Germany: Falun Gong Wins Second Prize at Freimarktumzug Parade in Bremen (Photos)

By a practitioner from Bremen, Germany

(Clearwisdom.net) On October 22, 2011, Falun Gong practitioners in northern Germany participated in the annual Freimarktumzug (Free Market Parade) in Bremen, the second largest harbor city in Germany. Practitioners’ float won second price among the 147 participants.

The Divine Land Marching Band in Europe in the parade in Bremen

The Lotus Dance by the Celestial Maidens wowed the spectators The Falun Gong wins second prize in the parade

Closed to 200 thousand spectators watched the parade. On the morning of October 22, anxious spectators gathered on either side of Gastfeldstrasse waiting to see the parade. Beginning on Pappelstrasse, the parade followed Bürgerweide, Bruecke, and Obernstrasse, and ended at the train station in the center of the city. Falun Gong had the largest entry, which included the Divine Land Marching Band in Europe, the float, and the Celestial Maidens. Practitioners from England, France, Austria, and Switzerland came to Germany to help the local practitioners with the event and to help show the world the beauty of Falun Dafa. The practitioners’ contingent drew praise from the spectators all the way: “(The band’s) costumes are so pretty,” “I like the music,” “The Lotus Dance is amazing,” “This is terrific! Are you coming back next year?” “Could you give me one of the lotus flowers?” “How did such a large band travel to Bremen?” Many spectators inquired about Falun Gong.

At 4 p.m., the judges announced that Falun Gong had won the second prize and awarded the practitioners a certificate of merit.
Posting date: 10/27/2011
Category: Community Events
Chinese version available at
 http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2011/10/24/德國不來梅大遊行-法輪功團體獲獎（圖）-248252.html

Paris, France: Practitioners Expose the Chinese Communist Regime's Human Rights Atrocities (Photos)

By a practitioner in France

(Clearwisdom.net) October 10, 2011, was the 30^th anniversary of the abolition of the death penalty in France. Initiated by the French Together against the Death Penalty (ECPM), major French human rights organizations, including the Human Rights League (LDH), the French chapter of Amnesty International, International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the French chapter of the Christian Association for the Abolition of Torture (ACAT), and the World Coalition against the Death Penalty, cooperated to build an “abolishing the death penalty village” on the square in front of City Hall in Paris. The organizers issued a special invitation to the French Falun Dafa Association and the French division of The Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG) to expose the Chinese Communist regime's unprecedented brutal atrocities of harvesting organs from living practitioners. The chairman of the French Falun Dafa Association told Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe about Falun Gong and the brutal persecution of Falun Gong by the Chinese Communist regime.

The chairman of the French Falun Dafa Association talking to Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe

 

People Learning the truth about Falun Gong and the brutal persecution of Falun Gong by the Chinese Communist regime

Practitioners tell people about Falun Gong.

At 11:30 a.m., the Mayor of Paris went to the village to listen to the introductory remarks of the participating groups. After seeing the organizer's exhibition, the Mayor paid his first visit to the exhibition by CIPFG and the French Falun Dafa Association. Chairman Hanlong Tang of the French Falun Dafa Association talked to the mayor about Falun Gong and the brutal persecution. He presented the mayor with pertinent information, including the legislative proposal signed by dozens of French Parliament members protesting organ transplant tourism. The proposal specifically mentioned the case of the Chinese Communist regime's organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners and the investigative report on organ harvesting by the renowned Canadian human rights lawyer David Matas and former Canadian Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs David Kilgour. The mayor said that he has always been for human rights in China.

In his speech to the public, Mr. Tang said, “I thank the director of ECPM, Raphael, for inviting us here to make public the Chinese Communist regime's persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, especially the atrocity of the regime's organ harvesting from living practitioners.” He condemned the Chinese Communist regime's persecution of democracy activists, religious figures, and human rights activists. In particular, he pointed out that, according to the independent investigative report by two Canadians, tens of thousands Falun Gong practitioners have been murdered by the Chinese Communist regime through organ harvesting, which is even more brutal.

The director of ECPM, Raphael Chenuil-Hazan, invited the groups being persecuted in China to attend this event. He said in the interview, “It is totally unacceptable that, in this day and time, protesters and dissidents are being killed, sentenced to death, and their organs harvested.”

Many people from all walks of life visited the Falun Gong exhibition during the day-long activity. After learning the facts, people expressed their strong condemnation of the Chinese Communist regime's brutal persecution. Many of them signed the petition to show their support for practitioners' efforts to end the persecution.

Posting date: 10/23/2011
Category: Community Events
Chinese version available at
 http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2011/10/12/法轮功学员在法国人权活动上揭中共罪行（图）-247803.html

Japan: Falun Dafa Experience Sharing Conference Held in Tokyo (Photos)

(Clearwisdom.net) The Falun Dafa Cultivation Experience Sharing Conference in Japan was successfully held in Tokyo on October 23, 2011. Eighteen practitioners gave speeches at the conference.

Conference hall

Experience sharing

Mr. Chai and Ms. Ma, who obtained the Fa in 2007 and 2008 respectively, told how they and their families have benefited from practicing Falun Gong. After seeing the positive changes in them their family members became supportive of Falun Gong.

Ms. Lei and Mr. Li from Tokyo shared their experiences of clarifying the truth to people from all walks of life in Japanese society. Ms. Lei has spent a lot of time talking to government officials. She has printed out materials and held press conferences. She, together with local practitioners, presented The Art of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance exhibition in Tokyo. Mr. Li often passes out materials on the street. He shared his experiences of improving his xinxing and eliminating attachments while clarifying the truth. He said, “Passing out materials on the street is probably the best way to clarify the truth to people, face to face. I often remind myself to save people with compassion and righteous thoughts, and let them see the beauty of Dafa through my behavior.”

