Flower Power Rally for International Tibet Solidarity Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Flower Power Rally in San Francisco for First International Tibet Solidarity Day: May 17, 2013 Contact: Giovanni Vassallo (Giovanni@Friends-of-Tibet.org) or 415-264-3264 WHO: Bay Area Friends of Tibet WHAT: Flower Power Rally for International Tibet Solidarity Day WHERE: Union Square, San Francisco downtown WHEN: Friday, May 17, 2013 from 12 – 2 pm (May 8, 2013) SAN FRANCISCO, CA – In solidarity with the Tibetan Government and the Tibetan Parliament in-Exile who have jointly announced 17 May annually as International Tibet Solidarity Day, Bay Area Friends of Tibet (BAFoT) will lead a Flower Power Rally at Union Square in San Francisco from 12 noon - 2 pm on Friday May 17 to celebrate this auspicious day. The international day honors solidarity with Tibetans in Tibet and also recognizes the anniversary of the disappearance of His Holiness the 11th Panchen Lama (Panchen Rinpoche), one of the most revered Lamas of Tibet who was recognized at the age of six years old by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1995 as the incarnation of his predecessor, the 10th Panchen Lama. The Chinese government kidnapped him, and he has been known for many years as the world’s youngest political prisoner. Tibetan Buddhists believe the Panchen Lama to be an emanation of Amitabha Buddha, the Buddha of Boundless Light. BAFoT invites individuals and groups to celebrate this day by joining us to distribute complimentary flowers and educational materials about Tibet to the public. The country of Tibet and its native Tibetans are facing a crisis of epic proportion and are in need of the public’s support. All of Tibet’s Highest Lamas are very concerned about threats to Tibet’s environment including climate change, deforestation, mining pollution, and the melting glaciers of the Tibetan Plateau (the Third Pole) which are the source of water for 2 billion people and agriculture in Asia. Generosity is an important Tibetan cultural tradition. Along with flowers, we are passing out seed packets, too. They symbolize the seeds of hope. In the words of the Buddha, “If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.” Other materials will be distributed to help free the Panchen Lama and protect Tibet’s environment. “We are rallying in solidarity with our fellow Tibetans inside of Tibet and like Amitabha Buddha’s light, reaffirm love back to Mother Earth all the way from Tibet -- the roof of the world -- to the oceans,” said BAFoT president and former Buddhist monk, Giovanni Vassallo. “We are extremely concerned about the worsening crisis in Tibet and in the environment, and we look forward to discussing and implementing solutions with others. We are concerned for the missing Panchen Rinpoche, care for all members of the human family, and send compassion to all sentient beings and the Earth.” ###