2001 Annual Report
Message from the President
The ICT community, now over 90,000 strong, is a vibrant collection of individuals who are not only an effective support base for the people of Tibet but also a powerful voice for resolving conflicts through dialogue instead of violence.
Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. made this world a far better place. The Dalai Lama is now continuing their legacy. All of us give life and breadth to this work as we support the Dalai Lama and the Tibetans to achieve justice in Tibet and to help all non-violent movements.
In 2001, ICT helped to organize what was the Dalai Lama's most formal and official visit to Washington to date, including meetings with President Bush, Secretary Powell and Members of Congress. When we first started ICT, the Dalai Lama was not allowed in the White House, the State Department, or in the offices of heads of state in Europe and elsewhere. All of that has changed, and now he is a much more influential leader and spokesperson for non-violence, for Tibet and for many of the values you and I care about.
Also in 2001, the Dalai Lama addressed the European Parliament and delivered one of his most powerful speeches. He received one of the warmest ovations on record from the Strasbourg-based assembly. ICT Europe helped to lay the groundwork for what was certainly the high point for Tibet in 2001 in Europe.
Tibet is one of the shining examples in the world today of people forsaking violence to preserve their culture and religion and to regain freedom in their homeland. ICT members are at the forefront of supporting this movement and turning its aspirations into reality. From shining the spotlight on Tibetan prisoners of conscience to securing millions of dollars in humanitarian aid, 2001 was a busy and exciting year for the ICT community.
One of ICT's greatest strengths is its many members and friends who allow the organization to flourish, help enact and improve our programs and provide ideas and energy to take the next steps to help the Tibetan people in their hour of need.
Thank you for helping to achieve all that we did in 2001.
Sincerely,
John Ackerly
President
ICT's Mandate
The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) is a monitoring and advocacy group dedicated to promoting human rights and democratic freedoms for the people of Tibet. ICT works to keep pressure on the U.S. government and other governments to support Tibet, advocate for Tibetans imprisoned for their political and religious beliefs, provide humanitarian assistance to Tibetans in exile, and promote a peaceful resolution of the occupation of Tibet through negotiations between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama. ICT supports the right of self-determination for the Tibetan people. ICT does not take a position on any particular form of self-determination such as independence or autonomy. Founded in 1988, ICT is a tax-exempt, non-profit organization with offices in Washington and Amsterdam.
Government Outreach
In 2001, ICT worked with Congress in its consideration of U.S. policy on human rights, China and Tibet. ICT senior staff testified numerous times before various commissions, committees and caucuses, and sponsored a prominent Tibetan photo exhibition on Capitol Hill. ICT's legislative efforts focused on securing funding for programs that benefit Tibetans and the introduction of the Tibetan Policy Act (TPA), which was introduced on May 7, 2001. At year's end, the TPA had more than a hundred House and Senate cosponsors. In May, Secretary of State Powell named a new Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, Undersecretary Paula J. Dobriansky. ICT continues its advisory relationship with that office and seeks opportunities to present its concerns to other bureaus at the State Department and other government agencies.
Political Prisoners
In 2001, ICT continued aggressive public awareness campaigns about the nature of China's detention, imprisonment and mistreatment of prominent and ordinary Tibetans. 
In January, ICT launched a campaign for medical parole for Ngawang Choephel and began negotiations for a second prison visit by Ngawang Choephel's mother. In May, at large public talks given by the Dalai Lama in 5 U.S. cities, ICT conducted an intensive campaign for the detained Panchen Lama, showing “Tibet's Stolen Child,” to many large audiences and distributing 72,000 Panchen Lama kits. In August, ICT highlighted the case of Chadrel Rimpoche to the U.S. and other governments when China failed to release him at the expiry of his sentence. These and other ICT campaigns on behalf of political prisoners aim to protect prisoners from mistreatment, secure early release or medical parole, provide assistance to released political prisoners, and respect and honor those individuals who are willing to put themselves in danger to protect their religious traditions, their national heritage, and their right to publish, speak and demonstrate freely.
Religious Freedom
Since its founding, ICT has carefully monitored religious freedoms in Tibet, documenting and publicizing the impact of China's repressive policies. In 2001, ICT exposed the massive crackdown at Larung Gar, where thousands of nuns and monks were expelled and their meditation huts destroyed. Months later, ICT exposed a similar situation at Yachen Gar.
Through the use of digital photography, ICT was able to quickly provide compelling images of these crackdowns to the media, governments and other human rights groups.
