The Dalai Lama's joy was obvious to those who had the pleasure of listening to him. He moved and inspired us all.

He spoke of love and compassion, and each person's desire and right to happiness. He spoke of nonviolence as a means for the human family to solve its problems. He spoke lovingly of his homeland---Tibet, and the role China is playing in Tibet. He called for dialogue with the Chinese Government in solving the Tibetan/Chinese problem.

His speech gave us all hope for the future.

As His Holiness spoke, I thought of my own homeland---Northern Ireland. There was much he was saying which applied very definitely to my own area of the World. For 25 years the bitter conflict raged---taking the lives of thousands of people---until it was finally admitted that military and paramilitary actions---together with their attendant culture of abuse of human rights---were creating a never ending circle of violence and counter violence. Finally, it was admitted that the stalemate created by the violence had got to be broken, and this could only come about by all inclusive dialogue. We in Northern Ireland are still working towards solving our problems. The first steps in admitting that our deep ethnic/political problems cannot be solved by violence, and we are all part of the problem and therefore part of the solution, are important achievements in our evolving nonviolence culture. We have a long way to go but hopefully we are moving in the right direction.

The Tibetan/Chinese problem is different from Northern Ireland, but there are many similarities. Perhaps the most important similarity is the recognition that dialogue is a necessary pre-requisite to an acceptable solution to the Tibetan/Chinese problem. The Dalai Lama has consistently offered to speak to the Chinese Authorities to help bring about a solution suitable to all involved. Is it not time now for the Chinese Authorities to listen to the plea of the world for dialogue to begin to solve this ongoing problem.

For too long the World was divided into East and West, and through lack of communication in the past, we have become unskilled in learning to listen to and respect each other, and our problems. But we need to learn these skills now and learn them quickly. Many of our problems can no longer be solved nationally, but will have to be solved at an international level. Let us continue, and increase, our efforts to solve humanity's problems together and by nonviolent means.

Our Chinese brothers and sisters would---I am sure---wish their Government to enter into a "spirit" of peace and reconciliation with the Tibetan people and the first step to this is listening to and talking with Tibetans.

As we enter the third millennium, we are seeing deep conflicts, rooted in history, beginning to be solved by peaceful means: Northern Ireland, the Middle East, East Timor. Can we soon add Tibet to this list of countries seeking peace through dialogue? I am hopeful that we can.

Finally, I---like the Dalai Lama---believe that everyone has a right to happiness and that the Tibetan and Chinese peoples have that right. I hope therefore that the Dalai Lama's offer to have "friendly and constructive" talks with the Chinese Government will be taken up soon, and peace and happiness will begin to blossom between these brothers and sisters."

Mairead Maguire
Nobel Peace Laureate
20th February 1997

May the 100 Voices for a FREE TIBET be heard and help bring about peace, freedom and happiness for Tibet and Tibetans !

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