Tibetans and supporters peace march in Florida
Promoting a message of independence through non-violence, the International Tibet Independence Movement (ITIM) is once again coordinating a “March for Tibet’s Independence.” This is the seventh major Walk or Bike Ride ITIM has coordinated. The current 55+ mile Walk begins at 1pm on September 20 in Anchor Park (340 South Ocean Blvd) in Delray Beach, Florida and ends on September 22 in Miami Beach, Florida. This Walk coincides with His Holiness The Dalai Lama’s visit to South Florida. ITIM decided to organize this Walk as a way to build on the success of the recent 600+ mile “Peace RIde for Tibet’s Independence” from Washington, DC to Toronto and to further the vision of Taktser Tulku (Thubten Jigme Norbu) to return Tibet to the Tibetans. Given China’s recent rejection of His Holiness The Dalai Lama’s middle way approach to solving the Tibet-China conflict, ITIM also concluded it was imperative to Walk in order to strengthen the worldwide effort to secure Tibet’s independence. Our goals for this Walk are similar to those established for our 2004 Peace Ride.
Why are we walking?
-Because Tibet Belongs to Tibetans
-For the Tibetans in Tibet
-To educate people about the serious 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 and to condemn the appointment of the Chinese selected Panchen Lama -To advocate for the release of other Tibetan prisoners, particularly Tenzin Delek 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 -For Tibet, Eastern Turkestan, Southern Mongolia, and Taiwan’s independence
Jigme Norbu, the son of Taktser Tulku (Oldest Brother of His Holiness The Dalai Lama) will once again co-lead this Walk as a way to further His father’s lifelong effort to regain Tibet’s independence. According to Jigme, “At 82 years old, my father continues to insist that China has no right to occupy Tibet. My job now is to carry on my father’s lifelong effort to mobilize Tibetans and others to throw China out of Tibet, to help Tibetans install a democratic government in Tibet, and to assure that His Holiness The Dalai Lama can once again sit safely on His thrown in the Potala Palace in Lhasa.” Ani Kelsang Palmo, a Tibetan Nun, will co-lead this Walk as well. Ani served time in a Chinese prison for shouting “Free Tibet.” She was severely beaten during her prison stay. Ani also co-led ITIM’s two-month “March for Tibet’s Independence” from San Francisco to Los Angeles in 2000.
Contact: Larry Gerstein, Ph.D., President, International Tibet Independence Movement rangzen@aol.com; www.rangzen.org
317-579-9015 phone; 317-506-2249 cell; 317-579-0914 fax
ITIM was founded by Taktser Tulku and Professor Larry Gerstein on March 18,1995 to obtain Tibet’s Independence through non-violent methods. ITIM is a 501c3 not for profit organization.
