Issued by Clearwisdom Net

To bring the beauty of Falun Dafa to more people, on July 22 and 23, 2005, Falun Gong practitioners in Japan took part in the six-month-long 2005 World Exposition being held in Aichi County. Practitioners hung banners reading, "Falun Dafa is Great," "Falun Gong, Free Teaching," and other banners outside the Outdoor Theatre in the Seto Area, and performed dancing and singing arrangements composed by practitioners. After the performances, practitioners demonstrated the five sets of Falun Gong exercises, and received an enthusiastic response from the audience. On the afternoon of July 23, a total of six performances, given over two days, were successfully concluded.

Falun Gong exercise demonstration

Dance: "Master Guides Me on the Path to Return Home"

Tang Dynasty period dance: "Heavenly Gate Opens"

Solo Dance: "Spring"

Dance: "Good Wishes"

Participating in Expo 2005

Japan had begun preparations two to three years ago for the 2005 World Exposition in Aichi County. The registration period for countries, enterprises and organizations that wanted to participate in Expo 2005 had stopped one year ago. Practitioners in Aichi County, Japan did not sign up due to various reasons and everyone felt regret for it later on.

On July 12, 2005, when Falun Gong practitioners had a conversation with a non-profit organization, they happened to learn that the organization would take part in the activities and be a host at the Expo site. The organization also learned that the practitioners wanted to participate in the performances at Expo 2005. As the organization had learned about Falun Gong's purity and beauty, even though the time for signing up had passed, the organization explained the situation to the Expo 2005 administration, and helped the Falun Gong practitioners obtain permission to enter the Expo to give performances. The organization also offered much support and help in the later preparations, as well as during the performances.

After the practitioners were signed up, there were less than two weeks to prepare for the performances. The Expo has stringent requirements and security precautions for groups giving performances. For example, the performers' personal information, content of the performance and exact time slot and so on all had to be vetted with the Expo administration. Usually, practitioners only learned of specific requirements on the day before they had to submit the information. Many participating practitioners could not confirm for certain if they could participate, but they signed up anyway and then arranged their personal matters, despite all difficulties.

One practitioner has two children, aged two and five. As the children were too young to be left unattended, she had no way to come to the Expo. After obtaining her non-practitioner husband's understanding, her husband took the initiative to take care of the two children in order to make it possible for his wife to come to the Expo.

Another practitioner from Nagoya, due to problems at work, was unable to ask for leave for several years. However, in order to participate in this Expo, he asked for leave from his company. As his work performance was always excellent, his company made an exception and gave him time off.

On Friday July 22, Aichi County was especially muggy due to the arrival of plum season. In addition, the stage on which the practitioners were to perform was an open stage with the blazing sun bearing down. More than ten practitioners drove overnight from Tokyo after getting off work on Thursday evening. After finishing one performance, the practitioners were streaming with sweat. But no one complained. The practitioners said it was all worthwhile as long as people can learn about Falun Dafa and benefit from it.

People are happy to learn Falun Dafa

There have been at least 80,000 tourists who visited the Expo, including overseas tourists and tourists from Mainland China. On Saturday, July 23, it was overcast, without the burning sun, and it was quite cool. Many tourists took programs prepared by practitioners and came to the outdoor theatre quite early to watch the performance.

After demonstrating the five sets of Falun Gong exercises, one practitioner explained in Japanese, English and Chinese to the tourists about what Falun Gong is, and introduced the great benefits of each of the five sets of exercises. He also told people about the brutal persecution of Falun Gong that is happening in China right now.

After watching the practitioners' smooth and graceful exercise demonstration, many people wanted to learn Falun Gong. Many in the audience immediately followed along with the practitioners to do the exercise movements. More and more people have begun learning the truth about Falun Gong and more and more righteous people are stepping forward to support Falun Gong. It is just as the practitioners' dance performance, "Good Wishes" expressed: "We wish for happiness to be with kind people forever."

At 5:00 p.m. on July 23, when the performance was over, the audience gave the Falun Gong practitioners several rounds of warm applause and thanked the practitioners for giving them such a wonderful performance.

The mother and brother of Ms. Liang Zhen, a Hong Kong reporter for New Tang Dynasty TV Station (NTDTV) were detained on July 19 in Luzhou, Sichuan Province. On July 27, Ms. Liang and supporters from all circles gathered in front of China's Liaison Office in Hong Kong. They condemned the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP's) violation of human rights, demanded that the Chinese Communist Regime to release her mother and brother immediately and unconditionally, and called attention to the situation of Falun Gong practitioners being persecuted in China.

Words on banner: Strongly Condemn the CCP's Persecution of Falun Gong, Immediately Release Practitioners Being Imprisoned.

