Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Prayers for Peace in Tibet

Please join New York Area Religious Leaders in an Interfaith “PRAYERS FOR PEACE IN TIBET” this Sunday, April 6. The following information was released by The Tibet Fund.



Religious leaders from Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh faiths will offer prayers for those who have died and those who suffer as tensions escalate inside of Tibet. The evening will include a peaceful call to action against the Chinese Government's severe response to recent demonstrations in Tibet and throughout the world.

WHERE: The Church of St. Paul & St. Andrew, at West End Avenue and West 86th Street in Manhattan. (Subway directions: Take the Broadway-7th Avenue Local (1) train to 86th Street and walk one block to West End Avenue. The Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew will be to the right.)

WHEN: Sunday, April 6th from 6:00 - 8:00pm

After decades of harsh repression, the Tibetan people are now an ill-treated minority in their own land. Human rights abuses against Tibetan and other ethnic minorities in China have escalated as the Chinese Government seeks to eliminate the risk of protests for human rights, both before and during, this summer’s Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Following decades of oppressive policies, which include patriotic education campaigns and required denouncements of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan people’s long-simmering resentment and frustration has spontaneously erupted into protests in Lhasa and other ethnically Tibetan areas.

Since March 10, it is estimated that Chinese Security forces have killed at least 140 Tibetans. House-to-house searches are now being conducted and over 1200 Tibetans have been arrested. The situation in Tibet remains tense with the presence of thousands of Chinese armed forces.

“PRAYERS FOR PEACE IN TIBET” is free and open to all. Donations will be accepted at the door.

Co-sponsors include the Church of St. Paul & St. Andrew, Congregation of B'nai Jeshurun, Jewel Heart, The Interfaith Center of New York, The Temple of Understanding, Buddhist Council of New York, The Gere Foundation, New York Open Center and the Tibet Fund.

For further information please contact Rinchen Dharlo, President of The Tibet Fund, at dharlo(at)tibetfund.org

No comments: