Dalai Lama nominated for Sakharov Prize

September 5 2008/Free Tibet Campaign/TibetPress

LET THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT KNOW HOW IMPORTANT YOU THINK THIS AWARD IS Please tell MEPs how much you support the Dalai Lama's nomination for the Sakharov Prize. Remind them how important it is to honour the Dalai Lama's tireless efforts to make peace with China and to protect the cultural identity of the Tibetan people. The Dalai Lama has been nominated by MEPs to be awarded the 2008 European Parliament Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought which recognises those who have courageously championed fundamental freedoms. On Wednesday, 10 September, a joint meeting of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs and Development Committees will shortlist three of the nominees for consideration by the Conference of Presidents who will choose the single winner in October. According to the European Parliament, the Sakharov Prize "honours, in particular, outstanding achievements in the fight to protect freedom of thought and expression against intolerance, fanaticism and hatred. This reflects the European Parliament's conviction that fundamental freedoms include not only the right to life and physical integrity, but also freedom of expression and of the press, two of the most effective means of fighting oppression and key yardsticks by which to judge whether a society is democratic and open." Past winners include Nelson Mandela and Aung San Suu Kyi. This year of all years, when China attempted to hijack the Olympic spirit whilst trampling the basic human rights of Tibetans, the significance of awarding this prestigious honour to His Holiness the Dalai Lama is immeasurable. It would send the clearest possible message to the Chinese government that the struggle for self determination of the Tibetan people has not been forgotten now that the games have ended in Beijing. Please take a few minutes to contact the MEPs from your country who are on the Foreign Affairs and Development Committees. Tell them how much you support the Dalai Lama's nomination for the Sakharov Prize. Remind them how important it is to honour the Dalai Lama's tireless efforts to make peace with China and to protect the cultural identity of the Tibetan people. To find out which MEPs from your country sit on the relevant committees check: Foreign Affairs Committee members Development Committee members When you are on these pages, click on the name of the MEP to get his or her e-mail address and other contact details. Please send the European Parliament a message today To find out more about the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, click here. Please let us know what your MEP says. Forward responses to mail@freetibet.org.