The Free Tibet World Tour
On March 10, 2010, the 51st Anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day, a sole Tibetan, Lhakpa Tsering started on his eight-month Free Tibet World Tour on a motor bike across 22 nations. He started off his tour from his current hometown of New York City, at the headquarters of the United Nations, and will be ending his tour at the seat of the Tibetan Government in Exile and his childhood hometown of Dharamsala, India. I was amongst those who welcomed and greeted him when he arrived in Washington, DC, Friday evening. On behalf of ICT, I offered him a small donation and a khata as did representatives of the Capital Area Tibetan Association, Students for a Free Tibet, and the Tibetan Youth Association. On Monday, he visited offices of his New York representatives on Capitol Hill, urging for their support on Tibet issues. He then departed for the next stop on his tour – Raleigh, North Carolina early this morning.
What is Lhakpa’s story?
At barely 6 months of age, he was brought up under the care of the Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) in Dharamsala. Like so many others, Lhakpa had lost both his parents to the hardships caused by a journey into exile and the struggles of having lost a country. But thanks to the Dalai Lama and the generosity of friends of Tibet worldwide, he found a home along with hundreds of other children in TCV. This is where I know Lhakpa from – he was a bright-eyed little boy, extremely naughty and always getting into trouble – he’s now grown up to become a somber man. He has never seen his country but he says he wakes up each day thinking of the suffering of his fellow Tibetans under a brutal totalitarian regime.
The 2008 Tibet protests were a turning point for Lhakpa. He decided that he had to do something and then started to think about riding his bike on a world tour to promote awareness about the history and plight of Tibet. He had previously done two peace walks. In 1996, he joined the three-month peace march from Washington, DC to New York City, and in 1998 he joined the peace walk from Portland, OR to Vancouver, BC. So, he knew he had some experience and knew how to work the logistics; but this is a much more challenging journey spanning 22 countries.
Please visit Lhakpa’s website freetibetworldtour.com where you’ll find detailed information on his route, upcoming stops and a video journal that he updates at every stop, and also a page to make a donation. You can also follow him on his Facebook page “FreeTibet WorldTour”. You can contact Lhakpa at Lhakpa@freetibetworldtour.com if you’re located along his route and would to arrange a talk or event with him.
And if you happen to see the surreal image of a motorbike with a huge Tibetan flag flying from the back, please give him a shout out or a honk. It is Lhakpa la on his journey.
PHOTO: Lhakpa Tsering’s bike in Time Square, NYC.
7 Responses to “The Free Tibet World Tour”
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GOD BLESS YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
have save journey and i knew about you through VOA. l am proud of you. Once again i thanking on the behalf of TCV.
I just know from my sister in boston that you are doing such a great job.I am proud of you.I on behalf of six million tibetans wishing you a safe journey and my prayers are always with you.bod gyalo,freetibet and long live his holiness dalai lama.
FREE TIBET!!
have a safe journey!!
my frd told me about him couples of weeks back,but i didnt took it seriously,,so i came to this page finally,,
wow,,trust me ,, he is doing such a great job,and i really felt that hes the real man, and wish him all the very best for redifining the meaning of patriotism through his great courage and determination ,bod gyalo
Lhakpa Tsering’s efforts to bring world attention to the Tibetans plight are highly commendable. My best wishes to Lhakpa and I wish that more and more people come forward and support him in this movement. Thank You.
what a great way of expressing support and drawing attention to the situation in a peaceful manner…
may you have safe travels along the way…