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NTDTV Chinese New Year Spectacular
Facts of the Persecution
News and Events Around the World
Media Coverage
People's Hearts Determine Their Future
Practitioners Exchange Insights and Experiences
(Clearwisdom.net) On the evening of January 4, 2008, Divine Performing Arts launched its first show of the Chinese New Year Spectacular at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, in Atlanta, Georgia. The show was highly acclaimed by the audience and many indicated that they would watch it again.
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Mi Cho said that the show was excellent and beyond her expectations. She said, "My friend showed me the brochure about the show a month ago. But I couldn't decide yesterday [whether I wanted to go]. Today, I found that the show is great. I am going to send my friends here tomorrow. Maybe I will see it one more time. I like the Mongolian dance, where the dancers balance bowls on their heads. I think that was great. I love the costumes. Very beautiful!"
Shirley Clarre and her friend are accountants. After watching the show, Shirley said, "I like the drummers. The Mongolian dancers were beautiful. Their costumes are very outstanding. They were all good. I like them all. I did go to China, so I know a little bit about it. But I didn't see shows like this in China. This is very nice. Very nice!"
Her friend said, "I bought the ticket for her, because I knew she has been to China and she likes China. So I thought she would like the show."
Shirley agreed, "Yes, I enjoyed it. It is a very good present for Christmas."
She continued, "The show is very well done. The music is beautiful, and the singers are good. I like it all so far. The backdrops are very realistic. The one with the rain is very realistic."
Ki Kim from Korea and his girlfriend watched the show. Kim works in the human resource department of Super H Mart in Atlanta. Kim said, "I really love the show. I really like those two masters of ceremonies and their script. I like how they explain the performances. It's excellent. I know just a little bit about traditional Korean dance. The costumes were beautiful. I recognize some of the dances as traditional movements. It was really nice to see it. Almost like being back home for a little while. Very nice."
Kim continued, "This show is kind of unique. I haven't seen a real Chinese show before. This is probably the most multi-cultural show that I've been to in my lifetime. I think it's really wonderful. I am really enjoying myself. I did not think it would be as big as it was. I saw the banners [advertising the show], but I did not realize the whole production was this big."
After watching the show, a theater employee working as an usher said excitedly that she was grateful to Divine Performing Arts for bringing genuine Chinese art and culture to Atlanta. She felt very fortunate to have seen it. She said she would write to the local newspapers and ask them to cover such a great show - and not just report on rock and roll all the time.
The usher indicated that she hoped that Divine Performing Arts would come to Atlanta every year.
(Clearwisdom.net) The NTDTV Chinese New Year Spectacular launched a global tour with a show at the Merriam Theater in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on January 4, 2008. Prior to the show, many political leaders, including US Congressional Representatives and local government officials, sent proclamations and greetings to the hosting organization. The media also covered the event. The wife of the Governor of Pennsylvania, initiator and current Chairman of Avenue of the Arts, Inc., Marjorie O. Rendell, congratulated the show in person. The mayor of Philadelphia, John F. Street, declared the first week of January 2008 as NTDTV Chinese New Year Spectacular Week.
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At 6:00 p.m. on January 4, 2008, nearly one hundred prominent figures, political leaders, and media reporters gathered at the Doubletree Hotel to congratulate Divine Performing Arts on their five Philadelphia shows. The press conference was sponsored by Avenue of the Arts, Inc. and hosted by NBC10 TV host Denise Nakano.
Mr. Harry Kao, executive director of the Governor's Advisory Commission, read Governor Rendell's congratulatory letter, which expressed appreciation for Asian Americans contributing to traditional values in American families, communities, and education. He also wished everyone happiness, long lives and good luck in the Year of the Rat.
Ms. Marjorie O. Rendell (left), wife of the Governor of Pennsylvania, said that it was great to have the Chinese New Year Spectacular held in Philadelphia.
Annie Karl, administrative assistant to the Lieutenant Governor, brought the Lieutenant Governor's congratulatory letter. Carol Brooks, Manager of International Trade and Diplomatic Liaison for the City of Philadelphia, represented Mayor Street at the reception.
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Mayor Street stated in the proclamation: "As the Chinese community welcomes the Year of the Rat, the Chinese Lunar New Year celebration is in full swing with traditional dance, song and symphony.
"The Chinese New Year Spectacular captures this tradition-rich culture dating back more than 5,000 years. This year the celebration is underway in 32 cities throughout our nation, marking one of the grandest and largest Spectacular events.
"Philadelphia is proud to host this traditional Chinese celebration, made possible through the efforts of New Tang Dynasty TV [...] committed to promoting cross-cultural ties and seeks to help Chinese people living outside of China to assimilate and adapt to their new mainstream societies.
"The efforts of NTDTV are vital to the understanding and preservation of cultures both new and old, and the Chinese New Year Spectacular embodies the spirit of pride and celebration for all in our city to enjoy.
"Therefore, I, John F. Street, Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, do hereby proclaim this first week of January 2008 as NTDTV Chinese New Year Spectacular Week in our city, and I extend warm New Year wishes to Philadelphia's integral Chinese-American community and urge all citizens to join in the celebration."
Mr. Kenneth Wong, Commissioner, President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, also participated in the press conference. He sent a congratulatory letter to the hosting organization before the event expressing his pride in having the Chinese New Year Spectacular held in Philadelphia and promoting Chinese-American cultural exchange and understanding.
Over the past several days, TV stations, radio stations and newspapers in Philadelphia have covered the show extensively. NBC10 TV and KYW carried news every day about the Spectacular. The largest newspaper, the Philadelphia Inquirer, The Bulletin, Courier Post, and Gloucester County Times all reported on the show.
(Clearwisdom.net) NTDTV's Chinese New Year Spectacular launched touring shows concurrently in the Merriam Theater in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center in Atlanta, Georgia on January 4, 2008. The Divine Performing Arts touring company performed in Philadelphia to an excited audience.
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William Feldman, a freelance writer for Northeast Times, said that the show was wonderful, and complimented the dance performances, especially "Rising Lotus."
Arthur Judson, a financial advisor, and his wife Bright Judson said that they had watched many shows before but the Chinese New Year Spectacular was unique and enjoyable, especially the dancing. They watched last year's Chinese New Year Spectacular and bought tickets this year when they passed by the theater and saw the advertisement.
Mike Kirwan is a successful businessman with an insurance company and one of the show's sponsors. He said that the performance was fantastic and made him want to learn Chinese.
Lilian Galenn, wife of a doctor of orthopedics, said that the show was excellent and exciting.
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Joanne Kucinski, an executive secretary from a prominent law firm, had tears in her eyes after watching the show. She said that she liked all the performances, especially "The Power of Awareness." She said that she liked "Truth-Compassion-Tolerance" the most, and that if all of society could follow those principles, the world would be all right. She plans to go to New York to see the show again with her friends.
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Julia Wost and Elizabeth Carmichael work at a mortgage company. They came to see the show at the recommendation of one of the performers. They said, "The show is breathtaking and awesome. The performers are extremely talented." They said that they would make plans to see the show again in New York.
(Clearwisdom.net) With the 2008 Chinese New Year Spectacular scheduled to be held in Dallas from January 7 to January 9, political leaders from both East and West sent greeting through letters and videos to recognize the great effort of New Tang Dynasty TV (NTDTV) and to praise Divine Performing Arts for promoting traditional Chinese culture.
Congressman: NTDTV did a great job!
U.S. Congressman Al Green said in his greetings video that NTDTV has done a great job bringing the show to more than sixty cities around the world, including New York, Paris and Berlin.
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Congressman Ron Paul said in his letter, "Congratulations on another successful year. I commend NTDTV for efforts to educate its viewing audience on the culture, history and lifestyles of Asian and Western societies.
"It is admirable that NTDTV organizes and sponsors a range of performances, competitions, and outreach programs each year. Most noteworthy, is the Chinese New Year Spectacular. The event unites individuals from various cultures to experience the 5,000-year-old history and civilization of China.
"The Chinese New Year Spectacular promotes traditional Chinese culture in the form of performing arts, fosters an understanding between Chinese and Western cultures and provides an exchange platform for Chinese communities worldwide and those interested in Chinese culture.
"I wish NTDTV much success in the upcoming year, as well as best wishes for a wonderful Chinese New Year Spectacular."
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston Wish Spectacular Great Success
The acting Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston, Michael Ger, said in his letter, "On behalf of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston, the regional representative office for Taiwan in the southern United States, I would like to congratulate NTDTV on its great success in serving the Mandarin-speaking population throughout the United States with their broadcasts. Meanwhile, I would like to thank NTDTV Chinese New Year Spectacular for including Dallas-Fort Worth in its global tour celebrating the Lunar New Year and the beginning of the Year of the Rat. I believe the audience in Texas will enjoy the show's beautiful choreography and traditional Chinese music.
"I wish the performance a great success and everyone a happy New Year!"
