Issued by Clearwisdom Net

On July 23, 2005, the Washington DC Falun Dafa Cultivation Experience Sharing Conference was solemnly held. Nearly four thousand Falun Gong practitioners from around the world attended this grand occasion. As there were a large number of practitioners, the conference was held simultaneously in the Renaissance Hotel and the Hyatt Hotel in downtown Washington. The Third Young Practitioners' Falun Gong Experience Sharing Conference was also held in another hall in the Renaissance Hotel.

Fa conference site

Fa conference site

The conference provided simultaneous translation in five languages, including Chinese, English, Korean, Russian and Spanish. About 20 Chinese and Western Falun Gong practitioners shared their experiences in studying the principles of Falun Gong well, improving xinxing, and clarifying the facts for the people to learn the truth. The practitioners' speeches were humble and touching. The stories they shared, big or small, reflected the process of their improvement of xinxing guided by the principle of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2005/7/24/106887.html

On July 20, 2005, which marked the six anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) persecution against Falun Gong, the Korean Falun Gong Association held a rally in front of the Chinese Embassy in Seoul. Practitioners condemned the evil party's brutal persecution against Falun Gong and called for an end to the suppression.

Peaceful protest in front of the Chinese Embassy in Seoul

Peaceful protest in front of the Chinese Embassy in Seoul

At the rally, practitioners displayed posters that exposed the persecution. Practitioners also unfurled banners to demand an end to the persecution. A huge banner read, "Evil CCP, immediately stop violating Falun Gong practitioners' human rights".

Reading the statement that condemned the persecution

The event began at 10:00 am. When introducing Falun Gong and the unjustifiable persecution in China, the practitioner who hosted the rally said, "Since Falun Gong was introduced to the public in 1992, countless people have attained good health and peace in their hearts. The practice has benefited 100 million people across the world and is now practiced in nearly 80 countries."

"Unfortunately, the evil CCP began its vicious defamation against Falun Gong and perpetrated an unprecedented human rights violation against practitioners. At present, more than 2700 practitioners have been verified to have died from the persecution."

After reading their statement to condemn the persecution, practitioners delivered it to the Chinese Embassy.

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2005/7/24/106866.html

Six years ago, Jiang Zemin's regime launched a persecution campaign against Falun Gong. As of today, 2684 Falun Gong practitioners are verified to have died a result of persecution. On the evening of July 19, 2005, about 60 Falun Gong practitioners gathered in front of the Chinese Consulate General in Toronto to mourn fellow practitioners who have died as a result of persecution in the past six years.

Falun Gong practitioners mourn fellow practitioners who have died as a result of persecution

Practitioners held photos of practitioners who have died from persecution and lit candles, quietly expressing their remembrance for those practitioners who have died as a result of the persecution. A mother and her three-year-old son also came to join the candlelight vigil.

The host told a story of what happened on July 20 six years ago: when Jiang Zemin noticed that one out of twelve Chinese people practiced Falun Gong, he gave the order to eradicate Falun Gong by any means. Six years have passed, though the CCP is an autocratic regime that has mobilized the violent state machinery, controls the national media and propaganda instruments, and has experiences of suppressing and enslaving people accumulated over the course of decades, it is unable to suppress Falun Gong.

A representative of Falun Gong practitioners expressed in her speech, "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is just like a mirror, reflecting all lies, wickedness, violence and corrupted things. The more people practice Falun Gong, the bigger the contrast. The lies and violence that the CCP advocates are just opposite of Falun Gong's principle of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance."

Ms. Jin, who has personally suffered persecution in China, said, "Thinking of the persecution that has lasted for six years, my heart is heavy." She also believed that the communist party is sustaining this persecution by means of lies. She called for Chinese officials in consulates and embassies who have known the truth to expose the real situation of Falun Gong to people in China and help to stop the persecution. Just like Chen Yonglin and Hao Fengjun, step forward to expose the wicked party's persecution of Falun Gong."

Xiao Ce stated that Falun Gong practitioners in China, both young and old, have made great sacrifices. People should thank these Falun Gong practitioners. They risked their lives to tell others the facts about Falun Gong and tell people not to participate in the persecution. Xiao Ce said, "These Falun Gong practitioners are risking their lives to help people. People will definitely thank them in future."

Peter is a special correspondent for CBC who makes documentaries. He often shot footage about Falun Gong and therefore has come to know about Falun Gong and the persecution in China.

Another professional photographic reporter named Brenna, like Peter, accompanied these Falun Gong practitioners until the end of the candlelight vigil at 10 p.m.

