<div>I'm turning 33 on January 28! To celebrate, I am raising some much-needed funds for an organization doing cutting-edge work for Tibet globally. Students for a Free Tibet (SFT), through non-violent direct action and grassroots organizing, campaigns for freedom and human rights for Tibetans inside Tibet. I think many of you already know, but lately, SFT has been ABSOLUTELY killing it! and that too all over the world. I want to specifically bring up 3 reasons why I am supporting this organization:
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<div>1. The campaign to boycott the 2022 Beijing Olympics is in full swing at the moment, and SFT has played a leading role in this cross-movement initiative. In October, two young activists were arrested and detained in Greece for hanging the Tibetan flag and a Hong Kong banner at the Acropolis in Athens. One of them was an 18-year-old Tibetan-American named Tsela Zoksang. Then, a few days later, Tibetan-Canadian activist Chemi Lhamo was arrested and detained for disrupting the Olympic flame-righting ceremony. In the videos, you could hear her screaming over the speakers raising the plight of the Uyghurs in East Turkestan. Both Tsela and Chemi are SFT-trained. Simultaneously, worldwide, from New York City to France to India, SFT chapters and activists rose up in numbers to protest the Beijing Olympics and China's horrific human rights violations. SFT is STILL in full swing, heavily prepared to wage another round of campaigning. These efforts have ballooned the Tibetan cause on a global scale and have helped expose the Chinese government's crimes. The largest newspapers and channels worldwide have covered these direct actions, which ultimately led to diplomatic boycotts by numerous governments.
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<div>2. In March last year, a local coalition of Tibetans, Uyghurs, Hongkongers, Taiwanese and Chinese successfully shut down the Chinese government's Confucius Institute at Tufts University. I was part of this campaign, and we protested for 13 straight weeks, lobbied local elected leaders, and executed a massive email campaign to make this happen. SFT was CRUCIAL in this cross-movement effort. They provided us with digital tools, on-the-ground work, and various resources. I can confidently say that without the help of SFT, this campaign would not have been successful.
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<div>3. The Tibetan cause is at a critical stage. I know that for us to move the needle, we need young people on the frontlines leading us. We need to inspire young people to be changemakers and doers, and we need to inspire young people to walk the walk and not just talk. To me, no organization encourages young Tibetans and supporters to fight for Tibet more than SFT. And this inspiration travels through various loops. I am proud to see SFT's commitment to training the next generation through actions camps, national conferences, local workshops, online seminars, etc. SFT consistently brews up a powerful combination of passion and skills, two vital forces that serve as the foundation of our movement.
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<div>No shots, no beers. Instead, I'll buy you a drink the next time I see you. I am asking for $33 or whatever you can afford to help me reach my birthday goal. Every dollar that you donate will go to these hard-hitting campaigns. Every dollar will help promote Tibet on an international scale. Thank you all!
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<div>#freeTibet.
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Jillian MacKay

Sonam Gyaltsen

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Anonymous

Tenzing Dundutsang

Elizabeth Hedges

John Barrett

Tenzin Kunkyi

Melissa Matteis

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Elizabeth Murphy

Tsepa Bayul

Choephel & Chonden

Tenzin Sungrab

Tenzin Palden

Tenzin Mulug-labrang

Olo's Birthday for Tibet. Donor Will Match to 1K!

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