Dharamshala — The Tibet Museum launched an exhibition entitled “Rivers of the Sky: Glaciers to Valleys” ahead of the COP29 summit, and Tibetan leader urged world leaders to discuss the Tibetan environment, rivers, glaciers and their impact on global climate change at the upcoming COP29 summit in Azerbaijan.
Deputy Speaker Dolma Tsering Teykhang of Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, accompanied by Secretary Karma Choeying, Department of Information and International Relations, Central Tibetan Administration inaugurated the exhibition titled " Rivers of the Sky: Glaciers to Valleys" at The Tibet Museum, DIIR, CTA, on November 8, 2024. This exhibition features an interactive map-story of Tibet’s seven major rivers and glacial sources.
Introducing the exhibition, Tenzin Topdhen, Director of the Tibet Museum, said, “We launched the Rivers of the Sky: Glaciers to Valleys exhibition ahead of the COP29 summit on November 11, 2024, because we wanted to urge world leaders attending COP29 to discuss Tibet's glaciers and rivers, which play a very important role in global climate change.”
“This exhibition presents seven major Tibetan rivers, which are sources of water for Asian countries. Tibetan rivers supply fresh water to China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan. Therefore, these rivers are very important, and it's vital that people and leaders around the world know the value of rivers and how to preserve them,” Director Topdhen added.
The Director said, ‘We also present the eco-friendly practices of Tibetan society, showing how Tibetans live in harmony with the environment and nature. The Tibetan government adopted the first Nature Protection Law in 1421, stating that Tibetans should protect and preserve the environment.’
Deputy Speaker Dolma Tsering said, “Tibetan rivers are important, but the Tibetan rivers that flow into the other ten Asian countries are even more important, because billions of people depend on them. Before talking about Tibetan rivers to others, we need to know them well. That's why I think the main Tibetan rivers are on display in the museum, so you can get to know them well.”
“Unfortunately, no matter how many COP summits are held, the importance of Tibet in terms of environment, climate and glaciers is not discussed. Since China invaded Tibet, the Chinese government has seriously destroyed the Tibetan environment and caused the melting of Tibet's main glaciers. As scientists confirm that the melting of Tibetan glaciers is linked to climate change in Europe and increased warming in Europe, and the Indian climate is closely linked to climate change in Tibet,” she added.
“As we are not represented at such a summit, we call upon world leaders, especially those directly concerned with the Tibetan environment and climate change, to discuss the Tibetan environment, rivers, glaciers and their impact on global climate change, as well as the protection of the Tibetan environment, at the upcoming COP29 summit in Azerbaijan,” said Deputy Speaker Dolma Tsering Teykhang of Tibetan Parliament-in-exile.
The exhibition presents seven major Tibetan rivers: Yarlung Tsangpo (Bramputra), Zachu (Mekong), Gyalmo Ngulchu (Salween River), Machu (Yellow River), Drichu (Yangtse), Singge Khabhab (Indus) and Langchen Khabab (Sutlej). The exhibition shows which rivers flow in which countries and how these rivers benefit people, agriculture and irrigation, water supply and electricity. It also shows how China built dams on the rivers and how this will affect the countries that depend on them.
The exhibition also featured more than 50 Tibetan environmental defenders who have been imprisoned, sentenced, killed or died in Chinese custody, and who have been persecuted by the Chinese government for protecting Tibet's environment, including Anya Sengdra, Karma Samdrup, Choekyab, Dorjee Dragtal, Kelsang Choklang, Kunga, Pema, Ngawa Yeshi, Choeyang Woser, Penpa Gyalpo, Dhongye, Tashi Gyatso, Tsultrim Nyendak, Karma, Khenrab, Rinchen Namdol,Tsultrim Gonpo, Rechung Rinpoche, Jangchup Ngodup, Sogru Abhu, Namsey, Gendu Soepa, Choesang, Bhende Dorjee, Tashi Tsering, Sonam Gyal, Dhargye, Shawo Tsering, Khamjam Gyal, Dukbhum Tsering, Wangche, Zom Che, Rinchen Samdrup, Chime Namgyal, Trinley Tsekar, Tselha, Pema Gyalpo, Babo, Ngawang Jampel, Kunchok Jinpa, Kunchok Drakpa, Tsewang, Nyingchak, Gyal-lo, Sonam Gyal, Takthar(kar) Gyal, Tenpa Gyatso, Tamdin Dorje, Tamdi Tsering, Choepa Tsering.
After the opening of the exhibition, the Tibet Museum also organised a talk by Padma Wangyal on planning trees in Tibet. Padma Wangyal talked about how he went to Tibet in 1987 and on the way to Tibet, at Dhartsedo, the border with China, he saw Chinese taking Tibetan timber in 16 trucks to China. When he visited Tibet again in 1989, he saw Chinese taking Tibetan timber in 100 trucks, and when he visited again in 1996, he saw 300 trucks taking Tibetan timber. He calculated the number of trucks in these three years only and then said that 20,160 Chinese trucks took Tibetan timber from Tibet to Chinese cities for their development and benefit, these timber mainly took from Kongpo region of southern Tibet and Kham, Amdo areas of Tibet.
Then he thought of planting trees in Tibet after seeing the Chinese cutting down large numbers of Tibetan trees and transporting so much Tibetan timber to Chinese cities. He then received financial support from His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Green Party in Germany, among others, and went to Tibet 10 times between 1987 and 2008, planting about 5,000 trees at Tsurphu Monastery, the seat of His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa, the head of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.
Padma Wangyal, born on July 1, 1948, in Kalimpong, West Bengal, India and moved to Germany in 1979 with his German wife, Magda, where he worked as an industrial baker. Driven by a deep connection to Tibet, he visited the region over ten times between 1987 and 2008. In 2000, he launched a tree plantation project at Tsurphu Monastery, the seat of His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa. His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Private Office provided funding for the project, while German President Johannes Rau planted a juniper tree in support that same year. After retiring, Padma served as the Khoryug Coordinator for monasteries in Nepal under the guidance of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa from 2009 to 2023 and contributed to earthquake relief efforts from 2015 to 2018.
