‘Finding Common Ground’ follow up...
2009 Sino-Tibetan Conference ‘Finding Common Ground’ in Geneva A Sino-Tibetan conference ‘Finding Common Ground’ was held in Geneva from 6−8 August 2009 attended by Chinese and Tibetan scholars, educators, writers and human rights advocates. The aims of the conference are to inform the Chinese people and the international community that Tibetan culture and way of life are gravely endangered and that the fundamental human rights of the Tibetan people are seriously being violated by the Chinese regime. In addition, the conference aims to outline effective measures to support the Tibetan people in their struggle to regain their freedom and to sustain and promote its unique culture. In this way, the conference will also respond to the heartfelt remarks made by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in His opening address. [Read more] Address by HH the Dalai Lama to the ‘Finding Common Ground’ Conference in Geneva I extend my greetings to the Chair of this conference, the organizers, the delegates who have come from many different places, and guests. I would specially like to commend the International Fellowship of Reconciliation and the Swiss Tibetan Friendship Association for organizing this wide-ranging conference of Chinese and Tibetans. For over a thousand years, the Tibetan and Chinese people have co-existed as friendly and harmonious neighbors with mutually enriching relations in the social and economic fields as well as in religion and culture. Occasionally, there were times when we fought each other. However, for the most part, relations between Tibetan and Chinese peoples were peaceful. Since Buddhism flourished in China before Tibet, Tibetan Buddhists accord Chinese Buddhists the respect and deference due to senior spiritual brothers and sisters. [Read more ] Dalai Lama "hopeful" China will change Tibet policy The Dalai Lama says that Tibet is currently in a “crisis” which threatens, unless resolved, to continue from “from generation to generation.” However, he is hopeful that the “era of social harmony” ushered in by China’s president, Hu Jintao, may lead to a “change” in China’s refusal to acknowledge Tibet's right to autonomy. Speaking at the world’s first Sino-Tibetan peace conference, alongside Samdhong Rinpoche, the Prime Minister of Tibet in exile, the Dalai Lama said the Tibetan Government in Exile’s position had not changed and that they were seeking a “middle way” rather than “separation” and that he longed to reach out to China’s intellectuals and the Chinese people in order to give them correct information. Calling for "transparency and truthfulness," the Dalai Lama said...
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Photos of the conference
Conference photo album Photos of the "Finding Common Ground" Conference (Tibet and China) in Geneva, Switzerland on 6-8 August 2009: Convened by the International Fellowship of Reconciliation and the Swiss Tibetan Friendship Association, the conference was attended by over 100 Chinese and Tibetan delegates from all over the world. Reaction to the conferenceFrançoise Pétremand This participation at the Conference in Geneva was very important for me, but also for IFOR! Françoise Pétremand Ethan Vesely-Flad Ethan Vesely-Flad Frank J. Ostrowski I think it is truly a coup to have pulled this one off. Interestingly, we've not heard a word in the American press about it all. I think that is a bit strange, because there is a large segment of American society which is quite concerned about Tibet and feels warmly toward the Dalai Lama. He, by the way, has been visiting professor at Emory University here in Atlanta, and had a marvelous, well-attended conference here a few years ago. One of my wife's close friends is Emory University's liaison with the Dalai Lama's center in Dharamsala. Again, I'm delighted with what you've done! Yours,
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