Ms. Hasegawa from Hiroshima shared her experiences of promoting the Shen Yun Performing Arts performances. She said that she had fears at first when talking to people about Shen Yun. She described how she gradually realized the importance of Shen Yun, and eliminated her fear. When her attachment was gone, many people accepted what she had to say, and bought tickets. She felt that the sentient beings are waiting for it, and all we have to do is to follow Master's arrangements.

Ms. Quan from Tokyo also shared her experiences of promoting the Shen Yun performance to clubs and associations. She described how she makes friends with members of these associations, and how she told them about traditional Chinese culture and Shen Yun. She said, “I read the Fa and do exercises every day. Each time before I go somewhere to promote Shen Yun, I send forth righteous thoughts at home for 30 minutes. With strong righteous thoughts, things go smoothly. I have realized that every time I clarify the truth or promote Shen Yun, I need to overcome interference from the old forces and my own attachments and notions. Each time, I face a test of whether I believe in Master or not. When I follow Master's arrangement, the power of the Fa manifests.”

Ms. Yang from Osaka and Ms. Shen from Tochigi shared their experiences of making phone calls to China and convincing Chinese people to quit the communist party. Ms. Shen was jailed in China for two years due to the persecution of Falun Gong. She came to Japan in 2004, and started making phone calls to agents at the 610 Office and others who are involved in the persecution of Falun Gong. She said that the phone calls shock the evil people and help to rescue fellow practitioners.

Mizno, a young practitioner, read his experience sharing article in Chinese. He and his sister started practicing with their mother when they were very young. His mother teaches them by reading Hong Yin and Zhuan Falun in Chinese. They read the Fa and do exercises every day with their mother. They also help her to clarify the truth to their grandfather.

The conference successfully concluded at 5:00 p.m.

Posting date: 10/28/2011
Category: Experience Sharing Conferences
Chinese version available at
 http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2011/10/25/日本召开法轮大法修炼心得交流会（图）-248322.html

Japan: March Held in Tokyo Calling for an End to the Persecution of Falun Gong (Photos)

By Shao Ling from Tokyo Japan

(Clearwisdom.net) On the afternoon of October 22, 2011, Falun Dafa practitioners and supporters marched in Tokyo to raise awareness of the ongoing persecution in China and call for an end to the persecution.

Falun Gong march in Tokyo calling for the end to persecution in China

After a rainy morning, the weather turned bright around noon, leading more people and tourists to come out to the streets. The march started at Cedar Park in Shinjuku District and was led by the Divine Land Marching Band. A team of practitioners followed, demonstrating the Falun Dafa exercises. They were followed by an array of Falun Gong banners and signs calling for an end to the brutal persecution.

Many parade spectators asked for Falun Gong fliers. Some said they recognized Falun Gong because they had seen the group practicing the exercises in Ueno Park.

Many people who showed support expressed their concern for the safety of Chinese Falun Gong practitioners being persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party. Many encouraged the practitioners to continue their efforts, and condemned the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

People read fliers about Falun Gong and the persecution in China

When the march went through the Okubo area where many Chinese reside, some Chinese people stood along the street and watched the march quietly. As practitioners passed out fliers, they readily accepted them and began reading right away.

Practitioner Mr. Wu has participated in many Falun Gong events. He said the purpose of this march was to help more Japanese and Chinese people in Japan learn the truth and not be deceived by the CCP propaganda, so as to end the 12-year-long persecution of Falun Gong as soon as possible.

Posting date: 10/28/2011
Category: Community Events
Chinese version available at
 http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2011/10/26/日本法轮功学员举行反迫害游行（图）-248367.html

Versailles Palace Presents 400 Years of Furniture

An exhibit offers ideas for the future furnishing of the palace

By Renate Lilge-Stodieck
Epoch Times Staff 

The Hall of Mirrors, 246 feet in length and composed of 357 mirrors, is the most splendid and most famous hall of the Palace of Versailles, which is located west of Paris. The castle has 700 rooms, more than 2,000 windows, 1,250 fireplaces, and 67 stairca (Copyright EPV/C. Milet) 

 

The Versailles Palace, one of Europe’s grandest, presently hosts an exhibition showcasing 400 years of furniture and accoutrements—from the reign of Louis the XIV to the present. The palace is widely recognized as a gem among royal edifices.

 

Baron Roland de L'Espee, art historian, grew up with Versailles, became an art historian, and now, as president of the association "Friends of Versailles," is dedicated to preserving the palace, which is part of the UNESCO cultural heritage. (Courtesy of Roland de L'Espee)

 Baron Roland de L’Espée, since 2009 president of the association Friends of Versailles, sees himself responsible to keep the palace intact. The association was founded in 1907 to maintain the palace, given the danger that it was slated to being razed.

“I feel responsible as a landlord but not as an owner,” de L’Espée said.

Questioned as to what prompted him to assume this honorary position, he said: “I grew up with the Versailles heritage—my father was already a member of the Friends of Versailles, and I was accepted as a member in 1980.”

 

“The association realized that it would be for the sake of the association to retain me, an art historian who works in a well-respected company, knows all things pertaining to the history of the palace, and knows the curators and conservators whose knowledge is invaluable to preserve the art treasures and architectural integrity,” de L’Espée said.

“So, it became almost automatic for me to accept this position. Versailles is dear to my heart,” de L’Espée said.

