Trees for Tibet

Greetings from India

2010-08-08T14:46:00.001+01:00

Hello everyone and sorry for the delay.Currently I am volunteering with The Edith Wilkins Street Children Foundation in Darjeeling. Our fundraiser was a great success and I want to thank everyone, especially all my friends and the Tibet Relief Fund who helped so much.We raised 500GBP but gave 200GPB of that to the Yushu earthquake relief fund as so many Tibetan people in Jyekundo needed help !
We are continuing to raise money so every donation is welcome !!
Thank you so much : )A few months ago a Tibetan reporter interviewed Pujah about the project and it was shown on Chinese television.I am currently waiting on an English translation but for now this is the original Tibetan version.
The tragic news of flooding in Pakistan and Ladakh makes the reforestation of Tibet even more urgent !!
Please continue to support us and Trees for Tibet.

Documentary Trees for Tibet Part 2

2010-08-08T14:44:00.001+01:00

Documentary Trees for Tibet Part 1

2010-08-08T14:42:00.001+01:00

Trees for Tibet fundraiser London

2010-04-12T00:10:00.002+01:00

Donation from The Order of Bards Ovates and Druids

2010-01-21T18:36:00.003Z

I want to thank everyone at this organization, especially Maria who contacted me, for their extremely generous donation of 250GBP. I want to praise the work of organizations like this and Friends of the Trees, who go unnoticed but who have been the most generous and kind in their replies to me and support.Thank you.

A magical short film showing the importance of trees against climate change,

2010-01-17T22:01:00.009Z

The film is a magical tale about a young boy who finds the solution to Global Warming from a monk in the mountains.

The film was shot in the remote ice desert region of Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India (Bordering Tibet).The entire cast was from Kaaza, a small town in Spiti Valley. The film was made possible by Spitiecosphere, an NGO based out of Spiti.

The UN environment program picked up this film for their Billion Tree campaign.

The main intention of this film is to spread the message of how fast Global warming is impacting fragile ecosystems. Instead of choosing to spread the message in the form of a documentary, which has limited audience, we chose to make a fairy tale. To present the problem and a possible solution in the form of a fable which would appeal to people across age groups and countries.
http://enchantedlands.wordpress.com

Amazingly generous donation for Trees for Tibet !!

2009-11-16T20:52:00.004Z

I want to especially thank Paul and Fred from the Friends of the Trees organization who donated 346 GBP, it is so generous and I am really grateful. Please look at the work they do - http://www.friendsofthetrees.org.uk/links.html
Also Sam Winston who donated 100 GBP to plant trees in Tibet.He lives with my friend and made this donation the first time he ever met me ! Again I am in awe of his generosity and goodness because he believed in this cause and his belief in non attachment to money.
Iam still collecting donations but their donations will mean we have raised more than 1000GBP !!! More than I ever expected, so thank you very much again.

Tree Planting in Tibet- A poem by Jampa Dorje

2009-09-15T19:34:00.009+01:00

Hi I found this online and really liked it, it is a sad truth about the destruction of Tibet's trees and Tibetan peoples mission to replant them .Thought it was quite apt for the Trees for Tibet Project in Amdo.Also really well written !

http://www.dpress.net/newstable/dorje_tree_planting_in_tibet

Rounding up the donations

2009-09-02T20:13:00.004+01:00

Hi, now that I am back I need to start collecting all the sponsorship money for Trees for Tibet. When I do it will be at least £800 and Iam still waiting on more donations.
So will keep you posted on the amount. Thanks everyone.

Thanks to Paul Greenwood of 'Friends of the Trees 'who included details of out trek for Trees for Tibet in a letter to all their members.

