Recent Falun Gong Events: “I'm Glad to Finally Learn the Real Story”

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Recent Falun Gong Events: “I'm Glad to Finally Learn the Real Story”

October 01, 2016 |

(Minghui.org) Practitioners of Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) around the world have held public events for more than a decade to raise awareness and call for help to end the brutal persecution in China.

Meanwhile, practitioners also hold free workshops, seminars, and other events to introduce this ancient Chinese cultivation practice to the public. More and more people have begun practicing the exercises and noticed improvements in their health and lives.

This newsletter covers 13 events that took place in Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania in the last few weeks.

Malaysia

Falun Gong practitioners in Malaysia were invited for a community celebration of Mid-Autumn Festival, one of the most important holidays in Asian culture, in Pulau Pinnang on September 15 and 16.

The Falun Gong group, consisting of the Tian Guo Marching Band, lantern team, “celestial maiden” team, dragon dance team, waist drum team, and exercise demonstration team, performed in two parades two days, one in Sunway Tunas town and the other in an area with dense Chinese population.

Falun Gong entry in the parade in Sunway Tunas town.Falun Gong entry in the second parade.

Falun Gong performances were warmly welcomed by the Chinese spectators.

Mr. Ma Zhenyao, a local citizen, was amazed by the beauty of Falun Gong. He told a practitioner that he obtained Falun Gong books in 2005 and thought about joining the practice, but the Communist Party's propaganda scared him off.

Today, he saw what Falun Gong really is. “I don't believe what the Communist Party says anymore,” he said. “This is the first time I saw Falun Gong. I had a major misunderstanding about Falun Gong, but now I am glad I finally got to meet this group and learn the real story. I am so excited!”

Mr. Ma went back to his house, which was near the starting point of the parade, and found the Falun Gong books he got 11 years ago, then came back to practitioners. “I will start practicing Falun Gong,” he said.

Ma Zhenyao holds up the Falun Gong book that he got 11 years ago.

The organizers of the parade thanked practitioners for their contribution to the celebration and took a photo with practitioners.

Turkey

Practitioners from Istanbul, Turkey, held a cultivation experience sharing conference on September 18 and a series of activities before the conference to raise awareness of the persecution.

Two TV stations and a national newspaper covered practitioners' peaceful protest in front of the Chinese embassy.

Demonstrating the exercises

Collecting signatures condemning the persecution.

Protesting in front of the Chinese embassy

Candlelight vigil at Besiktas Square commemorating those who were tortured to death in the persecution.

Canada

During the Chinese Premier's short visit to Vancouver on September 26, local practitioners held banners in front of the Chinese consulate, calling upon the current Chinese leader to bring the former dictator Jiang Zemin to justice for his crimes in persecuting Falun Gong.

The peaceful protest went to from 10 am to 7 pm on the 26^th. Many Western and Chinese passersby encouraged practitioners and expressed their support.

Practitioner Zhang Chunyu (left), whose mother and sister were imprisoned in China, said that the pressure from the international community is very important, for it has lessened the persecution in China.

On the campus of the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, practitioners participated in the orientation week, introducing Falun Gong to the students and faculty, and exposing the brutal persecution.

During the event, 1450 students and faculty members signed practitioners' petition to condemn the persecution, and nearly 100 Chinese students withdrew their memberships in the Communist Party with practitioners' help.

Demonstrating Falun Gong exercises on campus

Canadian students sign a petition to support Falun Gong.

U.S.A.

On the campus of the University of Delaware, local practitioners participated in “Newark Community Day” on September 18. This multi-cultural event attracted people from Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey. Practitioners demonstrated and taught the exercises.

Falun Gong booth at Newark Community DayDemonstrating the Falun Gong exercisesA young festival-goer learns the Falun Gong exercises.

Northern Ireland

Practitioners from Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, was invited to the “Youth4Peace” event at the city hall. Practitioners introduced Falun Gong to the attendees and told them about the persecution.

Mayor Brian Kingston talks with practitioners, and accepted flyers and a glass lotus flower from them.

Deputy mayor Mary Ellen Campbell heard about the state-sanctioned organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners in China. She hopes the persecution will end soon.

Martin Magill, the parish priest, learns Falun Gong exercises.

Darren Ferguson, the organizer of the event, thanked the practitioners for participating and invited them to attend future events. “The persecution of Falun Gong in China is really unbelievable,” he said.

Wales

The campus Falun Gong club, founded in 2014, participated in the “Fresher Fair” orientation even at Swansea University from September 26 to 28.

Many Chinese students talked to practitioners and encouraged them to keep up the good work. “We don't believe the communist party's propaganda,” a Chinese said. “I and my friends have read some Falun Gong books, and we know Falun Gong is great.”

Nearly 1000 people signed the petition at the Falun Gong booth, calling for an end to the persecution.

U.K.

Practitioners in Bristol, U.K., had a similar experience with the Chinese students at the “Fresher Fair” on the campus of University of Bristol on September 23.

Falun Gong booth at the orientation.

83-year old practitioner Vicky (right) and her friends introduce Falun Gong to new students.

Scotland

Practitioners from Dundee, Scotland, held a signature collection in downtown on September 17, calling for help to stop the persecution.

People sign the petition to support Falun Gong.

Two students from a local college were shocked by the brutality of the persecution. They signed the petition. One of them, who is a member of Amnesty International, invited practitioners to screen the documentary Hard to Believe, which exposes the forced organ harvesting atrocities in China.

Slovenia

Practitioners from Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, held a similar signature collection in the downtown area on September 25.

People sign a petition at the Falun Gong booth.

Portugal

In Albufeira, a famous tourist city in Portugal, practitioners demonstrated the exercises and collected signatures every weekend for the entire summer. The following pictures were taken on September 17.

Demonstrating the exercises

Signature collection

Germany

In Aachen, Germany, practitioners collected signatures at the Aktionstag der Aachener Vereine (Aachen Organization Action Day) on September 25.

Passing out flyersSigning the petition

Australia

In Sydney, practitioners participated in the “Global Synchronized Meditation for Peace” event held for the “World Peace Day” last Sunday at Prince Alfred Park.

The peacefulness of the Falun Gong exercises attracted many people to join.

Falun Gong sitting meditation

Monalisa (left 1), a local biologist, learns the exercises.

Bernadette (right) asks about joining an exercise site to learn the exercises.