Peace and placards greet Dalai Lama. 22/05/2008 London by
http://cesarharada.com There are certain things one expects to see when attending a public talk by the Dalai Lama.
Crowds of people, certainly, peppered by Tibetan flags, as you'd expect.
But also waiting for the Dalai Lama upon his visit to London's Royal Albert hall were not one but two sets of protesters, both with very different issues, united by their common anger with the Tibetan leader.
Accusations of religious intolerance, and claims that he tells lies about his homeland of Tibet were written on large banners, with passionate slogans battering the air from those pressed together on pavements.
But inside this famous venue, its dark red interiors complementing the traditional Buddhist robes, the banners, placards and chanting were a sharp contrast to the tranquillity washing over the audience.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7415623.stm