The Younger Generation 

 

The palace, occupying more than 0.9 miles of grounds, was the model for many other 17th and 18th century European palaces. It has been part of the UNESCO cultural heritage since 1979. The palace and its fabulous gardens are open to visitors, as are other palaces in the park.

Although Versailles rates high on an international list of things to see, young people may not necessarily feel the urge to visit.

“Young people must first develop an open-door attitude toward history. I would like to open them a window to the art of the past,” the baron said. “Versailles is a very special place. It was the center of 17th and 18th century European art.

“It formed contemporary tastes in art development, painting, sculpture, furnishings, gardens, music, and theater and influenced culinary creations and court etiquette. Even the French language reached all over the continent.”

Versailles offers settings for conferences and lately summer courses for aspiring conservators. “These courses are open to young people who might live outside Paris and whose funds are limited.

“By attending these courses, young people can gain practical experiences and learn about the art and actually come into contact with colors, wood, marble, and how they need to be treated for long-term preservation. They get to know the world of the arts in a practical way, instead of an academic way,” de L’Espée said.

The Sun King 

 

Louis XIV, called the Sun King, reigned between 1643 and 1715. He enlarged Versailles into this imposing palace and made Versailles what it is today, a triumphal site. 

 

An exhibit at Versailles Palace presents furniture from four centuries to help determine how Versailles should be furnished in the future. (Copyright EPV, JM. Manai, C. Milet)

 

 The Hall of Mirrors is a prototype for all that represents splendor in European nobles’ palaces and castles.

“The Sun King grew up impoverished because all the nobles were against his father,” de L’Espée said.

“He made the palace into his center, and in the middle of it, he resided. Everything revolved around him—just like around the sun. But there was never enough money,” de L’Espée said.

 

The exhibit Four Centuries of Furniture Design opened last month. “The exhibit poses the question how the palace ought to be refurnished to keep the authenticity of the things,” de L’Espée said. 

 

All furnishings were sold following the French Revolution. “Many of the treasures were taken to other kings, especially to England, and many ended up in museums. Many were retained,” de L’Espée said.

 

The exhibit presents objects from 400 years’ of furniture production as well as the taste of the era. “We will afterwards more easily be able to answer the question how we want to furnish Versailles,” de L’Espée said.

The exhibit Four Centuries of Furniture Design runs through Dec. 11. www.ChateauVersailles.fr 

Manhattan Rally Supports Ending Chinese Communist Party

Li Dayong the Executive Director the Tuidang movement, which helps Chinese descendents quit the Chinese Communist party, speaks at a rally in Chinatown NY. Currently there have been over 100 million who have quit the party. (Dai Bing/The Epoch Times) 

 

NEW YORK—Hundreds gathered at Columbus Park in Manhattan’s Chinatown on Sunday to support the 104 million-plus people who have renounced the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliated organizations since 2004.

Several pro-democracy groups, including the China Democracy Journal and China Democracy Party, were joined by people who support stopping the persecution of Falun Gong in China—a group that has been heavily persecuted by the CCP since 1999.

About 60 Chinese New Yorkers who have quit the CCP in the last few months were presented certificates at the event, and around 40 more passerby and friends of the supporters quit on the spot. This movement, called “Tuidang” in Chinese, has steadily been gaining traction. Recently, in the neighborhood of Flushing alone between 1,500 and 3,000 people each month are renouncing the CCP.

The rally started at around 10 a.m., after the Falun Gong practitioners who were on hand finished doing their slow moving, meditative exercises. Some of those who recently renounced the CCP asked the practitioners to teach them the exercises.

“I think the biggest obstacle is fear, because the CCP government, it’s not like the United States, you do not have freedom. There’s no freedom of speech—if you go back to China you will be persecuted, and [it’s] very, very cruel persecution,” said Jenny Qian, one of those who had received a certificate for renouncing the CCP. “But I think we need to liberate. We need the freedom to belong to ourselves. This is a really great opportunity for a lot of people.”

“After the movement started, more and more people actively participated and now people are not so afraid anymore,” said Yi Rong, one of the event organizers.

Dr. Li Dayong, CEO of the Global Service Center for Quitting the Chinese Communist Party, said the number is steadily increasing and we're now seeing people around the world celebrating the tuidang movement. "Now when you ask someone, they quickly say 'How do I quit?' or 'I've already quit!'

The Global Service Center for Quitting the CCP is a nonprofit organization established in 2005. It has over 100 service centers in more than 30 countries, and helps people resign from the CCP via the Internet, hotlines, faxes, mail, and in person.

The tuidang movement began after this paper published an editorial series called “Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party,” which provides an uncensored history of the nature and crimes of the CCP.

Wang Beiji, a human rights supporter, spoke at the event and said that Falun Gong practitioners were not only fighting against the persecution, but also standing up for the culture of China and all of the Chinese people. He mentioned how practitioners had helped break through the CCP’s Internet blockade and had reported on what the CCP has tried to cover up.

“I have no relation to Falun Gong, and I have never attended a Falun Gong or Tuidang event before, but I am here today because I want to thank you,” he said.

Zhou Yanhua, a Falun Gong practitioner, was a teacher in China, and said he was imprisoned in 2006 for giving a student a flier about Falun Gong. The principal of the school had alerted a CCP secretary, and Zhou says that because they had no grounds to arrest him on, they lied to him. He was told he'd be meeting the secretary for a conversation, but when he got to the destination a car was sent to abduct him and he was detained for a month and forced to watch CCP propaganda films nonstop, along with other forms of abuse.

“What is the reason to persecute someone based on their principles or beliefs?” Huang Xiang, poet and democracy activist, asked. “China has a very pure and traditional culture, and the CCP reacts to that with violence—against their own culture—time after time they destroy their own country. I want human rights—don’t I deserve basic human rights as a person?”