2009-08-31T22:30:00.008+01:00

Dear Friends
We hope you and your most beloved trees are all OK in these strange and often difficult times. Our time has been disrupted too but the charity, unlike many others who have grown too quickly and face too many outgoing expenses, is safe and in better shape than ever.
We have to mention a sad truth, however, and that is most members have forgotten all about the annual membership fee and donations from supporters have been few. From one single generous donor in Germany we receive more per year than from all British members and supporters together. That's not an issue, however, we never wanted to hassle anybody. But, if some of you would like to….? And in the knowledge that our bank, Triodos of Bristol, England is currently the “World’s Most Sustainable Bank”?
A little more income could be quite crucial to further success in achieving our aims, objectives and supporting people like Fiona Sheahan; who is currently completing an 800km walk across northern Spain to raise money for planting trees in the Amdo region of Tibet. Replanting of 40,000 trees per year for the next 5 years is vital to combat desertification and land erosion threatening villages in the area. £1.00 buys 10 trees so the maths are simple. In 2006 Fiona helped the community, via fundraising in Ireland, in meeting that target. But it has been a struggle since, with villagers taking out loans to pay for the trees; money it’s difficult for them to repay.
We have already agreed a donation - but no amount as yet as we are awaiting further details in the next few weeks about the full extent of the needs of the community. If anyone wishes to donate directly contact
www.treesfortibetblogspot.com. If you don't have internet access: Barclays Bank, Acc Name : Fiona Catherine Sheahan, Acc no. - 43936686, Sort Code: 209655, IBAN- GB72 BARC 2096 5543 9366 86, BIC- BARCGB22. Alternatively, anyone thinking of making a donation to us too could save time by including some for Fiona and stating how much. Our total donation, including any received from members, will be decided at the Annual General Meeting on Sunday 4th October 2009 at Stroud in Gloucester and sent the week after.

Best wishes
Paul Greenwood, Secretary.

'Trees for Tibet' comes to Santiago

2009-08-31T20:43:00.004+01:00

The people who gave us the energy to walk 42km in one day ! !The last day of Trees for Tibet Trek

2009-08-31T20:13:00.013+01:00

After 800km we finally arrive in Santiago ! Trees for Tibet trek ends !!

2009-08-31T19:48:00.005+01:00

On the 26th August we finally arrived in Santiago de Compostela after a 42 km hike that day. We had only intended on walking 20 km but we met a great group of Spanish and Italians who willed us further and further, until the only right thing to do seemed to be to walk all the way to Santiago.It was exhausing and emotional to finally reach our destination and lay on the plaza looking at this amazing cathedral that we had seen only in pictures for so long. Its difficult to explain what one learns about oneself on a trek this long, with such intensity. Some things are empowering, others difficult to face. For me personally I know it brought up alot of emotional struggles but also a greater strength to learn from these struggles. Most people on this Camino that we continued to meet had alot of ghosts or pain in their past that they wished to heal. A very kind French priest that we met called Lionel said that for all pilgrims throughout the centuries the church told them that the real camino begins when you end this pilgrimage and go back to your daily life and hopefully take with you what you have learnt. I know I have made many mistakes in my life , as we all have, but heres to forgiving oneself !! It all sounds a bit corny but this camino defenitely gets one thinking.
I want to thank all the wonderful people we met on this trek who I know taught us alot in different ways, even if they dont realise it... Joan, Zoltan, James, Lewis, Real, Amalia, Raquel, Jose, Kimberlee, Johanna, Allissandro, Elena,Claudia,Feran, Heather, Ferruccio, Patxi, Jorge, Fatima and the many kind people we met along the way.

Suffering for the cause!!! Trees, Trees, Trees !!

2009-08-07T17:40:00.003+01:00

Long and winding road through the Meseta

2009-08-07T17:33:00.001+01:00

Gema and I in La Rioja

2009-08-07T17:25:00.001+01:00

Me and the amazing scenery of the Basque country

2009-08-07T17:16:00.002+01:00

We even found some Tibetan prayer flags attached to a cross in La Rioja.

2009-08-07T17:06:00.005+01:00

Trees for Tibet Trek continues....

2009-08-07T16:19:00.002+01:00

Hello, today is day 14 and we are in the village of Itero de la Vega, in the Meseta.We have passed through the Basque country where we were lucky enough to see a running of the bulls and meet some wonderful locals. Then it was through Naverra, La Rioja full of vineyards and now it is the Meseta. Many people warned us of this area, it is the Spanish flatlands with golden cornfield as far as the eye can see. It can get scorchingly hot and mercilessly provides no shade. But is is very beautiful with wild deers and an ever-changing light. Today we got up at 5am to walk in the fullmoon, it was very special. We have met some wonderful people on this trek from all over the World and the way everyone looks after each other has been one of the highlights of this trek Today an Austrian man I have never met performed a mini-surgery using a scissors on a blister of mine that had become infected, no questions asked ! Some days this trek has been very difficult, such a mental and physical challenge but amzingly rewarding at the end of each day when one reaches their destination, generally in pain and wrecked. A common discussion is around the question of why people are doing this, what is their main motivation and reason as it is clearly not a holiday in the conventional sense. For most it is an escape of some kind from daily life, personal problems etc. For me and Gema it is a fundraiser but undoubtedly time to sort out ones life and think about its direction.Hopefully by the time we arrive in Santiago we will have a few more answers.

