Make your voice matter!

Mass Lobby of Parliament

In person, by letter, email or fax

Wednesday 10 March 2010, from 2.30pm

Mass Lobby Update

March 10 2010 – Remembering the 1959 National Uprising and the brutal crackdown on peaceful protestors in 2008

Following a protest opposite the Chinese Embassy where the Dalai Lama’s representative in London Thupten Samdup read out His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s statement on 10 March, we moved to Westminster Abbey for the wreath-laying ceremony to remember the victims of the 1959 uprising. The ceremony was attended by MPs Kate Hoey, Julie Morgan and the Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Tibet, Harry Cohen, along with Tibetans and Tibet supporters.

The mass lobby of Parliament was once again a success with over 100 supporters lobbying their MPs in person. While some supporters could not speak to their MPs directly, many of you have come out of Parliament with a buzz following some really good chats and fruitful discussions with your MPs. Some MPs who did not know about the situation in Tibet in detail requested further information while those who are sympathetic to the cause of Tibet pledged further support in next Parliament.

A big thanks for all of you who attended or lobbied your MP by email or letter.

Tibet supporters with Bob Russell, MP for Colchester.
 

Click here for the summary of events on Wednesday 10 March 2010 organised by a coalition of the UK Tibet support groups

Following on the successful mass lobby of Parliament last year where over 300 supporters lobbied their MPs on Tibet, a coalition of UK Tibet support groups, including Free Tibet,  is organising a mass lobby of Parliament again this year to urge MPs to take action on Tibet.

In the run up to the General Election MPs will be paying particular attention to the views of their constituents so we need as many of you as possible to press your MP on human rights in Tibet now.

In the face of a dramatic worsening of the human rights situation in Tibet, the UK government has weakened its policy on holding China accountable for its human rights abuses in Tibet.

 
Free Tibet Reigate group with MP Peter Ainsworth for East Surrey at the mass lobby in 2009

What Free Tibet is asking you to do:

1. If your current MP is standing for re-election, please ask him or her to sign Free Tibet’s General Election Pledge card at the mass lobby. Free Tibet’s General Election campaign targets as many parliamentary candidates as possible to pledge that if elected, they will actively promote human rights in Tibet and China. We expect many parliamentary seats to change and therefore politicians will be more open to the views of their constituents. We have created a pledge card which you can ask your candidate(s) to sign. Usually a General Election comes around every four years, so it is a fantastic opportunity for you to let candidates know that human rights in Tibet matter to you.

Download the pledge card

What the Coalition of UK Tibet Support Groups is asking your Parliamentarians to do at the mass lobby

2.Sign EDM 345: “Human Rights in Tibet and China”, which calls on the Foreign Affairs Select Committee to conduct a formal inquiry into the effectiveness of the UK government’s strategy on human rights in China and Tibet.

Free Tibet is delighted that over 100 MPs have signed EDM 345 already and other UK Tibet support groups are joining this campaign.

If your MP has already signed this EDM the lobby will give you an opportunity to thank them for their support.

3. Call on the UK government to establish a British Consulate in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, thereby increasing capacity in Tibet to monitor human rights.

Although China has the largest population in the world, the UK government has more consulates in other, less populated countries. It has 8 consulates in Canada, 3 in Mexico, 3 in China and none in Tibet.

More information on these two asks will be included in your lobby pack.

HOW TO JOIN THE MASS LOBBY

LOBBY IN PERSON - from 2.30pm at Westminster Hall, Westminster. Meeting point at St. Stephens Entrance (Visitors Entrance) on the southside of Parliament Square. Stewards from the Coalition will be there to support you.

The MOST EFFECTIVE WAY to put pressure on your MP is to meet them face-to- face, therefore we encourage you to come to Parliament with us. Anyone can join the mass lobby, you don't have to be an expert – and Free Tibet will support you.

Find your MP:
- from the website: http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/commons
- or by calling the House of Commons Information Office on 020 7219 4272.

1. Make an appointment with your MP
- You can use email, post or telephone to make your appointment.
- Please request an appointment for as close to 2.30pm on 10 March as possible – we would like everyone to be at Parliament at the same time.

Please note that your MP or his or her representative will have to come to meet you even without a confirmation of your appointment. So come down to the Mass Lobby on 10 March even if your appointment is not confirmed.

2. Let us know the name of your MP, his or her constituency and the time of your appointment.
It is very important for us to know if you are coming to the mass lobby. Contact us either by email: parliament@freetibet.org or call us on 0207 324 4605 and ask for Sophie. We will coordinate with others j from your constituency so that you can meet your MP together.

3. You will then receive a lobby pack/Alternatively you can download the lobby pack here
Your lobby pack contains:
1) Logistical information – timings, directions, meeting points, etc
2) What to expect on the day and from your appointment
3) Information for you and for your MP about the primary concerns addressed by this mass lobby and a lobby postcard with the key demands for you to hand to your MP
4) Free Tibet's General Election Pledge card for Parliamentary candidates
5) Facts about Tibet including the current situation in Tibet so that you know what is happening in Tibet.

Lobbying by letter, email or fax

If you are unable to lobby in person please write to your MP or alternatively you can send an email or fax. Give Free Tibet a call, and we will send you the lobby action card. If your MP is running for re-election, let us know and we will send you Free Tibet’s General Election pledge card as well. If you have any questions between now and the 10 March please don't hesitate to contact us either by email: parliament@freetibet.org or call us on 0207 324 4605.