(Minghui.org) “We are also refugees. The Syrians are refugees of the war, and we are refugees of the smog,” a member of a group tourists from Beijing said to a Falun Gong practitioner at a Swiss tourist spot. “I wish I could immigrate here.”
Massive smog hit China in December, and the severe air pollution drove a lot of Chinese people out of the country. Touring in Europe has been one way to escape the smog.
Falun Gong practitioners warmly welcomed groups of “smog refugees,” and offered them comfort in the form of hope.
“It is not easy to immigrate, but there are other measures you can take to help yourself,” the Falun Gong practitioner said to the group, and they were all ears.
“The city government of Beijing announced the first smog red alert. As a former Beijinger, I really feel bad about this, although I live in Switzerland,” the practitioner said.
“Do not go back to China,” a tourist shouted. “It is not a place for humans!”
“Half of China is now covered by smog, and the situation is getting worse. Whose fault is it?” the practitioner asked.
One tourist answered: “Too many cars and factories.”
“But there are also a lot of cars and factories in Europe, as you have seen on this trip,” the practitioner countered.
Another tourist said: “Our government does not care about the environment. There are laws, but nobody obeys them. Law enforcement is bought by businessmen and the corrupt officials. The Communist Party only cares about their own interest.”
“Yes, that is the key,” the practitioner said. “The pollution, the unsafe food, and many other problems in China are caused by the Communist Party.”
Most of the tourists nodded.
“Moreover, the Party has committed even worse crimes,” the practitioner continued. “It persecutes Falun Gong and arrests the good people who follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. In prisons and detention centers, the practitioners are severely tortured. The Party even harvests organs from practitioners for profit.”
“This is a crime against humanity,” said one of the tourists who had heard about the state-sanctioned organ harvesting.
The practitioner said: “When morality is hits such a low point, heaven will bring disasters. The smog in China reflects this.”
“What can we do?” a tourist asked.
“The best way to help yourself is to quit the Party and its associated organizations,” the practitioner answered. “The Party is doomed to collapse in the near future. I am sure that you don't want to go down with it. If you want to quit, I can help you to publish your announcement.”
“Yes, quit!” everyone in this Beijing group was happy to have a chance to quit the Party. “Thank you, Falun Gong, you take care of yourself.”
Another day at the tourist spot, a Chinese woman tried to avoid this practitioner.
The practitioner said to her: “Why are you avoiding me? I am standing here in such cold weather just to tell Chinese people how to avoid disaster. Haven't you experienced the smog in China?”
The woman was a little embarrassed, and stopped. “To be honest with you, before this trip to Europe, I thought that I was living a good life in China. I have a car and an apartment. But now I see that my life is incomparable to people here. Look at their air—you can take a deep breath without any worries. Look at their rivers—you can see down to the bottom. Mountains still look like mountains, and rivers are still rivers. Amazing!”
The woman continued: “This is a real place for humans to live. Look at China—it seems so hopeless. Although I am not from Beijing, my hometown is also heavily polluted. You don't dare to breathe deeply.”
The practitioner told her that the Communist Party is the root of all these problems.
The woman said: “Well said. So true. I can tell that you sincerely want to help me. What can I do?”
“There is a way to help yourself,” the practitioner said.
“What is it?”
“Have you heard about the movement of quitting the Party?” the practitioner asked.
The woman said yes, but disapprovingly.
“You should seriously consider this,” the practitioner said.
They talked for a long time, and the practitioner told her about the sinister history of the Party.
Finally, the woman was convinced and decided to quit the Party to take a stance against its crimes.
She thanked the practitioner. She pulled small bag of dates and walnuts out of her purse. “This is from my hometown,” she said. “You are such a patriot, showing so much care for your fellow Chinese. Please accept this gift.”
The practitioner accepted the gift, and gave her a Swiss chocolate bar in return.