(Minghui.org) It was a bustling affair at the Glenferrie Festival, held in a well- known business district in Hawthorn, where Falun Dafa practitioners’ performance kicked off the festival.

A lineup of the day’s program featuring performances by various groups was on the event’s website. The Tian Guo Marching Band, formed by practitioners, was the opening performance on the main stage. A demonstration of the Falun Dafa exercises and performance by the waist drum team was scheduled in a special performance area. After the Tian Guo Marching Band played, the organizers invited them to march along the event’s main street.

The band’s powerful, distinctive, and moving music signaled the start of the carnival, while the waist drum team’s energetic performance brought a joyous mood to the event. Many people stopped at the Falun Dafa booth. Some people praised Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, while others learned the exercises.

The Tian Guo Marching Band performed on the main stage and marched on the main street during the Glenferrie Festival in Melbourne on March 29.

Practitioners demonstrated the Falun Dafa exercises.

The waist drum team performed.

Many people talked with practitioners and wished to learn about Falun Dafa.

We Should Stop the CCP’s Persecution As Soon As Possible

Nick, a lawyer who lives in Hawthorn, said he'd first heard about Falun Dafa two decades ago. He also began to pay attention to news on the practitioners’ efforts to end the persecution by reading The Epoch Times. He spoke to practitioners for a long time that day at the Falun Dafa booth. He also tried out the exercises.

Nick G (first left on the back row)

He explained that he;d recently gone to China on family business. By being in contact and talking to several people in China, he personally experienced the severity of the CCP’s suppression of Falun Dafa and other religious groups.

Nick is very interested in meditation. He was angered by the CCP’s brutal persecution, which has gone on for 27 years to date, and the massacre of healthy Falun Gong practitioners by taking their organs without consent. He said, “I think this kind of persecution cannot be tolerated. It must end as soon as possible.”

Nick and his family do not intend to continue operating their family business when there is no freedom under the CCP’s rule, and the economy is getting worse. “My father has already begun to move the family business from China to other countries. In Australia, we have freedom of speech, but in China, you can get into trouble with the authorities for a casual statement. It is even more unlikely that one can openly talk about topics on human rights and faith, like Falun Dafa.”

About the CCP’s heinous crime of organ harvesting, he said, “I was aware of this many years ago, and it is still happening today. If you have a good heart or healthy lungs, at the same time, you are just a nobody, and you can be thrown into jail for something. You disappear the next minute, then your organs will be taken. I am very clear about this.

“I met rich people from a certain county who went to China for organ transplants without asking the source of the organs because they had to wait for many years for an organ donor overseas. This means there are people who are killed for their organs, and people will take away your organs without your consent. This is sad, inhuman, and should not take place anywhere.”

The World Would Be a Better Place if People Followed Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance

Ms. Graham, who works in health and safety management, stopped at the Falun Dafa booth. She said, “I’ve heard of Falun Dafa before. I know it’s unjustly treated in China, but this is the first time I’ve spoken to practitioners. I finally understand many things. An authoritarian government treats its kind citizens like this simply because of their faith. This is absolutely wrong.

“I think the values Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are excellent, I agree with them, therefore they resonate with me. If people followed these values, the world would definitely become better.”

She is interested in meditation and was delighted to learn there’s a Falun Dafa practice site near her home. She said, “I hope I truly gain inner peace by doing the Falun Dafa exercises.”

Residents and tourists learn about Falun Dafa.

Practitioners Tell People About Falun Dafa

Ms. Li, a member of the Tian Guo Marching Band, said the band was established two decades ago. “In the past, the band mainly participated in large-scale activities organized by practitioners to raise awareness of the persecution. Now, we are more involved in local community events. Through these events, more people have an opportunity to see the demeanor of Dafa practitioners and hear the pure music that is full of positive energy. I believe we absolutely leave a good impression on people.”

Ms. Yang, who demonstrated the exercises that day, said, “Many people stopped and watched our peaceful exercise demonstration, and some followed along to do them.”