(Minghui.org) May 13, 2012 was the 61^st birthday of Master Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Gong, and also the 13^th World Falun Dafa Day and the 20^th anniversary of the introduction of Falun Dafa to the public. Dafa practitioners around the world of different ethnicities, social strata, professions and ages, took to the streets to hold a variety of celebratory activities to express their gratitude to Master, sing praise for Dafa and share their joy and happiness with local people. Politicians, celebrities and people from the mainstream society were attracted to join the celebration. They presented proclamations in recognition of Mr. Li Hongzhi and Falun Dafa for their contributions to the world.

I. Expressing Gratitude for and Displaying the Wonderfulness of Cultivation Practice—a Variety of Celebratory Activities Are Held Around the World

More than 2,000 Falun Gong practitioners do the exercises in front of the United Nations building in New York City on May 11, 2012

 
7,000 practitioners march in Manhattan, New York, on May 12, 2012

 
People watch the 7,000-practitioner march in Manhattan

 
People watch the Divine Land Marching Band perform in Times Square, New York

 
A grand parade in Malaysia celebrates the 20^th anniversary of Falun Dafa's public introduction

On May 12, 2012, on Victoria Square in Adelaide, South Australia, a group of people began doing the exercises accompanied by peaceful music in the early morning. Around them were colorful truth clarification display boards, and someone enthusiastically introduced passersby to Falun Dafa. They were local Falun Gong practitioners who especially came out to respectfully wish revered Master Li Hongzhi a Happy Birthday and celebrate World Falun Dafa Day and the 20^th anniversary of the public introduction of Falun Dafa.

On the same day, similar joyous celebratory activities held by Falun Gong practitioners were seen on Elizabeth Square in Auckland, New Zealand; on Trafalgar Square in downtown London, the U.K.; on a pedestrian street in downtown Duisburg, Germany; on bustling Grafton Street in Dublin, Ireland; in Sydney, Australia and in many other places. Practitioners demonstrated the exercises, introduced Falun Gong or collected signatures to oppose the persecution in China. On Kinmen Island, practitioners not only introduced Falun Gong, and distributed introductory flyers, but also presented beautiful paper folded lotus flowers and balloons and played movies. The atmosphere was warm and festive.

On this very day, in Manhattan, New York, at 8:00 a.m., 7,000 practitioners from around the world gathered to do the exercises in a large group, and then held a grand parade. The parade was divided into three sections: Dafa's Widespread Acceptance, The Never-ending Wrong [The Persecution in China], and People from All Walks of Life Support the Three Withdrawals and Disintegration of the CCP. The parade extended more than a dozen blocks, with 7,000 practitioners and thousands of banners and display boards of different colors fluttering in the breeze, conveying many messages: “Heaven and Earth Celebrate the 20^th Anniversary of Falun Dafa's Public Introduction,” “Falun Dafa Is Good,” “The World Needs Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance,” “Historical Changes Draw Near, Truth Is the Guiding Light,” and “Heaven Will Eliminate the CCP, Quit the CCP for Your Own Safety.” After the parade, practitioners went on with their celebratory activities in different places. In the afternoon, hundreds of practitioners set up a stage in Times Square, where they displayed their talents in the form of singing, instrumental solos, and dancing, and also expressed their endless gratitude to Master Li Hongzhi.

On May 13, celebrations and thanksgiving culminated. In Taiwan, about 2,000 practitioners gathered in Shilin Residence. They did the exercises, formed Chinese characters, held truth clarification photo exhibits, presented musical performances, and danced and sang.

Falun Gong practitioners' grand celebratory activities could be seen everywhere in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, and in Donetsk, where the upcoming European World Cup Football Championship will be held. Practitioners also celebrated in Waterfront Park in downtown Helsinki, Finland; in Queensland and Hobart, Australia; in Kaohsiung of Taiwan; in Japan's Yoyogi Park and Osaka Castle Park; in Moscow, Russia; and on Dam Square in the Dutch capital Amsterdam.

Many activities featured local characteristics. For example, Saipan Island practitioners held a parade of decorated cars around the island; practitioners in the Netherlands did the exercises on Dam Square and also presented a Waist Drum performance; practitioners in Poland started a seven-day tour around the country and collected 1,356 signatures of Polish people who opposed the Chinese Communist Party's persecution of Falun Gong. By doing so, they also celebrated the 20^th anniversary of Falun Dafa's public introduction. On May 12-13, more practitioners in Poland held grand celebratory activities in Warsaw's city center and in the old town. 7,400 practitioners in Taiwan formed an image of Master Li Hongzhi on Freedom Square on April 29, to express their gratitude to Master.

 
7,400 Falun Gong practitioners form the image of Mr. Li Hongzhi on Freedom Square in Taipei on April 29, 2012, a grand spectacle

II. Practitioners around the World Express their Gratitude for Tremendous Positive Physical and Mental Changes that Practicing Falun Gong Has Brought Them by Sending Greeting Letters and Cards

Since May, practitioners from different countries have respectfully wished Master a happy birthday and celebrated the 20^th anniversary of Falun Dafa's public introduction in all kinds of ways. One of the favorite methods that practitioners prefer to use is writing poems, and making beautiful congratulatory letters and greeting cards to send to Minghui.org. On May 7-15, Minghui.org published greeting letters and cards sent by Dafa practitioners and non-practitioners from different places. The highest daily posting was more than 3,000 items, of which a considerable portion of greetings were from the Americas, Europe, Australia, Africa and Asia-Pacific regions.

