World Tibet Network News Friday, May 1, 1998 (I)

HOUSTON--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--April 30, 1998--A star studded line-up of celebrities, authors, screenwriters and producers is gathering May 19 and 20, 1998 at The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa in Houston, Texas, to raise funds to support The Dalai Lama's efforts to save Tibet. Participating in the two-day symposium, titled "Ancient Wisdom for the 21st Century," will be Sogyal Rinpoche, Richard Gere, Diane Cirincione, Ph.D., Lynda Guber, Arianna Huffington, Gerald Jampolsky, M.D., Helena Kriel, Jean Moreau, Dean Ornish, M.D., Jacqueline Small, Robert Thurman, Ph.D., Dr. Alberto Villoldo, Professor Lin Yun, and schedule permitting, Sri Swami Satchadananda and Melissa Mathison Ford.

A "Dinner and Dialogue" hosted by Richard Gere and underwritten by Hunan's Restaurant of Houston, will also be held May 20 at The Houstonian - a four-star property known for its tranquil acreage and mind-body emphasis. Dinner tickets, with all the symposium participants in attendance are $1,000 per ticket. Tickets to the two-day symposium are $500 per person.

In addition to the symposium, there will be book signing parties with Sogyal Rinpoche, signing his book "The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying," Richard Gere, signing "Pilgrim," Dr. Dean Ornish, with his new book, "Love and Survival," and Arianna Huffington signing her new book, "Greetings from the Lincoln Bedroom," and Robert Thurman, signing his new book, "Inner Revolution: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Real Happiness."

According to the event coordinator, Gail Gross, the purpose of the symposium and gala dinner is to raise funds to support The Dalai Lama's efforts to save Tibet, through the International Campaign for Tibet and The Tibet Fund. "The Chinese conquered Tibet in 1950 and His Holiness, The Dalai Lama was driven out in 1959. The Chinese maintained some 500,000 troops garrisoned in a country that has been repopulated with approximately seven million Chinese.

There is hope that with continued pressure, China will grant Tibet some form of autonomy or freedom, rather than genocide," said Ms. Gross.

Patron sponsorship is $5,000 and includes the two-day seminar, two VIP section seating tickets at the gala and two tickets to the book signing parties. Donor sponsorship is $2,000 and includes one ticket to the two-day seminar, one ticket to the gala and one ticket to the book signing party. Ticket information is available by calling Anna Cardona at 713/627-3330.