April 13, 2007 Dharamsala, India
The Staff Mess at the hub of the Central Tibetan Administration has struck non-vegetarian foods off its menu for one year. (from April 11, 2007 until February 2, 2008)
According to Tibet.net - "The initiative is based on a directive from the Kashag (the apex executive body of Central Tibetan Administration) Secretariat, which in turn is said to have been acting on the suggestions put up by a great many of civil servants, given the particular significance of this year."
However on March 17, 2007, a month before the announcement, the activists of Tibetan Volunteers for Animals group (TVA) launched a two days signature campaign to stop meat at the Staff Mess as a meritorious act for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the year 2007 is both auspicious and ominous, particularly for His Holiness according to Tibetan Astrology.
TVA collected signatures from Tibetan politicians, CTA staffs, NGOs and many others. We received a total of 262 signatures in support of stopping meat at the staff mess for one year and a total of 231 signatures in support of stopping meat indefinitely. The signatures were then submitted to the Department of Finance along with an appeal letter on March 18, 2007. A copy of the letter was also submitted to Kashag's office on the same day. (The staff mess is under the Department of Finance)
TVA will be organizing prayer gatherings at various Tibetan Settlements in India and will urge Tibetans to perform meritorious acts like releasing animals and refraining from any act that involves cruelty, like eating meat; for the Long Life of His Holiness and for saving the lives of innocent animals.
In a statement on March 14, Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche urged the Tibetans in and outside Tibet to perform meritorious acts and pray for the long life of His Holiness.
TVA welcomes Kashag's decision of turning the CTA staff mess into vegetarian. We thank Kashag Secretariat for his noble efforts.
"If we don't buy they don't die.."