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Divine Performing Arts Highly Praised for Spreading Traditional Chinese Culture
U.S. Congressman Nick Lampson of the 22nd District said that each year he looks forward to celebrating the Chinese New Year. He thanked NTDTV for its successful Chinese New Year Spectacular and for spreading Chinese culture and tradition. He wished the audience and the whole Chinese community Happy New Year.
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Mayor Ronald Jones of Garland, Texas sent via video his warmest greetings to everyone in the audience and thanked NTDTV and the Divine Performing Arts for this great celebration. He expressed his appreciation for all who were involved in and worked for the show and wished everyone Happy New Year.
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Mayor Mike Simpson of Frisco, Texas sent his best wishes to this beautiful celebration and hoped there would be even greater success in the future. He wished everyone a happy and healthy holiday.
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Texas State Representative Jim Jackson offered high praise for the Chinese New Year Spectacular. He said in his letter, "I am sending a heartfelt congratulations on your performance of the Chinese New Year Spectacular. This impressive production, showcasing China's classical heritage along with Western artistic customs, proliferates the knowledge and understanding of the magnificent Chinese culture across the world.
"While celebrating the Chinese New Year is considered the most important holiday by most people of East Asian heritage around the world, this extravaganza contributes to pluralism and free flow of information in the Chinese-language media.
"I applaud the NTDTV Chinese New Year Spectacular not only for creating exceptional and grand touring performances, but also for promoting cultural celebration and unity."
(Clearwisdom.net) On the evening of January 4, 2008, Divine Performing Arts launched its first show of the Chinese New Year Spectacular global tour at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, Georgia. The audience responded enthusiastically, and sisters Liang Shan and Liang Cheng were part of the audience. They gave high marks to the performance and said that they were touched most by the performance about Falun Gong.
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The younger sister Ms. Liang Cheng is an entrepreneur. She said, "We were most touched by the story of the three imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners. We liked it the most." Ms. Liang Shan said that another of her favorites was "Drummers of the Tang Court." Both of them also complimented "The Fruits of Goodness," which portrayed the formation of good karmic relationships and positive changes in the two youths presented in the story. Ms. Liang Cheng said, "The show was very good. The performers danced very well, with solid skills."
Both of them also enjoyed the singing of soprano Huang Piyu.
(Clearwisdom.net) Police officers continue to torture practitioners without any remorse in Qidong County, Hunan Province. They arrest whoever catches their fancy and ransack practitioners' homes. Since the end of May 2007, two practitioners who were forced to leave their homes have gone missing, six practitioners' possessions were confiscated and 15 practitioners were arrested and brutally tortured. At this time, seven practitioners are still detained, including Kuang Zongrao, Ms. Tan Cuiying and Ms. He Qionghui who were sentenced to a forced labor camp. Police threatened Kuang Sen, Ms. Tan Luyun, Ms. Deng Caiyun and Ms. Peng Xixiu that they would be sentenced to long prison terms.
Practitioner, Mr. Kuang Zongrao was arrested on May 27. He is still detained in the Detention Center. On August 1, around 6 policemen, including Wang Xiwen hung Kuang Zongrao on the window sill and beat him through an entire night. Mr. Kuang suffered a mental breakdown from the torture. He was taken to Xinkaipu Forced Labor Camp where he continues to suffer torture. He is now very weak. He was taken to the hospital several times and had to pay for medicine from his own pocket.
Practitioner, Ms. Zhou Zhonglian, tried to convince some one who tore up Falun Gong truth clarification material to stop. She was arrested by staff from the National Security. Her head and legs were brutally beaten until she fainted and fell to the ground. One day later, she was taken to the hospital emergency room. She suffers from a mental breakdown and half her body is paralyzed. The policemen refuse to pay 5,000 yuan for medicine.
Staff from the National Security broke into practitioner Ms. Peng Xinxiu's home at night on June 24. They ransacked her home and found Dafa truth clarification material. She was arrested and tortured. Ms. Peng's entire body was covered with wounds. The town court convened on November 26. Ms. Peng was threatened that she would have to suffer worse torture. Ms. Peng is being held in a local detention center.
Practitioner Ms. Lei Fangmei was arrested on June 26. She was tortured around the clock for an entire week in attempts to force her to renounce Falun Gong. She was also hung on the window sill and suffered beatings. Her feet were covered with bloody wounds. Her family got her released after trying many different methods and after they paid large bribes for her release.
Practitioner Mr. Zhou and Mr. Shen are among those who were targeted for arrest frequently. Police tried many times to arrest them but failed. Authorities forced their workplaces to withhold the men's salaries, and sealed their homes. They offered 10,000 yuan to anyone who could arrest them. Mr. Zhou and Mr. Shen were forced into exile. They have disappeared without a trace.
Ms. Gui Fenxiu was arrested and detained for 15 days. Her home was not locked. Someone broke in and stole her belongings, including 2,000 yuan her son gave her for yearly living support. Now she is in very bad straits.
Police ransacked Ms. Jiang Zhoufang, Ms. Xiao Shuanggui, Zhou Xiaomao and Ms. Zou Yueying, Ms. Jiang Qunying's homes, who robbed their TVs and satellite receivers.
(Clearwisdom.net) Six or seven officers from the local police station and the City Police Department broke into Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Xu Zhiming's home in Niuxintai Township, Benxi City. Xu Zhiming and his family were sleeping. Without showing any documentation, the policemen ransacked the home and then took Xu to the Niuxintai Police Station. They then took him to the Benxi City Detention Center on the afternoon of April 13. Returning home 15 days later, Xu Zhiming's family found Xu to be delirious. When he walked, he would stumble and he was even unsteady while seated. Xu was tortured at the detention center until he was unable to take care of his daily needs. He has become a different person.
His family took him to the Benxi City No. 2 Hospital for a physical examination. Because the hospital colluded with the police, they did not give them a definite diagnosis. Later, his family took the results of the physical examination to a hospital in another city. There he was diagnosed with drug poisoning, indicating that the guards at the detention center used drugs to persecute Xu Zhiming.
Xu Zhiming and his wife went to the police station to explain the facts of his being persecuted. However, police from the local police station would not listen to his explanation. Instead, they derided him, saying he came there for an antidote.
The next day, Li Zhannan from the local police station went to his home and tried to force his wife to sign a paper that said, "Xu Zhiming is not well and has various illnesses." His wife refused to sign the paper, as the police were trying to absolve themselves of responsibility for Mr. Xu's condition. They threatened the family. His son-in-law had to sign the paper to lessen the persecution of Xu Zhiming. Li Zhannan then forced Xu Zhiming to sign the paper. He said, "If you do not sign the paper we will detain you." Xu Zhiming felt he had to sign the paper.
Mr. Xu Zhiming has been arrested five times since the persecution began on July 20, 1999.
(Clearwisdom.net) Ms. Lu Xiuli, a 59-year-old Falun Dafa practitioner from the Putuo District in Shanghai, was illegally arrested when she was clarifying the truth about the persecution of Falun Gong in Yanpu District in November 2007. She was sent to a mental hospital in the Putuo District, Shanghai to undergo persecution and brainwashing. Another Falun Gong practitioner, Zhang Yi, was illegally arrested at the same time.
Before practicing Falun Gong, Ms. Lu suffered from cancer. Since becoming a Falun Gong practitioner, her illness disappeared. According to Ms. Lu's doctor, "A lot of patients who suffered from this type of cancer subsequently die. It is a miracle that she is still alive, that she is healthy and has a rosy complexion." Since practicing Falun Gong, Ms. Lu strictly follows the standards of "Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance." She always considers other people first, and the local villagers know that she is a kind and good person. From Lu Xiuli's words and actions, her friends and acquaintances understand that Falun Gong is a powerful and good practice.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has openly persecuted Falun Gong since July 20, 1999. Nevertheless Ms. Lu never hesitates to tell her story and the truth about Falun Gong to people she meets. She has been illegally arrested, imprisoned and sent to forced labor four times because of her testimonials and her expressed beliefs. Her recent illegal detention in a mental institution is the fifth time that Ms. Lu has been detained and subjected to persecution.
After July 20, 1999, the CCP began forcing Falun Gong practitioners to give up their belief. The CCP imprisoned perfectly healthy and mentally stable practitioners in mental hospitals and drug rehabilitation centers. Most of the practitioners were injected and force-fed drugs and chemicals that damaged their nervous systems. Some of damage has resulted in blindness, deafness, palsy, amnesia, mental disorders, injury to the digestive system and death.
According to inside sources, Falun Gong practitioners have been tortured with drugs and unknown chemicals throughout mainland China. There are over one hundred provincial, county and district mental hospitals participating in this type of persecution. Exposing these crimes of the CCP has not stopped the atrocities but only pushed them into hiding. The CCP has even transfered this kind of torture to forced labor camps and prisons.