"The whole world needs to speak up, and Beijing needs to hear 'Free China,'" Qian Bai said in his speech. "We need to push for it."

Dr. Wang Zhi Yuan, president of the World Organization to Investigate the persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG), says that after learning the truth about the CCP, people want to detach themselves from the party, and it is on its way to be dissolved.
  

"[The CCP] is not taking the kind of responsibility a government should... [and we] need to prevent them from destroying the country, let them know the whole world is watching. It's time for people around the world to speak up."

After the rally, the Tian Guo (Celestial Band) marching band led a parade around Chinatown of quit-CCP supporters, Falun Gong supporters and practitioners, a drum corps, and those mourning the loss of those killed by the CCP, ending back at Columbus Park in the afternoon.

San Francisco: Falun Dafa Practitioners Share Their Experience at Fa Conference (Photos)

By Li Ruoyun
 

(Clearwisdom.net) The 2011 San Francisco Area Falun Dafa Conference was held on October 16 at the South San Francisco Conference Center. Many practitioners from the western U.S. states attended the conference.

Some of those who presented papers at the conference talked about how they clarified the facts about the persecution in San Francisco Chinatown to help the Chinese people there quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). These practitioners seized every opportunity and helped as many people become aware of the true situation as possible. Some practitioners talked about how they came across conflicts in their Fa-validation projects, how they looked within to look for their attachments, and how they adjusted themselves to cooperate with others.

The 2011 Falun Dafa Experience Sharing Conference in San Francisco.

A practitioner shares his experiences

A practitioner shares her experiences

A coordinator in the truth clarification work discussed how many practitioners went to the Portsmouth Square in Chinatown on weekends to do the exercises, send righteous thoughts, and help the Chinese people quit the CCP. He said that initially, Chinese people who believed in the CCP’s slanderous propaganda against Falun Gong tried to assault the practitioners. The police took them away. Through everyone’s persistent efforts to talk to people about the persecution of Falun Gong, these people stopped coming.

Portsmouth Square is a place where Chinese people in San Francisco area gather. Initially, many Chinese people did not understand the facts about Falun Dafa and believed in the CCP’s propaganda slandering Falun Dafa. Some of them scorned the practitioners from time to time. After the practitioners persistently clarifying the facts to them, many of them have changed. Some of them began to greet with the practitioners, some befriended the practitioners, and some quit the CCP and its organizations.

Several practitioners spoke of how in the past few years, many political figures in San Francisco have been influenced by local Chinese consular officials, helping them in exchange for favor in various personal interests. However, many of them, after listening to practitioners tell them the facts of the persecution, thanked the practitioners for their effort and spoke of their situations publicly in the media. They began to help exposing the criminal acts of the local Chinese officials.

As the practitioners intensified their effort in raising awareness about the persecution in San Francisco, many people gradually accepted Falun Dafa and dared to express their support for Falun Dafa in public. A practitioner gave an example that happened during an annual celebration in the Chinese community, “In the past few years, we have encountered tremendous resistance when we applied to join the parade. This year, not only were we welcome, the event organizer thanked us for joining the activity. As the Falun Dafa procession passed the major stage at the end of the parade, the host, who used to hesitate to praise Falun Dafa in public, gave a positive introduction on the Falun Dafa exercises. The audience gave a warm applause to the practitioners.”

Some practitioners feel that the standard we must reach as practitioners is getting higher and higher. One mentioned that to save more people, “We must let go of our notions and attachments in everything we do. We must look within no matter we are right or wrong in a conflict and work together with one another.”

Posting date: 10/18/2011
Category: Experience Sharing Conferences
Chinese version available at  
http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2011/10/17/旧金山法会-学员交流讲真相体会（图）-247991.html

Brisbane, Australia: Falun Gong Joins Cultural Performances at Diwali Festival (Photos)

(Clearwisdom.net) On October 14, a Diwali Festival celebration was held at King George Square in Brisbane. The festival is a tradition from India that celebrates the victory of justice over evil. Among others, Falun Gong practitioners’ cultural performance received hearty applause from the audience.

Falun Gong exercise demonstration at the Diwali Festival in Brisbane 

A couple received Falun Gong truth-clarifying materials from a practitioner 

A daughter and her mom listened to a practitioner’s introduction of Falun Gong

Diwali is the most important festival in India's Hindu tradition. The celebration in Brisbane is one of the largest cultural events in Australia. It receives support from the Australian government and is a favorite of local residents.

After a series of Indian performances, Falun Gong practitioners presented a Lion and Dragon Dance and a demonstration of Falun Gong exercises.

Dr. Unnikeishnan, secretary of the Federation of Indian Communities of Queensland, said that many people liked the Falun Gong performance. He said: “People are saying that they did not expect this performance could be so awesome.” As a key organizer of the festival, Unnikeishnan said that he will invite the practitioners back next year.

During the one-day event, the Falun Gong booth was visited by a continuous flow. Practitioner Daniel said: “A lot of people got a chance to learn what Falun Gong is and received related materials.” He hoped that all Australians will recognize Falun Gong's principles of “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.”

Posting date: 10/18/2011
Category: Community Events
Chinese version available at  
http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2011/10/16/澳洲学员排灯节上传递真相与希望（图）-247949.html

Stories of Chinese People Speaking up for Falun Gong Practitioners

By Qi Zhiping
 
(Clearwisdom.net) In the past few years, more and more people in China have learned the truth about Falun Gong and found that Falun Gong practitioners are good people. Many have protested and tried to stop the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) persecution of Falun Gong. In some cases, an entire village, including the village cadres, signed a joint letter to ask for the release of a Falun Gong practitioner.

