62. Year of Tibet Launched in Australia and New Zealand

TibetNet - January 25, 2006

On 1 January 2006, a Year of Tibet was launched with a message from His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Woodford Festival, Queensland. The function was attended by about 5000 Australians from different States. The Australia-based All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet, founded on 6 December 2005, announced that the year 2006 will be observed as the Year of Tibet in their country. In his message dated 21 December 2005, His Holiness thanked the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet of federal and state parliaments, Tibet Support and Dharma Groups for their support to resolve of issue of Tibet through dialogue. The message also read - On behalf of Tibetans, both in and outside Tibet, I wish to express my appreciation to you all for your continued interest and support in our non-violent efforts for freedom and justice. The objectives of the Year of Tibet are to create awareness of the Tibet's rich culture and unique environment, to extend its support for the Middle Way Approach of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in resolving the issue of Tibet, to create awareness of the present situation of Tibet and the Tibetans in exile community and to enrich the multiculturalism of Australia and New Zealand. Message of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the Year of Tibet in Australia and New Zealand I am delighted to learn from the Tibet Information Office in Canberra that the year 2006 is being observed as the Year of Tibet in Australia and New Zealand. On behalf of Tibetans, both in and outside Tibet, I wish to express my appreciation to you all for your continuing interest and support in our non-violent efforts for freedom and justice. I understand that members of the Parliamentary Group for Tibet as well as some other parliamentarians, at both the Federal and State level, actively support the present process of dialogue to produce concrete results for a settlement to the Tibetan issue. As a Tibetan I have the moral responsibility to make every effort to bring an end to the sufferings of my people. I remain committed in finding a lasting solution that will mutually benefit the Tibetans as well as Chinese peoples. I also want to thank the Tibetan Support Groups and Dharma Centres in Australia and New Zealand for their support in our efforts for the protection and preservation of our Tibetan identity, culture, the fragile environment, and towards finding a mutually acceptable solution to the issue of Tibet. As you may have heard, I have accepted an invitation to visit Australia and New Zealand in 2007, and I look forward to it.