Free Tibet Gravy Train Hits The Buffers?

Has the career activist and big bucks taken over ‘Free Tibet, a Tibet related organization in England? Are people with no genuine knowledge of Tibet, its people or cause dominating to the extent that Tibetans are being discriminated against and denied any meaningful employment by that organization? Is its focus more on generating cash to fund the salaries of staff than activism in solidarity with Tibet’s true cause? These and other troubling questions come to mind when reading an article by Adele Wilde-Blavatsky  a former member of staff  at that organization  published today by the Tibet Telegraph Free Tibet Without Tibetans, No Thanks

This is the same group that refuses to support Tibetan independence, has for many years denied and been virtually silent and inactive on China’s forcible sterilizations of Tibetan women, while more recently according to @AnonymousTibet, has  been linking Tibetan self-immolations with membership and donation promotions upon its website. For too long has there been those who have callously carved a career upon the corpse of Tibet, indifferent to the struggle waged by Tibet’s people, more concerned with self-promotion, career advancement and salary. As awareness of this exposure by Adele Wilde Blavatsky increases no doubt the reported 20, 000 membership of this organization will be giving careful thought to renewing a subscription, that some must now be asking, does it fund a gravy train, rather than a dedicated campaign for Tibetan independence?

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tibettruth

A not-for-profit network of individuals who support justice, human rights and independence for the peoples of Tibet and East Turkestan. Based in a number of countries subscribers are actively engaged voluntarily and are wholly supportive and active on the issue of Tibetan independence. We are not a hierarchical organization, there are no offices, nor do we receive or pay salaries, we do not make money from merchandising sales, and rely upon the kindness of individual donors to finance ongoing research and campaigns.

Categories News Item, Tibet8 Comments

8 thoughts on “Free Tibet Gravy Train Hits The Buffers?”

  1. Interested to read this as in the past I have supported this organisation by donation and buying things from their shop… I must read Adele Wilde-Blavatsky

      1. I’ve just read the article… it’s quite shocking, isn’t it? I’ve posted a link to the article on facebook

      2. It is indeed and to think that good honest folks are funding that organization presumably thinking their money is directed towards activism rather than what seems to be a gravy train for a staff. Then there are the issues we mentioned which have long been a concern to many, namely that a few non Tibetans who run the group are refusing to support the very cause that Tibetans in Tibet are dying for. It is all very disappointing indeed, but needs exposure to that end Adele has done a very good service.

      3. Very disappointing indeed. I’m afraid that supporting Tibet has become rather fashionable which means people are sometimes doing it for the wrong reasons.

  2. The answer is yes, it has. Despite the fact I requested a detailed financial annual review of Free Tibet from Companies House and from the Free Tibet Board members none was forthcoming. They spend 250 000 on six staff salaries out of a budget of 500 000. For an NGO in London that is excessive especially when the organisation is so small. Most people in similar roles in London are earning between 20-30k per annum often for much larger charities. So do the maths, some people are earning huge amounts of money for actually doing very little.

    As for the lack of Tibetans in the organisation for the last few years, this is scandal. However, there does appear to be a policy of recruiting non-Tibetans who also have little to now prior interest or experience with Tibetans or the Tibet movement. What\’s also shocking is that people within the Tibet movement in the UK have been aware of this situation for a while since Stephanie Brigden took over a few years ago, yet none have been willing to go public on it for fear of showing a lack of unity. In fact, I was even warned by a non-Tibetan in the movement not to go public for that very reason.

  3. Your disclosure is of considerable importance, it also confirms what some friends in England have been reporting for some time now. Thanks for sharing and having the integrity to stand up and lift the lid on this.

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