A benefit concert in support of Tibet, called Tibet Blues, will take place on 3 February 2006 hosted by students from the University of Bristol.
From Cajun, world beats to Tibetan folk, the night features a wide range of musicians including a globally acclaimed Tibetan singer Loten Namling and Chris Jagger, as well as many local talents.
The money raised will go to Jinpa, a Tibetan-run organisation based in Tibet, preserving Tibetan culture and promoting education and health care in one of the most remote places in the world.
“The people of Tibet have suffered for more than 50 years under the illegal occupation by China, resulting in gross violation of human rights, religious persecution, cultural and environmental destruction,” said Hiroko Yamamoto of the Coalition for Tibet.
“The situation continues today: economic repression and population transfer scheme by the Chinese government have turned Tibetans into a minority in their own land.”
“What can you do against the might and intransigence of the world’s emerging super-state?” asked Chris who, like his infamous brother Mick, has been a keen Tibet supporter for years.
“It remains true that the dictatorship in Beijing is nonetheless very wary of criticism, from inside and outside the country. Indeed it is doubtful that most Chinese people realise what is being done in their name in Tibet.
“With the Olympic Games on the horizon it is important that all support for Tibet is mobilised to maximum effect. On the one hand it registers disapproval and a message to our government not to always tow the Chinese line and on the other it gives some hope to the people of Tibet,” he said.
