1997 March Info | 1997 March Home

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The walkers have spent the last week traversing the hills and valleys along the Susquehanna River. Even occasional rain hasn't spoiled the beautiful scenery in this part of the country. To date the march has covered 377 miles.

This morning Tenpa was interviewed by Voice of America. It was the second interview that has been conducted since the march began and arrangements have been made to do many more before the march ends on June 14th. After getting off the phone Tenpa said, "It's good to know that the Tibetans in Tibet know about what we are doing. It's important that they know they have support outside Tibet."

About one month before the march began, the members of ITIM were beginning to find themselves drowning in paperwork and overwhelmed by envelopes to be stuffed when Radha Friedman, a student from Antioch College, appeared, ready for an internship. Now that school is out and all the envelopes have been mailed (well, almost all of them) she finally ge is on the walk! And, no, she isn't really with the CIA.

Today the wind was really blowing, rain threatened on and off, and semi trucks roaring by kicked up dust and small rocks creating a sort of chaotic feeling for the day.

With the change in the season and the weather getting warmer the walkers are making frequent water stops. 'Little Krishna,' the blue mini-van, has faithfully been the support vehicle for the walk always staying close to the marchers and providing water, bathroom runs, and a place to rest when needed.

After walking ten miles the marchers return to their temporary home, The Universalist Unitarian Church of Towanda, Pennsylvania, and begin to cook dinner. To date the marchers have stayed in five Unitarian churches. This particular church is over 160 years old, and despite it's current state of disrepair, the marchers have become quite fond of the place and are grateful to the small but thoughtful congregation.

Everybody takes turns helping to cook dinner. Pema Dorjee fries bread on the new stove bought by the congregation so that the walkers would be able to cook their meals at the church.

Radha creates a black bean masterpiece out of yesterday's lunch leftovers.

While some cook others pray and take naps.

The old church has no hot water, so water is heated in pans on the stove for the washing of dishes and the washing of faces.

Upstairs in the sanctuary some walkers find a peaceful place to sleep.

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1997 March Info | 1997 March Home

International Tibet Independence Movement
PO Box 592 Fishers, Indiana 46038-0592 United States
e-mail: rangzen@aol.com