TIBET CONFERENCE OF THE AMERICAS

New Horizons for the Tibet Movement

March 9,10, & 11, 1996

The conference is sponsored by the International Campaign for Tibet, Tibetan Rights Campaign, U.S. Tibet Committee, Students for a Free Tibet, Canada Tibet Committee, International Committee of Lawyers for Tibet, The Milarepa Fund, Tibet House, Project Tibet, Tibetan Community Assistance Project, Capitol Area Tibetan Association, Tibetan Women's Association, East Coast and The Transnational Radical Party.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Saturday, March 9, 1996

8:45 am REGISTRATION

9:30 Welcome

Lodi G. Gyari, President, International Campaign for Tibet RRinchen Dharlo, Representative of H.H. the Dalai Lama for the Americas

9:45 The Political Status of Tibet

10:30 Pro-active Nonviolence Strategies

Keynote speaker: Prof.S.Rinpoche, Chairman, Assembly of Tibetan People's Deputies

Moderator: Doug Weiner

Recognition of delegates to the Beijing women's conference and the October hunger strikers.

Panelists:

Gendun Rinchen, tour guide, former prisoner of conscience.

12:30pm Lunch Break (regional caucuses to meet)

1:30 Workshop I: Understanding China - The Impact of Pressure on Tibet

Coordinator: Jigme Ngapo

Discussion leaders: Orville Schell, Liu Binyan, Haipei Xue

Prominent scholars, activists and China watchers - with diverse viewpoints on issues relating to Tibet - will discuss how recent changes in China are affecting Tibet. Workshop participants will also propose suggestions on how best to reach out to Chinese communities.

Workshop II: Improving Coordination & Communication

Coordinator: Kunzang Yuthok

Discussion leaders: Glen Gilbert, Meta McGarbey, Dan Hodel, Carole Samdup, Beata Tikos

Discussion on ways to increase the effectiveness of the Tibet movement through improved coordination and communication. Distribution of action alerts, organizing a Tibet presence at the Atlanta Summer Olympics and other grassroots campaigns will also be addressed.

3:30 Workshop III: International Parliament and Government Initiatives

Coordinator: Rachel Lostumbo

Discussion leaders: Thubten Samdup, Eva Herzer, Marino Busdachin, Staff of U.S. Congress

This workshop will discuss the current status of government and UN support for Tibet and the ways that the Tibet Support Groups can help build new energy and commitment to Tibet.

Workshop IV: Activism With a Punch - Boycotts and Divestment

Moderator: Claudia Cellini

Coordinator: John Ackerly

Discussion leaders: John Dinuson, Jeff Fiedler, John Hocevar, David Jacobs, Erin Potts, John Voss, Dechen Wangdu, Anne Hoffman

This workshop brings together a dynamic and growing team of people who are working on economic actions to bring pressure on China. The workshop will coordinate a national boycott and divestment efforts and expand and strengthen Students for a Free Tibet chapters.

Workshop V: Humanitarian Aid, Development & Tourism in Tibet

Coordinator: Kelsang D. Aukatsang

Discussion leaders: Lodi Gyari, Tenzin Takhla, Sonam Zoksang, Ann Oliver

This workshop will explore strategies of using international assistance to improve health and education in Tibet and will discuss the impact and significance of a growing tourism industry in Tibet. There will also be a presentation by Tibet Fund.

7:00 Reception by Capitol Area Tibetan Association

8:00 Dinner

Keynote speaker: Harry Wu, prominent Chinese human rights activist and president of the Laogai Foundation. Introduction by Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi.

SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 1996

10:00am New Horizons for the Tibet Movement

Moderator: Mark Rovner

Speakers: Lodi Gyari, Dr. Edward Luttwak, Roger Craver, Bob Squire, Joel McCleary.

11:00 Assessing the Movement

Moderator: Tenzin N. Tethong

Panelists: Reports from the workshops

12:00pm Recognition of Prof. Thubten J. Norbu and marchers to New York

12:10 Concluding Remarks: Rinchen Dharlo

2:00 Rally to Commemorate the Anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising

Venue: Embassy of China. 2300 Connecticut Ave., Metro: Dupont Circle.

3:00 March for Tibet's Independence

Venue: Embassy of China.

4:00 Tibetan Association Meeting

MONDAY, MARCH 11,1996

9:00am Session on Lobbying

Venue: Capitol Hill.

Coordinator: Rachel Lostumbo