Environmental Rights Campaign
ICT's Environmental Rights Campaign is based on the rights of Tibetans to be decision-makers and beneficiaries over a range of issues that affect them, such as population transfer, natural resources, environmental stewardship and sustainable development. In 2001, ICT pressured British Petroleum (BP) to divest from PetroChina who completed a gas pipeline across northern Tibet. BP has refused to provide information concerning impacts on Tibetans. ICT called for greater transparency and scrutiny of Western energy companies, particularly as more companies enter a market where new oil and gas fields are primarily located in the autonomous regions and prefectures of Uigyurs, Tibetans and others.
Also in 2001, Beijing announced it would begin work on a rail line in Tibet from Golmud to Lhasa. While this rail link will provide some economic benefits to Tibetans, it will mainly benefit the Chinese military and settler community, and promote Chinese economic policies designed to assimilate Tibet into China, rather than serve Tibetan economic needs.
ICT Europe
ICT Europe expanded its activities, its staff and its membership base in 2001 and became economically self-sufficient by the end of the year. ICT Europe was particularly active at the United Nations in 2001 both in Geneva during the Human Rights Commission and in Durban at the UN Conference Against Racism. ICT Europe also helped organize a conference on Tibet for European Parliamentarians in Switzerland and provided support for the Dalai Lama's historic address to the full body of the European Parliament in October. ICT Europe continued to put pressure on the European Union for a unified policy on Tibet and provided practical recommendations on its human rights dialogue with China. ICT Europe and other Tibet groups celebrated a modest success in April 2001 when the local government of Zoetermeer was forced to cancel its plan to develop a Chinese theme park. In November, ICT's Board of Directors approved a proposal for ICT Europe to explore opening an office in Berlin. The first stage of this process will involve consultations with a German Tibet support group, Tibet Initiative Deutchland.
United Nations
2001 was a watershed year for ICT's UN work as ICT was officially accredited to a UN conference for the first time. Despite Chinese objections and lobbying, members of the General Assembly voted 46 to 37 to approve ICT's accreditation to the UN World Conference Against Racism. At the conference in South Africa, ICT raised issues of racism in jampaTibet and released a major report, “Jampa: The Story of Racism in Tibet.” ICT worked intensively on the 57th United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva to build support for a U.S.-sponsored China resolution, but action on the resolution was blocked by a procedural move by China. In December, ICT applied for accreditation to the UN World Summit on Sustainable Development to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in August 2002.
Chinese Outreach
Rinchen Tashi, fluent in Chinese and Tibetan, joined ICT's staff in March and began building a Chinese-language website. ICT helped organize several meetings with groups of Chinese to promote greater “citizen diplomacy” and encourage new forms of cooperation and engagement between Tibetan and Chinese communities in the U.S. and elsewhere.
Membership
In 2001, ICT's membership remained strong and relatively stable at about 75,000 members in the U.S. (ICT Europe's membership grew above 15,000 in 2001.) ICT members were extremely active in 2001, sending more than 40,000 cards about the Panchen Lama to President Bush and 25,000 cards to Congress in support of the Tibetan Policy Act. The majority of ICT's revenue in 2001 came from its members, and much of it came from donations of $100 or less.
www.savetibet.org
In 2001 ICT undertook a major overhaul of its website, www.savetibet.org, to bring it up to and beyond current Internet standards and maximize our online presence. Launched in November, the redesigned site enables ICT to better advance our campaign goals and provide more resources and information to the public, ICT members, governments and other organizations. In 2001, ICT's online action email list grew to 25,000 names and the website averaged 500 distinct visits (user sessions) per day.
Tibetan Youth Leadership Training Program
In March 2001, ICT held the first annual Tibetan Youth Leadership Training program in Washington, D.C., with 15 young Tibetans from across the country. The program was designed to provide legislative, media and human rights training to young and aspiring Tibetans.
Leadership participants: Sitting front row (from left) Tenzin Deki Chokteng, Tenzin Kalsang Choephel, Tenzin Dawa Bhakro, Tenzin Zangma Gyaltsen, ICT's Bhuchung Tsering and ICT's Rinchen Tashi. Sitting second row (from left), ICT's John Ackerly, (invited experts) Pema Dechen Gorap, Rep. Nawang Rabgyal, Lobsang Rabgey, Tseten Wangchuk; Standing (from left) Tenzin Choden, Tenzin Norzom, Tenzin Keyzom, Tenzin Wangyal, Tashi Dolkar, Tenzin Namdol Tekan, Jigme Wangchuk, Dhondup Bhutia, Tsering Lhoden Lhewa, Nima R. Taylor, SFT's Lhadon Tethong, and ICT's Tenzin Dhongthog.
