We have now collected in all of the sponsorship money for our annual Tibet Walk,
and are delighted to have raised a total of £960. Very many
thanks to all of you who contributed to this – by walking, by getting
sponsorship or by donating.
The money raised is, as always, split equally between Free Tibet
Campaign and the Tibet Foundation: for political campaigning with FTC,
and towards a charity project with the Tibet Foundation.
As most of you probably know, last April a severe earthquake devastated
Yushu in Eastern Tibet, leaving 2,700 dead and 10,000 homeless. The
Tibet Foundation was one of the first Tibetan charities to launch an
appeal, and to respond with emergency relief aid. Already the
Foundation has spent over £60,000 in emergency aid, but it is now
looking to the future, and has set a target of raising £1m for
reconstruction work, in particular the rebuilding of the Yushu Tibetan
Hospital. Staff at the Tibet Foundation have informed us that the
earthquake appeal is currently their greatest priority, so we have
decided to send our donation of £430 to this appeal.
Aberdeen Street Collection:
On Saturday 25 September Tibet Support Group
Grampian held a street collection in Aberdeen in aid of the Tibet
Relief Fund's Ladakh flood appeal.
In early August, following massive cloud bursts and torrential rain,
many areas in Ladakh (north-west India) suffered severe flooding and
devastation. Although not comparable with the devastation at about the
same time in Pakistan,nevertheless it was the worst natural disaster in
the history of Ladakh, resulting in 200 dead, 500 injured and over 800
still missing. The capital, Leh, was badly hit; also the Tibetan
settlements of Sonamling situated close to the Indus river, and Nyoma
Camp in the Jangthang area of Ladakh were ravaged by huge mudslides and
floods that destroyed over 60 homes with many more irrevocably damaged.
Most local Tibetans in the two areas have lost all their personal
possessions and livestock; the standing crops have been flattened and
the land is covered with detritus and debris following the flash flood.
The Tibet Relief Fund is aiming to raise money to help clear roads and
agricultural land in these communities, mend water channels, rebuild
houses etc., and then support sustainable community building projects.
A video of the devestation in Leh can be seen here
The street collection raised £275, which was then augmented by
donations from members of Tibet Support Grouip Grampian, so that
finally we were able to send off a cheque for £375 to the Tibet
Relief Fund Ladakh Flood Appeal.
Thanks to all who donated or assisted with these events.
You might also might like to check-out the report on the recent visit by Thubten Samdup, the Dalia Lama's representative, to Aberdeen University.