 
Practitioners in France extend regards to compassionate and great Master and respectfully celebrate the 20^th anniversary of Falun Dafa's public introduction

 
Practitioners in Canada respectfully wish revered Master a Happy Birthday and celebrate World Falun Dafa Day

 
Practitioners in Toronto, Canada respectfully wish revered Master a Happy Birthday and celebrate World Falun Dafa Day

 
Practitioners in Spain respectfully wish revered Master a happy birthday and celebrate World Falun Dafa Day

 
Young practitioners respectfully wish revered Master a Happy Birthday

 
Practitioners in Turkey respectfully celebrate World Falun Dafa Day

A greeting letter from South Africa said, “May 13, 2012 draws near. On this day celebrated by Heaven and Earth, practitioners in South Africa respectfully wish revered Master a Happy Birthday. In the future, we will follow revered Master's teachings, do well the three things, and advance diligently on the path of cultivation.”

III. Western Governments and Politicians Issue Proclamations Recognizing Falun Dafa, or Send Letters of Congratulations for the 20^th Anniversary of Falun Dafa's Public Introduction; Many Politicians, Celebrities and Others Come in Person to Join Practitioners in their Celebrations

On May 5, hundreds of Falun Gong practitioners in Canada, together with government officials or their representatives, held a rally at the City Hall Plaza in Toronto, celebrating the 20^th anniversary of the public introduction of Falun Dafa. Canadian government officials praised Falun Dafa's positive impacts on society, and condemned the persecution of the practice in China. The Canadian Prime Minister and other members of parliament and city council sent congratulatory letters to share the joy with Falun Dafa practitioners.

 
Municipal, provincial, and federal Canadian government officials come together in Toronto to congratulate Falun Dafa

 
Mr. Peter Kent, the Minister of the Environment, praises Falun Gong practitioners for their contribution to Canadian society.

Mayors from more dozens of cities issued proclamations or resolutions to recognize and congratulate Falun Dafa. These cities included Bridgewater, Edison, Millburn, Morristown, Old Bridge, Parsippany, Sayreville, Warren, Washington, and Denville.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper sent a greeting letter for the 7^th consecutive year in recognition of Falun Dafa Day. He stated in this year's letter, “The festivities to mark the 20^th anniversary of the introduction of Falun Dafa to the public are a testament to the remarkable unity we have achieved by embracing pluralism. I commend the Falun Dafa Association of Canada for sharing your practices and traditions with the community.”

In Canada, in addition to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, Jason Kenney; Chinese Canadian Member of Parliament Olivia Chow; Minister of the Environment, Peter Kent; President of the Treasury Board Tony Clement; Minister of Labour Lisa Raitt; Member of Parliament David Sweet; Member of Parliament from Vancouver Peter Julian, Fin Donnelly, and Libby Davies, also sent letters to the local Falun Dafa Association to thank Falun Dafa practitioners for their contributions to society.

On May 9, 2012, practitioners from cities in Eastern Canada gathered on Parliament Hill in the capital to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Falun Dafa's introduction to the public. Seven Canadian MPs and a Senator came in person to make speeches. MP Rob Anders said to Falun Gong practitioners in his speech, “Because of your persistence and your forbearance with regard to this... I think you will see success.” He said, “It has been a remarkable twenty years and I wish them well for the next twenty.”

Mr. Eric Stevenson, a New York state congressman, came to the event held on May 13 in Manhattan. He expressed his support for Falun Gong, and urged President Obama to take quick action to help stop the persecution in China. At the end of his speech, he shouted in Chinese, “Falun Dafa is good.”

Falun Gong has obtained widespread acceptance in different places outside of China. Over the past 20 years, there have been more than 3,000 awards, proclamations and supporting letters from local government officials. More than 50 new cities and local governments throughout the United States and Canada this year issued proclamations and commended Falun Dafa and Master Li Hongzhi. The core content of these proclamations are: praising Falun Dafa for taking Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance as its cultivation principles, and the well-being that practicing Falun Dafa has brought to the community; praising Falun Dafa cultivators for their perseverance and courage to uphold Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance over the past 13 years; celebrating the successful promotion of the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance around the world; recognizing the importance of World Falun Dafa Day; sincerely expressing thanks to Falun Dafa practitioners for their diligent contributions; and at the same time, remembering the tens of thousands of Falun Dafa practitioners who have lost their lives as they peacefully upheld their human rights and freedom of belief.

Governor Rick Snyder of the State of Michigan issued a Certificate of Recognition in celebrating World Falun Dafa Day. He wrote, “On behalf of the people of Michigan, it gives me great pleasure to join with Falun Dafa practitioners throughout the Great Lakes State and in more than 80 countries to recognize the 20^th anniversary of the introduction of one of the most well-known meditation and cultivation practices. Introduced by China’s Mr. Li Hongzhi in 1992, more than 100 million people have added this peaceful, healthy practice to their daily lives, shared individually or in groups.

