Published by: World Tibet Network News, Saturday, Apr 20, 1996

From: The Daily California Law Journal, Wed., April 17

"Around the World and Back to Tibet "

Glen Gilbert was headed for a life in the highrise world of corporate law firms following his 1989 graduation from Harvard Law School.

But in a voyage that would prove defining for his career, Gilbert went to Nepal after finishing law school, where he bumped into Tibetan refugees who were celebrating the Dalai Lama's Nobel Peace prize. He also met the Tibetan spiritual leader during the same journey.

After returning to the United States, Gilbert wound up attending a slide show about Tibet where he met others who were forming the International Committee of Lawyers for Tibet. Recalling his own encounters with the refugees in Nepal, he decided to join the group.

Today Gilbert is its executive director.

There were a few other interesting stops along the way. After practicing for about a year with Landels, Ripley and Diamond, Gilbert taught law in Prague and later became a legal advisor in the new nation of Belau, formerly known as the Palau Islands in the western Pacific.

These days, Gilbert faces the challenge of keeping people focused on the seemingly *** problems facing Tibet, over which China claims sovereign control. Gilbert says he relies on "enlightened chutzpah" to combat complacency over that troubled part of the world. After all, he notes, "No one expected the Berlin Wall to fall and no one expected the Soviet Union to disintegrate."

He has been discovering other supporters of Tibet while helping to organize a fund-raising concert in conjunction with Bill Graham Presents.

Composer Philip Glass, for example, has helped the pro-Tibet effort in the past and helped pave the way for attracting other musicians to next week's Berkeley concert.

Another local Tibet supporter is chef Alice Waters of Chez Panisse, who has offered to cater a concert-related reception. It turns out she has hired several Tibetans in recent years to work in her kitchen and office, telling Gilbert that they have added a heightened sense of spirituality to her celebrated restaurant.

Gilbert has asked approximately 25 Bay Area law firms to serve as official sponsors of the fund- raising concert. In a faxed letter to the firms, he discussed the group's plans to create next month a clearinghouse for immigration and asylum matters involving Tibetan refugees.

The Concert for a Free Tibet will take place on Saturday, April 27, at the Berkeley Community Theatre. In addition to Glass, the entertainment lineup will include composer and trumpeter Mark Isham, Cajun guitarist David Doucet, Tibetan-born flutist Nawang Khechog and a Tibetan performance troupe called Chaksam-Pa, Actor Peter Coyote will serve as master of ceremonies. Tickets range from $20 to $100. For reservations or information, call (510) 433-7324. Glen Craig Gilbert Executive Director ICLT 2288 Fulton Street, Suite 312 Berkeley, California 94704 USA

510-486-0588 telephone

510-548-3785 fax

iclt@igc.apc.org email