Flame Of Truth Relay Dunedin

Flame Of Truth Relay Dunedin – Press Release

From Saturday the 20th till Tuesday the 23rd of October the Dunedin community has the privilege of taking part in the international relay of the Flame of Truth. Dunedin will be the last stop in New Zealand after it has already been through Auckland, Whangarei, Christchurch and Nelson. The symbolic wooden flame will travel with a petition directed to the United Nations (UN) urging them to fulfil their obligations to protect the human rights and welfare of the Tibetan people. It will pass through over 30 different countries and 5 continents by the time of the relay’s conclusion on the 10th of December this year. On this date a submission of appeal letters and signatures will be delivered simultaneously to the UN Headquarters in New York City, the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva and the UN information office in New Delhi. Please see: http://www.flameoftruth.net/ for more information.

The Flame of Truth is an initiative taken by the Tibetan Government in Exile in response to the escalating crisis in Tibet. The international human rights watchdog Freedom House has included Tibet in the group of the ‘Worst of the Worst’ with regard to human rights abuses in the world. This crisis is highlighted by the 55 people who have self-immolated since 2009 as a result of the overwhelming oppression and lack of human rights in the region.

Schedule Of Events

3-5pm - Saturday, 20th of October: Opening reception for the Flame of Truth and Prayer for World Peace

Local dignitaries have been invited to gather at the Dhargyey Buddhist Centre (DBC) to welcome the Flame of Truth to Dunedin. The theme of the reception will include a ‘Discourse on the paths to peace’ in light of this event falling within the international Week of Prayer for World Peace. Brief talks on the situation in Tibet, open floor discourse about paths to peace and a question and answer session with the Centre’s Tibetan Lamas and members of Students for a Free Tibet and The Organisation for Global Nonviolent Action

2pm- Sunday, 21st October: Petition team out on streets. Potluck dinner and film screening at the DBC.

People will gather at the Peace Pole outside the museum at 2pm and disperse around the city to collect signatures. That evening a potluck dinner will be held at the Dhargyey Buddhist Centre followed by a screening of the movie Windhorse and the documentary The Burning Question: Why are Tibetans Turning to Self-immolation? This event is open to the public.

11 am- 3:30pm - Monday, 23rd October – Petition team out on the streets and march down George Street.

An information stall will be held in the Octagon displaying the Flame of Truth, and people will be posted again throughout the town to collect as many signatures as possible. At 3:30pm the group will march down George Street concluding the Flame of Truth relay in Dunedin. From Dunedin the Flame of Truth will travel to Perth, Western Australia to continue its journey.

“The Flame of Truth is a significant show of worldwide solidarity in action for the situation in Tibet,” Says Rebecca Llewellyn, member of Tibet Coalition Aotearoa and The Organisation for Global Nonviolent Action.

“When news of more self-immolations keeps reaching our inboxes week after week, the Flame and all those who support it is a reminded that people still care about Tibet at a time when the voice for Tibet appears to be fading away in the corridors of power”.

ENDS

© Scoop Media