ICT In The News
ICT's activities and campaigns received a significant amount of press coverage in 2001, particularly ICT's reporting on the crackdown on religious centers at Larung Gar and Yachen. ICT staff appeared on CNN and National Public Radio, and was quoted in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, Newsday, Washington Times, The World Journal, Beijing Spring, the Associated Press, Reuters, Voice of America Tibetan Service, Radio Free Asia Tibet, Voice of Tibet and many other outlets.
Financial Condition
Support for ICT continued to increase in 2001. ICT raised $3,633,113 and spent $3,281,398, allowing ICT to place $351,715 in a working capital reserve for an unexpected program need or emergency. Revenues from ICT's membership program remained strong, accounting for 64% of ICT's available funds. 81% was spent on programs, 12% on fundraising and 7% on administrative expenses. 4% of ICT's budget was spent on direct and indirect lobbying, well below the 20% allowable by law for ICT as a 501(c)(3) organization. ICT has no debt. Click here to view ICT's 2001 Financial Statements.
Board Chairs
- Richard Gere, Chairman
- Lodi Gyari, Executive Chairman
Staff
- John Ackerly, President
- Bhuchung Tsering, Director
- Mary Beth Markey, Director of Governmental Relations
- Lesley Friedell, Development Coordinator
- Robin Garthwait, Campaign Coordinator
- Joel Gysan, Membership Coordinator
- Evan Field, Communications Coordinator
- Rinchen Tashi, China Analyst
- Richard Nishimura, Economic and Policy Analyst
- Tenzin Dhongthog, Office Manager
- Van Ly, Program Associate
- Maureen Nelson, Membership Associate
Staff, ICT-Europe
- Tsering Jampa, Director
- Myra de Rooy, Program Assistant
- Faiza Zouakri, Campaign Coordinator
- Rutger Brouwer, Intern
Consultants
Roger Craver, Carol Faulb, John Jensen, Steve Kretzmann, Craig Lamb, Rachel Lostumbo, Ed Matesik, Sara Meling, Wangchuk Meston, Lobsang Rabgey, Rick Rodgers and Michael van Walt.
Interns
Maura Finkelstein, Luke Joyce, Lisa de Saxe, Tracilyn Tasch and Tenzin Tekan.
Board of Directors
- Mr. Reed Brody
- Mr. Harrison Ford
- Mr. Richard Gere
- Dr. Gail Gross
- Venerable Geshe Tsultim Gyeltsen
- Mr. Lodi Gyari
- Mr. Marvin Hamlisch
- Mr. Mark Handelman
- Mrs. Bette Bao Lord
- Ms. Melissa Mathison
- Mr. Joel McCleary
- Mr. Amit Pandya
- Mr. Keith Pitts
- Ven. Sogyal Rimpoche
- Mr. Mark Rovner
- Mr. Steve Schroeder
- Mr. Gare Smith
- Ms. Grace Spring
- Ms. Erica Stone
- Mr. Paljor Thondup
- Mr. Adam Yauch
Board of Advisors
- Ms. Michele Bohana
- Mr. David Breashears
- Ms. Alex Butler
- Mr. Victor Chen
- Mr. Rinchen Dharlo
- Ms. Lia Diskin
- Mr. Peter Kedge
- Dr. Blake Kerr
- Ms. Nancy Nash
- Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi
- Mr. Abdullah Ommidvar
- Ms. Alison Reynolds
- Ven. Gelek Rinpoche
- Mr. Galen Rowell
- Ms. Lynn Russell
- Mr. Thubten Samdup
- Ven. Geshe Sopa
- Lama Sopa
- Mr. William Sterling
- Bro. Wayne Teasdale
- Mr. Tenzin Tethong
- Prof. Robert Thurman
- Dr. Michael van Walt
- Mr. Sonam Wangdu
- Mr. Harry Wu
- Mr. Xiao Qiang
- Ms. Kunzang Yuthok
International Council of Advisors
- The Honorable Rodrigo Carazo Odio
- The Honorable Hideaki Kase
- Mrs. Kerry Kennedy Cuomo
- Dr. Jeane Kirkpatrick
- The Honorable Bernard Kouchner
- The Honorable Vytauas Landsbergis
- Dr. Fang Lizhi
- Mrs. Mairead Maguire
- Mr. Aryeh Neier
- Mrs. Jetsun Pema
- The Honorable Adolfo Perez Esquivel
- Dr. Jose Ramos-Horta
- The Honorable Rabi Ray
- Professor Samdong Rinpoche
- The Venerable Sulak Sivaraska
- Mrs. Yukita Sohma
- Bishop Desmond Tutu
- The Right Honorable Lord Weatherill
- Dr. Elie Wiesel
You can download the PDF version of the 2001 Annual Report here.
