(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners in Scotland introduced the practice of Falun Gong – a traditional mind and body cultivation practice from China – and exposed the Chinese Communist Party's persecution during the renowned Edinburgh International Festival. This year's annual festival of performing arts is held from August 3-27, drawing more than 25,000 visitors and artists and more than 1,000 media reporters to Edinburgh from all over the world. Falun Gong practitioners' activities have received great attention and support from the public.
Visitors to the Edinburgh International Festival sign a petition calling for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong.
Practitioners set up a booth with an exhibition exposing facts of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) persecution of Falun Gong. Many people had the opportunity to hear about what is happening in China for the first time. A number of people thanked the practitioners for exposing the persecution and encouraged them to keep up with their great job.
One gentleman was appalled by the CCP's crime of organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience. He said he had heard about abuses of animals under Communist societies, and he couldn't believe his eyes when he read the facts about the forced organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners. He signed the petition and said that these crimes must stop.
A couple of young men from the University of Edinburgh said that the CCP's terrible persecution was not something humans would do. They signed the petition and were interested in helping with a screening of the documentary “In the Name of Confucius.” One of them, a researcher on the human brain, said that he would like to study how the CCP could have managed to eliminate people's human nature through brainwashing.
An elderly couple were fascinated by the great energy of Falun Gong practitioners as they performed the exercises. They had seen practitioners' peaceful demonstrations in front of the Chinese Embassy but didn't know much about the practice or the persecution. After hearing a Falun Gong practitioner’s explanation, they carefully signed their names on the petition. They stayed to read the exhibition and watch the excises, then finally wished the practitioners great success.
Bruce, a father of three children, received a Falun Gong flyer when he passed the booth in the morning. He made a special stop on his way home in the evening to ask questions. He talked with a practitioner for a half hour and signed the petition. He said that he also planned to read more about Falun Gong online.
Bruce signs the petition in support of Falun Gong.
Many Chinese people took pictures when they passed the Falun Gong booth. Some took this opportunity to find out the facts of Falun Gong, which is difficult to do in China due to the regime's censorship.
A Chinese student talked with a Falun Gong practitioner for a long time and learned about the CCP's organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience.
A Chinese man took a brochure from a practitioner and carefully checked the booth for anything he hadn't read before. He said he had heard the facts about the Self-Immolation on Tiananmen Square. He believed what Falun Gong had said was true, and that he had lost trust in the CCP.
A woman from Hong Kong had seen how the CCP has made a lot of trouble for Falun Gong in Hong Kong, and expressed her admiration for Falun Gong practitioners.
Several local residents became interested in Falun Gong and planned to learn the exercises.
Rosemary Byfield talks to people about Falun Gong.
Ms. Rosemary Byfield, organizer of the activity, told a reporter, “August 5th is my birthday. It's great to tell people the benefits of Falun Gong and spend my birthday with a group of people who cultivate Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance. I'm so lucky! I'm happy to see people sign the petition to help stop the organ harvesting. Many people have thanked us and praised our work. A lot of them want to learn Falun Gong. I feel very encouraged!”
