Screening of ‘Meltdown in Tibet’ film in Copenhagen well-received Friday, 11 December 2009, 1:00 p.m.

A panel discussion on ‘Tibet Third Pole’ at the 12-day historic conference to tackle climate change being held in Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen: As part of its participation in the on-going 15th climate-change conference in Copanhagen, the Dharamsala-based Environment and Development Desk of the Central Tibetan Administration screened the film ‘Meltdown in Tibet’ in the evening of 9 December. The film takes an in-depth look at the ‘meltdown’ of glaciers and permafrost on the Tibetan plateau and across the Himalayan region and its global impact, threatening the water supply for millions downstream across much of the rest of Asia. The film screening drew a large number of audiences. Mr. Tenzin Norbu, head of Environment and Development Desk, introduced the stand of environment desk with regard to all environmental issues inside Tibet, and later answered many environmental-related questions raised by the audiences after the film screening. Mr. John Ishom and Mr. Norbu also spoke on the dam-building projects on Tibetan rivers currently being proposed by the Chinese government in Tibet. A Han Chinese from Taiwan who attended the film screening on the invitation from the Tibetan representatives at the conference was later asked to speak her opinion to which she replied, she is sad that “the Chinese government is suppressing the Tibetan people’s voice”. She also expressed her solidarity to the Tibetan people.

Participants at the climate-change summit pick up briefing papers highlighting the impact of climate change on the Tibetan plateau and its effects on billions of lives in Asia

Prior to the film screening earlier in the day, more than ten local, and national and international media persons also interviewed the Tibetan Women’s Association and the Environment Desk and covered the Tibetan representation at COP-15 and essentially the environmental issues of Tibet. Press briefing on Tibet: Third Pole There was a press briefing on Tibet: Third Pole in the morning on 10 December introducing the group and its upcoming activities in the COP-15. A panel discussion further detailing the issues such as glacier ‘meltdown’ and grassland degradation was held in the Climate Forum also called as People’s Forum. Mr. Norbu spoke in the discussion on behalf of Environment and Development Desk of Department of Information and International Relation. Other speakers include John Isom from Tibet Justice Centre, Stephanie from Free Tibet, UK, Ole Bruun, an anthropologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Society and Globalisation at Roskilde University. The hall was packed with people and various media persons from different countries. The Environment and Development Desk will launch its new report titled “The Impacts of Climate Change on the Tibetan Plateau: A Synthesis of Recent Science and Tibetan Research” in an upcoming event in Bella Centre.