Current Campaigns Please show your support for Tibet by supporting the Tibet Society's current campaigns Bring Team Tibet to the 2008 Games Help make the 2008 Olympic Games a force for positive change in China. Support Tibet Not Terror - LOBBY YOUR MP Show your support for Tibet and show the world that there is an alternative to violence by lobbying your MP. Urge your MP to sign the current EDM on Tibet Support Tibet not terror - LOBBY YOUR MP The Tibetan people deserve our support. Despite a half-century of persecution, they have steadfastly refused to adopt terrorist tactics to fight their cause. If we choose not to support Tibet we are simply showing the world that there is no alternative to violence. We ask that Tibet supporters write, fax or, even better, meet your MP by going to a local surgery or Westminster and asking about their party's policy on Tibet. Whilst doing so, please ask your MP to sign the Early Day Motions (EDMs) currently tabled.  How do I find out who my MP is? Visit www.writetothem.com or www.locata.co.uk/commons. What is an Early Day Motion (EDM)? An EDM is a motion tabled by an MP for debate on as early a day as possible. Although EDMs are rarely debated, they are printed in the House of Commons paper, along with signatories and thus serve an important campaign function. Asking your MP to sign an EDM is one of the best ways you can lobby your MP. EDMs are used by MPs to show the government what issues are of concern to them and their constituents; they keep a momentum going for ongoing problems and draw other MPs' attention to that issue.  In particular they: • enable MPs to express their support for an issue • attract publicity to the cause • draw the government's attention to it When visiting/faxing/e-mailing your MP, asking them to sign an EDM about Tibet is an easy and practical way of making them aware of the current plight of the Tibetan people. It also gives your MP an opportunity to respond constructively. If you would like to find out if your MP has previously signed EDMs on Tibet in the last two years, then call us on 020 7272 1414 or search on the EDM website by clicking here.If you would like any further information on EDMs then please click here. Current EDMs EDM 1444 HUMAN RIGHTS AND TIBET 28.04.2008 Tabled by Norman Baker MP 32 signatories That this House is both alarmed and disappointed by the refusal by the Chinese government to accede to a request from Louise Arbour, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, to grant access for a delegation from the UN to visit Tibet in April in order independently to assess the current working situation; urges the Government to express its grave concern to the Chinese authorities over this decision, to ask why it is not convenient at this time and to press for an early date at which it would be convenient; and further urges the Government actively to support the recent European Parliament's resolution on Tibet wherein its calls for an open and independent inquiry, under the auspices of the United Nations, into the recent riots and repression in Tibet; and urges the Chinese authorities to issue a standing invitation to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and other UN bodies to visit Tibet. Link to text on EDM database EDM 1387 HUMANITARIAN SUFFERING IN TIBET 22.04.2008 Tabled by Harry Cohen MP 41 signatories That this House expresses deep sadness and concern for the current situation in Tibet which sees the country in severe lockdown by the Chinese authorities following recent demonstrations by the Tibetan populace that resulted in over 140 Tibetans killed, over 4,000 Tibetans in detention, a lack of medical aid for those injured, restricted movement, many in hiding for fear of their lives, leaving villages deserted at the crucial time of year when crops need to be sowed and severe food shortages in the cities; and calls on the Government to urge the Chinese authorities to end this suffering by allowing humanitarian aid, under the auspices of the International Red Cross, the UN or other independent bodies, into the Tibetan Autonomous Region and other areas of Tibet. Link to text on EDM database EDM 1201  BEHAVIOUR OF CHINESE FORCES IN TIBET 17.03.08 tabled by Norman Baker 105 signatories That this House condemns the brutal policing by the Chinese authorities in quelling spontaneous demonstrations by local Tibetans, monks, nuns and lay people in Lhasa and elsewhere in Tibet which has endured 49 years of subjugation by China; notes with deep sadness that this heavy-handed response has resulted in the slaughter of at least 100 Tibetans; calls on the Government to strongly denounce the Chinese government's overreaction in sending in troops and tanks to Lhasa, to support the Dalai Lama's calls for an independent UN delegation to visit Tibet urgently to report on conditions and verify the number of injured, deaths and arrests and to call on the Chinese authorities to start genuine negotiations without preconditions with envoys of the Dalai Lama for a settlement of the Tibet issue; and further reiterates its call for the Prime Minister to meet the Dalai Lama when he is in London in May. Link to text on EDM database EDM 1159  FREE TIBET MARCH ON CHINA 11.03.08 Tabled by Lindsay Hoyle MP 66 signatories That this House notes the Free Tibet movement march on the Chinese border; notes that the march aims to reach the border when the Beijing Olympics close in order to highlight the injustice of treatment of Tibet by the Chinese authorities; and calls on the Chinese government to recognise the rights of Tibetans and in the spirit of the Olympic Games adopt a tolerant and respectful stance towards the beliefs and rights of Tibetans. Link to text on EDM database EDM 984  VISIT OF THE DALAI LAMA 20.02.08 Tabled by Norman Baker MP 132 signatories That this House welcomes the forthcoming visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the United Kingdom in May; recognises the strong historical connections between this country and Tibet; notes that the Dalai Lama has recently had meetings with President George Bush, Chancellor Angela Merkel and the leaders of Australia, Canada and Austria; and calls upon the Prime Minister to take the opportunity to meet the Dalai Lama on the