Tibet Talks
Tibet Talks is a podcast from the International Campaign for Tibet featuring conversations about Tibet. Each episode brings together thinkers, leaders, activists, and artists to discuss issues affecting Tibet and its people. The show explores political, cultural, and human rights topics connected to Tibet. It aims to provide context and personal perspectives on contemporary Tibetan life and advocacy. The podcast is presented in English.
Episodes
Chinese Hydropower
Tibet is the source of the headwaters of the 8 major rivers of Asia. These rivers are the lifeblood of South and Southeast Asia, providing sustenance, livelihoods, and economic opportunity to 1.8 billion people downstream. However, the Chinese government is continuing its a dam building spree that is imperiling the lives and communities of the Tibetan people, destroying homes and religious sites,
Gerald Roche on Language Oppression in Tibet
Language rights expert Gerald Roche stops by Tibet Talk to discuss Chinese language oppression in Tibet, the suppression of minority languages like Manegacha, and his new book. What are the contradictions in China’s language policy? What is the status of Manegacha, Ngandehua, and other languages spoken by smaller populations?
Gerald’s book, The Politics of Language Oppression in Tibe
The 1987 uprising in Tibet, and its legacy today
This month on Tibet Talks join us as we speak with John Ackerly, an eyewitness to the Oct. 1 1987 Lhasa uprising who went on to work at the International Campaign for Tibet for two decades. John will talk about how this protest helped build a movement but also brought about intense repression. Today hopeful new trends are taking shape in Tibet as a result of the resilience and solidarity of Tibeta
Activist and Author Jamyang Norbu
This month for Tibet Talks we sat down with Jamyang Norbu, activist and author of “Echoes from Forgotten Mountains.” Join us as he discusses the people and history behind his fascinating new book.
Learn more about our Tibet Talks podcast at www.savetibet.org/pod.
Watch our Tibet Talks videos at www.savetibet.org/live.
And subscribe to Tibet Talks on iTunes, Spotify or Google Podcasts.
To get invol
HRW’s Maya Wang on Tibetan Relocation
The Chinese government has been displacing rural Tibetans on a large scale for more than two decades. What has been the experience of Tibetans who have been displaced under the various relocation programs? Are these relocations violating international human rights standards?
Human Rights Watch’s recent report on forced relocations in Tibet is the culmination of years of meticulous research a
The Tibetan Sikyong (President) on Tibet Talks
Penpa Tsering is the Sikyong (President) of the Central Tibetan Administration. He is the democratically elected leader of Tibetans in exile.
In this chat with ICT, Sikyong Tsering will discuss the role of the CTA, the importance of US support for Tibet and more. Join us for this special conversation!
Learn more about our Tibet Talks podcast at www.savetibet.org/pod.
Watch our Tibet Talks videos
Derge dam protests
Last month, Chinese police reportedly arrested over 1,000 Tibetans after mass protests broke out in eastern Tibet. The Tibetans of Derge (Chinese: Dege) county were trying to stop a hydropower dam project that would force residents of two villages to abandon their homes. The dam would also reportedly destroy six Tibetan Buddhist monasteries containing religious murals that are centuries old.
In t
Next Steps for the Resolve Tibet Act
By now, you might have heard that the Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act passed the US House this month. But what will this bill do to shine a light on CCP propaganda and help resolve China’s decades-long occupation of Tibet? And how can we get it passed by the Senate and signed into law?
In this Tibet Talk, your questions about the Resolve Tibet Act will be answered live by I
China’s UN Universal Periodic Review
It’s not often that China is held to account for its human rights violations. But that’s exactly what will happen this month during China’s Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, where governments around the world will question and demand answers from Beijing about its abysmal human rights record.
ICT Germany Executive Director Kai Mueller will be there in Geneva to m
China’s Boarding Schools in Tibet
Over 1 million Tibetan children have been separated from their families, language and culture at China’s state-run boarding schools in Tibet. These schools target the most vulnerable and impressionable minds and seek to make them loyal followers of the CCP. The goal is to sever the Tibetan way of life and cement China’s control over Tibet.
In this Tibet Talk, we’ll speak to Lha
Far From the Rooftop of the World
As a result of China’s invasion and occupation of Tibet, over 100,000 Tibetans now live outside “the rooftop of the world”—their homeland of Tibet. For many people, these Tibetans are merely an abstraction; they’re either mystical monks or the faceless victims of China’s oppression. But a new book shows there is a lot more to the lives of Tibetan exiles.
