Tibet Initiative Deutschland (TID) was established 1989 in response to the public uprisings in Tibet that were forcibly put down by the Chinese government. TID is an independent non-governmental and non-profit organization based in Berlin, Germany, and an active member of the International Tibet Network.

Since its founding, TID has been fighting for the Tibetan people’s right to self-determination and the protection of their human rights and democratic freedom. Through non-violent means, TID works to pressure the Chinese government  to end arbitrary arrests, torture, and political, religious and cultural oppression in Tibet.

In 2008 TID and the local Tibetan community organised a solidarity rally for Tibet on the occasion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit to Berlin. Twenty-five thousand people assembled at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate to show their support for and solidarity with the Tibetan people and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It was a massive and most impressive show of public support for and solidarity with the non-violent freedom struggle of the Tibetan people. No message to the Chinese government as well as to the German government could have been clearer and stronger than this peaceful gathering of thousands of free citizens for a common purpose and with a common message on Tibet. At the rally His Holiness said,

I always say, Tibetan issue is just issue, a moral issue and people who support that issue, are not pro-Tibetan or anti-China but rather pro-justice…..   This century should be the century of dialogue….  any problem have to be solved not by using force….

In 1996 TID established a day of action to fly a Tibetan flag on 10 March every year. Now in it’s 19th year ‘Flying the Flag for Tibet’ attracts a great wealth of support with over 1200 cities and towns across Germany raising a Tibetan flag. For more information about the ‘Fly the Flag for Tibet’ campaign and to see the towns and cities that take part visit http://www.tibet-flagge.de

For the occasion of the 80th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, TID is organizing a wide range of public events such as public talks, vigils, art performances, film screenings and more. For more information please visit: www.tibet-initiative.de