News and Events from around the World -- October 3, 2005

Issued by Clearwisdom Net

Content


  • Thailand: Practitioners Hold Peaceful Appeal in front of the Chinese Embassy

  • United Kingdom: British Major at Edinburgh Art Exhibition Reveals Interference by Chinese Consulate in Scotland

  • Belgium: Falun Gong Practitioners Hold Anti-Torture Exhibition in Ghent

  • France: Activity at Place de la Porte Maillot Receives Warm Public Support


  • Thailand: Practitioners Hold Peaceful Appeal in front of the Chinese Embassy

    Practitioners gathered in front of the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok to call for an immediate end to the Chinese Communist Party's persecution of Falun Gong on the morning of October 1, 2005.


    Peaceful appeal in front of the Chinese Embassy

    Since Jiang Zemin's faction officially started suppressing Falun Gong on July 20, 1999, practitioners have been deprived of their freedoms of belief, expression and all rights ensured by the constitution. More than 2700 practitioners have died from the persecution. Countless practitioners have been imprisoned, tortured, and forced to leave home and become destitute due to the persecution. And the persecution continues today.

    The persecution of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance" is an attack on humanity's true nature. It tramples justice and human dignity. We call on all people to reach out and help. We call on world society to pay attention to the persecution that has been going on in China and help stop the killing.

    Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2005/10/2/111603.html


    United Kingdom: British Major at Edinburgh Art Exhibition Reveals Interference by Chinese Consulate in Scotland

    The internationally acclaimed "Truth-Compassion-Tolerance Art Exhibition" was held for one week during the famous Edinburgh "Fringe Festival" in August 2005.

    Major Brian Leishman, former organizer of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the Edinburgh Cavalcade, was among the first to tour the exhibition. Mr. Leishman commended the exhibition and expressed his recollection of the year when Falun Gong won the community prize for the first time at the Cavalcade. However it was not the prize he was remembering, but the despicable act of the Chinese consulate demanding Falun Gong's dismissal from the event. He was quite open about the fact that the new organizers have faced the same issue.

    By constantly interfering with even the smallest of events that Falun Gong practitioners participate in outside of China, the Chinese Communist Party has continually shown the world the kind of persecutory tactics it has used against practitioners of Falun Gong inside China for the last six years. Just as the art exhibition depicts the triumph of courage and kindness over the CCP's terrorism it also speaks volumes about the divine justice awaiting those who commit such brazen crimes. When this time comes, they will find themselves powerless to do anything about it.

    Major Leishman commented: "You clearly have an impressive collection to show, and if anyone ever wished to see a visual representation of man's inhumanity to man, it was graphically illustrated in your excellent exhibition. One can and must take comfort in the fact that in the end, rightness will always triumph over evil, wherever it occurs."

    Many people came to see the paintings over the course of the week. Quite a few people chose to be guided around the exhibition by practitioners, who gave detailed descriptions of the paintings and answered any questions. Some visitors were moved to tears.


    Awaiting the first visitors of the day


    Reminiscing over joyous parades with Major Leishman

    Here are just a few comments from the visitor's book:

    "I greatly admire the inner peace and grace of those brave men and women in China who are practitioners of Falun Gong. I recognize their tremendous inner discipline and refusal to give in to the powers of darkness. I am sincerely grateful to them for leading the rest of us toward a better, higher way." -- AW

    "Beautifully painted-Distressing images: May peace be forthcoming.

    Thank you for having the courage to show and speak the truth." -- A

    "A powerful journey of truth against all odds. My prayers go out to the strong people holding this truth. Thanks." -- J

    " ... It is something I will always remember as it made a big impression on me..." -- DA

    "Powerful images -- beautiful, serene, haunting, inspiring. I hope this movement gathers energy through understanding and tolerance..." -- D

    "Full of admiration for the courage shown by the followers of Falun Gong. [...] The abuse of power against innocent beings cannot be justified." -- SR

    "Heartbreaking to learn of such brutality. It is so appalling the atrocities that were done to these people... Very moving and powerful and exceptional pieces of art. Was aware of Falun Gong but did not realize the torture these people went through..." -- KB

    "Incredibly emotionally hitting on issues I have never heard of. I think it's a very important issue to get across. Unbelievable." -- F

    "I'm moved, too moved to speak!! -- NP



    Belgium: Falun Gong Practitioners Hold Anti-Torture Exhibition in Ghent

    On Saturday, September 17th, Falun Gong practitioners from Belgium and Holland organized an anti-torture exhibition in Ghent to expose the brutal persecution of Falun Gong in China and to collect signatures to rescue orphans of Falun Gong practitioners who have been persecuted to death.

