The Tibetan Youth Association of Europe and the Committee of 100 for Tibet are pleased to announce a conference “Shaping the Future of Tibet: Self-Determination and Individual Activism” to be held in Einsiedeln, Switzerland, from January 23rd to January 25th, 2004.
Ever since the Chinese invasion of our homeland, more than half a century ago, the people of Tibet have suffered immeasurably, and they continue to do so with no end in sight. We feel a sense of great urgency, not only to provide relief to our people as early as possible, but to address the underlying need for a settlement of the status of Tibet, one that will be in accordance with universal principles and acceptable to the people of Tibet.
Under the leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the long-standing work of many in the Tibetan government in exile, we have had tremendous success in saving Tibet. But, after more than twenty years of “delegation-diplomacy” we find it difficult to be encouraged as no substantive changes steps have been taken by the Chinese on any front so far.
The conference will discuss ways to further the right to self-determination of the Tibetan people, mindful that even the United Nations resolved in 1961 that China respect the fundamental human rights and freedoms of the Tibetan people including their right to self-determination. Recent efforts to apply these principles have been supported by endorsements and actions taken by all the Tibetan organizations in Switzerland, the German speaking Tibet Support Groups, and by all the Tibetan community organizations in Canada and the United States, including key Tibet organizations.
The aim of this conference is to address the urgency of the situation, to find focus in our goals and strategies, and to spark renewed involvement and action by Tibetans all over the world; and, to demonstrate our unified resolve that the Tibetan people must determine their own political, economic and cultural future. It is our shared belief that more Tibetans need to be active in the Tibetan struggle for freedom, because, without Tibetan involvement and effort, all the support in the world can be quite meaningless.
For further information on the conference schedule, speakers, panelists, participants, and registration please visit the conference website at www.tibetanyouth.org/futureoftibet. or contact us at:
Tibetan Youth Association in Europe
Binzstrasse 15
CH-8045 Zürich
Switzerland
E-mail: info@vtje.org
Committee of 100 for Tibet
P.O. Box 60612
Palo Alto, California 94306-0612
USA
E-mail: info@c100tibet.org