Here are some true stories:

On the afternoon of August 8, 2004, six police officers from Xishui County, Hubei Province broke into the home of Mr. Yao Wanglai, a Falun Gong practitioner residing in Jiuping Village, Zhudian Town, Sishui. When the police attempted to arrest him, his family argued with the police. The police began to use violence, which raised the attention of the villagers. Villagers rushed from their paddies and homes to Mr. Yao's home. Even the village mayor came to stop the police from arresting Mr. Yao, but the police officers refused to change their minds. More than 100 villagers at the scene became upset and spoke up for Mr. Yao, and the police had to finally abort their plan and left.

On the evening of September 17, 2006 while the Hongdao Police Station in Chengyang District, Qingdao City attempted to have Mr. Zhao Yuzun arrested from his home in Dayang Village, Hongdao, fellow villagers heard the news and arrived at the scene. They surrounded the police officers and gave Mr. Zhao a chance to flee. The villagers also stopped the police from arresting his wife in an attempt to lure Mr. Zhao back.

On December 21, 2010, Mr. Yuan Yulong, his son Yuan Shoujiang and his daughter-in-law Gong Jinfen from the Zhongsheng Village, Shangjieji Township, Fujin City, Heilongjiang Province, were arrested for practicing Falun Gong. Ninety five percent of the villagers, including the village cadres, signed a joint letter to endorse that the three arrested Falun Gong practitioners are kind and honorable people and demanded that they be released immediately. They not only signed the letter, but also put their fingerprints on it. They have shown their support for justice and their approval of the three Falun Gong practitioners' character.

The Villagers and the Village Government of Daqiao Village, Xian'an District, Xianning, Hubei Province Attested to the Character of Mr. Liu Shehong

Mr. Liu Shehong is a Falun Gong practitioner from Xianning City, Hubei Province. Before he practiced Falun Gong, he was a notoriously problematic youth. He was addicted to drugs and would do just about anything to get money for them, and everyone avoided him. He was repeatedly imprisoned for using drugs and fighting. He was once locked in the Shayang Forced Labor Camp for four years. His drug addiction emptied his family's bank account and ruined his health. As a young man, Mr. Liu had swollen legs and was very unhealthy, with a dark complexion. In fact, he nearly died because of his drug addiction.

At the end of 2006, Mr. Liu started practicing Falun Gong. In just four months, Mr. Liu quit using drugs, became healthy, and restored a healthy complexion. He followed Falun Gong's cultivation principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance and began treating people with kindness and respect. He also started to help with household chores. He abandoned all his bad habits and behavior and transformed into a new person. Everyone who knew about his past and was very impressed with his transformation.

When his relatives and fellow villagers heard that Mr. Liu was arrested for practicing Falun Gong, they signed a joint letter to recount the story of his transformation. The letter states: Mr. Liu followed Falun Gong's cultivation principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance. After studying Falun Gong's books for a month, Mr. Liu stopped using drugs and quit smoking. They asked the police department to release him.

The joint letter was signed by Mr. Liu's fellow villagers:

Daqiao Village Committee also wrote to attest Mr. Liu's character:

“To the Relevant Government Agencies:

With this letter we are attesting the following facts:

Mr. Liu Shehong who was originally from my village, faced many prison terms due to drugs and fighting. After our investigations, we found that Mr. Liu has paid a lot more trips back to the village to visit his mother since February 2007. He no longer shows any signs of drug addiction, and he is perfectly healthy. In fact, he has eliminated all the bad habits of cursing or using violence. He appears to be an ordinary and peaceful man. He has never done anything that violates the law or disrupts the public order.

Truly,

Daqiao Village Committee in Xian'an Distrcit

May 12, 2008”

letter from the Daqiao Village Committee

Villagers from Ying'emen Town, Qingyuan County, Fushun City, Liaoning Province Signed a Joint Letter to Appeal for Mr. Xu Dawei

In February 2009, a joint letter from Fushun, Liaoning Province to appeal for a Falun Gong practitioner raised the attention of top CCP leaders, including Zhou Yongkang and Luo Gan.

Mr. Xu Dawei is a Falun Gong practitioner from Ying'emen Town, Qingyuan County, Fushun City, Liaoning Province, who was imprisoned for eight years. He suffered from a litany of tortures in prison, including wearing handcuffs and foot shackles for long periods of time, brutal beatings, being suspended in the air, force-feeding, beaten up with a rubber tube, sticking needles in the skin, electric shocks, and injections of nerve-damaging drugs. When he was released from prison, his hair had turned gray and his body was skin and bones. There were marks of electric shocks on his body, and his arms and legs were swollen. There were scars on his right knee and ankle, and the skin on his hips were damaged and dark purple. His family sent him to the hospital, but he passed away 13 days later at the age of 36.

His fellow villagers were outraged. They organized two trucks of people to go to Dongling Prison to seek justice for him. When the prison refused to respond, 376 villagers from five different villages signed a joint letter to appeal for him.

The joint appeal letter from 376 villagers from five different villages

More People in China Are Speaking Up for Falun Gong Practitioners

In 2003, the “610 Office” in Hongshan District, Wuhan City, Hubei Province created a forced brainwashing center in Jiufeng Town. For each Falun Gong practitioner, the center would be given 6,000 yuan as a “brainwashing fund.” On the evening of April 10, 2003, the Huashan Town Police Station in Hongshan District and the “610 Office” arrested Ms. Li Jiulan, a local Falun Gong practitioner. Ms. Li tried to reason with the police and refused to be taken to the forced brainwashing center. Her husband, who is not a Falun Gong practitioner, sparred with the police. Her child held onto her legs, crying and screaming. The villagers arrived at the scene when they heard the commotion. They were outraged and condemned the police. Several villagers grabbed Ms. Li from the hands of the police, and struggled with them for 30 minutes.