occasion of his visit, particularly in the light of the worsening human rights position in Tibet and the Dalai Lama's commitment to a non-violent solution. Link to text on EDM database EDM 476  MEDIA FREEDOMS IN CHINA 05.12.07 Tabled by Don Foster MP 52 signatories That this House notes with concern that the Chinese government has not granted domestic journalists the freedom to travel and report at liberty during the 2008 Olympic Games; further notes that the media liberties granted to foreign journalists are due to expire on 17th October 2008; recognises concerns expressed by foreign journalists that they are still being searched and interrogated by Chinese officials; further notes that the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Bid Committee promised when it was bidding for the Games that there would not be any restrictions on media reporting or the movement of journalists before and during the Olympics including in occupied Tibet; and calls on the Government to urge the International Olympic Committee to put pressure on the Chinese government to ensure that both foreign and domestic journalists are granted the complete liberty to report the truth at the Beijing Olympics without fear of intimidation or detention. Link to text on EDM database EDM 347   IMPRISONMENT OF RUNGYAL ADRAK IN TIBET   21.11.07 Tabled by Norman Baker MP  Signatories 67 That this House notes with concern the eight year prison sentence handed down to the Tibetan nomad Rungyal Adrak by the Chinese authorities for taking up a microphone at the annual Lithang horse-racing festival and calling for the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet and for the release of the Panchen Lama; and urges the UK Government to raise the injustice of his case, and particularly in the run-up to the Olympic Games, to continue to pressurise the Chinese government to respect fundamental human rights and basic civil and religious freedoms in Tibet, including the right to self-determination. Link to text on EDM database EDM 216   DETENTION AND CONVICTION OF RONGYAL ADRAK 13.11.07 Tabled by Norman Baker MP 47 signatories That this House notes with concern the detention and subsequent conviction of Rongyal Adrak, a respected Tibetan nomad, simply for calling publicly for the return of the Dalai Lama to his native country after 48 years in exile; condemns the brutal action of the Lithang police in response to the protests against his arrest, including the use of tear gas and rubber bullets; further notes with alarm the intensifications of effort by the occupying power, China, to suppress the free expression by Tibetans of their religious beliefs; observes that the free access provided to journalists to Tibet by China as part of that country's Olympic bid is not being honoured; and calls on the British Government to raise with the Chinese authorities the case of Rongyal Adrak, and to demand that access to Tibet by journalists be allowed unimpeded. Link to text on EDM database Archive of EDMs EDM 1513 Furtherance of the dialogue between the Chinese Government and envoys of the Dalai Lama 18/05/2007 Tabled by Harry Cohen       Signatories 17 EDM 1451 Lobbying Campaign by the People's Republic of China against the Dalai Lama 14/05/2007 Tabled by Jones, Lynne        Signatories 27 EDM 227  Shooting of Tibetans 21/11/2006 Tabled by Harry Cohen      Signatories: 101 EDM 2413 China and Religious Freedom (No. 2)  20/6/06 Tabled by Lindsay Hoyle    Signatories 47  EDM 1487 Google and Censorship within China  26/01/06 Tabled by Norman Baker    Signatories 48        EDM 834  Peaceful Protests during the State visit of President of China  24/10/06 Tabled by Andrew Mackinlay  Signatories 50 Click here to search for all past EDMs through the Parliamentary database. What should I say to my MP? Please call our office on 0207 272 1414 for a copy of our guide How to effectively lobby your MP that has advice and tips on making the first contact with your MP, what to say in a meeting and so on.  If you prefer to write to your MP you can use the facts below and any other information to write your own letter.  Everyone takes a letter from an MP seriously. When an MP receives a letter from a constituent, they will often write to the relevant Minister to seek a formal government response. Civil servants prepare the Minister’s response to MPs’ letters very carefully. Please take the time to rewrite this; your own words will have far more impact on your MP by showing the depth of your support for this issue.  You can send a letter to your MP instantly by using the website www.writetothem.com. This government declares war on terror and yet ignores the Tibetan people who, despite a half-century of persecution, refuse to adopt terrorist tactics to fight their cause. This situation must change. Over a million Tibetans have been killed since the Chinese invasion of 1949, and over 100,000 Tibetans have fled across the Himalayas. Yet the Dalai Lama - who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for leading the non-violent Tibetan struggle for freedom - continues to urge young Tibetans not to take up arms and seeks peaceful negotiations with the Chinese Government. This is a model of peaceful governance, which should be applauded by the international community. If we choose not to support Tibet we are simply showing the world that there is no alternative to violence. We need to send a global message that non-violent protest against gross human rights violations does gain our active support. There are currently a number of Early Day Motions relevant to the situation in Tibet in need of MPs signatures as a sign of support. The most recent (EDM 1201 Behaviour of Chinese forces in Tibet) condemns the brutal policing by the Chinese authorities in quelling the recent spontaneous demonstrations by Tibetan people in Lhasa and elsewhere throughout Tibet following the 49th annual commemoration of the Tibetan Peoples' Uprising against the Chinese occupying forces in 1959. The news, or lack of it now foreign journalists have been expelled, is extremely worrying and should be of great concern to everyone who believes in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Please support Tibet at this critical time and sign EDM 1201.