NEWSLETTERS
Tibet Update – April 2025
INSIDE:
ICT Chairman Richard Gere on “Voice for the Voiceless”
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In this video being shared first with our ICT members, our chairman Richard Gere shares his thoughts on the importance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s new book “Voice for the Voiceless”.
“Voice for the Voiceless,” the Dalai Lama’s new book, was released on March 11, 2025. It presents an inside look at the efforts Tibetans have made to pursue the Middle Way Approach, which calls for a negotiated solution to China’s occupation of their historically-independent country. It also lays out how important international support has been for champions of the Tibetan cause and shows how the United States Congress has played a pivotal role in pushing China to resume dialogue.
Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday sparks worldwide Compassion Campaign led by ICT
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In celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday, ICT launched The Compassion Rising World Tour 2025—a sweeping global campaign to honor the Dalai Lama’s life and efforts, while inspiring acts of compassion, spotlighting Tibet’s enduring struggle for freedom, and uniting global communities around the Dalai Lama’s message of peace and resilience.
ICT is thrilled to announce the Tribeca Festival in New York City will host a special 35mm original screening of Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-nominated film Kundun in honor of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday, and we wanted you to be among the first to know! Friend of ICT and Kundun director Martin Scorsese will make a special introduction, and the film will be shown in its original 35mm format, bringing the story of the Dalai Lama to life on the big screen as Scorsese intended.
This film screening is a “Tour Stop” on our Compassion Rising World Tour (see above). A very limited number of tickets are available on the Tribeca Festival website for this special opportunity.
Dalai Lama receives long-life prayers from people of Spiti
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1300 people of all ages from Spiti made the journey to Dharamsala earlier this month to pray for the Dalai Lama’s long life. Addressing the crowd, the Dalai Lama gave a Buddhist teaching and thanked them for their prayers:
“Today, you people from Spiti, and particularly the region around Tabo, have offered prayers for my long life. I believe that what makes such prayers effective doesn’t depend on saying prayers for a week, but on whether you make the prayer from the depth of your heart. This is where I live and you’ve come here for the explicit purpose of making prayers that I will live long. You’ve done so with a strong sense of affection and respect and I thank you.”
Tibetan Buddhist leader cremated in Vietnam under tight control
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The body of 57-year-old Tibetan Buddhist leader Hungkar Dorje was cremated under cover of darkness on April 20, 2025, in a highly secretive and tightly controlled ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. ICT is deeply concerned about the death and the rushed cremation, as circumstances point to an implication of the Chinese authorities in the death of this highly respected Tibetan Buddhist leader.
ICT welcomes US visa sanctions on China for restricting access to Tibet
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The International Campaign for Tibet welcomes Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s statement of March 31 imposing additional visa restrictions on Chinese officials involved in denying visit to Tibet for Americans.
Dutch Parliament passes three key Tibet motions despite Chinese pressure
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On April 15, 2025, the Dutch Tweede Kamer (House of Representatives) passed three important motions related to Tibet. This marks a significant development for Tibet in the Netherlands. It demonstrates that the Netherlands, despite ongoing pressure from China, will raise and defend the rights of the Tibetans.
USCIRF decries ‘cultural genocide’ of Tibetan Buddhists in annual report
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Blackmail, forcible assimilation, gross religious freedom violations, and cultural genocide against Tibetan Buddhists are among the crimes documented in the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom 2025 annual report.
- ICT Chairman Richard Gere on “Voice for the Voiceless”
- Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday sparks worldwide Compassion Campaign led by ICT
- Tribeca Festival to host special screening of Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-nominated film Kundun in honor of Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday
- Dalai Lama receives long-life prayers from people of Spiti
- Tibetan Buddhist leader cremated in Vietnam under tight control
- ICT welcomes US visa sanctions on China for restricting access to Tibet
- Dutch Parliament passes three key Tibet motions despite Chinese pressure
- USCIRF decries ‘cultural genocide’ of Tibetan Buddhists in annual report
- BLOG: In Voice for the Voiceless, the Dalai Lama outlines his master plan for Tibet
- Smart Giving: A savvy choice to make a big impact during periods of financial unpredictability
- ICT’s 2025 Wall Calendar … It’s Not Too Late
BLOG
In Voice for the Voiceless, the Dalai Lama outlines his master plan for Tibet
By: Bhuchung K. Tsering
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“On March 31, 1959, my party entered India. I have not been able to go back to my homeland since,” His Holiness the Dalai Lama writes somewhat poignantly about his dramatic escape from Tibet in his latest book, Voice for the Voiceless: Over Seven Decades of Struggle with China for My Land and My People (Harper Collins, 2025). Being published in the 66th anniversary of his escape and on his 90th birthday year. Through this book, His Holiness succinctly outlines his master plan for Tibet. Allow me to expand.
SUPPORT TIBET
Smart Giving: A savvy choice to make a big impact during periods of financial unpredictability
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From climate change to the survival of democracy, Tibet is at the heart of the biggest challenges facing our world. That’s why we’re thrilled to share financially smart ways to give that will promote human rights and democratic freedoms for the people of Tibet:
- Stock: When you donate appreciated stock, you can save on two types of taxes by avoiding capital gains tax and often getting a full deduction for the value of your gift.
- IRA gifts: If you’re 70.5 or older, donations from your IRA reduce your taxable income and can help meet a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) if you must take one.
- Donor-Advised Funds: With a grant recommendation from your Donor-Advised Fund, you can give from the money you’ve already set aside without spending an additional cent!
- Crypto: A donation of appreciated cryptocurrency can help you avoid capital gains taxes and get a big tax deduction.
We hope you consider the donation option(s) best for you, and together, we can shift the balance toward compassion and kindness.
When you give these types of gifts, please use the tools linked above so we can track your gift, send you the right receipt and ensure you get the tax savings you deserve.
ICT’s 2025 Wall Calendar … It’s Not Too Late
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As we share ICT’s 2025 calendar, The Heart of Compassion | Honoring the 90th Year of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, it is with immense gratitude and reverence that we prepare to celebrate the 90th birth year of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. This extraordinary milestone is not only a moment to honor the life of a remarkable leader, but also an opportunity to reflect on his wisdom and the impact His Holiness has had on the world. We are overjoyed to be working in collaboration with Tenzin Geyche Tethong and his book, His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama: An Illustrated Biography.