Expressing grief over the loss of lives in the devastating flash floods in Leh and Pakistan, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama today said a concerted international endeavour was needed to preserve the ecology.
The Tibetan temporal head, who led a mass prayer service in Shimla for the victims of the recent flash floods in Leh and Pakistan, wildfires in Russia and mudslides in Drugchu in the traditional Tibetan province of Amdo said, "I have been deeply saddened by the loss of many lives and the destruction of property."
Calling for concerted international effort to think up ways to preserve the delicate ecology, he said, "According to experts the very unusual floods and the devastating fires in Russia are symptoms of a deeper malaise occurring due to unprecedented global warming and other environmental causes."
The Dalai Lama said, "I am also very sad that there has been a massive landslide in Drugchu (Chinese: Zhouqu) in the south-east of Kanlho, (Chinese: Gannan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu province in which many people have lost their lives. It is reported that this is one of the deadliest incidents in decades. I understand that Premier Wen Jiabao visited Zhouqu to oversee relief and rescue work."
The 17th Gyalwang Karmapa also joined the prayer service, which was attended by hundreds of Tibetans and sympathisers.
The prayer service held at the Main Tibetan Temple here was jointly organised by the Department of the Religion and Culture of the Central Tibetan Administration and the Central Executive Committee of Dhomey (Amdo) in Dharamsala.
The Kashag (Tibetan Parliament in exile) on Thursday issued an appeal to "all the Tibetan Monasteries, Co-operative Societies, Charitable Trusts, Private organisations and individuals across the world to give monetary and material contributions" through the organisation.
