Issued by Clearwisdom Net

A Finnish Falun Gong practitioner from the city of Kemi appeared on Finland's national TV program "Faces of Homeland" on March 10, 2005. The program introduced the practice of Falun Gong and discussed the ongoing persecution of its practitioners in China.

The practitioner talked about his experiences and the positive benefits that practicing Falun Gong has given to him after only two years: "Through regular practice, I have noticed I am more vigorous and have better strength to perform my demanding night-work."

The Chinese Communist Party's persecution of Falun Gong practitioners was also discussed. "I think the Chinese Government [harms itself] by persecuting its own citizens, who want to improve their moral standards through Falun Gong's principles and to strive to be good persons in different social classes," said the practitioner.

One of the Chinese Government's tactics in persecuting Falun Gong is to spread propaganda and twist the truth about the practice. When the persecution started in 1999, the government destroyed all Falun Gong informational materials and prohibited them thereafter. After the Falun Gong books and videotapes were destroyed, the state-run media started a mass propaganda campaign, defaming the practice in an attempt to get the public to believe that the ban on Falun Gong was justified. Presently, because of the tight media control and information blockade, it is very difficult to get objective information about Falun Gong in Mainland China.

Because of this unjust situation that has been imposed on Falun Gong, practitioners all around the world have been doing lots of work to inform the public what Falun Gong really is and what its practitioners are going through in China every day. This has made the Chinese government nervous because it is afraid that its terrible human rights situation will be known all over the world and for the same reason the Chinese government has been expanding the persecution overseas in the form of threats and harassment.

The Finnish practitioner has also been the target of the Chinese Communist Party's threat campaign. He received several hundred harassing phone calls, where English tape recordings were played defaming Falun Gong. Like other Finish Falun Gong practitioners who received the same type of calls, he sent crime investigation reports about the case to the local police and also had an opportunity to report about the harassment on the TV program. Many people who had watched the program told practitioners that they condemned the dirty tricks used by the Chinese government and expressed support for Falun Gong.

To date, 2234 Falun Gong practitioners have lost their lives in the persecution.

On May 14-15, 2005, Danish and Swedish Falun Gong practitioners celebrated World Falun Dafa Day in Denmark's capital city, Copenhagen and the third largest city in Sweden, Malmo, commemorating thirteen years since Falun Gong was introduced to the public and celebrating Falun Gong founder Master Li's birthday.

On May 14, 2005, Danish Falun Gong practitioners drove to Sweden's third largest city, Malmo and celebrated World Falun Dafa Day with Swedish practitioners. After finishing their whole week's work or study, the practitioners arrived to make banners and pictures for World Falun Dafa Day throughout the night. They also made lots of beautiful paper lotus flowers and colorful balloons with the words "Falun Dafa is Great" written on them, displaying the beauty and peacefulness of Falun Gong to people.

Celebrating World Falun Dafa Day in Malmo

Children learning the exercise

On May 16, 2005, Danish practitioners arrived in the morning at the practice site where they have been doing the exercises for seven years and peacefully began the practice. The sun was warm and bright, and there were many people in the park enjoying themselves and the sunshine. A lot of people came to check out the exercises and get a leaflet about Falun Gong.

The Danish and Swedish practitioners then went to the biggest square in the city, City Hall Square, and unfurled banners and pictures, introducing the glorious history of the thirteen years of Falun Gong to the public.

Morning exercise at practice site

Little practitioner doing the exercise

At City Hall Square

At City Hall Square

At City Hall Square

Thirteen years ago, Master Li Hongzhi started to teach Falun Gong in Changchun, Northeast China, spreading the seeds of Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance to the world. Ten years ago, compassionate Teacher came to Sweden and taught the principles of the universe to western society for the first time. Today, cultivators from the east and west have the same wish to help Teacher do Fa-rectification and bring hope to the people of the world.

Among the people in the biggest city in Northern Europe, there were tourists from different countries, including many Chinese people. Practitioners stayed in the busy streets, showing the peaceful practice. People read the introductory material carefully, took leaflets and listened to practitioners' explanations. Many people showed a great interest in learning the exercises at the practice site.

The attitude of the Chinese tourists has changed a lot compared to the past few years. Many people not only happily accepted the leaflets but also talked to Falun Gong practitioners for a long time. The precious Chinese people are really waking up.

Respectfully Wish Teacher a Happy Birthday