Responsible person and agencies:
Shanghai City Putuo District Mental Hospital: 86-21-56056582-0
Shanghai City Public and Security, Putuo Branch: 86-21-62441195
Director of Putuo Branch: 86-21-62440543
National Security Team: 86-21-52809966
(Clearwisdom.net) Xu Ailian is a Dafa practitioner from Xiangtan County, Hunan Province. Because she persisted in practicing Dafa, she was arrested. At present, she is being held in Xiangtan City Mental Hospital. When Ms. Xu went on a hunger strike to protest the persecution, she was held down by 5 to 6 hospital staff members and then brutally force-fed by doctors, with a tube inserted into her nose. They also shocked her with a device that carries high voltage electricity. Under orders from the local authorities, the hospital doctors shackled Ms. Xu to a bed and injected her with drugs that damage the central nervous system. She lost consciousness almost as soon as she was injected. Ms. Xu was tied down like this to her bed for seven days in a row. Even now she is still not clear-headed, and is short of breath and fatigued.
In order to cover up their crimes, Xiangtan City Mental Hospital has recently changed its name to Xiangtan City Fifth People's Hospital.
(Clearwisdom.net) From August 30 to September 6, 2007, police officers Qu Jingping, Liu Tao, and Wang Baolin from the Haitie Police Department in Inner Mongolia and personnel from the Yitie Police Department illegally arrested nine Falun Gong practitioners from Tulihe Township and Yitulihe Township in Yakeshi City.
Practitioner Min Daqing, a 26-year-old employee of the Yitie Electricity Department, was arrested at his workplace. The police confiscated the computer he was using at his workplace. The leaders at his workplace tried to stop the police from taking the computer, but the police forcibly took it away. After this incident, people at his workplace all said that this group of policemen were criminals. Later on, the police broke into Min Daqing's home to confiscate his private computer and Dafa books. Before leaving, they also took 1,300 yuan of his family's money. The police said that the cash was their "activity fees." In fact, it was what Mr. Min's family was living on.
A policeman asked Min Daqing's father to sign the list of goods that they took away. His father did not sign and said, "You took my belongings from my home and did not give me a receipt, and you even asked me to sign. Isn't this the behavior of a gangster?" The policeman could say nothing.
Mr. Zou Yugui, in his thirties, is an employee of the Yitie House Property Department. On the afternoon of September 6, while on his way home from work, a group of policemen grabbed him from behind and put a bag over his head and then took him away. Later, they ransacked his home.
Ma Huilan (a retired official of the Yitie Veteran Cadre Section) was arrested on the street on September 6. The policemen sneaked up behind him, put a bag over his head and took him away. Ma Huilan was mentally traumatized by this sudden attack.
Policemen from the Haitie Police Department arrested practitioners in different places on September 6. They were Ms. Zhang Yuxiu (a 44-year-old employee of the Yitie Hospital), Ms. Wang Juan (an employee of the Yitie Station), Mr. Han (in his sixties, a retired employee in Yitie), and married couple Lu Quanwei and Lu Guiying (39, an employee of the Tulihe Forestry).
At present, five of the practitioners have been illegally sentenced to forced labor. The four other practitioners (Ma Huilan, Mr. Han, Lu Quanwei, and Wang Juan) have been released.
(Clearwisdom.net)
Today's report relates persecution incidents that involve 26 cities or counties in nine provinces. Thirty-nine Falun Gong practitioners were subjected to maltreatment during detention, and at least 23 practitioners were arrested in violation of the Chinese Constitution.
[Heilongjiang Province] Li Rongtang Held at the Lianjiangkou Prison
[Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province] Several Practitioners Stage Hunger Strikes
[Ling County, Shandong Province] Wang Chaolan and Her Son Arrested
[Qingdao City, Shandong Province] Wang Yuhui Illegally Sentenced to Forced Labor
[Dandong City, Liaoning Province] Police Arrest Wei Liming
[Daqing City, Heilongjiang Province] Police Arrest Li Bingying
[Beijing] Ge Xiangjun Sentenced to Forced Labor
[Hancheng City, Shaanxi Province] Wang Duo Still Being Held
[Mengyin County, Shandong Province] The Li Zongping Couple Arrested
[Jiaohe City, Jilin Province] Ms. Zheng Shuqing Transferred to the Jiaohe City Detention Center
[Zibo City, Shandong Province] Couple Xu Changzhi and Zhou Guoying Arrested
[Pengzhou City, Sichuan Province] Police Arrest Ye Anhui and Huang Jufen
[Jilin Province] Persecution of Gong Qiumin, Wu Chuanru and Xu Cuihua
[Qingdao City, Shandong Province] Supplemental Information Regarding the Arrest of Liu Shuxiang
[Dalian City, Liaoning Province] Zhou Guiling Arrested on December 19, 2007
[Tianjin] Ms. Feng Kun is Still Being Held at the Beichen Police Department
[Dalian City, Liaoning Province] Sun Yuzhi Arrested
[Gaomi City, Shandong Province] Zhao Fafu and His Son Arrested
[Yushu City, Jilin Province] Lu Xianfeng Will Be Sentenced in the Yushu City Court the Morning of December 26, 2007
[Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province] Police Arrest a Practitioner
[Chengdu City, Sichuan Province] Chen Shikun Arrested Again
[Daye City, Hubei Province] Ke Changyan Arrested
[Dongfeng County, Jilin Province] Wang Hui'en Sentenced to One Year of Forced Labor
[Guan County, Shandong Province] Zhang Jianguang and Zhang Hailu Put into the Jinan Forced Labor Camp
[Jiangsu Province] Liu Li Arrested at the Wujiang City's Taijinbao Company
[Yichun City, Heilongjiang Province] Liang Yuzeng Arrested
[Tangshan City, Hebei Province] Police Arrest Ms. Li Shuxia from the Fengnan District the Night of December 17, 2007
[Weifang City, Shandong Province] Yin Hua and Her Father Arrested
[Daqing City, Heilongjiang Province] Ms. Feng Lianxia and Ms. Yang from the Honggang District Arrested on December 21, 2007
[Baoding City, Hebei Province] Wangdu County 610 Office Agents Persecute Practitioners in Hanzhuang Township
[Shan County, Shandong Province] Qi Jiansheng and Wang Fenglan Arrested
[Beijing] Ms. Guo Xiujun and Mr. Su Keshun from Miyun County Arrested on December 21, 2007
[Jilin Province] Officers from the Yushu City Domestic Security Division Extort Money from Practitioners
1. [Heilongjiang Province] Li Rongtang Held at the Lianjiangkou Prison
Mr. Li Rongtang from Xinglonggang Town, Fujin City is presently being held at the Lianjiangkou Prison's No.3 Section of No.2 Ward. He recently announced that the five statements he had previously written under duress were invalid, so the police intensified his persecution on December 19, 2007. Policeman Li Jinkui incited criminals to physically abuse Mr. Li and subject him to sleep deprivation.
Mr. Li had been arrested in Yongqing Village, Jinshan Town and sentenced to six years in prison.
Lianjiangkou Prison's Administration Section: 86-454-8816209
"610 Office:" 86-454-8816610, 86-454-8816350
Zheng Engui, Fujin City "610 Office" head: 86-454-2351202 (H), 86-13946414366 (C)
2. [Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province] Several Practitioners Stage Hunger Strikes
Practitioners being held in Zhangjiakou City are staging persecution-protest hunger strikes. Several practitioners have been sent to the city's No.1 Hospital for force-feeding and intravenous transfusion. Ms. Guo Xiangrong and Ms. Guo Xiuhua received a transfusion on December 25, 2007.
3. [Ling County, Shandong Province] Wang Chaolan and Her Son Arrested
Seventy-year-old Ms. Wang Chaolan and her 40-year-old son Mr. Gao Xueliang were arrested on December 20, 2007. Several policemen, including Liu Yuanhe from the "610 Office", broke into their home and ransacked the place. The mother and son are presently being held at the county detention center.
Liu Yuanhe: 86-13792219669
4. [Qingdao City, Shandong Province] Wang Yuhui Illegally Sentenced to Forced Labor
Ms. Wang Yuhui, 60, lives in Huangtai Street, the Northern District, Qingdao City. Personnel from the Huangtai Street Police Precinct arrested her and held her for about two weeks in November 2007. When her family went to pick her up after two weeks, they were informed that Ms. Wang had been sent to the Wangcun Forced Labor Camp for a one-year term.
5. [Dandong City, Liaoning Province] Police Arrest Wei Liming
Personnel from the Zhenxing District Yongchang Police Station in Dandong City arrested 46-year-old Ms. Wei Liming at 7:00 p.m. on December 19, 2007. They ransacked her home and confiscated some Dafa books and a computer. Ms. Wei is presently being held at the city's Baifang Detention Center.
Ms. Wei had appealed on behalf of Falun Gong in Beijing twice and was held at the Masanjia Forced Labor Camp in December 1999 and October 2001.