In this Tib
The Rivers of Tibet
Tibet’s rivers are beautiful, but they’re also life-sustaining. And not just for people in Tibet, but for nearly 2 billion people across Asia who depend on the rivers’ flow. But China’s large-scale water diversion projects and hydropower development are having a dangerous effect on these rivers, imperiling downstream countries, furthering China’s agenda of regional control and threatening the Tibe
The Dalai Lama and The Revival of India’s Civilizational Heritage, Its Value to Today
The Dalai Lama’s Four Commitments: a Tibet Talks Special Series
As a self-described “son of India,” the Dalai Lama is committed to reviving awareness of the value of ancient Indian knowledge. He is convinced the ancient Indian understanding of the mind and emotions—as well as techniques of mental training like meditation—are of great relevance today. In fact, India, he believes, is specially place
The Dalai Lama and the Preservation of Tibetan Culture
The Dalai Lama’s Four Commitments: a Tibet Talks Special Series
As a Tibetan, the Dalai Lama is the focus of the Tibetan people’s hopes and aspirations both inside Tibet and in exile. He is committed to endeavoring to preserve the Tibetan language and culture while also speaking up for Tibet’s environment. His Holiness often refers to himself as an independent spokesperson for Tibetan people
The Dalai Lama and the Promotion of Religious Harmony
The Dalai Lama’s Four Commitments: a Tibet Talks Special Series
As a Buddhist monk, the Dalai Lama is committed to encouraging harmony among the world’s religious traditions. Despite their philosophical differences, he believes all major religions have the same potential to create good human beings. Therefore, it’s important for all religious traditions to respect one another and the value of each
The Dalai Lama and the Promotion of Human Values
The Dalai Lama’s Four Commitments: a Tibet Talks Special Series
As a human being, the Dalai Lama is concerned about finding ways to promote human values like compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment and self-discipline. He wants people to know that if their minds are upset, mere physical comfort will not bring them peace. But if their minds are at peace, even physical pain will not disturb
The Dalai Lama’s Four Commitments: A Tibet Talks Special Series
Human values. Religious harmony. The preservation of Tibet’s culture. And the revival of India’s ancient wisdom.
Join us every Thursday in August for a special series celebrating the four principal commitments of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Thursday, Aug. 3: The Dalai Lama and the Promotion of Human Values with Dr. Richie Davidson
Thursday, Aug. 10: The Dalai Lama and the Promotion of Religious
Remembering Pema Tseden
Tibet’s premier filmmaker has died. By writing and directing movies that won acclaim across the globe, Pema Tseden put Tibetan cinema on the map. And through showing modern-day Tibet on the big screen, he allowed audiences around the world to see the tragic evisceration of Tibetan culture under Chinese rule.
Following Pema Tseden’s death last month at age 53, we reflect on his legacy with T
Press Freedom in Tibet
The media have a vital role to play in telling the world Tibet’s story. But the Chinese government makes it nearly impossible for foreign journalists to enter Tibet and report on China’s human rights abuses against the Tibetan people. In fact, a Washington Post reporter said in 2016 that the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region, which spans roughly half of Tibet, is harder to visit as a journalist t
10 Years of Xi Jinping
When Xi Jinping took over as China’s top leader in 2012, there were hopes that his reputation as a moderate and his father’s relationship with the Dalai Lama would lead to a softening of policies. Instead, Xi has proven to be a hardliner whose indefinite rule began this past month, unforeseen a decade ago.
To mark Xi’s decade in charge, ICT is publishing a new report, “10 Years of Xi Jinping: Sin
Resolve Tibet
At ICT, we just wrapped up our 2023 Tibet Lobby Day. It was a record-setting event that brought over 150 Tibetan Americans and Tibet supporters to Washington, DC to build Congressional support for the Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Conflict Act.
Also known as the Resolve Tibet Act, this bill is a major goal for Tibet supporters. But what does it actually do, and how can we get it passed
Celebrating Losar
Losar Tashi Delek! That’s the greeting Tibetans will use next week when they celebrate Losar, the Tibetan New Year. And on this episode of Tibet Talks, you can celebrate this beautiful holiday with ICT.
