The International Tibet Independence Movement (ITIM) is very excited to announce that we will be coordinating a “Peace Ride for Tibet’s Independence” from The PRC Embassy in Washington, DC to The PRC Embassy in Toronto, Canada. The ride will begin April 10 and will end on April 24 right before His Holiness The Dalai Lama offers the Kalachakra Teaching in Toronto on April 25. April 25 is also the 15th birthday of Gendhun Choekyi Nyima, The Panchen Lama. ITIM was asked to coordinate this Bike Ride by Jigme Norbu (President, Tibetan Cultural Center) and Tibetans affiliated with “Peace for Tibet” in Minnesota. These Tibetans plan to ride the entire time and we intend to help them make this 600+ mile, strenuous, long journey through Maryland and the mountains of Pennsylvania and New York a big success.
Jigme Norbu, the son of Taktser Tulku (Oldest Brother of His Holiness The Dalai Lama) will co-lead this Bike Ride as a way to further His father’s lifelong effort to regain Tibet’s independence. Rinpo Tenzin from Minnesota will also co-lead this Ride. This Bike Ride is an extension of earlier rides (Minnesota to Chicago; Minnesota to DC) completed by Tibetans from Minnesota including Rinpo Tenzin and it is also an extension of numerous March’s for Tibet’s Independence led by Taktser Tulku and coordinated by ITIM.
Why are we riding?
- Because Tibet Belongs to Tibetans
- For the Tibetans in Tibet
- To educate people about the situation in Tibet
- To dialogue with Chinese individuals about the history and current situation in Tibet
- To advocate for the release of Gendhun Choekyi Nyima, The Panchen Lama
- To advocate for the release of other Tibetan prisoners, particularly Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and Chadrel Rinpoche
- To stop the railroad and pipeline being built in Tibet by China
- To promote a Boycott of China’s Goods
- To encourage people to Buy Tibetan
- To stop the environmental destruction in Tibet
- To stop the marginalization of the Tibetan population
- To advocate for democracy in China
- To ask China to negotiate with no preconditions with the Tibetan Government In-Exile
- For Tibet, Eastern Turkestan, Southern Mongolia, and Taiwan’s independence
- Have your organization support the Bike Ride as a Co-Sponsor. Any way that your organization can contribute/support would be acceptable.
- Assist with promotions and media coverage, including publishing an announcement of this Bike Ride in appropriate newsletters and mailings.
- Provide a link to our website (www.rangzen.org).
- Ride with us for any part of the route.
- Sponsor a rider. Ideally, we want more Tibetans on the ride then Westerners. The core group of riders will be about 10 people. Any Tibetans that could be sponsored for all the ride or parts of the ride would be appreciated. We also welcome sponsorship of Westerners who could ride for any part of the route. We estimate that it will cost about $1000 to sponsor a rider for the entire time. This includes the cost, for instance, of a bike, van rental and fuel, food, and other living expenses.
- Sponsor meals for the riders each day ($10 per rider or $100 for all the riders each day).
- Ride with us on April 10 and also April 24 to celebrate Gendhun Choekyi Nyima’s Birthday and raise awareness of His detention for the past nine years.
- Assist with recruiting high profile individuals (e.g., Monks, Nuns, entertainers, authors, scholars, religious leaders, government officials) who would be willing to ride part or all of the route (e.g., a day, weekend).
- Arrange housing (floor space is definitely OK) along the route for about 10 people.
- Arrange presentations at educational institutions and/or community groups along the route.
- Contribute $1 for each day of the Bike Ride.
- Coordinate your own Peace Ride for Tibet’s Independence–even a one-day event.
- Contribute any amount of money you can afford.
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We strongly believe that our previous Walks and Bike Rides for Tibet were highly successful, in part, because of the involvement and support we received from people like you. We need your help once again (a detailed list of how you can help follows). We warmly request that, if appropriate, you promote the Bike Ride in your newsletter, website, and/or mailings to your membership. Next, if possible, we ask that you sponsor one of the Tibetans riding with us, the entire time or part of the time.
In addition, we greatly need your financial assistance to cover our operating expenses. These expenses include, for instance, purchasing or renting bikes, renting a 12 person rental van, renting a trailer to carry our bikes and equipment, and paying for other expenses such as postage, telephone, copying, fuel, food, and technical equipment. Any amount of money that you could afford would be very useful and much appreciated.
Finally, if appropriate, we invite your organization to Co-Sponsor this Bike Ride. To be included as a Co-Sponsor, we need to know your decision by March 10.
We hope that 1000s of Tibet Supporters will stand with us at The PRC Embassy in DC on April 10th and at The PRC Embassy in Toronto at the conclusion of the Bike Ride on April 24th. We also hope that on April 24 & 25, Tibet Supporters around the world will advocate for the release of Gendhun Choekyi Nyima, The Panchen Lama.
We are confident that this Bike Ride will be a great success not only in terms of educating people and securing their support for Tibet, but also obtaining major media attention for the cause. We trust that you will be inspired to support the “Peace Ride for Tibet’s Independence.” It is absolutely essential that we all keep up the momentum for a Free Tibet in the year 2004. I look forward to hearing from you very soon. Please contact me or Rinpo Tenzin, if you have any questions about this project or our request.
Bhod Rangzen!, Larry Gerstein
President, International Tibet Independence Movement
rangzen@aol.com; www.rangzen.org
317-579-9015 phone; 317-579-0914 fax
Rinpo Tenzin
tsedor1@msn.com
612-874-6483 home; 651-917-9565 work
How to help?
If you are willing to make a donation, please make checks payable to ITIM which is a 501(c)3. Donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by U.S. law.
Send Financial Contributions to: International Tibet Independence Movement, PO Box 592, Fishers, Indiana 46038-0592, United States
Organizers:
International Tibet Independence Movement
Peace for Tibet
Tibetan Cultural Center