Dandong City Yongchang Police Station: 86-415-3123574, 86-415-3156106
6. [Daqing City, Heilongjiang Province] Police Arrest Li Bingying
Five officers from the Daqing City's Babaishang Police Station knocked on the door of Ms. Li Bingying's home on the night of December 22, 2007 and lied, saying they wanted to talk with Ms. Li's husband. After they entered the home, they ransacked the place and confiscated some Falun Gong materials. Ms. Li has been held at the police station since then.
Li Daming, 86-459-4980777, 86-13836709003, 86-459-4612473
Ma Xinke, Political Committee chief: 86-459-4980123, 86-13329500833, 86-459-6295345
Liu Yuhu, deputy chief: 86-459-4986123, 86-13836709055, 86-459-6781983
7. [Beijing] Ge Xiangjun Sentenced to Forced Labor
Forty-year-old Ms. Ge Xiangjun from Yanqing County is a housewife. Police arrested her and put her in the county's detention center on November 22, 2007. After Ms. Ge's family requested her release, she was released five days later. However, personnel from the county's "610 Office" and the county's Domestic Security Division broke into Ms. Ge's home again on December 17, 2007. They said that Ms. Ge had been sentenced to two years of forced labor.
8. [Hancheng City, Shaanxi Province] Wang Duo Still Being Held
Personnel from the Weinan City Police Department and Hancheng City's Xiangshan Police Station's "610 Office" head Chen Zhong arrested Mr. Wang Duo, a retired employee from the Hancheng Power Plant, on October 27, 2007. They also arrested Mr. Wang's wife Ms. Zhang Xiuzhen and confiscated 300 Yuan, an Internet card, a computer, a printer, a motorcycle, a cellular phone, an MP3 player, a paper cutter, two boxes of white paper, two cases of ink, some Dafa books and Falun Gong materials.
Ms. Zhang was bailed out on November 3, 2007. Hancheng City Procuratorate agents have issued an arrest certificate for Mr. Wang. He is presently being held at the city's detention center.
9. [Mengyin County, Shandong Province] The Li Zongping Couple Arrested
Personnel from the Jiuzhai Township Police Station arrested Mr. Li Zongping's wife from Jiuzhai Township, Mengyin County on December 20, 2007. Personnel from the township's police station and from the "610 Office" broke into Mr. Li's home and ransacked the place that same day. They also took Mr. Li away by force. The couple's current whereabouts are unknown.
10. [Jiaohe City, Jilin Province] Ms. Zheng Shuqing Transferred to the Jiaohe City Detention Center
Li Xingfu, Songjiang Police Station chief: 86-13804449216
11. [Zibo City, Shandong Province] Couple Xu Changzhi and Zhou Guoying Arrested
Mr. Xu Changzhi is an employee from the Shandong Province Ruiyang Pharmaceuticals Company. Ms. Zhou Guoying is a retired employee from the Yiyuan County Paper Mill.
Police arrested Mr. Xu Changzhi on the night of December 9, 2007 for putting up Falun Gong materials. Ms. Zhou asked around the next day and found that her husband had been arrested. When she returned home, police were ransacking her home. They arrested her and put her into the Chengguan Police Department, followed by incarceration at the Zhangdian Detention Center. Mr. Xu is presently being held at the county's detention center.
It was reported that police had monitored the couple and their phones for a long time.
Domestic Security Division: 86-533-2139610
Xi Huaiyou, Yiyuan County "610 Office" head: 86-533-3223610
12. [Pengzhou City, Sichuan Province] Police Arrest Ye Anhui and Huang Jufen
Two officers from the Pengzhou City's Guankou Police Station arrested Ms. Ye Anhui and Ms. Huang Jufen on December 13, 2007 when the two women explained the facts about Falun Gong in Pengzhou City's Sanmeishui District . Police ransacked Ms. Huang's room and confiscated some Dafa books and an MP3 player. Police tortured and interrogated the two women several times, but did not get any information from them. They were released the same afternoon.
13. [Jilin Province] Persecution of Gong Qiumin, Wu Chuanru and Xu Cuihua
Personnel from the Dayangcha Police Station in the Jiangyuan District, Baishan City arrested Ms. Gong Qiumin, Ms. Wu Chuanru and Ms. Xu Cuihua on December 20, 2007. They were put into the city's detention center and the district's detention center.
Ms. Gong has not taken fluids and eaten for several days and is extremely weak. It is heard that Ms. Wu and Ms. Xu have also been on persecution-protest hunger strikes for several days.
Pei Guangyu, Baishan City Detention Center chief: 86-439-3228101
Wang and Wu, deputy chiefs: 86-439-322541
Li Li, Dayangcha Police Station policeman who handle their cases: 86-13894006623
Chu Bingwu, Jiangyuan District "610 Office" head: 86-13843960055
Sun Jinghui, Jiangyuan District Domestic Security Division chief: 86-13894739969, 86-439-3814017 (O)
14. [Qingdao City, Shandong Province] Supplemental Information Regarding the Arrest of Liu Shuxiang
Ms. Liu Shuxiang, a teacher from the Chengqu Yuehu Primary School in Laixi City, was arrested the morning of July 17, 2007. When she called her relatives that day, policeman Song Wenzhe in the New Chengqu Village monitored their conversation. Police arrested her on her way to the railway station and put her in the Chengguan Police Station. They held her for 28 hours and found the key to her home in her handbag. Police then used the key and ransacked Ms. Liu's home They officially arrested Ms. Liu and put her into the Qingdao City's Dashan Detention Center on July 28, 2007. Ms. Liu was sentenced to four years in prison on November 8, 2007. Ms. Liu Zhonghua from Rizhuang Town, Laixi City and Ms. Wang Renfang from Sunshou Town were sentenced along with her to five and eight years in prison, respectively.
The above three practitioners appealed to the Qingdao City Intermediate Court on November 12, 2007.
Wu Jinxi, Police Department chief: 86-532-88461678 (O), 86-532-88483613 Ext. 8661 (H)
Cheng Xianzhang, court chief: 86-532-88478988 (O), 86-532-88466168 (H), 86-13905425066 (C)
Zhang Xiaomei, "610 Office" deputy head: 86-532-88405610, 86-13791973266 (C)
15. [Dalian City, Liaoning Province] Zhou Guiling Arrested on December 19, 2007
Personnel from the Zhoushuizi Police Station and from the Chunliu Police Station arrested Ms. Zhou Guiling from her home near Chunliu Street on December 19, 2007. Police ransacked her home and confiscated a laptop computer and two printers.
Zhoushuizi Police Station: 86-411-86653560-8301
Chunliu Police Station: 86-411-86651359, Chief's office: 8403
16. [Tianjin] Ms. Feng Kun is Still Being Held at the Beichen Police Department
17. [Dalian City, Liaoning Province] Sun Yuzhi Arrested
Personnel from the Yanqing County Police Department arrested 66-year-old Ms. Sun Yuzhi from Jinzhou's Dengshahe Town on December 20, 2007. The arrest happened as Ms. Sun distributed Falun Gong materials near the Great Wall in Beijing. Dengshahe Town Political and Judiciary Committee chief Cong Changling brought Ms. Sun back to a local police station the morning of December 24, 2007. Police station deputy chief Wei Xuexin transferred her to another police station. Cong Changling ordered Ms. Sun's husband to pay 5,000 Yuan, but he refused. Cong Changling became angry and said that he would sentence Ms. Sun to three years of forced labor.
Cong Changling, Dengshahe Town Political and Judiciary Committee chief: 86-411-87230579 (O), 86-411-87800579 (H), 86-13504112156 (C)
Guan Bin, Dengshahe Police Station chief: 86-411-87234477 (O), 86-13500765293 (C), 86-411-87680607 (H)
18. [Gaomi City, Shandong Province] Zhao Fafu and His Son Arrested
Personnel from the Damujia Police Station, headed by Li Zuodong, went to Mr. Zhao Fafu's home in Yuanli Village at 9:00 a.m. on December 21, 2007. They ransacked the place and confiscated some copies of Minghui Weekly. Police brutally beat Mr. Zhao and his son, knocking Mr. Zhao's son unconscious. Police first sent Mr. Zhao to the Damujia Hospital, and then put him in the police station. Mr. Zhao and his son were held at the police station for three days. Police attempted to put them in a detention center, but officials there refused to admit Mr. Zhao because of his poor health. Mr. Zhao was diagnosed with femoral head necrosis, rheumatoid arthritis and heart disease. He was released in the afternoon of December 23, 2007. His son was held for ten days in the police station.
19. [Yushu City, Jilin Province] Lu Xianfeng Will Be Sentenced in the Yushu City Court the Morning of December 26, 2007
20. [Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province] Police Arrest a Practitioner
Police arrested a practitioner from Fanshi County, Xinzhou City on December 19, 2007. The practitioner is presently being held at the county's detention center.
