May update

Summer Greetings!

This May, most of our TEAM members did not take even Sundays off. If we were not in office, we were busy giving talks or visiting other offices and institutions. We brought out two books in Tibetan¡X Pesticides are Poisons and Introduction to Environmental Science. Another volume in Tibetan, entitled Citizens Guide to the World Commission on Dams, is now available electronically. The printed books will be distributed on June 5, 2006, World Environment Day, to all Tibetan schools, monastic communities and Agriculture Extension Offices in India and Nepal.

We also helped start environmental clubs in McLoed Ganj¡¦s TCV Day School and Baroda Tibetan Youth Organisation last month. Both these organisations are keen on starting waste management and campus greening projects. We urge those interested in such projects or willing to fund such work to contact us at the earliest.

The month of May can also be called the ¡§Wild Yak Brigade Month¡¨ because we spent a lot of time and energy spreading awareness about the Tibetan Antelope and the heroic efforts of the Wild Yak Brigade to save this endangered animal. Two of the leading lights of the brigade gave up their lives for the cause. Unfortunately, the brigade was disbanded by the Chinese government after the leaders¡¦ death. We screened the film Kekexili: Mountain Patrol, which is based on the real-life stories of the Wild Yak Brigade and highlighted the urgency for the revival of the group. Following is our brochure (available in Tibetan and English) on the Wild Yak Brigade titled, ¡¥Bring Back the Wild Yak Brigade: Protector of the Tsoe¡¦. Please also see our press release for the June 5.

Much Love and Wish all a Very Happy World Environment Day.

TEAM
Dharamsala