Thanks once again for supporting the Free Tibet movement. We wanted to update you on some Tibet related activities.
1. Palden Gyatso, a Tibetan Monk who was imprisoned for 33 years will be at Indiana University (Rawles Hall Room 100) on Friday, April 9 at 7PM. Palden will discuss his experiences in a PRC prison. Admission is free. A book signing and reception will follow the talk.
2. As most of you know, we are currently coordinating a postcard campaign to release the world's youngest political prisoner, Gendhun Choekyi Nyima (The Panchen Lama), who will celebrate His 10th Birthday on April 25, 1999. Since the beginning of March, we have distributed over 100,000 postcards to organizations (Tibetan Associations; Tibet Support Groups) and individuals throughout the world including the following countries: USA, Canada, Israel, India, Australia, Korea, Taiwan, France, Malaysia, Singapore, Switzerland, Sweden, Mexico, Brazil, Czech Republic, South Africa, Austria, England, Taiwan, and New Zealand. Obviously, the response to the campaign has been fantastic! Thanks for all your assistance.
We now need your help to cover the expense of printing more cards. Initially, we printed 100,000 postcards. We were fortunate that the printer donated the materials. The printer can no longer do this. It will cost around 5 cents a card. We do not have the funds to purchase the cards and we are committed to continuing this very important and urgent campaign. Since we want to order 300,000 additional postcards, we must raise alot of money. Any assistance from you would be greatly appreciated. If you are willing, send a check made out to ITIM to:
International Tibet Independence Movement PO Box 592 Fishers, Indiana 46038-0592 USA
If you want to distribute the postcards, the cost to forward them is now:
In the USA 25 or less $5 50 $8 100 $10 200 $16 300 $23 400 $30 500 $37 1000 $60
Outside the USA 25 or less $7 50 $10 100 $13 200 $20 300 $27 400 $34 500 $40 1000 $75
Please send a check made out to ITIM at the address above.
For orders over 1000 postcards, contact us. If you want postcards to distribute for The Panchen Lama's Birthday, send your orders by April 12. After this date, it will be difficult to get them to you by April 25 (His Birthday), especially outside of the USA.
3. The Kalachakra teaching (Aug 17-27) to be given by His Holiness The Dalai Lama in Bloomington, Indiana is filling up very quickly. We highly recommend that you register immediately. For information about this, contact Mary Patteson (tcc@kiva.net) or visit this website: http://www.tibetancc.com
We will be coordinating a campsite at the Kalachakra. We have secured a 60 acre piece of land which is located in Needmore, a very small town 18 miles North of the Kalachakra event. It takes about 30 minutes to drive from the campsite to the Kalachakra. The campsite sits in a valley surrounded by beautiful hills. There is a creek that flows around the edges of the campsite. The campsite is large enough to accomodate 1500 people.
Cost of Camping $8 per day per person if we supply a tent $5 per day per person if you bring a tent Children under 12 are free
What's Available & What's Needed Transportation to the Kalachakra Toilets and showers Campers must bring their own bedding (e.g., blankets, sleeping bag) & camping gear. Food will not be supplied but cooking is permitted on site. There are 3 performance stages.
You can reserve a campsite by sending us a $10 deposit and indicating what days you plan to camp and whether you need a tent. Please send this deposit by July 1, 1999.
4. A Tibet supporter named Ford will start a bike ride for Tibet on April 15. The ride will end on July 15 in New Haven, Ct. The main locations on the route include: LA, Flagstaff, Albuquerque, Amarillo, Oklahoma City, Little Rock, Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Roanoke, Harrisburg and New York. Ford wants to stop along the way to talk about Tibet. He also needs lodging. If you can help him, please write: woodland@bigfoot.com
We wish you a pleasant spring. Thanks again for your interest in Tibet.
Tashi Delek! Larry Gerstein President, Int'l Tibet Independence Movement