LONG BEACH - In celebration of the organization's 50th anniversary, Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) will host a ceremony to honor His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, with the first-ever "Shine a Light on Human Rights" award.The ceremony will begin at 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday, May 4, in the Carpenter Performing Arts Center at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). His Holiness the Dalai Lama will deliver a keynote address during the ceremony and answer questions from AIUSA student leaders and activists. "We are privileged to celebrate Amnesty International's 50th anniversary by honoring one of the most influential figures today," said Larry Cox, executive director of Amnesty International USA. "His Holiness the Dali Lama is the quintessential embodiment of human rights and a testament to the power of the individual spirit." Cox and three AIUSA student activists will present the award to His Holiness, a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, in honor of his lifelong commitment to human rights. In commemoration of Amnesty International's anniversary, a short film highlighting the organization's work on human rights around the world will be screened. The award ceremony will conclude with a human rights fair on the outdoor patio of the Carpenter Center, where Amnesty International members and other activists may take action on a variety of human rights issues and challenges. "After hearing inspirational words from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, attendees will be inspired to make a difference in moving human rights forward globally," said Rini Chakraborty, AIUSA Western regional director. Tickets for the ceremony are available for $45 for general admission and $30 for students. For more information, visit the website at www.amnestyusa.org/dalailama. Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 3 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.

********** Published: April 28, 2011 - Volume 10 - Issue 2