Climate Change Worries Dalai Lama
Published: Thursday, 6 August, 2009
Geneva, Switzerland, 6 August 2009 (swissinfo.ch) - Climate change poses a bigger threat to Tibet than current political pressures, the Dalai Lama told a top Swiss parliamentarian on Thursday.
During his last day in Switzerland, the spiritual leader met the speaker of
the House of Representatives, Chiara Simoneschi-Cortesi, in Lausanne before
traveling to Geneva for a conference on Chinese-Tibetan relations.
Scientists have said that rapidly melting glaciers in the Himalayas could
have disastrous consequences for Tibet, where many of Asia's greatest rivers
have their sources.
"The Dalai Lama has asked me to raise this issue with Foreign Minister
Micheline Calmy-Rey so that it will be included in international discussions,"
Simoneschi-Cortesi said.
She added that she was "deeply moved" by her meeting with the Dalai Lama.
The two talked about their cultures' shared values, such as love, respect,
tolerance and non-violence.
The exiled Tibetan leader thanked the Swiss and the government for their
hospitality, despite the fact that none of the country's ministers met
him.
Some 4,000 Tibetans live in Switzerland, many of whom are now Swiss
citizens.