Join us for an exploration of Losar’s history, traditions and significance with Professor Tenzin Dorjee of California State University, Fullerton, who was the first Tibetan American chair of the US
“Heart to Heart” with Patrick McDonnell
At the Dalai Lama’s residence in India, an unusual visitor has arrived: a troubled Giant Panda who has traveled from many miles away. Welcoming him as a friend, His Holiness invites the Panda on a walk through a cedar forest. There, in the shadow of the Himalayas, surrounded by beauty, they discuss matters great and small.
This is the warm, whimsical, wise story of a new book featuring words by t
Tibet’s fate and the Dalai Lama’s leadership
Tibet’s fate is one of tragedy and hope. Because of China’s illegal occupation, the people of Tibet have lost the right to determine their own destiny. But forced into exile, the Dalai Lama has become a compassionate leader for the world and a source of endless inspiration to resolve the Tibet-China conflict.
In this final Tibet Talk of 2022, we’ll speak to the authors of two new books that exempl
Lodi Gyari’s Memoirs
In the history of Tibetans in exile, Lodi Gyari holds a special place. As the late President and Executive Chairman of the International Campaign for Tibet, Mr. Gyari helped build lasting support for Tibet from governments around the world. And as the Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, he was assigned to be the lead interlocutor in the dialogue process with the Chinese leadership to fin
A Reading and Conversation with Author Tsering Yangzom Lama
Tsering Yangzom Lama’s debut novel, “We Measure the Earth with Our Bodies,” has become an international bestseller and been longlisted for the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize. The book provides an intimate glimpse into the experience of Tibetan exiles, as it follows three generations of a Tibetan family over a span of 50 years, beginning in 1960, as they are forced to leave their homeland f
Resolving the Tibet-China Conflict
China’s government has illegally occupied Tibet for over 60 years. It has refused to negotiate with Tibetan leaders for more than a decade. But a new bill in Congress will pressure China’s officials to get back to the negotiating table. It’s called the Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Conflict Act, and it was introduced on July 13 by Reps. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., and Michael McCaul, R-Texa
“Fractured Himalaya” with Ambassador Nirupama Rao
For ages, Indians saw the Himalayas as a wall that protected them. But when China’s Communist army invaded Tibet over 70 years ago, an Indian diplomat said, “The Chinese have entered Tibet. The Himalayas no longer exist.” From that, Indian former Ambassador Nirupama Rao drew the title of her book, “The Fractured Himalaya: India, Tibet, China 1949-62.” The book untangles the complex early years of
When the Iron Bird Flies
“When the Iron Bird Flies: China’s Secret War in Tibet” is the second book about Tibet from independent scholar and writer Jianglin Li. In it, Jianglin takes a comprehensive look at six crucial years in modern Tibetan history (1956-62) that culminated in the Tibetan National Uprising of 1959 and the subsequent total Chinese occupation of Tibet.
In this Tibet Talk, Jianglin tells us the dark truth
Mission: Joy
On Dec. 26, the world lost Archbishop Desmond Tutu, an iconic leader of South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement and a beloved friend of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In a moving documentary that debuted last year called, “Mission: Joy — Finding Happiness in Troubled Times,” the two spiritual brothers and Nobel Peace laureates chat, laugh and even dance together.
In this Tibet Talk, we speak to Geshe
The Seed of Compassion
Planting a seed for a more compassionate world with a sense of the oneness of humanity—this is the message of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, which he shares in his first children’s book, “The Seed of Compassion: Lessons from the Life and Teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.”