Xu Hongwei, Fanshi County Police Department chief: 86-350-5560118
21. [Chengdu City, Sichuan Province] Chen Shikun Arrested Again
Personnel from the Chengdu City Domestic Security Division and from the city's police department arrested 50-year-old Ms. Chen Shikun again in late November of 2007. Ms. Chen had been arrested and her home had been ransacked in August 2007. She was held at the city's Xinjin Brainwashing Center and was later released because of the abrupt onset of her heart disease.
22. [Daye City, Hubei Province] Ke Changyan Arrested
Police arrested 48-year-old Mr. Ke Changyan from his home in Mingshan Township, Daye City and put him into the city's No.2 Detention Center on December 10, 2007.
Daye City Domestic Security Division: 86-714-8773068, 86-714-8773019
23. [Dongfeng County, Jilin Province] Wang Hui'en Sentenced to One Year of Forced Labor
Ms. Wang Hui'en from Dongfeng County was sentenced to one year of forced labor. She was put in Changchun City's Chaoyanggou Forced Labor Camp on December 13, 2007.
Gu Jiahai, Dongfeng County Police Department's Domestic Security Division: 86-13134373888
24. [Guan County, Shandong Province] Zhang Jianguang and Zhang Hailu Put into the Jinan Forced Labor Camp
Forty-three-year-old Mr. Zhang Jianguang from Yulintou Village, Liangtang Township, Guan County and 49-year-old Mr. Zhang Hailu from Jiazhenwali Village were arrested and put into the Jinan City Forced Labor Camp on December 13, 2007.
25. [Jiangsu Province] Liu Li Arrested at the Wujiang City's Taijinbao Company
Ms. Liu Li, 29 years old, is from Jingmen City, Hubei Province. She was arrested from the Wujiang City's Taijinbao Company in the afternoon of November 29, 2007, and she is presently being held at the city's detention center.
26. [Yichun City, Heilongjiang Province] Liang Yuzeng Arrested
Mr. Liang Yuzeng is an employee from the Jinshantun District Kunlun Forestry Factory. Personnel from the district's "610 Office" and from the Dakunlun Police Station broke into Mr. Liang's home and attempted to arrest him in the afternoon of October 4, 2007. Mr. Liang escaped and has been living in exile since then.
Police arrested Mr. Liang and put him in the Dakunlun Police Station on December 21, 2007. Police Chief Ji Cheng and "610 Office" head Xiao Jingyu interrogated Mr. Liang, and they put him in the district's detention center on December 22, 2007.
Xiao Jingyu, "610 Office" head: 86-458-3738551 (O), 86-13945880911 (C)
Ji Cheng, Dakunlun Police Station: 86-458-3738111 (O)
Dakunlun Factory director: 86-458-377211 (O)
27. [Tangshan City, Hebei Province] Police Arrest Ms. Li Shuxia from the Fengnan District the Night of December 17, 2007
Policeman Li: 86-13780502262
28. [Weifang City, Shandong Province] Yin Hua and Her Father Arrested
Ms. Yin Hua from Zhangjializhao Village, Yangshan Town, Linqu County, Weifang City was arrested on December 20, 2007 when she distributed Falun Gong materials in the Dongcheng District of Linqu County. She is presently being held at the county's detention center. Police ransacked her home and confiscated a computer, a printer, some Dafa books and other materials. Her father is also being held at the detention center.
29. [Daqing City, Heilongjiang Province] Ms. Feng Lianxia and Ms. Yang from the Honggang District Arrested on December 21, 2007
30. [Baoding City, Hebei Province] Wangdu County "610 Office" Agents Persecute Practitioners in Hanzhuang Township
Twenty policemen and personnel from the Hanzhuang Township "610 Office" in Wangdu County, Baoding City ransacked practitioners' homes in seven villages in Hanzhuang Township on September 24, 2007. They arrested five practitioners. One practitioner has been released; one has been bailed out; the other three have been sentenced to forced labor.
Police confiscated a satellite TV receiver, two satellite antennas, some truth-clarifying materials and Dafa books from Ms. Zheng Caiqin's home. They arrested Ms. Zheng and put her into the county's police department, followed by incarceration in the Shijiazhuang City Forced Labor Camp. Officials in the camp refused to admit her because of her disqualifying health condition. She has been released.
Police confiscated two satellite antennas, a satellite TV receiver and Falun Gong exercise tapes from Ms. Tian Xiuling's home. She has been sent to a force labor camp.
Police confiscated a satellite TV receiver and some CDs and Dafa books from Ms. Cao Sukun's home. Ms. Cao is presently being held at the Shijiazhuang City Forced Labor Camp. Police confiscated some Dafa books from Ms. Xiaohong's home and put her into the Shijiazhuang City Forced Labor Camp.
31. [Shan County, Shandong Province] Qi Jiansheng and Wang Fenglan Arrested
Personnel from the Shan County Nanguan Police Station arrested Mr. Qi Jiansheng and Ms. Wang Fenglan on December 23, 2007 as they distributed Falun Gong materials. Their homes were ransacked.
32. [Beijing] Ms. Guo Xiujun and Mr. Su Keshun from Miyun County Arrested on December 21, 2007
33. [Jilin Province] Officers from the Yushu City Domestic Security Division Extort Money from Practitioners
Personnel from the Yushu City Police Department's National Security Division and from local police stations arrested several practitioners and put them into a detention center in August 2007. They are Ms. Zuo Zhongren, Mr. Cao Guoliang, Ms. Liu Shihua, Ms. Cui Zhanyun, Ms. Man Shujie, Ms. Jin Shujun, Mr. Xu Yaxuan, Mr. Lu Xianfeng and Mr. Zhu Deyun.
After being held for 15 days, Ms. Man, Ms. Jin and Ms. Xu were transferred to the Changchun City's Heizuizi Forced Labor Camp and the Chaoyanggou Forced Labor Camp, but camp officials refused to admit them. Policemen took them back to the Yushu City Detention Center and ordered their families to pay 1,000 Yuan and another 2,500 Yuan accommodation fee. Personnel from the National Security Division and from a hospital in Changchun City have extorted nearly 10,000 Yuan from Ms. Jin's family.
(Clearwisdom.net) On the 29th of December, the European Divine Land Marching Band paraded through the main streets and Chinese quarter of Paris, France, showing people the beauty of Falun Dafa. Others in the parade supported the wave of renouncements of CCP membership, which now total over 30 million.
Nearly two hundred practitioners took part in the parade. The Band itself is comprised of over musicians. This was the second performance for the Divine Land Band in Paris since it was formed in 2006.
Divine Land Marching Band
Falun Gong parade entry
Practitioners told people about the goodness of Falun Gong and the horrors of the persecution over a PA system.
People of Paris Enjoy Divine Land Marching Band's performance
In the misty and rainy Paris morning, the parade set off after the lighting of fire crackers. When the band played their first piece of music, a pure sound penetrated the sky. The rain stopped and people felt refreshed by the blue and white colors the band members were wearing, matching the blue sky and white clouds. The pieces the marching band performed included "Falun Dafa is good", "Fa rectifies the cosmos" and Beethoven's famous "Ode to Joy". When people heard the music, smiles were seen on their faces.
One lady said that the band is truly great and the music they performed beautiful. She felt they had shown China in a new light. Another French lady felt that the band was truly stunning and brought life into the city. A young person from south Asia said that the band was breathtaking.
People are willing to learn the truth
The parade moved people's hearts. Passing through Chinatown, thousands of Chinese people watched the band with eyes wide open. Some workers even rushed out of their workplaces in their uniforms to experience the glorious atmosphere left by the Falun Gong practitioners. People read slogans about quitting the CCP and listened to the loudspeakers urging people to quit the Party. People watched, listened and did not want to leave. Their faces showed thought, hope and joy.
A couple from Geneva saw the parade and asked question after question, their main aim being to find out exactly what the nature of the CCP is. They sincerely hoped practitioners can successfully carry on the task of bringing truth to people and one day stop the persecution.
Another spectator expressed that practitioners were lucky in being able to come to France to let people know the truth. He felt that standing up against the persecution was the best way and that practitioners did it very well by using their confidence and freedom, whilst supporting each other in their actions. He felt that their actions were much better than keeping silent.
China without the CCP would be better
When a French lady understood what "China is beginning a new life, the CCP is disintegrating" meant, she agreed with it immediately and said, "If China does not have the CCP, everyone would be able to live better, because people do not need such a party." A Vietnamese spectator also told us how he dislikes the CCP and believes that China would be greater without the CCP. Mr. Zhang from the PSD further said, "The CCP truly committed a serious crime against China. A Party like this, they have done too many bad things. Once the right time comes, they will perish overnight. This is unquestionable."
(Clearwisdom.net) For Westerners, Christmas is a time for family and friends to gather together. Just after Christmas, on December 29, a group of practitioners gathered in front of the Chinese Embassy in Stockholm, the capital city of Sweden. They sat in candlelight, protesting the CCP's brutal persecution of Falun Dafa.
