Don’t Torch Tibet - ATC's Sydney Harbour Bridge Action
Ahead of the Canberra leg of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay, the Australia Tibet Council sent a powerful message to the Chinese leadership by projecting the words ‘Don’t Torch Tibet’ onto the northwest pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Creating a striking image against the iconic backdrop of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, the words signalled a clear call from Australia’s Tibetan communities and Tibet support groups for China to remove Tibet from the Olympic Torch Relay route and begin a process of constructive dialogue with the Dalai Lama.
Carrying the Olympic Torch up Mount Everest and through Lhasa and other Tibetan areas is a political manoeuvre by the Chinese leadership to symbolically demonstrate their control over the region. ATC is deeply concerned that this move will deepen the current crisis, incite further unrest inside Tibet and lead to more arrests and suffering among the Tibetan people.
ATC believes that carrying the Olympic Torch up Mount Everest and through Lhasa and other Tibetan areas has nothing to do with sport. It is a blatant political manoeuvre by the Chinese leadership. Instead China must meet with the Dalai Lama and begin working through dialogue towards a peaceful resolution of Tibet issue.
About the ATC
Australia Tibet Council (ATC) works to promote the human rights and democratic freedoms of the Tibetan people. ATC is an independent, non-profit Australian organisation funded solely by members and supporters.
Ahead of the Canberra leg of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay, the Australia Tibet Council sent a powerful message to the Chinese leadership by projecting the words ‘Don’t Torch Tibet’ onto the northwest pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Australia Tibet Council (ATC) works to promote the human rights and democratic freedoms of the Tibetan people. 