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2005/7/23/106792.html

On July 20, 2005, Falun Gong practitioners in Sydney held a series of activities, including a press conference, a Great Wall of Courage, an anti-torture exhibition and a candlelight vigil. The purpose of these activities was to expose to the public how former president Jiang Zemin and his regime have colluded with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) over the past six years to carry out a brutal persecution against Falun Gong practitioners who cultivate Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. The practitioners in Sydney also called for an immediate end to the persecution.

Spokesperson for the Falun Gong Association in Sydney, John Deller, representative of the "Global Mission to Rescue Persecuted Falun Gong Practitioners" (GMRPFGP), (Australia Branch) Gollern May, and Australian representative of the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong, Mr. Jonathon Solomon all gave speeches at the press conference. They pointed out that since the persecution began on July 20, 1999, 2,704 Falun Gong practitioners have been verified to have died as a result of persecution. This is only news obtained under the CCP's tight information blockade; the actual number of deaths far exceeds this number. The GMRPFGP has documented 44,513 cases of persecution. Twenty-nine Australian Falun Gong practitioners' relatives have experienced persecution in forced labor camps, three have died as a result of persecution and six practitioners are still being detained in labor camps in China.

Jiang Zemin also directly ordered the 610 Office to export the persecution of Falun Gong outside of China, so as to carry out its terrorist campaign against all Falun Gong practitioners around the world. Their tactics have included trying to stir up hatred among the general public in other countries, and monitoring and harassing Falun Gong practitioners overseas.

The CCP's despotic regime cannot tolerate Falun Gong and Falun Gong practitioners who follow the principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance." At the beginning of the persecution, Jiang claimed that he would "eliminate Falun Gong in three months." But after going through the past six years of brutal persecution, Falun Gong practitioners have remained steadfast. Falun Gong has been growing more and more rapidly, and has been introduced to 78 countries and regions around the world. The CCP's and Jiang's wicked nature has been clearly recognized by more and more people around the world. Only by continuously exposing the wicked nature of Jiang and the CCP, and publicly condemning and calling for an immediate end to the persecution, can the evil be ultimately stopped.

Chairman of the Australian Overseas Students Human Rights Committee (former Australian overseas student leader) Yang Jun expressed that Jiang has colluded with the CCP to persecute Falun Gong for six years. Yang Jun said, "I feel that today is a very special day. As Chinese people with a conscience, we should step forward to clarify the truth to the public, and let the people know about all of the atrocities of the CCP. We should help everyone in the world know the truth, so that more people can step forward against the persecution. We should not fear the CCP's despotic rule... the CCP is the biggest evil religion in the world today. If the CCP does not go down, there will be no new China."

Falun Gong practitioner Dai Zhizhen said in her speech, "Jiang colluded with the CCP to persecute Falun Gong practitioners, which has produced tens of thousands of children like mine who endure the great sorrow of a broken family. My husband was murdered by the CCP, and my husband's sister has been illegally sentenced to two years of forced labor, forcing her to leave behind a nine-year-old daughter uncared for. My husband's father could not endure such a bitter blow and passed away in sorrow. A harmonious family has been brutally broken up. The last time my daughter saw her father, she was only nine months old. Once at midnight, my daughter shook me awake and said, 'I miss Daddy.' Seeing her pained expression, I hugged my daughter, and we cried bitterly together. Please help us stop the persecution, let children be reunited with their parents, and help rescue those orphans of persecuted Falun Gong practitioners."

Falun Gong practitioner Li Ying, who was in Shanghai, China on July 20, 1999, said, "On July 19, 1999, my younger brother in Beijing and my elder sister in Tianjin were arrested. One month later, because the police could not find any evidence that they had broken the law, they had to release them. In October of the same year, my younger brother was arrested again and he is still being detained in a forced labor camp in Tianjin. Over the past six years, he has enjoyed less than five months of freedom. On July 17 and 18, 2000, the CCP placed my home under surveillance. Nine people, including police and security guards from the street committee, took three shifts 24 hours a day and kept a close eye on me for seven days. Now, I am in free Australia, but the CCP's dark minions have still invaded my living space. The CCP's spies continue monitoring me. Falun Gong practitioners follow Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance to be good people. The CCP monitors and feels nervous about Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, the fact of which can only reflect that the party is nothing but falsehood, wickedness, and violence.