Practitioners protest the persecution in front of the Chinese Embassy in Sweden
A girl and her mother deliver a letter to the Chinese Embassy asking for an end to the persecution.
The sun hung low in the sky at two o'clock in the afternoon on this winter day in Stockholm. A cold drizzle began to fall. Most of those protesting had not brought rain gear, but even as the rain fell and the wind blew, the faces of the practitioners reflected their tranquility and sense of purpose. They prepared for their candlelight vigil by lighting the candles and putting them in order, delivering Falun Dafa truth clarification materials to passers-by, and sending righteous thoughts. Everybody cooperated very well. During the two and half hours in front of the Chinese Embassy, hardly a voice was heard. There was no leader, even a coordinator, but every task was carried out quietly and efficiently.
A pretty ten-year-old girl and her entire family came from Arvika. She wrote a letter to the Chinese Embassy in sincere and pure language to ask for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong, because cultivation of Dafa can make one healthy and it is truly a very good thing. She drew a picture with a lotus flower bookmark and took it to the Embassy with her mother.
In the last eight years, as the persecution of Falun Gong in China has intensified, practitioners around the world have held many peaceful protests in many different places. This Christmas activity was only one of many peaceful appeals.
(Clearwisdom.net) With the new year of 2008 approaching, many companies and communities in Taiwan hold new year celebration activities. The Court Villa community in Taipei held its annual celebration recently, and practitioners took this opportunity to introduce Falun Dafa to the local population.
A continuous stream of people attended the celebration, even though it was a little chilly on December 29. Falun Gong practitioners prepared informational materials and a poster about the Divine Performing Arts company. They played a video highlighting NTDTV's Chinese New Year Spectacular and demonstrated the Falun Gong exercises for ten minutes.
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Refreshments were provided at the celebration, and neighbors greeted each other warmly. The busy room quickly became quiet when the Falun Gong exercise music started. The audience watched the exercise demonstration carefully. A practitioner introduced the exercises, the book Zhuan Falun and the Falun Gong principle of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance between the exercises. The community residents were immersed in a peaceful atmosphere watching the exercises and listening to the soothing music.
(Clearwisdom.net) The premiere of the Chinese New Year Spectacular show in Philadelphia was presented on the evening of January 4, 2008 at the Merriam Theatre. As the Divine Performing Arts Group arrived, the Greater Philadelphia mainstream media reported about and sponsored the show. The Bulletin published an article in its Guide to Winter Culture, commenting that the Chinese New Year Spectacular presents "visually stunning extravaganzas" celebrating The Chinese New Year.
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The report said, "With Philadelphia the first stop during a tour of more than 50 international cities, 'Chinese New Year Spectacular' will dazzle audiences during New Tang Dynasty TV's (NTDTV) visually stunning extravaganzas at the Merriam Theater."
"From Jan. 4-6, five performances of traditional dances, songs and symphony will kick off this worldwide celebration. ... NTDTV's spectacular will reflect the richness of China's 5,000 years of history and traditions. More than 100 ornately costumed dancers and singers will enact traditional Chinese myths and legends to ring in the Year of the Rat, which begins on Feb. 7."
" 'Chinese New Year Spectacular' features performances by world-class artists including Guimin Guan, one of the outstanding tenors from China; Erhuist Xiaochun Qi, who has played the traditional Chinese string instrument for international audiences, and conductor Rutang Chen, a cellist for China's Central Philharmonic Society Orchestra for more than three decades before moving to the United States. Chen's wife Ningfang, a flutist, and son Gang, a bassoonist, join him on stage; daughter Ying works behind the scenes as stage manager.
"New Tang Dynasty TV (NTDTV), based in New York City, is an independent, nonprofit Chinese- and English-language broadcaster in North America, Asia, Europe and Australia. The Greater Philadelphia Asian Culture Center (GPACC) is a nonprofit, educational organization showcasing the Asian culture's beauty to enhance mutual understanding between East and West as well as to connect Asian American and mainstream communities.
" 'Chinese New Year Spectacular' will be performed on Jan.4 at 8p.m., Jan. 5 at 2 and 8 p.m., and Jan. 6 at 2 and 7 p.m. For more information, call (856) 437-4826, or visit www.bestchineseshows.com."
(Clearwisdom.net) On January 3, 2008, on Global TV-Quebec's live show, "This Morning Live," host Tracey McKee talked about the NTDTV Chinese New Year Spectacular coming to Montreal this year.
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During the show, Francis Madore, a local NTDTV show promoter, and Tracey McKee, host of "This Morning Live," talked about NTDTV, Divine Performing Arts Company, the characteristics of Chinese culture, and features of the arts in the New Year Spectacular. The TV station also played clips of past Spectacular shows and gave information on its website. At the end of the show, the NTDTV dancing lions were invited to the studio to perform.
After the show was finished recording, the TV staff cheered and applauded the lion dance. They also thanked the NTDTV members for coming and for their cooperation throughout the broadcast.
Montreal is one of the over 60 cities on the 2008 NTDTV Chinese New Year Spectacular world tour. Divine Performing Arts will perform four shows at the Theatre de Maisonneuve, located at the Place Des Arts, from January 15 to 17.
Canada's Global TV is a state wide English TV network that has stations in major cities in Canada.
(Clearwisdom.net) New Tang Dynasty's (NTDTV) Chinese New Year Spectacular kicked off its world tour on the evening of January 4, 2008 at the Merriam Theater in Philadelphia. The Greater Philadelphia media reported on this largest yet Chinese New Year celebration to be staged.
The Gloucester County Times in South New Jersey published a report on its Recreation page on December 21, 2007, stating "Philadelphia will kick off the largest celebration of Chinese Culture in the world with five performances of New Tang Dynasty TV's Chinese New Year Spectacular Jan. 4, 5 and 6 at the Merriam Theater."
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The report said, "The show promises to transport audiences across the oceans and centuries to experience China's 5,000 years of history and traditions. More than 100 ornately costumed dancers and singers will enact traditional Chinese myths and legends to ring in the year of the rat, which begin on Feb. 7."
The report also stated that the Chinese New Year Spectacular features performances by such world class artists as Tenor Guimin Guan, Erhuist Xiaochun Qi, and Conductor Rutang Chen.
The report said that Erhuist Xiaochun Qi has played the traditional Chinese stringed instrument to symphony audiences in Geneva, Boston, New York, Toronto and Houston; and Conductor Rutang Chen was a cellist for China's Central Philharmonic Society Orchestra for more than three decades before moving to the United States. Chen is joined on stage by his wife Ningfang, a flutist, and his son, Gang, a bassoonist. Chen's daughter, Ying, works behind the scenes as stage manager.
"Two troupes [companies] will stage more than 150 live performances in over 50 cities around the world. By comparison, last year, the annual tour presented 81 shows in 32 cities. " According to Rutang Chen, it is the Chinese Spectacular's uniqueness and beauty that draws audiences."
Chinese New Year Spectacular will be performed Friday, Jan. 4 at 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 5 at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 6 at 2 and 7 p.m. at Merriam Theater, 260 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102. Tickets--available through Ticketmaster--are $38 to $108. (856) 437-4826. www.bestchineseshows.com.
(Clearwisdom.net)
Belief Brought a Miracle to a 92-Year-Old Man Who Broke His Leg
A 92-year-old man from Qianwangzhuang Village, Xiliucun Town (in Zunhua City, Hebei Province) fell down unexpectedly when going out in early November 2007. After two x-ray exams, it was diagnosed that his left leg was broken. Due to his old age, both the doctor and his family feared failure in any operation. His son is a Falun Gong practitioner. After learning of the situation, he wrote "Falun Dafa is good" on a piece of paper and asked his father to recite it. Twenty-one days later, the old man had another check-up. The doctor pointed at the new x-ray and said: "It's hard to tell which leg is broken now." The family member went to consult with several other doctors and received the same answer. The doctor also commented: "How come an old man like him recovered that fast? Even a young man will not recover so quickly!" The old man's son replied excitedly: "It was because I asked my father to recite 'Falun Dafa is good.' That is the reason."
The whole family is grateful to Dafa and Master for saving the old man.
A 5-year-old Child Said Master Saved His Life
My nephew Jiejie turned five years old this September. He attended kindergarten and preschool in my hometown village in Jiangxi Province. Each time I went back for a family visit, I would show him a photo of Master Li Hongzhi, and I told him to be a good boy by following Master's teaching of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance." I also told him stories and watched the video with him. He seemed to like it very much.
One day after school in the first half of this year, he played with a younger girl by a pool. Heedlessly, he fell into the pool, and the water reached almost up to his neck. After he came back home, he told his grandma about it and scared her a lot. His grandma wanted to know who had saved him, but the little boy claimed that he got out by himself. His grandma couldn't believe his words because the steps are steep and slippery. It was also quite deep, so it was quite difficult for a child to climb out. But Jiejie insisted: "I got out by myself. It was uncle's Master who saved my life."
