"Good Afternoon. I'm Mary Beth Markey, Vice President for Advocacy at the International Campaign for Tibet.

"This is an extraordinary time for Tibet.

"What has happened over the past 18 months has raised the stakes for each of us who hold the conviction that Tibet matters, and it must raise the stakes for our political leaders in how Tibet is counted within the U.S.-Chinese relationship.

"Tibetan solidarity is stronger than ever, despite a determined Chinese government suppression.

"As the Tibetan poet and essayist, Woeser, has written from Beijing: "Tibetans living under the Chinese political system are breaking through the silence, and there are more and more instances of these voices being bravely raised, and this is encouraging ever more Tibetans."

"There are Chinese, too, who are raising their voices for Tibet, and we are privileged to have many of them with us this afternoon.

"From among the strongest voices for tolerance, compassion and human dignity, the Board of Directors of the International Campaign for Tibet has chosen the 2009 Light of Truth Award recipients.

"Our Ceremony is ready to begin. Please join me in welcoming to the stage:

His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Speaker of the House or Representatives Nancy Pelosi

Light of Truth Award recipient Wang Lixiong and Ambassador Winston Lord

Ambassador William Howard Taft IV and Ambassador Paula Dobriansky

Our translators for the evening: Dr. Thubten Jimpa and Segyum Ngapa

And, the Chairman of the Board of the International Campaign for Tibet, Mr. Richard Gere."