In mid-March 2003, a Falun Gong practitioner from Jilin Province was arrested from his home. He was taken directly to a forced labor camp, but the camp refused to take him because he was tested to have hypertension. Somehow the police managed to have the camp take him on their second attempt. His son who is in his 20's told the story of his father among the villagers in order to rescue him. He visited more than 1,000 households and 668 villagers signed the letter. A villager commented, “I only signed the letter because he practices Falun Gong.”

In June 2009, Mr. Zheng Decai, a Falun Gong practitioner from Guangmingshan, Zhuanghe City, Dalian, Liaoning Province was arrested for practicing Falun Gong. In March 2010, more than 80 households in the village signed a joint letter to rescue Mr. Zheng. They expressed their support for the Falun Gong practitioner and asked the local authorities to release him immediately.

As more and more people learn the truth about Falun Gong, it is likely that more people in China will speak up for practitioners to stop the persecution.

Posting date: 10/11/2011
Category: Awakening to the Truth
Chinese version available at
http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2011/10/3/民众帮助法轮功学员反迫害的故事-247438.html

Sweden: Falun Dafa Experience Sharing Conference Held in Stockholm (Photos)

By He Ping

(Clearwisdom.net) At 9 a.m. on October 1, 2011, Falun Dafa practitioners in Sweden commenced their annual cultivation experience sharing conference in Stockholm. Practitioners came from all over Sweden and shared their cultivation experiences.

The venue of Falun Dafa cultivation experience sharing conference 2011 in Sweden 

Twelve practitioners presented their experiences during the conference.Their experiences were from different aspects including upgrading the mind, putting down attachments, study the Fa, looking inward, clarifying the truth and saving sentient beings.

Promoting Shen Yun
 
Ms. Wang from Gothenburg and Ms. Zhang from Stockholm shared their experiences about how they had promoted the 2011 Shen Yun performances in Sweden. Ms. Wang paid great attention to removing the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) culture from her mind, learned western etiquette, and took every chance in daily life to make improvements. In order to promote Shen Yun and to better reach mainstream society, she always considered how to approach mainstream citizens with the heart to have all predestined individuals come to see the Shen Yun show.

Ms. Zhang had opportunities this year to introduce Shen Yun to over 800 influential people and achieved very good effects. She prepared each presentation carefully, and also cooperated well with a fellow practitioner. For example, every time she prepared well so that she could fulfill the task on her own, then she cooperated with her fellow practitioner according to that fellow practitioner’s situation during the presentation. She was very glad every time when she saw her fellow practitioner succeed. They not only introduced Shen Yun, but did so with compassion in their hearts. The audience was very warm and receptive. Every presentation brought her and her fellow practitioner indescribable joy and greater confidence.

Increasing sales to save more sentient beings
 
Another Ms. Zhang from Stockholm shared her experience on how she put down her ego to cooperate with others and did her best to increase sales for the Chinese newspaper, The Epoch Times, with the support and help of the local fellow practitioners. She felt that doing well the advertisement sales was the only way to keep the newspaper in Sweden. Thus she cooperated well with fellow practitioners to develop the market and look for new places to display the newspaper. Recently they established over 10 locations including Chinese food stores and restaurants as well as Swedish supermarkets in the town center and some areas where Chinese families and Chinese students live, and also covering some hotels where Chinese tourists usually stay. In order to secure places to display the paper, she and several other fellow practitioners had to meet those stores' managers three or four times before signing a contract. Moreover, they changed the method of distributing the newspaper. Previously practitioners manually distributed the newspaper to the Chinese customers in every Chinese restaurant. Now those Chinese have been informed of the distribution locations. The circulation of the newspaper is increasing gradually. Also some advertisers have started to compete to advertise in the newspaper, which is a good situation and reflects the positive development of the newspaper.

Following Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and becoming a good person
 
Munder, 30 years old, is a new practitioner from Borås (a town east of Gothenburg). Despite his Muslim upbringing, he did not believe in an afterlife or care about spiritual matters before he discovered Falun Gong. In 2008, he started reading the book Zhuan Falun which he borrowed from another practitioner who was his colleague. The only reason he read the book was to find out why Falun Gong practitioners were treated so badly in China. He read the preface and was intrigued. Reading the book gave him a sense of peace and he decided to buy the book. When he read the paragraph about the celestial eye, he felt he understood what was described in the paragraph before he read that part of the paragraph. He was surprised by this. After he read through Zhuan Falun for the first time, he stopped swearing. He started to change himself in his workplace. He tried to put down his attachments. He could understand what Master is doing is to save people. He has realized that Dafa is great and also serious. He said that he would continue to follow Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and that was what he felt from his heart.

Cultivation story of a young practitioner
 

Mira, a young practitioner, shares her cultivation experience 

Mira Kleinert is 10 years old. She shared how she and her family traveled around in Sweden on a tour to raise awareness about Falun Gong two years ago. She and her sisters performed dances to demonstrate the beauty of Dafa. Her family traveled to many cities by car. Every day she would dance several rounds. In the beginning her family planned to travel to only three cities, but in the end they stayed on for the whole tour. She felt honored to have been a part of of it as a Dafa practitioner and thanked Master that she could participate in the event.

