Before the Flood, a documentary film presented by National Geographic was screened at cinema, Kinosch, near Luxembourg on November 16th.
The film features Hollywood film actor Leonardo Dicario on a journey as UN Messenger of Peace to witness climate change and its devastation first hand. It concludes with the signing of COP 21 in Paris two years ago.
After the film, a discussion was held in which Representative Tashi Phuntsok, Bureau du Tibet, Brussels, gave a brief but a concise outline of the threats to Tibetan plateau owing to catastrophic climate change. He projected the consequence of it in view of Tibet being the Roof of the World, the Third Pole, the Water Tower of Asia and indeed the Rain Maker of Asia.
He emphasised the need for special attention to Tibetan environment and ecology for its being very fragile and delicate and the fact that the Tibetan people have no say in its protection under the current regime. Its unique character – as a source of major rivers and catalyst to monsoons in the region – provides subsistence and survival for over a billion people in 12 riparian countries in Asia, .
A lively and serious Q&A followed, after which Mr Pierre Baumann, President of Les Amis du Tibet spoke about urbansation in Luxembourg.
The event was jointly organised by Les Amis du Tibet, Luxembourg and Kinder Not Hilfe. While the former is an active Tibet support group, the latter is an NGO which supports disabled children.
While in the city, the Representative, who was invited by Les Amis du Tibet, met with founding President of the Group, Mr Oliver Mores, who led it from 1995-2007. Having worked with him before and having organised together the visit of His Holiness to Luxembourg in 2005, it was a wonderful reunion.
Two meetings were held, one with Mr Pierre Baumann and Mr Michael Sigworth, the project administrator and office staff Ms Florence Burette. Mr. Phuntsok gave detailed explanations to the questions that the three had on various subjects relating to Tibet and Tibetans and in particular on questions relating to their projects with Tibetans. The other meeting was with a larger group of the board on the 17th morning which was preceded by a press briefing.
– Report filed by OOT Brussels –
