Tibetan leader concerned about China’s development policies in Tibet
November 6, 2017
Assam Tribune, November 4, 2017 – The president of the Tibetan government-in-exile, Lobsang Sangay, on Friday said the international community must ensure that Tibetans have a say on any development project undertaken in the ecologically fragile plateau, which is also known as ‘water tower’ of Asia.
Even as Beijing has refuted reports on building a 1000-km-long tunnel to divert the Brahmaputra, known as Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet, to the arid Xinjiang region, Sangay said it is a fact that 12% of China’s population has access to fresh water.
“The prospects of diverting water from the rivers of Tibet looms large as parts of China are facing a water crisis. If this happens, nearly 1.4 billion people, who are dependent on water from rivers originating in Tibet, including the Brahmaputra, will be in great danger,” Sangay said on the concluding day of Balipara Foundation’s Eastern Himalayan Naturenomics Forum, 2017, here on Friday.
He added that diversion of rivers in Tibet is imminent as China is pressed by the need to provide water to parched regions.
“This is not a political statement, rather a serious environmental concern, involving water security issues of a huge section of people in countries who are dependent on the water from Tibetan rivers,” he said.
He added that the Tibetan people, who have been living in harmony with nature because of their religious beliefs and cultural practices, should have a say on development projects in the region.
“In fact, environment is not an issue affecting the Tibetans only. It is a global subject because of the large number of rivers originating from the Himalayan glaciers in the region and sustaining ecosystems in neighbouring countries. The international community must take note of this fact and make China ensure that Tibetans have a say on development projects planned in Tibet,” said Sangay.
He added that even a section of Chinese environment scientists have expressed concern over increasing threats to Tibet’s fragile ecosystem. “There are studies which suggest that Tibet’s 46,000 glaciers are likely to get reduced to 50% by 2100 because of global warming. If this happens, the sources of fresh water will be gone by then,” Sangay said.

Youth leaders from conflict zones in dialogue with the Dalai Lama
November 6, 2017
Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, November 6, 2017 – In a repeat of last year’s fruitful meeting, the United States Institute of Peace has brought 25 youth leaders, mostly from conflict zones, to Dharamsala to interact with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. They met today for the first of two sessions at His Holiness’s Office.
In his preliminary remarks His Holiness suggested that all human beings have a responsibility to contribute to the creation of a more peaceful and compassionate world. “When conflict arises due to our over-emphasis on secondary differences of race, nationality, faith or political boundaries between states, who suffers?” he asked, “We do. We need to look deeper and understand how in being human we are the same.”
President of USIP, Nancy Lindborg, invited the Youth Leaders, young women and men from Afghanistan, Burma, Colombia, Iraq, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and the USA to introduce themselves. She then invited His Holiness to open the conversation.
“Usually I get eight or nine hours sound sleep at night, but lately when I wake up I’ve been wondering how many people were killed while I slept; how many children died of starvation? The current situation is very sad, but just feeling despondent is of no help. If we ask ourselves who creates many of the problems we face, the answer is that we human beings do. Therefore, it’s logical that if we make the effort, we can take steps to solve them and avert the suffering involved.
“Scientists have found evidence that basic human nature is compassionate. It’s the common experience of all 7 billion human beings be cared for by their mother with love and affection. And it’s common sense that if we acknowledge our sameness as human beings, we more easily make friends. These are grounds for being optimistic.
“What will really change the world is coming to better understand our emotions and how to manage them on the basis of secular ethics. I believe we can change our emotions by using our intelligence to raise our awareness. Since it’s evident that the use of force provokes further violence, we have to adopt a more human approach—and we can start by recognising each other simply as brothers and sisters. This is how we could make this a more peaceful century.
“We need to adopt a more holistic attitude, looking at problems from a variety of angles. We need to make a demilitarized world one of our goals and look forward to a Global Union in which political boundaries, many of them imposed arbitrarily during colonial times, are less significant. Most important is the need to remain optimistic.”
With Nancy Lindborg’s guidance the Youth Leaders summarized the work they are each doing and put questions to His Holiness in relation to it. In his answers he encouraged the young people to be determined, just as those who engage in violence often are. He emphasized the special strength women can bring to promoting inner values, human values, in the world today. He added that responsibility for change rests with members of the younger generation like them. They must cultivate a vision of a better future and work hard to achieve it. Time and again His Holiness stressed the role of a more holistic education.
Following some discussion of the difficulty of changing entrenched attitudes, for example in relation to the role of women in education and leadership, Professor Samdhong Rinpoche contributed some Gandhian advice. He said it was important to distinguish between an action and its agent. We can oppose an action or prejudice without adopting a negative attitude towards its perpetrator. His Holiness added that a real test of the extent and strength of your compassion is whether you can apply it to those you consider opponents or enemies. He recommended a simple solution to disagreements—meet and talk.
His Holiness suggested that sometimes being practical and realistic is the most sensible course of action. He mentioned that most Tibetans were nomads and in the cold climate of Tibet wore clothes made of sheepskin. When they came to India, they could not cling to their customary ways, they simply had to adapt and dress accordingly.
With regard to the question of religious faith and identity and the trouble they can cause, His Holiness pointed out that in terms of personal conduct and practice it is fine to think of one truth and one faith. However, in relation to the community at large in the wider world, it is necessary to recognise a multitude of faiths and various aspects of the truth.
At several points in the conversation His Holiness expressed his admiration for the Youth Leaders’ work and the spirit they bring to it.