I went back to visit my family again the other day, and I took them a calendar with pictures from the "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Art Exhibition." When Jiejie turned to the page showing Master "Turning the Great Law Wheel," he said: "This is the Master who saved me!"
(Clearwisdom.net) Master's "Fa-Teaching Given to Australian Practitioners" in August 2007 encouraged me greatly. I really felt an urgency to clarify the truth and offer people salvation.
I began cultivation in February 1999. After the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party was published, I chose to travel around on foot to promote the book and to convince people to quit the Party. So far I have convinced more than 11,000 people to quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Communist Youth League. The following are my experiences.
Abandoning Human Notions and Purging Attachments
I decided to leave home because of the persecution. Living in a strange city I faced two choices: hiding somewhere and doing nothing, or going out in public to clarify the truth.
I recalled Master's words, "Everything you, a cultivator, encounter is related to your cultivation and Consummation, or else those things absolutely would not exist." ("Dafa is All-Encompassing" from Essentials for Further Advancement II)
I knew that it was not a coincidence that I escaped being captured by the police. I realized that Master's purpose for me is not to hide.
"You should know that people who are to be saved need to pay off, through arduous cultivation, all the sins and karma that they generated in the past doing bad things, they need to get rid of their human attachments and all the other bad things that they carry, and at the same time they need to rectify their behavior and thinking. Only then can they be saved." ("The Vows of Gods are Being Fulfilled" from Essentials for Further Advancement II)
I knew that I must step forward to clarify the truth and cultivate myself solidly; only then can I make progress and follow Master in Fa-rectification.
I encountered many difficulties, the main one being my own fear. I was afraid of running into people who know me; afraid of being arrested again or of bad people reporting me; afraid of police cars... I read the Fa and fellow practitioners' sharing articles. I realized the reason for my fear was my lack of calm Fa study. I hadn't really understood that, "The Fa can break all attachments, the Fa can destroy all evil, the Fa can shatter all lies, and the Fa can strengthen righteous thoughts." ("Drive Out Interference" from Essentials for Further Advancement II)
Master said in "Study the Fa Well, and Getting Rid of Attachments is Not Hard," (2005)
"The fact is, those who can't step forward, regardless of the excuse, are concealing fear. Yet for cultivators, fear or lack thereof proves [one's] humanity or divinity, and it is what differentiates cultivators from ordinary people. It is something that a cultivator must face, and the biggest human attachment that a cultivator must remove."
If a Dafa disciple is unable to abandon fear, he or she is powerless to clarify the truth. As a Dafa disciple on the path to divinity who is protected by Master, what am I afraid of? To get rid of fear, initially I made myself clarify the truth to people, even if at first they didn't want to listen to me. Soon, I overcame the fear.
I read the Fa every day and clarified the truth in society every day. My xinxing improved. Now I don't have any fear. Sometimes I even clarify the truth next to police cars. I convinced more and more people to quit the Party. Among those that quit are high-ranking government officials, policemen, and 610 Office agents.
Looking Inward during Difficulties; Keeping the Salvation of Sentient Beings in Mind at Every Moment
When I travel around to save people I encounter many tribulations. How do I deal with difficulties and offer as many people as possible salvation? The only way to deal with tribulations is to look inward and measure myself against the Fa. By validating the Fa, I improve, keeping the salvation of people constantly in mind. The Fa rectifying the human world is imminent. Many sentient beings are in danger of being eliminated because of the evil persecution, making it urgent to offer them salvation. However, when my human notions were overwhelming, I wanted to slack off. I knew I had not completely denied the old forces' arrangement, and that I must read the Fa more and raise my comprehension of the Fa teachings.
One month ago, as I was clarifying the truth to people, I encountered a retired high-ranking CCP officer and asked him whether or not he quit the Party. He yelled at me and insulted me. I was frustrated, feeling I that I had made myself vulnerable to insults. But soon I realized this to be an incorrect thought, and that the old forces would take advantage of my thought process. When I realized this, the interference from the old forces stopped.
Master said in "Be clearheaded" (2004), "The old forces are in essence gigantic trials and tribulations that accompany you at all times, focused on whether in Fa-rectification Dafa disciples are able to step forward."
I was then aware that there are two kinds of selfishness we need to get rid of: the selfishness of the old universe, and the concept of selfishness in our minds and thought karma generated from our concepts.
Master told us more than once that cultivation is a process during which we need to rid ourselves of human notions and attachments; that we need to correct every wrong thought; that this is the path every cultivator must travel during Fa-rectification while offering sentient beings salvation.
I realized the reasons for my four arrests during the past two years to be my lack of strong righteous thoughts and having traveled the path the old forces had arranged without being aware of it. When I had strong righteous thoughts and did what Master requires, everything was smooth, and sometimes miracles happened. Last September I was arrested when clarifying the truth and was sent to a police station. Five hours later I escaped while eight policemen were watching me. It seemed that I walked in another dimension so that the policemen could not see me. When I went through the gate, the policeman on duty looked at me and tried to ask me something. He opened his mouth, but could not say anything. I had two other experiences where people tried to catch me when I was clarifying the truth, but I sent strong righteous thoughts to stop them, and they were unable to do a thing.
My tribulations were due to my incorrect thoughts and fears and other attachments; clarifying the truth is not the reason for tribulations. We should look inward when encountering tribulations. Nothing can sway a genuine cultivator whose mind is always on saving people. Such a cultivator is capable of accomplishing anything.
Solidly Cultivating Myself while Clarifying the Truth and Convincing People to Quit the Party
Prior to becoming a cultivator, my biggest problem was laziness. During the early stages of my travels to offer people salvation, when daytime activities had exhausted me I could not read the Fa well at night. I thought, "How can I get rid of my desire for comfort?" I decided that I must set some parameters for myself. I set three goals and vowed to Master that I would do well, no matter how big the tribulations. The goals were these:
1. Be diligent. I must go out to convince people to quit the Party, no matter what the weather, and whether or not it is a holiday. I must go out to clarify the truth for nine hours a day. I would leave at 8:30 in the morning and return at 4:30 in the afternoon. I must walk for at least 15 miles every day. I eat lunch outside. I cook and have dinner from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. I go out to clarify the truth again from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. I read the Fa and send righteous thoughts from 8:30p.m. - 12:30 a.m. From 12:30 to 4:30 a.m. I sleep. Then I get up to do the exercises and send righteous thoughts. I don't take a bus or taxi when traveling, unless I need to go to another town.
2. Get rid of the attachment to food and comfort; stay in the cheapest hotel and eat the cheapest food.
3. Get rid of the attachment to fun. I don't watch TV or go to tourist spots. I only do what a Dafa disciple should do.
My attachment to comfort is very strong. Sometimes, if the weather is not good and few people are on the street I get exhausted and my legs get swollen. If that happens, I often tell myself that Master will understand if I don't go out to clarify the truth the next day. However, the oaths I swore in front of Master's portrait also jump into my mind, which always drive away my unrighteous thoughts. Since I am a Dafa disciple, I should do whatever I vowed to Master. No matter how much pain my legs and feet are in, the pain disappears after I finish the exercises in the morning. My xinxing and ability to clarify the truth and convince people to quit the Party have also improved.
I realized the effect of clarifying the truth and convincing people to quit the Party does not depend on one's ability to speak well or education level; it depends on one's compassionate heart and on one's wish to offer people salvation. When my divine side is strong I feel strong energy around me, people are willing to listen to me and I enjoy clarifying the truth. I can tell it is Master's Fashen helping me. Fellow practitioners have clarified the truth and promoted the Nine Commentaries for a few years, so most people have heard about quitting the Party. I have convinced many people to quit the Party. Superficially viewed this might look to be my achievement, but is actually due to the united efforts of many fellow practitioners as a whole body. What I have done is simply the final step in completing the whole process.
Suggestions: Never miss an opportunity to talk to people who smile or wave at you. Those are the predestined ones for you to clarify the truth to. Most of the people I encountered quit the Party. Also, I always pay attention to the people around me and focus on looking for people to clarify the truth to when I am walking in the streets. Master always arranges for me to meet people who have a predestined relationship with me.
Sometimes I have problems. Looked at from an everyday person's viewpoint the problems are impossible to solve, but with strong righteous thoughts we can change everything. Our human mindset must not limit us. Dafa disciples have divine powers. We should remember,
"Gods walk the earth,
validating the Fa."
("What's to fear", Hong Yin II, English Translation Version A)
People's minds are easy to change. When we have strong righteous thoughts we can change their minds, and miracles will happen.
(Clearwisdom.net) I was deeply moved after reading articles on Clearwisdom written by other practitioners about righteous thoughts and righteous actions, which reminded me of two incidents that happened to me in 2004.
