November 15, 2005; Four Seasons Hotel, Washington, D.C.
Two Light of Truth Awards ceremonies are being held in 2005, as the 2004 awards were rescheduled due to His Holiness' travel schedule. The Light of Truth Awards dinner is a wonderful celebration and has sold out every year to date. This year, we are honored to present the awards to Lowell Thomas, Jr., Carl Gershman and Elie Wiesel. The Chairman's Reception will begin at 5:30 PM and the Dinner and Awards Presentation at 6:30 PM
Lowell Thomas, Jr. was among the first Westerners to visit Tibet in the last century. His trip there in 1949 resulted in scores of photographs, articles, radio programs and books that brought Tibet alive for millions of Americans. Lowell Thomas, Jr. shaped this country's views of Tibet at a critical time in Tibetan history and is one of the genuine grandfathers of the Tibet movement in America.
Carl Gershman has served as the President of the National Endowment for Democracy since its establishment in 1984 and is one of the founders of the World Movement for Democracy. Under his leadership, the NED has grown into the premier democracy promotion organization in the world and has long supported the efforts of the Tibetan leadership to promote democracy in Tibetan society, both in exile and inside Tibet. Previously, Mr. Gershman was Senior Counselor to the United States Representative to the United Nations and served as the U.S. Representative to the U.N.'s Third Committee, which deals with human rights issues.
Elie Wiesel is a world-renowned author, political activist and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986. He is the author of over forty books, the most famous of which, Night, serves as a testimony to his experiences during the Holocaust. The Norwegian Nobel Committee called Wiesel a "messenger to mankind", for his practical work in the cause of peace and his powerful message of peace, atonement and human dignity. Wiesel is a close friend of the Dalai Lama and teaches at Boston University and serves as the Chairman of The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity.
George Fernandes, Member of Parliament, India, and former Cabinet Minister; and Lodi Gyari, Special Envoy of the Dalai Lama and ICT's Executive Chair, will co-host a special reception before the dinner for VIP ticket-holders.
