Dalai Lama begins UK tour

The Dalai Lama will begin a national tour of the UK today which will include an appearance alongside comedian Russell Brand.

The Tibetan spiritual leader will visit Manchester, Leeds and London during the eight-day visit which will see him pass on a message of non-violence, dialogue and universal responsibility.

The tour aims to spread the 76-year-old Buddhist's teachings of peace and understanding to youngsters and he will also appear with actor and comedian Brand at a youth event in Manchester tomorrow.

Brand will act as a master of ceremonies when the Dalai Lama addresses thousands of young people, giving a talk entitled Century of Dialogue - Stand up and Be the Change.

The Dalai Lama was born in a small village in north-eastern Tibet and at the age of two was recognised as the incarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso, and began his monastic education when he was six.

He was called upon to assume full political power over the people of Tibet at the age of 15 but was forced into exile in India after China invaded Tibet in 1949.

While in exile, he has worked to restore autonomy for Tibet within the People's Republic of China and maintained a non-violent approach to his people's struggle.

His visit to the UK will begin with a press conference in Manchester today.

He will then head to the Yorkshire International Business Convention, in Leeds, to talk about ethics in business.

The event on Saturday, at the MEN Arena, is free for those aged 25 and under, and £25 for everyone else.

More information on the visit is available at http://www.dalailama2012uk.org