At five o’clock in the afternoon, the conference was successfully concluded. Many practitioners who attended the conference expressed that they would cherish this opportunity, study the Fa well, look inward, strengthen cooperation, upgrade together, and strive to save more sentient beings so as not to let down Master's compassionate salvation.

Posting date: 10/9/2011
Category: Experience Sharing Conferences
Chinese version available at  
http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2011/10/2/瑞典法轮大法修炼心得交流会圆满结束（图）-247418.html

Australia: Gold Coast Multicultural Festival Feels the Energy of Falun Dafa

by Australian Dafa disciples

(Clearwisdom.net) On September 18, 2011, Falun Dafa practitioners in the Australian tourist city of the Gold Coast participated in the town’s Multicultural Festival.

The Falun Dafa Association of Queensland was invited to the annual celebration of international food, music and dance that drew more than 22,000 people to the Evandale Parklands. The Gold Coast City Council and Gold Coast Arts Centre buildings are nearby.

Practitioners set up their information booth in an event tent, pinning up vertical Falun flags to the rear and a photographic history of Dafa on the side. They also held exercise demonstrations under a tree.

Passersby showed great interest. Some said they could feel the power of the exercises while watching practitioners do the Falun Dafa exercises; the energy made them feel very peaceful.

One man said he saw Mainland Chinese practitioners protest on Tiananmen Square in Beijing; the practitioners were quickly surrounded by Communist police and taken away.

One couple spoke about the types of mystical things explained in Zhuan Falun, so practitioners encouraged them to read the Falun Dafa books.

A Mainland Chinese photography student came to the event and took photos for this experience sharing, even though he had to juggle his work commitments to do so.

Practitioners later performed traditional Chinese and lion dances with some live drumming. Many of the Chinese spectators were impressed by the authenticity of performances.

Posting date: 10/17/2011
Category: Community Events

Chicago: Chinese People Enthusiastically Quit the CCP in Chinatown (Photos)

By a Falun Gong practitioner in Chicago
 
(Clearwisdom.net) On Oct. 3, 2011, in Chicago's Chinatown, practitioners introduced Falun Gong and exposed the brutal persecution by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) over the past twelve years. Many Chinese people quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations.

Falun Gong practitioners introduce Falun Gong and expose the persecution in Chicago's Chinatown

Young people learn the Falun Gong exercises

Passersby learn about Falun Gong

On a warm autumn day, Falun Gong practitioners set up display boards and banners stating “Falun Dafa” and “Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance.” Their exercise demonstration attracted many people. Some asked, “What is Falun Gong” “Why does the CCP persecute such a great practice?” Some carefully read the displays and asked questions, while others learned the exercises on the spot.

The Chinese people learned that more than 100 million people have quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations. They chose to do the same thing for the benefit of their own future. Thirty-two Chinese people quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations within a few hours.

An American woman said she brought her daughter to Chinatown to experience Chinese culture. When she passed the Falun Gong practitioners' activity, she suddenly felt very comfortable. The gentleman who came with her had heard about the persecution before and asked a practitioner if the persecution was still going on. The practitioner told him about the on-going persecution and the CCP's crime of harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners.

A group of young people stood in a row to learn the Falun Gong exercises. One of them felt strong energy and learned detailed information about Falun Gong and the persecution.

A young lady took pictures of the activity with great interest. She had been looking for a topic for her studies and finally found it. She said she would find more information from the Internet and study it in depth.

 

A young lady finds a great topic for her studies after she learns about Falun Gong

 

Chinese people learn facts about Falun Gong

The Chinese who passed by the activity included students, immigrants and tourists. They took introductory materials and read the display. Practitioner Ms. Jiang said, “I can tell clearly today that more and more Chinese are awakening, especially the young students. They learn the facts of the persecution proactively and quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations to be safe.”

A lady from Mainland China felt very close to Falun Gong practitioners as soon as she saw them. She had met a few practitioners somewhere before. She used to be very loyal to the CCP but was eventually imprisoned by the Party. She came to know Falun Gong practitioners in prison and found out they were good people. It was the CCP that was evil. She decided to leave China because the CCP was so bad. On hearing about quitting the CCP, she said immediately, “I quit!”

Another Chinese lady told Falun Gong practitioners, “What the Chinese people need is morality. I see the hope of China through you.”

Posting date: 10/16/2011
Category: Community Events
Chinese version available at
http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2011/10/14/在芝加哥中国城讲真相-华人踊跃三退（图）-247879.html

Canada: Toronto Divine Land Marching Band a Big Hit at the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Thanksgiving Day Parade (Photos)

By He Yu and Zhang Yun
 
(Clearwisdom.net) The 43^rd annual Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Thanksgiving Day Parade stepped off early in the morning of October 10, 2011. Established in 1969, the parade is now the largest Thanksgiving Day Parade in Canada and the Oktoberfest celebration is the largest Bavarian event in North America. With prizing-winning bands from the United States and Canada, as well as colorfully-decorated floats, the parade attracts 200,000 spectators from many areas of North America, who packed the 5-km-long route. Besides the spectators along the parade route, there was a large TV audience as CTV (Canadian TV) broadcast the parade live to the whole country.

The Divine Land Marching Band from Toronto, Canada

The Divine Land Marching Band of Toronto was the only Chinese-based marching band invited to the event. The band has participated in the event for four years and once again brought a sense of happiness and serenity to the parade.

Mark Kreller, Executive Director of the Oktoberfest, praised the band for its skill, style, discipline and uniforms. Mr. Kreller said that he is well aware that the members of the band are all Falun Gong practitioners, and he knows that Falun Gong is still being persecuted in China. He is happy that they can enjoy freedom of belief in the nation of Canada. “It is great to have them participate in the parade and become a part of the Oktoberfest,” he said.

