1997 March Info | 1997 March Home

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Beginning with a donated lunch at the world famous Moosewood Restaurant, over a period of three days the march has fully saturated Ithaca, New York with its presence.

The marchers spent about an hour circling The Commons, an outdoor mall in downtown Ithaca, chanting, "Free Tibet! China Out!"

Julie Crow, wearing a 'Release the Panchen Lama' sandwich board, passed out Panchen Lama postcards and informed anyone who would listen to her about the disappearance of Gendhun Choekyi Nyima.

The following day, after a visit to Snow Lion Publications, the walkers visited Namgyal Monastery. Khen Rinpoche asked how the walk was going and the walkers explained that the march was going very well and many many people were being educated about Tibet. Khen Rinpoche thanked them for walking and promised to say a special prayer for the safety of the walk.

Later, in the evening, the walkers were special guests at a pot luck dinner prepared by the Tibetan Community of Ithaca.

The next day, while the other walkers staffed an information table at Cornell University, Dadon taped a radio interview with Casey Stevens a local radio personality. During the interview Dadon explained that she is a Tibetan pop singer. "Since the Chinese took over Tibet," she explained, "lots of Tibetan young people are only being taught Chinese language and are brainwashed. Adults, also, don't speak, write or read their own language. I am concerned that soon our culture is going to disappear. As a musician I wondered how I could do something for my people. So I thought that all the young people, they love the fast beat and listen to the Chinese pop songs that are brought into Tibet. I thought it is time that we Tibetans make our own pop songs in Tibetan language. I borrowed traditional melodies and mixed with western instruments. I think I did a good job because as soon as my first album was released lots of people were crazy about it. The older people very happy because they heard the melodies they haven't heard for many years, and the young people happy because they have their own pop songs. Then later when my 2nd and 3rd albums come out I was singing more about Tibetan culture and more about our feelings. But because the Chinese government controls so tight in Tibet we can't sing freely about our feelings, so we have to use words like 'sad bird' or 'sad sky.'"

While in Tibet Dadon recorded 6 solo albums and each one sold over a million copies. However, after recording her last album which was strong, lyrically, against the Chinese, she had to escape from Tibet. Since then her music is no longer allowed in China or Tibet.

Early in the evening the walkers attended a prayer service lead by Khen Rinpoche and the monks of Namgyal recognizing the 8th birthday of The Panchen Lama.

Because of illness Thubten Jigme Norbu has had to take some time away from the walk. He has promised to return soon and requested Dadon to read his speech concerning the missing Panchen Lama.

All the walkers wish Takster Rinpoche a quick recovery and look forward to his return.

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1997 March Info | 1997 March Home

International Tibet Independence Movement
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