In this Tibet Talk, we speak to Namrata Tripathi, editor of “The Seed of Compassion,” about how the book came to be and t
The Olympics and Tibet
Enes Kanter Freedom is an NBA player and activist who sent shock waves through the sports world when he spoke out against China’s brutalization of the Tibetan people. Dhondup Wangchen is a Tibetan filmmaker who endured years of imprisonment and torture after he made a documentary about China’s repression in Tibet leading up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. And Wangpo Tethong is the executive director
Rima Fujita
Rima Fujita is a fine artist and a descendant of Japan’s last samurai whose creative aesthetic was strongly influenced by both Bushido and Buddhism. Her work has been exhibited internationally to wide acclaim, but Rima’s life passion also lies in her philanthropic efforts. In 2001, she established Books for Children, an organization that creates children’s books and donates them to Tibetan refugee
BREAKING: Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues Uzra Zeya appointed
The US has a new special coordinator for Tibetan issues! On Dec. 20, 2021, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the appointment of Under Secretary Uzra Zeya to this important role. As the special coordinator, Zeya will serve as the Biden administration’s point person on efforts to help resolve the Tibetan issue, promote Tibetan identity, protect Tibetan culture and heritage, and support the
Decoding the CCP
Have you come across the terms “common prosperity,” “ecological civilization” or “picking quarrels and stirring up trouble?” Tibetans in Tibet have been bombarded with such slogans every day of their lives over more than 60 years of Beijing’s rule in Tibet. However, China’s slogans are new to the global community. Many find them intriguing; some dismiss them as mere propaganda. We think it’s time
“This Fragile Planet” with Michael Buckley
As daunting as the climate challenge is, it’s important to know what we’re trying to conserve—and it’s vital to find the inspiration to do so. In this episode of Tibet Talks, we have the perfect guest to help with that. Michael Buckley is the editor of the new book, “This Fragile Planet,” a collection of 80 inspiring quotes about the environment from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, matched with 120 e
The impact and passage of the 1991 Tibet Immigration Bill
In 1991, the US Congress passed the Tibetan Immigration Act of 1990, which provided 1,000 immigrant visas for natives of Tibet in India or Nepal. As a result of this one act, we now have thriving Tibetan American communities in more than 27 states across the country. They are established as part of the fabric of American society, contributing to its wellbeing, but also knowing well the plight of t
Town hall with ICT leaders
Join us for this special ask-me-anything edition of Tibet Talks! Three of our leaders—Bhuchung K. Tsering, interim president of ICT, Kai Mueller, executive director of ICT Germany, and Vincent Metten, ICT’s EU policy director—kick off the show with updates from their offices. Then they answer questions from ICT members and Tibet supporters across the globe. (This was truly a multinational event,
Sera Monastery: A conversation with authors Penpa Dorje and Prof. Jose Cabezon
Penpa Dorje and Jose Cabezon are the authors of Sera Monastery, a definitive history of one of Tibet’s greatest monastic universities, located just north of the Tibetan capital, Lhasa. Founded in 1419, Sera Monastery was one of three great seats of learning in the Geluk tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, at one time holding more than 9,000 monks from across the Tibetan Buddhist world. Along th
ICT Board Member Ellen Bork with Michael van Walt van Praag
The new book “Tibet Brief 20/20” by Michael van Walt van Praag and Miek Boltjes is a call to action for governments to rethink their stance on Tibet. Based on 10 years of collaborative research, analysis and engagement with scholars of Chinese, Mongolian, Tibetan and Manchu historical sources, the book presents an in-depth examination of Tibet’s historical relations with the dominant empires in t
The Ambassador’s Dog
Scott DeLisi spent 35 years as an American diplomat, including US Ambassador to Eritrea, Uganda and Nepal. He says Nepal touched his heart more than any other assignment. It’s also where he had a serendipitous meeting with a small blue-eyed Tibetan mastiff puppy in the ancient region of Lo-Monthang on Nepal’s border with Tibet.
DeLisi then collaborated with ICT member and award-winning American a
Tenzin Geyche Tethong
Blessed by the Dalai Lama himself, Tenzin Geyche Tethong’s new biography of His Holiness features previously unpublished photos and unparalleled insights into the Dalai Lama’s leadership, compassion and gentle humor. Born in 1943 in Lhasa, Tethong first joined the Tibetan administrative service in the early 1960s and served in the Private Office of the Dalai Lama until 2007.
In this discussion,
The Tibetan Elections of 2021
Tibetans in exile have a borderless democratic governance system. In over 30 countries, they go to the polls every five years to elect the sikyong, their political leader, and the 45 members of their parliament in exile. Tibetans have a two-stage election system, the primary one to determine candidates, followed by the main elections. This year, the primary elections took place on Jan. 3, 2021, a
Remembering the 1959 Tibetan Uprising
On March 10, 1959, thousands of Tibetans took to the streets of their capital city, Lhasa. Although their uprising was eventually crushed—with the Chinese government killing thousands of Tibetans in the process—they succeeded in keeping their struggle alive, including by helping their leader, the Dalai Lama, escape to safety in neighboring India.
In this episode of Tibet Talks, we honor the 62
Special Edition: “Tibet in Chains” Book Launch
In the early 1990s, China’s notorious prisons in Tibet held hundreds of political prisoners. Among them was a group of 14 young nuns imprisoned in the dreaded Drapchi Prison. On account of their comradery and solidarity—including in recording songs in praise of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Tibet—they came to be known as the Drapchi 14 or the singing nuns.