Great Wall of Courage

After the press conference, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Falun Gong practitioners lined up along the roadside to form a "Great Wall of Courage" from George Street in Chinatown to Town Hall. The practitioners held various banners and posters exposing the torture and abuses used in the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. The "Great Wall of Courage" displayed to the world's people Falun Gong practitioners' tenacious persistence, and great compassion and forbearance in confronting the evil party's six-year-long brutal persecution.

Great Wall of Courage

Simultaneously, at the press conference site, practitioners held an anti-torture exhibition for the whole day. Besides the practitioners reenacting the torture happening in China, there were nearly 40 photo display boards arranged along the roadside, including display boards illustrating the torture methods and photo boards introducing Falun Gong and showing the popularity of Falun Gong around the world.

Numerous passersby and tourists were drawn by the spectacular scene of the anti-torture exhibition and the "Great Wall of Courage." In addition, on July 17, Channel 9 TV Station broadcast a 35-minute TV program entitled, "Behind the Red Wall," which gave a positive report on Falun Gong; many people learned some facts about Falun Gong from the program. A gentleman stopped in front of the display boards illustrating torture methods, and said to a practitioner, "I used to be gullible to the CCP's propaganda, thinking that Falun Gong is a [slanderous words omitted]. Recently, after watching the program on TV, and seeing Falun Gong practitioners' peaceful demeanor, my thoughts have been totally changed. Falun Gong is good." An indigenous young man saw the reenactment of torture by real people and said, "How can a person be beaten to such extent? How can a person endure being tied up like this?" He said he would report this to the police and was about to untie the practitioner who reenacted the practitioners suffering torture in China. The practitioner told the young man and his elder sister about the persecution, and they finally understood.

Clarifying the truth

Many people gave the thumbs up sign to practitioners standing in the "Great Wall of Courage," and praised them highly: "You've done great," "Falun Gong is great," "It's great you can do this here, more people can see." A woman, who just came out from a Catholic Church, stopped in front of the practitioners. She looked puzzled and asked, "What is Falun Gong? Why does the Chinese government suppress it? ..." Practitioners gave her some truth clarification materials, and answered her questions one by one. She then said that the CCP is really horrible, and the Chinese government is so bad. She wished good luck for Falun Gong and said she would pray for Falun Gong. A Chinese couple said to practitioners in the "Great Wall of Courage,"
"The CCP is too terrible. We support Falun Gong. Keep doing these activities, so that more people can learn about it." Another middle-aged woman walked by, and suddenly turned around and said to the practitioners, "The Chinese government is too terrible. Australia is good, and free." People took the initiative to accept truth clarification materials.

Journalists and a photographer from the Sydney Morning Herald took many photos. A journalist repeatedly took pictures of a banner reading, "Falun Gong is Good" in both Chinese and English, in red words on a yellow background. He shot from various angles and distances. Other media outlets who came to cover the event included Getty Images, the Epoch Times, NTDTV, and Sound of Hope Radio Station.

That evening, Sydney Falun Gong practitioners held a candlelight vigil at a square in Chinatown and in Belmore Park. Glittering and translucent paper lotus flowers and flickering candlelight created a sacred, pure and beautiful scene. They reflected the Falun Gong practitioners' purity and simplicity, and expressed boundless grief over those practitioners who have died as a result of persecution. They also expressed people's sincere concern: Stop the Persecution!

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2005/7/22/106757.html

July 20, 2005 marked exactly six years since the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), led by Jiang Zemin, illegally launched the persecution against Falun Gong in 1999. This brutal suppression of innocent people is still on-going. In remembrance of more than 2,700 fellow Falun Gong practitioners who have lost their lives in the CCP's human rights abuses, practitioners from Manchester and surrounding cities gathered at the Chinese Consulate on this anniversary to hold a press conference, to appeal for the public's concern and to urge the CCP to stop the persecution of Falun Gong immediately.

Practitioners hold a press conference to expose the human rights abuses in China

Peaceful appeal in front of the Chinese Consulate

After the press conference, Western and Chinese practitioners demonstrated the five sets of Falun Gong exercises and gave out leaflets to passers-by. Many people stopped to view pictures exposing the facts of the persecution and chat with practitioners. A Chinese man, who had believed some of the false information about Falun Gong spread by the CCP, saw a photo of practitioner Ms. Gao Rongrong who was tortured with an electric baton for seven hours and whose face was grossly disfigured. The man was shocked and left speechless. Another Chinese man told a practitioner that he had read the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party published by the Epoch Times. He believed what the Nine Commentaries say (exposing the CCP's evil nature), and affirmed it with his own experiences. He also asked if the practitioner had any copies of the Nine Commentaries, as he wanted to have one more copy.