    Practitioners came to the site very early to set up the exhibition. Next to the exhibition, truth-clarifying materials in different languages were made available to people on a table. Before the setup was even completed, many local residents as well as tourists came to the site to find out what was going on. As the site is located at a T-intersection, there were many passersby. There were also a lot of people who spotted the exhibition afar and came to find out more.

    People were shocked by the ongoing brutal persecution against practitioners and found it was hard to understand why such a persecution could happen and have lasted so long. Many stood there quietly, listening to practitioners' explanation and reading information from posters and fliers. Most of them then came to the information table to sign a petition to rescue orphans of Falun Gong practitioners.


    The anti-torture exhibition


    People come to the site to learn more about the persecution


    People in succession came to sign a petition to rescue orphans of practitioners


    Some cyclists who would typically pass right through the intersection also made special stops to learn about the truth. A young girl came with her bike, standing quietly in front of the anti-torture exhibition for a while and then read the posters unfolded on the ground. Tears rolled down her face, and she signed her name on the petition.

    Practitioners cooperated very well during the one-day event. Some reenacted torture methods, some distributed truth-clarifying materials and clarified the truth to people face-to-face, some demonstrated the five sets of exercises. There were also some practitioners who made delicate paper lotus flowers and distributed them to children. The event successfully concluded at 6 p.m. A local TV station came and videotaped the event and interviewed practitioners.

    Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2005/9/26/111265.html


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    France: Activity at Place de la Porte Maillot Receives Warm Public Support

    On September 24th, 2005, as part of a tour of Paris to let people know about Falun Gong, French Falun Gong practitioners went to Place de la Porte Maillot in the 17th district of west Paris.


    Falun Gong exercise demonstration

    Sign petition to support Falun Gong

    From the Place, the famous Eiffel Tower can be seen not far away in the south, while La D¨¦fense is nearby in the northwest. Palais des Congr¨¨s de Paris is also located here. Therefore, this location attracts many tourists from different places.

    Traditional-style Chinese music and a demonstration of the peaceful Falun Gong exercises attracted the attention of many passers-by. Leaflets about Falun Gong in different languages broke the language barrier and made it very easy for people from different countries to learn about the ongoing brutal persecution of Falun Gong in China. Many people signed the petition calling for an immediate end to the persecution. The tour planted the seeds of kindness in hearts of many people.


    One after another, people sign petition to support Falun Gong and oppose the persecution.

    During the activity we found out that a lot of people have already heard of Falun Gong. For example a gentleman said he didn't need the leaflet: "I knew Falun Gong a long time ago." He then signed his name to the petition to show his support. There was another gentleman who came to us to ask what Falun Gong is. A lady standing close to him immediately told him there are people practising Falun Gong in the park. They all got a positive impression of Falun Gong.

    Some people showed great interest in the Falun Gong exercises after seeing the demonstration. A lady said: "This exercise method can effectively open energy channels in the body, it's wonderful." After learning that Falun Gong is a practice of the Buddha school, a gentleman said with great pleasure: "A cultivation way in the Buddha school: it's great!"

    Kind-hearted people were very saddened when they heard about the ongoing brutal persecution of Falun Gong in China. They all condemned the evil actions of the Chinese Communist regime and showed their support for Falun Gong and their objection to the persecution by signing the petition. Some people, after signing the petition, said in Chinese, "Thank you." Others said, "I hope China will change one day."

    Chinese version available at http://minghui.org/mh/articles/2005/9/27/111283.html