descent off the summit of Tibet's 26,289-foot Mt. Shishapangma, the 14th highest peak in the world.
According to most references, Shishapangma was first skied (but not from the summit) in 1987 by Polish climber Jerzy Kukuczka. Brothers Steve and Mike Marolt became the first North Americans to ski the peak in 2000, but again, not from the summit. The south face had been sought out once before as a ski descent by a highly accomplished North Face-sponsored team in 1999. This was the expedition that resulted in the tragic death of two of its members -- Alex Lowe and David Bridges, who were killed by an avalanche. Since then, no skier or snowboader has attempted to descend the south face and still to this day, nobody has skied off the true summit.


The expedition was truly an adventure. Travel was delayed by landslides, our cook went missing for five days, one team member got brutally sick due to a blood clot that resulted in pneumonia, among other complications. The weather was gnarly: We had strong winds and avalanches. Other expeditions left the mountain, and by the time our summit window arrived, we were alone on an 8,000-meter peak attempting a first descent.


This gallery offers a glimpse into our expedition. This is the first time these photos have been shown.


Eddie Bauer/First Ascent was the main sponsor for this expedition. Additional key sponsors were Feathered Friends, GoPro, Dynafit, MSR/Cascade Designs, Suunto, Smith optics, Salomon, Gregory, IO-BIO, Adventure Medical Kits and BUFF. We are grateful for this support.

The world may see a second Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama told Nezavisimaya Gazeta (NG) about a little-known promise, made by Deng Xiaoping. In the 1970s, the Chinese leader promised the leader of the Tibetans that any question, with the exception of Tibet’s independence, may be discussed. The Dalai Lama proposed to discuss autonomy. But as a result, the Chinese leadership called him a secessionist and retracted Deng’s promise. Nevertheless, communication with Beijing continues. In connection with the changes occurring in China, the Dalai Lama believes that reaching an agreement is possible.

The press conference followed the high priest’s meeting with Tibetans, who have made the difficult journey through the Himalayas, bypassing the border guards, in order to get his blessing. It was prohibited to photograph the pilgrim’s faces; otherwise, they will face jail time upon return.

The Dalai Lama thanked the pilgrims for their perseverance, and urged them to be true to the national culture, language, and religion. However, faith – as was taught by Buddha – should not be blind. It is necessary to keep up with advances in science, to learn. Only then will Tibetans be able to benefit from China’s economic accomplishments.

Beijing removes natural resources from Tibet. Nevertheless, the Dalai Lama did not urge his compatriots to oppose this. Otherwise, the request for independence would be unrealistic. The more popular Buddhism becomes in the world, the stronger will be the pressure of the global community on Beijing. One needs to study his faith, and not only pray. The Tibetan exiled government will do everything possible to help those suffering under the yoke of the Chinese government.

While responding to a question, posed by NG’s correspondent, the high priest said that in the 1970s he was hosted by the architect of the Chinese reforms, Deng Xiaoping. He said that anything can be a subject of discussion, with the exception of independence. “I presumed that if China allows us to keep our culture and Buddhism, then Tibet will be able to receive financial benefits, by remaining in contact with China. But later, in connection to suppression of the democratic movement on the Tiananmen Square, China’s position became more rigid. Chinese officials started calling me a secessionist and even a devil.”

Nevertheless, under the leadership of Jiang Zemin, talks between Chinese officials and Dalai Lama’s messengers resumed. More than eight rounds of talks have taken place. After the violent clashes in Tibet in 2008, China’s leader, Hu Jintao, said that he plans to have a meeting with representatives of the Tibetan government in exile. But, it never took place.

And yet, hope to reach an agreement remains. In a few years, there will be a new leadership in Beijing. And it may have a different approach to negotiations, especially because Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao spoke about the need for political reforms.

Another positive point – the revival of Buddhism in China. Currently, there are 200 million Buddhists in the country. Many Chinese come to Dharamsala, where Tibet’s spiritual leader resides, to listen to his sermons. They become convinced that the middle way approach, which he advocates, corresponds to the morals of the Buddhist teachings, while censorship and total control, which are practiced by Beijing, are amoral.

The Dalai Lama is a wonderful orator. He repeatedly evoked laughter in the audience by either depicting himself as the devil or citing the question posed by Italian journalists, who asked if the next Dalai Lama could be a woman. It very well may happen, he said. The high priest is 75 years old. And Tibetans are, of course, worried about what will happen when he steps into another world. The Dalai Lama is preparing the faithful for this event. The institution of the Dalai Lama has existed for a few centuries, and Buddhism was born much earlier. Everything will depend on the will of the Tibetans. Tibetan immigrants, living not only in India, but in other countries as well, have created their democratic institutions and are now, again, planning to hold a parliamentary election. In India, the pre-election campaign is going smoothly, but in the neighboring Nepal and Bhutan, the pre-election procedures have been complicated under the pressure of Beijing. Nevertheless, it will be the elected representatives of Tibet who will decide what to do with the institution of the Dalai Lama.

The high priest says that he is half retired. Nevertheless, because 98% of his compatriots trust the leader, he feels a sense of great responsibility before them. I asked: what will happen if China appoints its Dalai Lama? Nothing terrible will happen, answered the orator with a smile. Perhaps, there will be two Dalai Lamas.

The current leader of the Tibetans receives many invitations from Russia’s Buddhists. He has warm memories of his 1979 visit to the USSR, and then of his trips to Russia under the presidency of Boris Yeltsin. But the last time he had made a short pastoral visitwas to Kalmykia. Since then, he has not been able to communicate with coreligionists in Russia. Why? “You, Russians, know that better,” concluded the Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

 

Source: Russia & India Report