Published by: World Tibet Network News Saturday, October 18, 1997

By John Serba

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, October 17, 1997 (Grand Rapids Press) -- Did you know that since the Chinese occupied Tibet in 1949, more than one million Tibetans have been killed?

Did you also know that Tibetans, in accordance with Buddhist tradition, have a philosophy of nonviolence, in spite of the harsh oppression they face?

Such is the power of Hollywood. Not only do films have the power to entertain, but also, as in the case of "Seven Years in Tibet," they have the power to educate.

"Anything Hollywood does, people are interested in," said Jason Upchurch, a Hope College graduate who organized a chapter of Students for a Free Tibet at the school. Upchurch took the opportunity to hand out educational pamphlets at the Star Holland theater when the film opened last Friday.

"The film is a great way of drawing attention to (the Tibetan situation), to bring things to the forefront," he said.

Those who see the film will follow the footsteps of Austrian mountain climber Heinrich Harrer, portrayed by Brad Pitt, as he learns about the peace-loving Tibetan culture and experiences firsthand the Chinese occupation of the country.

Just as he is moved and changed by the experience, so are we, our eyes opened to something we possibly weren't aware of.

Members of TIBETWestMichigan hope the film will inspire people to get involved in the movement to free Tibet.

The local organization set up a large display in the Studio 28 lobby, showcasing Tibetan culture through art, educational pamphlets and a video.

"We just want to encourage folks to take action," said Glenn Freeman, who helped organize the TIBETWestMichigan campaign. "People should see how worthwhile it is to support Tibet."

And the display seems to be working. When Freeman arrived at the display Monday, all of the pamphlets had been taken. And although the film was the second highest-grossing film nationally for the weekend, behind "Kiss the Girls," Studio 28's ticket sales for "Tibet" topped all theaters in Michigan.

Such success is attributed in part to the TIBETWestMichigan display, erected a week before the film opened.

"It helps the theater, it helps the International Campaign for Tibet and it helps the public," Freeman said.

TIBETWestMichigan has been active for more than three years. The group helped bring Tibetan monks to West Michigan last year. The film is the next step the for the organization, which is bringing Tibetan author Ama Adhe to Grand Rapids in November for a book-signing tour and a special screening of the film. Adhe spent 27 years in Chinese labor camps.

"The situation is similar to that in South Africa in the '80s," said Christina Fong, who helped compile the video footage for the TIBETWestMichigan display. "It's inherent that most people don't want to see suffering."

"Tibet has always been a concern of mine," said Ken Wells, who helped design the TIBETWestMichigan display. Wells related a story about how his father's life was saved by a Tibetan lama (a high monk), after he was shot down over Tibet while flying supplies to the Chinese.

Wells' passion for the Tibetan culture is deeply ingrained, "I was eight years old, and talking to my schoolmates about the Chinese occupation," he said.

Wells even painted a picture of Chenrezi, the figure representing the essence of all compassion in the Buddhist religion, which is the center of the display. The original painting was a gift for the monks who visited Grand Rapids in 1996.

Freeman joked about how Tibetan culture has become chic now, with celebrities like actor Richard Gere and Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys getting involved with the movement. Yauch organized the Tibetan Freedom Festival last June, featuring such acts as Bjork, Radiohead, U2 and the Foo Fighters, to benefit the Tibetan cause. Even a television commercial for Kudos candy bars features Tibetan monks playing basketball.

The Tibetan cause will be spotlighted further with the release of Martin Scorsese's "Kundun" in December.

"When the monks visited (last year), the seed was planted," Wells said. Those interested in the TIBETWestMichigan organization can join the mailing list by calling Glenn Freeman at [616] 235-0284, or via e-mail at glennf@grfn.org.