The first incident was when our truth-clarification materials distribution site was disrupted. I wanted to go to the site to study the local situation before discussing with fellow practitioners what to do. When I left a practitioner's home, I walked about 200 yards and then got in a taxi. However, two people jumped into the taxi with me and refused to get out. I immediately realized that I was being followed. At this time, Master's teachings rang in my mind, "Just by staying unaffected you will be able to handle all situations." ("Teaching the Fa at the Conference in the Midwest-U.S.") They asked the taxi driver to take them to their destination first. I was not afraid, my mind was empty, and I did not turn around to look at them. When the taxi arrived at two different destinations, they refused to get out and redirected the taxi to a small shop nearby. I immediately realized that even though Dafa disciples are compassionate, we also have a dignified side. The materials production site was only 300 meters away. When the taxi reached the small shop, I said sternly, "Shouldn't you get out now?" They hurriedly scrambled out of the taxi. As the taxi pulled away, there was a car following us and I could also see another police car further behind.
The second incident was when I was delivering materials to a fellow practitioner. When I returned a phone call to another practitioner, someone eavesdropped on us. In less than ten minutes, my home was broken into and I was arrested in my rented apartment. Nine days later, I walked out of detention with the help of many practitioners' righteous support and with strong belief in Master and Dafa.
These two incidents made me realize that divine or human thoughts result in far different outcomes, and that "selflessness and altruism" ("Non-Omission in Buddha Nature" in Essentials for Further Advancement) is the correct attitude for Dafa disciples faced with persecution in the Fa-Rectification period. We should look inside whenever we face any problems, and we should also measure each and every thought and deed according to Fa principles and do well the Three Things.
(Clearwisdom.net) Sharing experiences with others, I often heard about practitioners who donated lots of money to make truth clarification materials, and others who distributed many truth clarification materials over the course of a one year, etc. In other words, I got the impression I was being told that, "These practitioners are great, and we should all learn from them." I would like to share my opinion about this.
If these practitioners treat donating money as a condition for consummation, treat distributing material as the payoff for their good health, then they have made a big mistake. Can money buy the status of a Buddha? It definitely can not. No matter how many materials have been given out, how many things we did for Dafa, these are all done for ourselves. Not a single one was done for others. We do things for Dafa, how can we bargain with Dafa? What a bad thought! How selfish! In order to save sentient beings, Master paid a lot. Compared to him we are insignificant. If we can not do well, how can we be qualified to be Master's disciples?
I didn't do well in the past. I treated doing things for Dafa as cultivation and attached importance to how much money was donated to the material center. This is a fundamental mistake. We are the particles of Dafa, doing things for Dafa is the same as doing things for ourselves. It's just like eating food and drinking water. Whatever we do for Dafa, we all have to make sure our fundamental or initial thoughts are correct. As long as we choose our cultivation way, we have no other choice. We must keep righteous thoughts and do righteous deeds. Do the three things well, and everything will come along by itself.
(Clearwisdom.net) Officers from a local police station harass the families of Falun Gong practitioners. Under the pretense of making investigative "follow up visits," police go to the practitioners' homes and inquire as to their whereabouts. Several practitioners easily eliminated this interference with righteous thoughts.
One of these practitioners is a businessman. One day he visited a shop on business. The shop owner had practiced Falun Dafa for a while before the persecution began. However, after the persecution started, the owner no longer practiced Falun Dafa because he feared arrest. Still, the owner was harassed several times by local police. It just happened that police harassed this shop owner during the time the practitioner visited his shop. There were other customers in the shop at the time. The practitioner approached the police and said, "We are good people following Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. We do not steal, rob, or do any bad deeds. Why do you want to find fault with good people? Why don't you go and arrest thieves, robbers, killers, arsonists, or corrupt people. I know this is your job and you are on duty, but it is not good for you to be too zealous in this matter. It's a universal truth that good deeds are rewarded and bad deeds are punished." He patted the police officer's shoulder and walked away. The policeman didn't say anything. From then on, the local police no longer harassed practitioners.
Local police officers went to another practitioner's home. Her husband was the only one home at the time. They asked him if his wife was at home and he responded that she was not. The police inquired as to when his wife would be returning home and were informed she would be in later that afternoon. Later, after hearing about the police visit from her husband, this practitioner was not afraid and said, "Let the police come, I will wait for them. This will be an opportunity to clarify the truth to them about Dafa and the persecution. I will clarify the truth and tell them that good deeds are rewarded and bad deeds must all be paid for." The practitioner waited for two days, but the police never showed up.
Another practitioner lives with her parents and practices Falun Dafa diligently. One day, the police called and her mother answered the phone. The police officer asked if her daughter was at home and the mother confirmed that she was. The officer said he would be there in a moment. After hearing about the phone call, the practitioner was just about to blame her mother for betraying her, but corrected herself in time. She realized that it wasn't right to blame her mother. She told herself she should not think like that; she should let the police come, as it would be a good opportunity to clarify the truth and disintegrate the evil. The police didn't end up coming to their home after all.
The above stories are about practitioners remaining calm and placid in the midst of interference, and eliminating the interference with righteous thoughts. If we do not have fear when faced with the possibility of persecution, and maintain righteous thoughts, all interference toward the entire group can be eliminated.
(Clearwisdom.net) I am from Cangzhou City, Hebei Province, and am an employee of a state-owned enterprise. On May 1, 1999, at around 8:00 p.m., I was riding my bicycle home. It was a rather cold day, and I was not wearing warm clothes. I was riding at a good pace, hoping to get home quickly. Close to home, all of a sudden out of nowhere, a high-speed motorcycle crashed into me head-on. Everything happened so fast, and I did not have time to react. The impact sent me flying through the air, and my head smashed into the ground when I landed. During the few split seconds that everything happened, I was not conscious of anything. However, very quickly when I regained consciousness, the first thought that ran through my mind was "I am a Falun Gong practitioner. I must treat other people kindly. I cannot frighten other people." With these thoughts, I hurriedly got up off the ground, and didn't have the slightest thought about whether I was injured or not--all I thought about was conforming to the requirements of the Fa, and being a good person.
It was a young fellow that struck me. He was shocked and frightened. I said to him, "Do not be afraid, I am all right. How about you?" The young fellow responded, "Please let me take you to the hospital for a check up, I will take care of all medical expenses for you." Quickly I explained, "I am a Falun Gong practitioner, everything should be fine and normal." I urged him not to worry. I also asked him to leave since he was in such a rush. He must have an urgent matter to take care of. The young fellow was afraid to leave. Just then, another factory colleague passed by and recognized that the young fellow was also an employee of our factory. After he saw I was hit, he became worried and urged the other to take me to the hospital immediately.
I asked the colleague not to frighten the young guy, and told him that there was nothing wrong with me, and that I was fine, and just needed to go home. I turned around to pick up my bicycle, I was shocked to see the twisted and deformed bike on the ground. The wheels were twisted almost into the shape of a figure "8," and the handle bars were distorted beyond use. One of my shoes was also thrown at least ten meters away.
After reaching home, I sobbingly narrated the whole incident over the phone to a fellow practitioner. I said, "Had it not been for my practicing Falun Dafa and the protection of Master's fashen, I would either be seriously injured or dead by now. Before practicing cultivation, I had a sick body. Master not only took away all of my ailments, but also taught me how to be a good person. Today Master saved my life. I do not understand why people fabricate rumors to defame such a good practice--why are we being arrested for being good people?"
In 1996, around the time when the persecution was slowly starting, the Chinese Propaganda Department banned the publication of "Falun Gong" and other related materials. During the same year, "Guangming Daily," "Qilu Evening News," and a dozen other newspapers launched attacks on Falun Gong. In 1998, the Ministry of Public Security branded Falun Gong as a [slanderous term omitted], and in April 1999, under the pretext of "science," academic He Zuoxiu published another politically-motivated article in a Tianjin magazine, which slandered Falun Gong. The incident led to many practitioners visiting government offices to clarify the truth. This was followed by the Tianjin Public Security Bureau unreasonably arresting more than 40 practitioners. This pattern of unfair treatment finally triggered the April 25 peaceful appeal, leading more than ten thousand practitioners to visit the State Appeals Office in Beijing to appeal for justice for Falun Gong.
That very evening, the young fellow that crashed into me felt uneasy. He came to visit me with another friend and insisted on taking me to the hospital for a check-up. I then clarified to him that I was a cultivator of Falun Gong, that I should be fine, and that I wouldn't accept any compensation from him. Later I learned that he also had to go to work that night, so I asked him to go home to rest, and urged him not to worry too much. I asked him to pay attention to safety while working.
In the evening after the crash, when I took off all my clothes, I saw that my body was swollen and covered with purple and blue bruises. Luckily my husband was at work that night and didn't come home. The next day, in order to prevent other family members from seeing my injuries, I went to stay temporarily with my mother. After around a week's stay, I had fully recovered, and all the bruises and injuries disappeared.
My main purpose in sharing this incident at this time is to tell Cangzhou citizens that Falun Dafa is good, and at this special historical time, they should correctly distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong, and to clearly recognize that the persecution of Falun Gong is ridiculous and absurd.