Start of our Trees for Tibet Trek

2009-07-27T17:01:00.002+01:00

Hello, today was day 3 of our trek.Sorry I havent had internet access till now but cant load pictures up !! Sorry. The first day over the Pyrennes was absolutely stunning and ironically so like Tibet. Each day has been quite different with alpine forests, dry scrubland, lush grasslands and amzing mountain peaks. The walking is difficult and we have quite a few blisters ! Each day we wake up about 5am to race against the heat of the day and walk till about 5pm. The mornings are so so peaceful.We have met some great people from Venezuela, Italy, Ireland, Hungary, America, and Spain. We have told people about Trees for Tibet and they have been very interested. So far we have raised 850 pounds for this project!! Would be amazing to make the 1000 !! Again thanks to everyone for the support, it has been wonderful. I will put up pictures the first chance I get.

The Sheltering Tree of Interdependence A Buddhist Monk's Reflections on Ecological Responsibility The XIVth Dalai Lama

2009-07-23T22:38:00.001+01:00

This poem shows the extreme importance for Trees for Tibet project.
In the tree lie the roots
Of all life on earth
When it vanishes
The land exemplified by the name
Of the Jambu tree
Will remain no more
Than a dreary, desolate desert

Map of our Trees for Tibet Trek

2009-07-19T01:05:00.005+01:00

This is the route for our 800km trek, starting just over the French border and finishing in Santiago de Compostela in the West of Spain. We start walking on July 24th and finish on August 28th.So far we have raised 46o pounds , that is nearly 5000 trees!! Everybody has been so supportive of this project and I am really grateful. So please keep the donations coming.

Pujah, he is the organiser of the Trees for Tibet project.

2009-06-21T16:45:00.003+01:00

Pujah works very hard to stop the ongoing threat of desertification and the damage that it will cause to their village and way of life.

Villagers planting the trees

2009-06-21T16:28:00.003+01:00

Trees begin to reclaim the sand

2009-06-21T16:24:00.005+01:00

Newly planted saplings

2009-06-21T16:23:00.004+01:00

Planted trees 2007

2009-06-21T16:19:00.003+01:00

Trees for Tibet

2009-06-13T21:15:00.004+01:00

I have set up this blog with the hope to raise money to help the people of Lowah village in Amdo province, East Tibet. They live in an area called Mangra and 1000's of peoples livelihoods are effected by the increasing problem of desertification. Amdo is also an area which has maintained a very strong nomadic culture. This way of life is under threat by new Chinese law and if the nomads grasslands are also destroyed by the desertification they will be forced from their land in to Chinese cities. This sadly will help contribute to the death of a proud and unique way of life.Since 2002 Pujah and the villagers have taken it upon themselves to save the grasslands by buying and planting approximately 40,000 trees each year. Financially this is a huge struggle and Pujah is forced to take out bank loans which are a tremendous burden to pay. Sadly the family are often forced to sell their livestock to do so.

Since the 1949 occupation of Tibet up to 50% of its forests have been needlessly destroyed which has led to the desert area of Tibet expanding to 500,000km sq in the past 35 years. 1,000,000 people are dependent on these grasslands for survival as well as numerous species of wildlife and their habitats. This deforestation has led to increased sediment in the rivers and as 10 of Asias major rivers are sourced in Tibet eg Yangtze, Brahmaputra, this causes major environmental problems.Major flooding in the Bay of Bengal has neen attributed to deforestation in Tibet.

The Tibetan people need to be listened to and given power to protect their grasslands, environment and culture. The Chinese Governments plans to resettle chinese people in Tibetan areas has led to over farming and increased desertification as they have no knowledge of the grasslands.

This is why Pujah and his fellow villagers need to be supported and given the power to decide their own fate as Tibetan people. Please sponsor me and Gema on our 800km trek along the El Camino pilgrimage route through the North of Spain so we can raise enough money to help these villagers fight to survive in their own land.