Australia Tibet Council condemn outdoor brand Arc’teryx for fireworks display in Tibet’s fragile mountain ecosystem

Arc’teryx, global outdoor clothing brand, partnered with Chinese Communist Party-affiliated pyro-technician to explode massive fireworks in the remote and extremely fragile environment of Shigatse in occupied-Tibet.

Arc’teryx has displayed a lack of sensitivity towards Tibet’s fragile ecosystem and Tibet’s ongoing conflict with China. The company’s irresponsible action demonstrates it does not comprehend the grave human rights crisis in Tibet under Chinese occupation, which includes denying Tibetans the right to their ancestral lands such as the mountains of Shigatse.

The pyro-technician behind the fireworks, Cai Guo-Qiang, is closely associated with the Chinese Communist Party. He delivered a similar display during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, a period of intense crackdown on human rights in Tibet. He is known to emphasise Chinese Communist Maoist themes in his displays.

Arc’teryx has since apologised and clarified their explosives “used entirely biodegradable materials”, according to a BBC article. Arc’teryx has said it would work to mitigate the “social impacts of this event”.

We ask Arc’teryx to acknowledge Tibet is not part of China and to commit to working for freedom for Tibet.