Australia Tibet Council hosted an evening at Sydney’s TAP Gallery for 100+ guests and supporters of Tibet to enjoy the movie “Dreaming Lhasa” by Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam.
The evening was introduced by Tom Ptak, representing the New South Wales branch of the Australia Tibet Council, Zoe Bedford, representing the board of the Australia Tibet Council and Tenpa Dugdak from the Tibetan community. A warm welcome was also made to the Tibetan Friendship Group members in the audience.
All speakers thanked the audience for their support, and Zoe emphasized the need for continued moral and financial support to ensure the issue remains high on the agenda. Tom thanked key members from NSW Australia Tibet Council, particularly Roy Howarth and Jamie Williams for their years of dedicated service, along with many other loyal supporters.
In his address, Tenpa Dugdak stated that it is in his dreams that he will return to Tibet, proud and free to be a Tibetan in his own country.
He said he had been asked if he thought that demonstrations and rallies made any difference to the Tibetan plight. He had to answer that he does not feel that it really has any impact on changing Chinese government policy, but that it does raise the morale of local Tibetans who are feeling helpless and unheard. These Tibetans in turn tell their friends and families in Tibet, India and Nepal and it lifts their spirits to know that they are not forgotten.
Tenpa also made special note that many Tibetans make a point of noticing how many Western supporters are present at events, as they feel that this is a real indicator of international recognition of their overwhelming problem. He urged Westerners to demonstrate their concerns by taking such action as attending events, as it is more effective than giving sympathy. Although thankful of international sympathy, he asked if sympathy had been actions, would the outcomes be very different? He suggested that maybe there would have been more pressure to give Tibet autonomy, reduce exploitation of the fragile environment by deforestation and pollution, and could have maybe even policed or stopped the impact of the Lhasa railway on the Tibetan people and culture.
He stressed the importance of action as well as sympathy. He pointed out that many Tibetans are becoming despondent and frustrated with trying to resolve their problem whilst retaining their commitment to non-violence. Frustrated with the lack of international pressure and international political support, this struggle has now been going on for over 50 years, with no significant international government support from any country. He posed a hypothetical question – if Tibetans do eventually resort to more aggressive and unethical means, who will be to blame? Will it be the Tibetans for losing heart, or the rest of the world for not acting on their proclaimed commitment to non-violence?
In closing, Tenpa proposed the very real notion that if Tibet’s non violent struggle fails, it will be a benchmark failure of global commitment to peace, a final admission that the world will never be dedicated to supporting non-violence and dialogue as an effective means of resolution.
The screening of the movie was a huge success with all who attended enjoying its honesty, artistic portrayal and brilliant depiction of the frustration and loss felt by a displaced people. This high quality production is an absorbing and enjoyable way to gain insight into a heartbreaking problem.
A closing announcement was made by Sol Voron, announcing a Tibet Himalya Fair to be held on 21 and 22 April at Leichhardt, featuring music, food, photography and speakers on humanitarian projects and cultural heritage. This is another event which will raise awareness of the Tibetan region and attendance would be a great way to show support.
Tom asked how many in the audience yearned for a more peaceful world, with a unanimous show of hands. He suggested that supporting Tibet is a very effective means of working towards that goal.
