(Minghui.org) Canadian MP Bryan Hayes was shocked after seeing the documentary film “Free China, The Courage to Believe” at the Free Thinking Film Festival held in Ottawa, the capital of Canada, on November 3, 2012. He said in an interview that individuals, groups and governments should make a decision to help stop the persecution of Falun Gong by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Canadian MP Shocked After Watching “Free China”
Canadian MP Bryan Hayes is overwhelmed after seeing the documentary film “Free China”
Bryan Hayes was elected as Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie in 2011. After seeing the film “Free China,” he said, “What I learnt was that it was very educational, because I didn't know a lot about Falun Gong, and certainly really wasn't aware of the organ harvesting, it really struck me. And if that is really going on, it is disturbing. It's very disturbing.”
MP Hayes repeatedly used the words “disturbing,” and “shocking” to express the overwhelming feelings he felt in his heart. He said, “I didn't think that I'd find it shocking because I have heard about it before. To just see it live and to see some of the pictures, the pictures in the labor camps, to see the products that are being made in the labor camps and being sold, that again was overwhelming.”
In one episode in the film, American citizen Mr. Charles Lee was forced to make Bart Simpson slippers for export in a Chinese labor camp, which also made MP Hayes feel overwhelmed. He said, “To see Bart Simpson slippers, to understand that's really happening. Again, it was disturbing. Very disturbing!”
MP Hayes said that he should at least do something to help stop the persecution. He said, “I think I am going to take it upon myself—at least I will have some discussions with some of my colleagues. And I will encourage them to actually see this film because it's an eye-opener.”
“I am a man of integrity and a man of ethics and I believe that my Party is the same. I believe quite frankly that all Members of Parliament are the same. So it [the persecution] is absolutely, there is a linking up to everyone,” he said.
He thinks the educational message of the film is where the hope is. He said, “Hope is in education. It is incredibly important [to stop the tragedy from happening], because people need to see, people need to hear... I learned lots of things [from the film], so I encourage people to learn and understand. ”
He said that people will have to make a decision as to what they can do as an individuals. And governments need to make a decision as to what they can do as governments to help stop the persecution.
Retired Canadian Federal Civil Servant: The Film Is Very Powerful
Marie McAdam, wife of China expert Brain McAdam, and also a retired Canadian federal civil servant, was moved by the film. She said, “I am really glad that I came to see that film today because it was extremely powerful, an extremely powerful film. It really was an eye-opener. I hope that film is going to be shown more around North America. It is a great educational tool. And to have a natural Falun Gong person stand there and back up that film was something amazing to see.”
She thinks that people have been more educated about Falun Gong through the film, and they will have a good opinion about it. And she believes they will be supportive of ending the atrocities of the Chinese communist regime.
Free Thinking Film Festival Director: Persecution Is Ongoing; It's Unacceptable
Two documentaries, “Free China” and “Death by China: Confronting the Dragon,” screened at the Free Thinking Film Festival reflected the human rights issues in China in different ways. The films are also concerned with the CCP's threat to the economy in the West and world peace. The films remind the Canadian government and people to be careful in considering signing trade agreements with the CCP and especially regarding buying a Canadian petroleum company.
A press conference on how China's rise and the Canadian government's China policies will shape the future was held at the Library and Archives in Ottawa on the morning of November 3.
Fred Litwin, director of the Free Thinking Film Society, said, when talking about the fact that the China National Offshore Oil Corporation will purchase a Canadian petroleum company, that the written contracts drawn up in China don't have any value, because there is no real rule of law in China. Such a regime that doesn't have rule of law and persecutes its own people will not respect trade contracts.
Speaking of the China National Offshore Oil Corporation persecuting its employees who are Falun Gong practitioners, Mr. Litwin said that China (the CCP) and Chinese enterprises are still persecuting Falun Gong—this is disturbing and unacceptable. The Canadian people should pay attention to this matter.
Jennifer Zeng: The Power of Truth Touches People's Hearts
Jennifer Zeng, one of the protagonists in “Free China,” said in an interview that she believes in the power of the truth. It is the only approach to smash the Communist Party's carefully prepared lies over all these years. She also believes that the film will ultimately help more people see the truth. When more people are aware of the truth, the lies will naturally disappear, and that is the real hope for the Chinese people.
Ms. Zeng added that since 1999, the Chinese communist regime has fabricated numerous lies about Falun Gong. Many Chinese people have been deceived and it is hard for them to accept the truth. But the power of the truth will touch people's hearts. The audience members she contacted were moved after seeing the film. Their kindness was awakened, that's why they were so emotional. She saw some gentlemen taking off their glasses to wipe tears away while watching the film.
Producer of “Free China”: The Truth Sets People Free
Kean Wong, producer of the film “Free China,” also attended the press conference. Regarding the international awards that the film has received around the world, he said that people in the U.S., Canada and around the world have become more and more aware of the importance of raising the issue about of human rights in China, particularly the persecution of thousands of innocent and peaceful Falun Gong practitioners.
He said that people have gradually realized that China is undergoing a great change. The truth will help people obtain freedom, and do so in a peaceful manner. The film helps people understand why the support of human rights and freedom of belief is so important for the future of China and other regions in the world.
Background:
The documentary film “Free China: The Courage To Believe,” examines the widespread human rights violations inside China: from forced abortions to live organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience. The film tells the extraordinary life experiences of best-selling author Jennifer Zeng, a mother and former Communist Party member, and Dr. Charles Lee, an American Chinese businessman. Both Jennifer and Charles, along with hundreds of thousands of peaceful citizens in China, have been tortured and subjected to slave labor for their spiritual belief in the Falun Gong meditation practice.
This film also documents multi-national companies that profit from slave labor and reveals how anti-censorship internet technologies and a re-emergence of traditional values are bringing about a new China, one that will finally be free of the Chinese Communist Party.