Kalon Tsering Dhondup, the Finance Minister of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), spent two weeks touring North America early in September, and was welcomed by the Tibetan community in Minesota to their celebration for the 54th Tibetan Democracy Day on September 2
He was in America to raise awareness at grass-roots level of the Kashag’s (or CTA Cabinet) Middle-Way Approach, and to promote it to the Tibetan community there. He spoke to them about the evolution and achievements of the policy, and also took the opportunity to underline the responsibility of the older generation to teach traditional culture and values to their children, and to tell them of the debt of gratitude of all Tibetans in exile to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
The Kalon spoke of Kashag’s concern over the Chatrel (annual voluntary contribution) and about the plans to institute easier ways to reduce the problems faced by Tibetans regarding Green Book application procedures. The Green Book has over the years effectively become the passport of exiled Tibetans, allowing them to claim their rights from the CTA, and will in future become a requirement to claim Tibetan citizenship. He urged everyone to contribute to the Green Book.
The Finance Kalon toured America and Canada from August 24 to September 7, visiting Portland, San Francisco, Madison, Chicago, New York and Toronto. He was accompanied by Ngawang Yonten from the Office of Tibet, Washington, DC.