In our new book, “Tibet in Chains: The
SPECIAL EPISODE: Tibet support bill passed!
Late into the night of Dec. 21, 2020, the Tibetan Policy and Support Act finally completed its journey to passing the US Congress. Early the next morning, the president and vice president of the International Campaign for Tibet reflected on what the bill means for Tibet and Tibetans, where we go from here and why ICT members are so wonderful.
Find out what the TPSA does at savetibet.org/why-tibet
Geshe Thupten Jinpa
In this moving episode of Tibet Talks, Geshe Thupten Jinpa, a Buddhist scholar and the primary English translator for the Dalai Lama, joins ICT to celebrate the 31st anniversary of His Holiness’ Nobel Peace Prize. The conversation also touches on the reindeer ride His Holiness took on that glorious day in Oslo, Norway in 1989.
Later in the episode, Geshe Thupten Jinpa answers questions from the a
Special Edition: Asst. Secretary Robert A. Destro Featuring Tibetan-American Youth
Assistant Secretary Robert A. Destro was appointed the new special coordinator for Tibetan issues in the US State Department on Oct. 14, 2020.
In this conversation, Destro joins ICT to speak directly to Tibetan American youth. Three alumni of ICT’s Tibetan Youth Leadership Program take part in the discussion, along with several other young Tibetans.
Afterward, Aftab Pureval, clerk of the courts f
Ambassador Paula Dobriansky
Ambassador Paula Dobriansky, the former undersecretary of state for global affairs, served as the special coordinator for Tibetan issues during the George W. Bush presidency (2001-09). She played a pivotal role in coordinating US policy on Tibet at the highest levels of government, both in the US and internationally.
This conversation between Ambassador Dobriansky and ICT focuses on why American
Dr. Rick Hanson
Rick Hanson, PhD, is a psychologist, senior fellow of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley and bestselling author. His books include “Resilient,” “Hardwiring Happiness,” “Buddha’s Brain,” “Just One Thing” and “Mother Nurture.”
In this conversation with ICT, Dr. Hanson describes how Tibet has been an inspiration for him. H
Sharon Salzberg
A first encounter with Buddhism as a college student in 1969 sparked an interest that took Sharon Salzberg on a journey to India for intensive study of meditation. Today, she offers a variety of teachings around the globe and is the author of 11 books, including “Lovingkindness,” a New York Times bestseller.
A longtime ICT member and friend of Tibet, Sharon taught a regular monthly meditation cl
Dr. Stephan Rechtschaffen
In 1973, Stephan Rechtschaffen was finishing medical school when he traveled to northern India and provided care to Tibetan refugees, especially many elderly monks. Today, almost 50 years later, Rechtschaffen is a dedicated practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism, a nationally recognized holistic doctor and the original founder of the Omega Institute and Blue Spirit in Costa Rica. He’s also been a membe
Adrian Zenz
Just a few days ago, Adrian Zenz published a groundbreaking study revealing a mass coerced labor program that has pushed more than half a million rural Tibetans off their land in only seven months. Since then, several major newspapers have written about his findings, parliamentarians across the globe have demanded urgent action—and the Chinese government has denounced him.
Read about Adrian’s res
Congressman Andy Levin
Although he’s a first-term member of Congress, Rep. Andy Levin, D-Mich., is a longtime friend of Tibet. From studying at the Central Institute for Higher Tibetan Studies in India, to visiting Tibet, to interviewing the Dalai Lama, Levin uses his past experience to forge a new path of support for Tibet on Capitol Hill.
This conversation is part of ICT’s Tibet 2020 campaign to tell the candidates
Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
During three decades in Congress, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen was an outspoken supporter of Tibet and helped lead the effort to award the Dalai Lama the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007. In this discussion for ICT’s Tibet 2020 campaign, Ros-Lehtinen will explain how the advocacy of ordinary Americans has helped the Tibetan people—and can do so again this election year.
Learn more about our Tibet Talks po
Welcome to Tibet Talks
In this episode, we welcome you to Tibet Talks, a new podcast from the International Campaign for Tibet. This episode touches on what many people think of when they hear the word “Tibet”—and what’s actually happening to Tibet’s people, culture and environment, and why that matters to you.
During the episode, you hear from Rick Hanson, psychologist and bestselling author of “Buddha’s Brain” and o
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