LONDON, July 9 - The 70th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama was marked here today with graceful performances by the Tibetan Community Dance Group, Tashi Lhunpo monks and release by Tibetan and English children of 70 colourful balloons labelled ‘Keep Tibet Alive' into the London sky. However, because of the vicious bomb attacks in London on Thursday, the planned outside performance was cancelled and a minute's silence was observed in the Westminster Cathedral Hall as a mark of respect to all the victims of the tragedy.

The portrait of the Tibetan spiritual and temporal leader was enthronement to the accompaniment of religious music and procession by seven monks from the re-established Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in South India. The Tashi Lhunpo monks, who are currently in UK on a performing tour also lead the long life prayers as Mrs. Kesang Y. Takla, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and the Tibetans and their children in traditional dress and others filed pass the stage to offer scarves to His Holiness' portrait.

Speaking on this special Tibet Day organised by the Office of Tibet, the Tibet Society and the Tibetan Community in Britain, the Chief Guest, Mr. Riki Hyde-Chambers, highlighted how His Holiness' decades long message on interdependence and the sameness of human beings is relevant even to our today's world.

“His words could not be more relevant for us today with the G8 discussing poverty reduction and the environment against the background of the terrorist attack on London,” said Mr. Riki Hyde-Chambers, who first met His Holiness in 1973 when he was a member of the Organising Committee for the Tibetan leader's first visit then to UK.

Mr. Hyde-Chambers also gave some background of China's occupation of Tibet and shared with the audience, among whom some had come from outside London, his personal observations over the years of how His Holiness has been facing the challenge to lead the Tibetan nation in these difficult times.

“I have not found him to be a naive optimist and his own comments show clearly his pragmatic view but also the basis of his approach as he has said, ‘All my experience of the Chinese authorities have been that they lie but worse, when these lies are exposed they are not ashamed. On the other hand my basic belief is that human problems can only be solved through human contact'”, Mr. Hyde-Chambers added.

He said that the Tibetan Nobel Peace Laureate has not only succeeded in using his moral authority to encourage world leaders to put pressure on China to resolve the issue of Tibet, but also that he is a guiding force in the world.

“For the world His Holiness has shown that by acting on fundamental values supported by a strong inner spiritual life, motivated by a good heart, you can be a true force for good in the world in the midst of violence, cruelty and self-interested national politics,” said Mr. Hyde-Chambers, who two years back was awarded the Order of the British Empire and currently is the Chairperson of the Tibet Society and honorary adviser to the UK All Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet.

Mrs. Takla while informing about a photo exhibition on His Holiness taking place in the Scottish capital Edinburgh, also in her speech put His Holiness' leadership and contribution in the context of the Tibetan people as well as the people of the world at large.

“For the Tibetans it is a great joy and honour to have His Holiness as our political and spiritual leader. We are also very privileged to know that His Holiness is guiding not only the Tibetan people but people all over the world from different stations of life who have somehow or the other benefited from the compassion and kindness of His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” said Mrs. Takla, who heads the Office of Tibet here.

She also mentioned how His Holiness in response to a question from the Voice of America had said that though he appreciated the worldwide celebration of his birthday, the best birthday for him would be for people to be a compassionate and altruistic person.

“So this is the message from His Holiness and I hope that in the face of the terrible bombings that took place, obviously compassion and good heart is much more needed. I hope this advise His Holiness has given will leave us with the thought of trying to do the same”, Mrs. Takla said.

The programme ably conducted by Ms. Dickey Dakpa, Secretary of the Tibetan Community in Britain, concluded with the singing of the Tibetan national anthem, followed by the vote of thanks given by Tibet Society's Ms. Philippa Carrick, who also urged all those present to urge their members of parliament to sign the Early Day Motion (EDM) 505 tabled on 5 July 2005 by Mr. Harry Cohen, MP. This latest EDM while congratulating His Holiness on his 70th birthday, welcomes the talks held last week in Berne between his envoys and representatives of the Chinese government and called upon the British government to encourage China “to drop pre-conditions to substantive negotiations on Tibet's future status”.

Yesterday the Tibetan Community Dance Group of the Tibetan Community in Britain presented in the theatre of the International Students House, a most wonderful Tibetan cultural evening consisting of a series of traditional Tibetan music and dance. The ticketed event was filled to the capacity and all the performance, including those performed by children, received warm applause from the audience. Representative Mrs. Takla was invited on stage to present white traditional scarf to all the performers as a token of appreciation for all their hard work and sacrificing their Sundays for the last several months.

The last of a series of events here to celebrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama's 70th birthday will conclude on 14 July when the ongoing photo exhibition on His Holiness, organised by the Office of Tibet and the Tibetan Community in Britain, at Hoopers Gallery, will close with a talk on Compassion and a meditation workshop at 2.30 pm and the dismantling of the Sand Mandala created by the visting Tashi Lhunpo monks. There is no admission charge to see the photo and sand mandala exhibition. The talk on 14 July also is free and open to all.