Falun Gong practitioners appeal outside the Chinese Consulate in Manchester on a daily basis. Over the last few years, practitioners have met many Chinese people who showed their support for practitioners and condemned the persecution. Many people have had the chance to learn about Falun Gong, particularly those who visit the consulate on business.

A practitioner talked about a Chinese father and son that she met. That day it was raining, and as there is no place in front of the Chinese Consulate to avoid rain, the father invited the practitioner to get into their car to avoid the rain. He also said to the practitioner, "You just practice exercises, how can they (the CCP) do so (persecute you)? It's really too much!"

Over the six-year peaceful journey, more and more people have seen through the CCP's brutality in the persecution of Falun Gong. They have also witnessed the peacefulness, rationality and perseverance of Falun Gong practitioners who believe in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2005/7/22/106762.html

The Uncompromising Courage art exhibition came to Milwaukee during the week of June 27-July 8^th. Even before we could completely unload the paintings, people were curiously peering and asking questions about Falun Gong. Even though we have done several different exhibitions at UW-Milwaukee, about 80% the people who came had no idea that a persecution of such a large magnitude existed.

Art work: "Unshakable Faith"

Visitors viewing the art works

Many people felt shocked that such a persecution has been going on for six years and felt betrayed by the U.S. government and media for not exposing the evil. After I explained several of the paintings to one young student and answered his questions, he still was left bewildered that the CCP was killing people who practiced the principles of Truthfulness Compassion Forbearance. I found that he stayed in very close vicinity of me while I was explaining the paintings to other people and listening again to the information I spoke to him about already. I believe that he was in a grieving state and needed to be around a practitioner to help console him. I was deeply moved by his compassionate nature and innate knowingness.

An older gentleman came up to me and I gave him a flyer. He told me he saw the paintings yesterday and said, "It left me breathless." I thought those words summed up very well the exhibition.

Since many students were very busy trying to get to class, we found it best to explain just a few select paintings. The paintings are so incredibly beautiful, and explaining the artists' intentions leaves the viewer with a very good idea of the many lives this persecution has affected.

We put the art exhibition flyers in the mailboxes of the Asian Studies Department. We noticed that many Chinese visited the exhibition compared to other exhibitions held in the past at the university. Many Chinese said they were ambivalent about the communist regime but were not so sure about Falun Gong either. We kindly explained the paintings and with a compassionate heart clarified the truth of how the CCP uses propaganda to deceive the Chinese people. We could see the hearts of these deceived Chinese people start to open up. The exhibition really gave us the opportunity to expose the evil and explain the facts.

Even while we were packing up the paintings, we were still able to clarify the truth. One man came by and couldn't believe how beautiful the painting "In Harmony" was and asked us several questions about the painting. He said, "I just had to get out of my car to see this painting."

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2005/7/24/106854.html

Between the 16th and 22nd of June 2005, for the first time Falun Gong practitioners in the Czech Republic and Slovakia received mainstream media attention on a large scale.

While exposing the Chinese Communist Party's brutal persecution of Falun Gong, the practitioners held activities to introduce the exercises and principles of the practice.

A Falun Gong practitioner from Germany named Xiong Wei was invited as a special guest. Xiong Wei gained health and inner peace through practising Falun Gong during her studies in Germany. As a result, however, she was sent to a forced labour camp for two years after returning to China. Some practitioners from the Czech Republic and Slovakia accompanied Xiong and did some translation for her.

Radio station reporters

Anti-torture exhibition

In the afternoon of the 17th, the local practitioners took Xiong Wei to the national radio station of the Czech Republic, Cesky Rozhlas. The young reporter communicated with Xiong Wei in slow German.

He was already very familiar with Xiong Wei's experiences. In the beginning, he did not encourage drawn-out answers and kept interrupting Xiong Wei's story. But gradually, the reporter slowed down and became more involved. Following Xiong's explanation from one topic to the next, he kept raising his questions.

Two hours went by quickly. The reporter took a deep breath and announced happily, "I will use as much as possible of your speech." When Xiong Wei explained how Falun Gong has helped her to better deal with the various troubles in life and how to live happily and light-heartedly, the reporter proclaimed, "I also want to learn Falun Gong!"

Before they left, the practitioners gave him details of Falun Gong practice sites in Prague. When saying goodbye at the front door of the radio station, the reporter shook hands enthusiastically with everyone. He said goodbye to Xiong Wei as if they were old friends.

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2005/7/16/106301.html