News and Events Around the World -- November 25, 2005

Issued by Clearwisdom Net

Two Scottish practitioners were invited to give a workshop on the human rights abuses against Falun Gong on Thursday, November 17, 2005 at Dumbarton Academy in Dumbarton.

They visited a fifth-year class that was studying China and that was particularly interested in the persecution.

Firstly, one practitioner explained what Falun Gong is: five gentle exercises including a meditation, based on the universal principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance. The practitioners explained that many people have enjoyed the benefits that arise from practicing Falun Gong, including good health, harmony, improved relationships and better behavior towards others.

A practitioner talking about Falun Gong's benefits while students gather round another practitioner to find out more

Next, the practitioners demonstrated some of the exercises and explained the effects they have on the body. One of the students was interested to learn about the sitting meditation.

The history of the persecution was explained next. The practitioners explained that it was initiated by the former leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Jiang Zemin, in July 1999, when there were approximately 70 to 100 million people practicing Falun Gong, which was more than the members of the Communist Party (CCP). This excited his jealousy and irrational fear that Falun Gong would become a threat to his own power [ed. note: Falun Gong has no political aspirations and does not engage in politics]. The Communist Party also has a history of targeting groups of people, so Jiang Zemin managed to persuade the CCP to mobilize support at all levels of government, with the aim of eradicating Falun Gong.

The practitioner described how practitioners in China refused to give up their belief in "Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance." They have consequently been detained without trial, sentenced to forced labor and brutally tortured, leading to the confirmed deaths of 2,780 practitioners, with the true figure thought to be thousands more.

The students then watched a DVD about rescuing Falun Gong practitioners' orphaned children in China. So many children in China have lost their parents as a result of the persecution. The pupils were visibly moved.

Signing a petition to call for an end to the persecution

Posters were put up describing the torture methods used on practitioners in China. The pupils wanted to know more about them. They all signed the petition to rescue the orphans of Falun Gong practitioners who lost their lives due to the persecution.

Before they left, the practitioners gave the pupils leaflets and Video-CDs with information about the persecution, which they gladly accepted. One girl specifically asked if the VCD had more information about the persecution than the leaflet.

The class warmly thanked the practitioners. The teacher enthusiastically thanked them, saying the presentation had been excellent. She suggested that they visit other schools in Scotland and although she was shocked to find out about the persecution, she was glad that they had come to raise awareness about this issue.