As many gather to celebrate the positive health benefits of Falun Dafa and this significant anniversary, please know of our sincere congratulations and grateful recognition.”

IV. Joyously Celebrating and Expressing Gratitude

 
Russian immigrant Ivan (left) and Christian from Germany (right)

On May 11, on a New York street, two young men from Europe held a banner with “The World Needs Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance” written in Chinese. They are Ivan, who immigrated from Russia, and Christian, a German who studies in the U.S.

They have practiced Falun Dafa for about two years and have benefited tremendously. “The problems with my spine are gone. I also started to respect my parents. Even more important, I now know why I should be a good person,” said Ivan.

Martins was on Latvia's national sports team and won an Olympic bronze medal. As an athlete, almost no one could imagine that he had a lot of ailments before he practiced Falun Dafa. “To improve my health, I visited a lot of doctors and tried a lot of medications. Sometimes it took several months to improve. However, my problems were entirely solved a few hours after I began to practice Falun Gong,” said Martins. Martins talked about why he had come to the Chinese consulate to protest: “As a practitioner who benefits from the practice, it is my responsibility to let everyone know about the Chinese Communist regime’s lies and its brutal persecution of Falun Gong.”

Andrea is a young journalist from the U.S.; Terese is from Norway; and Jose, Sriran, Abhishek, and Dwiiback are software engineers from India. They were very proud to participate in the event. They had one wish: Stop the persecution of Falun Gong and expose the Chinese communist regime’s lies about Falun Gong so that the world will have a bright future.

 
Dwiiback is a software engineer from India

A Chinese Christian who has lived in New York for 11 years said, “I'm Christian, but I support Falun Gong. I read the Epoch Times newspaper daily, and I know Falun Gong is righteous. But the CCP is evil—that's why it persecutes Falun Gong. Evil will never prevail. Look how spectacular, how grand [the parade is]. I know the CCP is close to its demise, and I'm looking forward to seeing it every day.”

French tourist Ondry Swboda walked along with the parade procession for an hour. He and Ms. Sidonie Manhinez pose in front of the parade procession to have a photo taken.

 
Practitioners' spectacular parade procession attracts spectators of different ethnicities who stop to watch and learn about Falun Dafa

 
75-year-old Mr. Wen praises Falun Gong as great and applauds the Falun Gong practitioners in the parade

 
Mr. Pomaqucro from Ecuador and his wife excitedly wave to the parade and pay tribute to Falun Gong practitioners

Ms. Yu, who came from Taishan in China, said emotionally, “I've watched for almost an hour, but I still haven't seen the entire procession. There must be several thousand people. I feel really happy for them. A 20^th anniversary is really worth celebrating. So many people practice it, it must be very good.”

Mr. Lou has been living in New York for twenty years. He took his grandson to watch the parade. He said, “I hope this is the last time the parade is held here. I hope the parade will be held in China next time. I admire the spirit, motivation and persistence of Falun Gong practitioners. I know Falun Dafa is great. So many people are telling us today. I also know the persecution Falun Gong practitioners are going through in China. The Chinese Communist Party is corrupt! Ninety-nine percent of the people in the Party are corrupt.”

Falun Gong practitioners in Malaysia held a grand parade in Butterworth, Penang on May 13, 2012, The large parade, led by the Divine Land Marching Band, traveled major streets in Butterworth. Spectators along the parade route cheered and took introductory materials. They were happy to find out about Falun Gong, and hoped more people would learn about it. Mr. Maniarasu said, “You should introduce Falun Gong to the whole world and let more people know about it. It's the best! I would like to say 'Thank you!'” Tears came to his eyes. He was very touched by Falun Gong practitioners' sincerity. He said, “I'm very touched. I have been curious about what you are doing. It turns out you bring such a great thing to everyone. If everyone knows, they will be better people. I don't know what to say except 'Thank you!'”

Conclusion

Falun Dafa has been introduced to more than 110 countries and Falun Dafa's main book Zhuan Falun has been translated into more than 30 languages, which shows that Falun Dafa has a great moral appeal that transcends race, language and national boundaries. Hence, on the 20^th anniversary of Falun Dafa's public introduction, practitioners from around the world got together to celebrate. Falun Dafa's ever increasing vast momentum and strength has brought this world goodness and hope. From East to West, more and more people have been strongly aware of and felt such an encouraging fact.

Falun Gong practitioners who follow Master Li Hongzhi's teachings have remained steadfast in their belief and practiced the cultivation principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. They are truly noble people who benefit society. The CCP has spared no effort to discredit and persecute them over the past thirteen years, but the fact has been proven that it has completely failed. Falun Gong has won the world's respect, and people outside of China who have not been threatened by the CCP's terror can see all this with clarity.

The brilliance of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance will forever exist in the firmament, and historic changes are right in front of our eyes. Those who are still tempted and deceived by the CCP's lies should immediately awaken.