Washington, D.C., May 25 – The deadline for issuing the world’s first official license plate honoring the people of Tibet is drawing near — and drawing interest in this historic event from around the world.
The announcement of the state of Virginia’s new “Friends of Tibet” special license plate was greeted with excitement by hundreds of Tibetans and friends of Tibet in the Washington, DC area in April 2004. The deadline for collecting the minimum number of orders for this historic plate is June 2005, and the people behind this move are hopeful of reaching their goal.
Landmark legislation passed by a bipartisan coalition of legislators in Virginia’s General Assembly made it possible for Virginia to be the very first state in the U.S. to issue these specially designed license plates. Virginians were justifiably proud of this tremendous opportunity to show the world they care about the plight of these refugees and their threatened culture.
Karma Zurkhang, president of the Capital Area Tibetan Association, whose group has spearheaded the effort so far, says, “It is a new way to tell the world about Tibet,” says Zurkhang. “Just one car is seen by hundreds every day, thousands every week. So this, I think, would be a very effective way to raise awareness.”
The little license plate that could…?
How can a little license plate mean so much? “This is a wonderful country, which has given us the freedom our brothers and sisters in Tibet do not have. Here, we can speak out — and all America can hear us. This is not true in our homeland.”
“But even more important,” Zurkhang emphasizes, “is that we can speak out freely here, unlike Tibet — so we must.”
Speaking out is just what they’ve been doing — using the latest tool of democracy: e-mail.
In the past few days, friends and Tibet supporters from across the country have been furiously e-mailing each other, passing along word of the little license plate — and imploring their friends in Virginia to sign up for the special plates, proceeds from which will go directly to helping Tibetan refugees.
“We’re thrilled that so many friends and supporters around the country are taking an interest in this,” says Greg Kruglak, whose group, the Conservancy for Tibetan Art & Culture, helped sponsor the legislation making the plates possible. “We’re hoping that enough Virginians will respond to their plea — and help our Tibetan friends out.”
“Many Americans have a special place in their hearts for Tibet and all things Tibetan — especially His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” Kruglak continues. “We’re hearing from people all across the country who want to do the same thing.”
“A lot of people are counting on us to prove that it can be done here in Virginia,” concludes Kruglak.
Does the Dalai Lama Drive?
Long-time Tibet supporter Grace Spring wishes she could help by signing up to get a Friends of Tibet plate for her own car, but she lives in Maryland.
Spring, who’s famous for her steadfast vigil on behalf of the Tibetan cause, showing up at the Chinese embassy nearly every Friday for almost 15 years, will be happy to settle for a souvenir Friends of Tibet plate — if the regular plates are ever printed by Virginia’s DMV.
“Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could give one to His Holiness when he comes here to visit next fall?,” Grace asks. “I mean, I don’t think His Holiness needs one,” she admits with a tender look, “but I’m sure he’d be thrilled to see that Virginians cared enough to help his fellow exiled Tibetans.”
Right now, Grace, and others like her around the world whose hearts have been touched by the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan cause, will have to wait to see if enough Virginians step forward at the last minute to salvage the dream of this small but determined band of refugees.
In the meantime, their hopes hinge on a little license plate — and the Virginians who are ready to stand with them, as Friends of Tibet.
“It’s little thing,” Grace acknowledges, “but it might make a big difference for our Tibetan friends.”
To learn more about their campaign, or download an application form for the license plate, go to http://www.savetibet.org/documents/document.php?id=100
To read more about how the license plate campaign began, go to “Driving Home Support for Tibet: DC area Tibetans launch historic license plate“.
