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		SUPPORTING  TIBET "Because we share this small planet Earth, we have to learn to live in harmony and peace with each other and with nature. That is not just a dream, but a necessity. We are dependent on each other in so many ways that we can no longer live in isolated communities and ignore what is happening outside those communities." His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Nobel Peace Prize Lecture, Dec. 1989.   The Plight of TIBET: The fate of Tibet's unique national, cultural and religious identity is today seriously threatened and manipulated by Chinese policies.  Located on the highest plateau on Earth, averaging 15,000 feet, Tibet's natural environment and the people who depend upon it are also in danger due to exploitation of natural resources under Chinese rule.   First invaded by China in 1949, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and over 130,000 Tibetans chose to flee from their Motherland in 1959, to work for freedom in exile.   Since then 1.2 million Tibetans have been killed and over 6,000 Monasteries have been destroyed. Today, Tibetans remaining in Tibet still face abhorrent human rights abuse, environmental devastation and cultural genocide.  Many basic freedoms are controlled by the Chinese government.  Evidence of their intention to destroy the Tibetan culture & religion is shown through Chinese policies such as: Imprisoning and routinely torturing activists or anyone who vocalizes a wish towards Tibetan freedom; Subjecting women to forced sterilization, abortion & infanticide; Population transfer of Chinese people into Tibet to outnumber and control Tibet economically and making it a criminal offenses to carry a photo or publically wish for the Long Life of their spiritual & temporal leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Dharamshala, India, became the exiled home of HIs Holiness the Dalai Lama and the seat of the Tibetan Government in Exile (Central Tibetan Administration).  Newly arrived refugees often come to Dharamshala, requiring health, education and other social services.  We offer service to the Tibetan Government in exile and support for individuals as critical needs arise .   RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THE PLIGHT OF TIBET: In the United States, SIA functions as a Tibet Support Group whose aim is to educate the public about the plight of Tibet and other endangered peoples and the environments upon which they depend.  We emphasize Tibet's powerful example of non-violence and compassion in their struggle for freedom, while facing human rights abuse and cultural genocide. Awareness Raising Events in the USA: We organize creative, educational events to raise awareness and support for Tibet. Our programs have included our educational slideshow, films, concerts and performances by Tibetan touring groups such as monks from the Sera Je Monastery in India and performers from The Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts. LEARN ABOUT OTHER ENDANGERED PEOPLES & ENVIRONMENTS: To learn about human rights and environmental efforts in Iraq, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Palestine/Israel, US and Afghanistan, contact Global Exchange, San Francisco: www.globalexchange.org
	Support Uprising Day Environmental Devastation Service Projects Panchen Lama Links