Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, Dec 5: His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama met Forest Whitaker, the Academy Award-winning actor and UNESCO Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation, at the former residence in Dharamshala on Wednesday.
Speaking to the media after the audience, he said, “It’s a great opportunity to see him again. I met him before, but I was overwhelmed with feelings. Today, I wish him better health, long life, and love.” He further added, “I think he is a symbol of peace and also sitting amongst individuals trying to teach people about peace and overcoming peace.”
The meeting follows Whitaker’s engagement with Tibetan leadership the previous day, when he met with President of the Central Tibetan Administration, Penpa Tsering at the Kashag Secretariat in Gangchen Kyishong on Tuesday.
Forest Whitaker, a world-renowned actor, has long been a staunch advocate for peace-building and conflict resolution. As founder and president of the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative (WPDI), he has championed the Youth Peacemaker Network (YPN) and various educational programs in conflict-affected regions, including South Sudan, Uganda, and Mexico. In the United States, WPDI’s Conflict Resolution Education (CRE) program fosters leadership and cohesion among youth.
Designated as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Peace and Reconciliation in 2011 and later as UNESCO Special Envoy in 2014, Whitaker has consistently used his platform to promote dialogue and understanding. His recent film, For the Sake of Peace, screened during UNESCO events.
This is not the first time Whitaker and the Dalai Lama have crossed paths. Their previous interactions include a notable moment on July 4, 2015, when Whitaker introduced the Dalai Lama at the PeakMind Summit in California. In June 2017, Whitaker moderated a panel discussion on compassion in Minneapolis, featuring Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama.
