Our stories
Reflections on peace and Tibet
On the International Day of Peace, ATC’s Executive Officer Zoë Bedford reflects on the topic of peace and Tibet and how we can support the Tibetan struggle. “Every time you speak out about a Tibetan who has been imprisoned for their beliefs, who has been tortured for speaking out, every time you write to the Australian Government to make a positive change for Tibet, you are contributing to the Tibetan peoples nonviolent struggle.”
ATC’s Zoë Bedford is dedicating her birthday to Tibet
From volunteering with Australia Tibet Council (ATC) at the Tibetan Freedom Concert in 1999, where acts such as Spiderbait, The Living End and Celibate Rifles played, to meeting His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his visit to Australia in 2013, Zoë Bedford’s involvement with the Tibetan cause has taken many different forms spanning across three decades. Now Executive Officer of ATC, Zoë has decided to pioneer our new birthday fundraising platform by dedicating her birthday to Tibet.
Senate passes forced labour amendment
On 23d August, Senator Rex Patrick’s revised Customs Amendment bill to stop the importation of goods made with forced labour passed the Senate. We expect that the bill will be debated by the House of Representatives in its next sitting session, mid to late October.
Magnitsky: Campaign update
The Australian Government has now responded to recommendations about creating a Magnitsky-style law to impose financial and visa sanctions against human rights abusers. The response falls short of our expectations and remains below the gold standard set by our allies. However, there are some important improvements now proposed for Australia’s existing sanctions regime.
Move the 2022 Winter Olympics
There is still time for the International Olympic Committee to postpone the 2022 Winter Olympics until a suitable host city can be found. We are calling on the Australian Olympic Committee to use their influence within the IOC to change the direction of the 2022 Winter Olympics. Take action.
UPDATE: Rex Patrick’s forced labour bill
Earlier this year, we gave a submission to a parliamentary inquiry into a bill banning goods produced by Uyghur forced labour and the committee reviewing the bill has now presented its report to parliament. In this blog, we unpack the recommendations.
Global Day of Action
Events took place in 50 cities around the world from Australia to Sweden, Japan to Argentina and New Zealand to Canada on 23 June as part of a Global Day of Action to say #NoBeijing2022
Tibetan Democracy-in-Exile
Tibet’s Government-in-Exile has a new president and there are also new faces representing the Tibet movement here in Australia. Read our blog which includes profiles as well as key facts about the flourishing democracy-in-exile that Tibetans have established in Dharamsala, India.
Annual Report 2020
2020 was a difficult year, with all the challenges that a global pandemic brings. Still, thanks to your support, we saw campaign wins. Read our annual report to learn more about what we achieved together for Tibet in 2020.
Karma Singey begins as new Tibet Information Office Representative
ATC welcomes the new representative for the Tibet Information Office (TIO) in Canberra – Karma Singey. The TIO is an official agency of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and aims to create a better understanding of the situation in Tibet and draw attention to the plight of the Tibetan people. Karma formally took over from the outgoing representative Lhakpa Tshoko in a ceremony on 14 April.
A victory against China’s influence and interference in Australia
On the evening of 21st April 2021, the Australian Government announced it was tearing up the two belt and road initiative agreements that the Victorian Government had signed with China. This is a victory for groups like Australia Tibet Council that have long campaigned on the issue of China’s interference and influence in Australian internal affairs.
A tribute to long-time ATC supporter Ken Leonhardt
Ken will always be remembered by everyone at ATC as one of the loveliest, and most generous of men. He became part of ATC’s fabric and he will forever be known as a friend to Tibet.