Tibetans Burn Fur to Protect Animals & Show Loyalty to The Dalai-Lama

If they CAN, why CAN'T we?

This powerful video recently* received from Tibet shows a dramatic scene from early 2006 in Machu County in Amdo, eastern Tibet. Thousands of Tibetans, mostly nomads can be seen making religious offerings for the protection of wildlife, praying for the Dalai Lama’s long life, and jubilantly discarding animal pelts into a massive bonfire while screaming “Long live the Dalai Lama” and “Victory to Tibet!”

The burning of animal fur, some of which had the monetary value equivalent to a car, was carried out in response to a statement by the Dalai Lama in which he said he felt “ashamed” when he saw Tibetans wearing the pelts of endangered animals such as tigers or leopards.

Within days of the Dalai Lama’s appeal, tens of thousands of Tibetans from across Tibet held massive gatherings where animal skin hats, shirts and Chubas were thrown into large bonfires.

For background information on the 2006 fur burning campaign and analysis on how wearing exotic pelts is not part of traditional Tibetan culture, read “Burning the animal skin, revolution sparked in Tibet.”

Since 2006, Tibetans in Tibet have consistently shunned the practice of wearing clothing decorated with furs. In many cases Tibetans are ordered to wear expensive furs during traditional festivals to provide tourists with an image of Tibetan culture that conforms to Chinese stereotypes. In a dramatic assertion of Tibetan identity, this state sponsored re-invention of Tibetan culture has been rejected by Tibetans.

Many Tibetans across Tibet are engaging in a self-reliance movement by taking concrete, sustainable actions as part of Tibet’s Lhakar or “White Wednesday” movement.

For more on Tibet’s Lhakar movement, go to:http://lhakar.org