Mark Kreller, Executive Director of the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest

Former Chair of the Oktoberfest, Mr. Paul Buttinger had been with the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest for 28 years. He used three words to describe the Toronto Divine Land Marching Band: “Entertaining, uplifting and terrific!” He said that he had seen the band many times at various events and was very happy to see them again at the festival.

Chinese People Enjoy and Support the Divine Land Marching Band

Ms. Meng is from Beijing. As the band was marching past the main platform, she waved to the reporter and grasped the reporter's hand. “I am a Christian. I respect Falun Gong. They are truly great and are making a big contribution to the world. They are of high virtue,” she exclaimed. “Please relay my congratulations to them. God bless them, and they will win in the end!”

Ms. Chen is from Wuhan and has been in Canada for four years. “I read the Epoch Times newspaper every week. I have learned a lot about Falun Gong. I am excited to see them here.”

Also from Beijing, Ms. Mu said that she has been in Canada for less than a year but has seen the band two times already. “Such a grand scale and exciting (band), ” she said, “You could only see this outside of China. I am happy that they have freedom in a foreign country.”

Another couple from Beijing brought their one-year-old twin daughters to the parade. They applauded excitedly and the wife pulled the reporter's hand close like a dear friend and said, “We are so happy to see them. I hope to see them every year. It is spectacular.”

Mr. Wang and Ms. Lu from Liaoning Province came with their friend Ms. Yang, who is from Xiamen City in Fujian Province. Ms. Lu said that this was her first encounter with the Divine Land Marching Band. “Very impressive and it is really great,” she said.

Their friend Ms. Yang had seen the band once before. “I saw the band last year in the parade,” she said. “I've seen them at other events too. Certainly, a good thing should be promoted everywhere!”

Mr. Wang said, “Seeing them [Falun Gong practitioners] live in freedom in a foreign country, I am truly happy for them. Such a beautiful thing. I don't understand why the Communist Party wants to persecute them. They are just being good people and doing their exercises. What's wrong with that?”

The Best Thanksgiving Gift

As the band arrived at the end of the parade, there was a Chinese lady watching them from a distance and it appeared that didn't want to leave. After she received a promise to keep her anonymity, the woman talked to a reporter. “Since 9 a.m. this morning, I have followed the band from the beginning of the parade to the end,” she said, her eyes brimming with tears. “I came to Canada a few months ago to study. You can't see Falun Gong practitioners in a parade like this in China. I saw them and was very excited. I had been longing for this because my mother is a Falun Dafa practitioner. She recovered from cancer after practicing the exercises. I believe in the miraculous power of Falun Gong. I want to find out about the local group practice site.”

When she received a slip of paper with the local Falun Gong contact, the woman said that it was the best Thanksgiving gift and she repeatedly expressed her thanks.

Praise for Falun Gong

Ms. Som is a Chinese-Laotian who brought her whole family to the parade. “I bring them to the parade every year to feel the happiness of the festival. Over these past years, I am always happy to see this Chinese band. The kids like them too. We are all Chinese,” she said.

Mr. Alai from Burma and his wife Jijan brought their two children to watch the parade. Alai said it was a beautiful experience and the band was impressive. “To me, this is a Thanksgiving gift too,” he said.

Maria is a resident of Waterloo, “I love it! The best was when they played 'The Maple Leaf Forever'! Many thanks to them and happy Thanksgiving!

Bill, a resident from Kitchener, said, “I like their ancient-style uniforms and beautiful music. Very enjoyable.” He added, “They performed very well. It's beautiful.”

Natalia and her friend and their families came to watch the parade. She was happy to see the cultural diversity among the various bands. “The kids love it, and we thank them,” she said.

Posting date: 10/16/2011
Category: Community Events
Chinese version available at
http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2011/10/12/多伦多天国乐团参加感恩节游行-华人盛赞（图）-247808.html

Taiwan: Falun Gong Becomes Focus of Attention at International Flower Drum Parade (Photos)

By Clearwisdom correspondent Song Xinming
 
(Clearwisdom.net) To celebrate the National Day of the Republic of China, the Cultural Bureau of Hsinchu County, Taiwan held a Flower Drum Parade on Oct. 10, 2011. More than fifty groups participated in the parade, which attracted more than ten thousand spectators.

The Waist Drum Troupe of Falun Gong practitioners participated in the parade in high spirits. Dressed in golden-colored uniforms, the practitioners played their drums with bright smiles and uniform movements. They spread the message of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance, and won wave after wave of applause. Spectators took pictures of the troupe and gave them thumbs-up. “Come on!” “Falun Gong is the best!”

The waist drum troupe

The average age of the fifty waist drum troupe members was fifty, with the oldest in her seventies. However, they didn't feel tired after playing their drums in the hot weather for over an hour. As Falun Gong practitioners, they set a high standard for themselves. They performed every drum beat with their heads held high, their shoulders squared and bright smiles. Their demeanor spread the benefits and peaceful spirit of Falun Dafa.

Drum beats to the songs “Falun Dafa Is Good” and “Joy” spread the message of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance

Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Yang said, “Thanks to every member's selfless contribution and cooperation, the performance today was perfect!”

Falun Gong practitioners also distributed introduction materials and paper lotuses to spectators. Many people became interested in learning Falun Gong and asked for exercise site information.

Posting date: 10/16/2011
Category: Community Events
Chinese version available at  
http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2011/10/13/国际花鼓节踩街-法轮功队伍受注目（图）-247841.html