Dalai Lama Embraces Green Message And Gifts

This morning Tibet's exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama popped into New Zealand's Parliament for the chance to have a quick word with various New Zealand politicians. All six Green MPs and the party's Co-leader Russel Norman turned out to meet the Dalai Lama in the Green caucus room. The Dalai Lama was given photos of various Green MPs proudly waving the Tibetan flag during previous visits by Chinese politicians by Green Co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons.

The Greens former Co-leader Rod Donald who died in late 2005 was in one of the photos holding a Tibetan flag on the steps of Parliament during a visit by Mr Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress.

After receiving his gifts the Dalai Lama spoke for a short time on the importance of ecological issues and also of his friendship with Chinese revolutionary communist leader Chairman Mao Zedong.

Listen to the Dalai Lama's impromptu press conference

The Green MPs and Green Party Co-leader Russel Norman listening to the Dalai Lama
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ENDS

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