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Dalai Lama donates US$50,000 to typhoon victims

By Flor Wang | CNA

Exiled Tibetan leader, the Dalai Lama, presents a traditional Tibetan khata (scarf) to Cardinal Paul KS Shan of Taiwan’s Catholic church after their religious dialogue in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan, 2 September 2009.Reuters/Pichi Chuang/Taiwan

The Dalai Lama donated US$50,000 to Taiwan’s victims of Typhoon Morakot Wednesday through the office of Kaohsiung City Mayor Chen Chu, according to Kaohsiung City’s government.

The Tibetan leader made the donation during a lunch gathering with mayors and magistrates of five local governments in southern Taiwan and asked that the money be put into the bank account of the non-profit charity, United Way of Taiwan, the city government said in a press release.

The Dalai Lama also attached a brief letter to the monetary contribution, stressing that he is visiting Taiwan out of “humanitarian concern” and to give a helping hand to the victims of Typhoon Morakot, which caused widespread destruction in Taiwan from 7-10 August.

Chen, who was present at the gathering, gave a pair of bobble head dolls and bags of pineapple cakes to the Dalai Lama in appreciation for his love and care on behalf of Kaohsiung’s citizens.

The Dalai Lama in return gave her a small golden Buddha.

The exiled Tibetan leader arrived in Taiwan late 30 August for a six-day visit at the invitation of a seven heads of local governments controlled by the opposition Democratic Progressive Party.

Earlier Wednesday, the Dalai Lama held a dialogue with Cardinal Paul KS Shan in Kaohsiung City on the cultivation of spirituality and ethics, attracting an audience of more than 1,000 people.

He led around 12,000 people in mass prayers and Buddhist scripture chanting at the Kaohsiung Arena on Tuesday and also gave a speech that focused on human beings’ responsibilities in bringing about world peace.

The Dalai Lama arrived in Taipei later Wednesday after concluding his four-day visit in southern Taiwan. He is not expected to make any more public appearances before leaving Taiwan for his home in India on Friday.

This is the Dalai Lama’s third trip to Taiwan. He visited Taiwan in 1997 and 2001.

Copyright © 2009 Central News Agency

Published in Taiwan News