About the T for Tibet campaign
T for Tibet is a simple hand gesture anyone can use to send an important message: It's time to free Tibet
The campaign was launched in July 2008, in the run up to the Beijing Olympics, to give everyone an easy way to show their support for Tibet.
Celebrity supporters, parliamentarians and freedom lovers around the world were quick to join the campaign.
T for Tibet quickly became so widely recognised that Chinese police made the T hand signal in front of ITN reporter John Ray when he was bundled into a police van after covering a free Tibet protest during the Olympics.
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The Games are over, but the struggle of the Tibetan people for the survival of their ancient and unique culture continues.
Tibet isn't just for the Olympics.
It is nearly 60 years since Chinese troops invaded and occupied Tibet. In the intervening decades, the fundemental human rights of Tibetans have been trampled. Hundreds of thousands of Tibetans have died as a result of the occupation. Unknown thousands have been tortured and imprisoned for stubbornly trying to maintain their identity. Tibetans are denied freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion. The Tibetan language itself is under threat.
In March 2008, knowing the yes of the world were on China in the run up to the Olympics, thousands of ordinary Tibetans made a courageous stand for freedom, taking to the streets in protest. The Chinese government's response was to throw all journalists and foreigners out of Tibet and bring in tens of thousands of troops to quash all demonstrations and hide the truth about Tibet from the critical eyes of the world.
As fireworks lit up the Beijing sky for the opening of the Olympics, a dark picture was emerging from Tibet. Throughout the country there are reports of huge military build ups, check points, curfews and fear pervading. The arrests continue, the torture continues, monks who dared protest in March have not been seen since.
China analysts predict the unleashing of terrible retribution against Tibetans for destroying the Chinese government's carefully crafted myth that everything is harmonious within its borders.
China's leaders think the world will look away from Tibet, now that the Games have ended.
We must prove them wrong.
Learn more about Tibet
For 20 years, Free Tibet Campaign has been working for the right of Tibetans to determine their own future. We campaign for an end to the Chinese occupation of Tibet and for the fundamental human rights of Tibetans to be respected.
To find out more about our work and the impacts of the Chinese occupation on the people of Tibet, visit our website: www.freetibet.org.