Words on poster on left: The CCP's persecution of Falun Gong is so evil. Only because of their belief in Falun Gong, my family has been persecuted and broken up. My wife, Ms. Zhang Lihong, is imprisoned in a labor camp for a 3-year term.

Words on small poster on the right: Release Yuan Yuju and Liang Jinhui

Radio Station RTHK reported on July 27 that approximately 60 local residents appealed in front of China's Liaison Office and requested the release of a Hong Kong reporter's family members. Ms. Liang said that her mother and brother were arrested in Luzhou, Sichuan Province. She told reporter Clara Mack that their arrest was because of her work in NTDTV, an independent Chinese-language television station.

Ms. Liang: They don't have any excuse to take away my mother and brother, just because of the fact that I am a reporter. They exerted pressure on my father and asked him to tell me not to speak out. I think their arrests are related to my work, because I am a reporter in Hong Kong for NTDTV.

Mack: Where are your family members?

Liang: They are detained in Luzhou Detention Center.

Mack: After they were arrested, did you have any opportunity to visit them?

Liang: No. I didn't have any opportunity to see them. Even my father is not allowed to visit them.

Mack: Ms. Liang, what do you think about your family members' arrest?

Liang: I know that what I am doing is right. I think the only thing I can do is to speak out. It is the only way to rescue them.

On July 24, 2005, practitioners from Washington and Oregon participated in the Chinatown Seafair Parade in Seattle and were warmly welcomed by Chinese and Western spectators.

"Falun Dafa" banner

Float

Float

Lion dance

Waist drum troupe

Spectators

Parade Staff: "Every year, I look forward to seeing your performance!"

Before the parade started, practitioners were very busy preparing. A parade staff member came to practitioners and said, "Every year, I look forward to seeing your performance! The past several years have been a very long time for you considering all the hardships inflicted upon Falun Gong!"

This is the fifth time that practitioners have participated in the Chinatown Seafair Parade. Many parade staff members are now very familiar with Falun Dafa, and they are very impressed by the special peacefulness of practitioners and their novel performances year after year. As soon as they see the yellow exercise suits, they know that Falun Gong is coming.

Before the parade staging began, another staff member said to practitioners, "I really like to watch your procession!"

The Audience Supports Falun Gong

The practitioners' procession was led by a giant "Falun Dafa" banner which was followed by two mighty lions. Then came two practitioners in traditional costumes performing a dance, and a large decorated float on which several practitioners demonstrated the Falun Gong exercises. "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance" and "Falun Dafa" banners were displayed on the float. Following the float was the practitioners' waist drum troupe.

Many Chinese and Western spectators waved to greet the practitioners, and applauded and cheered for them. Many Chinese were so proud of the practitioners' performance and gave them the thumbs up sign.

Chinese spectators were especially fond of the practitioners' dancing. One Chinese mother taught her daughter to read the "Falun Dafa" banner. An older gentleman in his 70s imitated practitioners on the float in doing the second Falun Gong exercise. Practitioners who were distributing fliers often found it hard to meet the many requests from spectators.

The waist drum troupe was led by a Western practitioner. He later commented, "I could truly sense that every drum beat sent the message of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance."

"I don't know why, I just want to cry upon seeing you."

At the end of the parade, groups that had finished earlier and were scattered on both sides of the street gave the practitioners warm applause as they finished the parade. A spectator called a practitioner right after the parade to ask how to learn the practice.

A middle-aged Westerner told us that he came to Chinatown for lunch and ran into the parade. He said, "I saw your posters before in Chinatown and was deeply touched by the practice. I have read Zhuan Falun, which is very good. I don't know why, I just want to cry upon seeing you."

(Clearwisdom.net) On July 20 six years ago, former Chinese Leader Jiang Zemin and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began a campaign of genocide against Falun Gong practitioners. To mourn the practitioners who were murdered by the CCP and to call for an end to this persecution, Spanish practitioners once again peacefully appealed outside the Chinese Embassy.

On the sixth anniversary of the persecution, practitioners in Spain appealed peacefully in front of the Chinese Embassy

There were always a lot of vehicles passing by the Chinese Embassy. When stopping at the nearby traffic lights, drivers took the initiative to lower their windows and ask for leaflets. Others who didn't stop at the traffic lights honked their horns to support the peaceful protesters.

There was also a lot of media interest in the activity. Spain's two leading news agencies, EEE and Agence Europe, the national radio station, national television stations, and other media outlets also interviewed Falun Gong practitioners at the activity.

A practitioner is interviewed by the media

After hearing the facts about the persecution, one woman said: "I do know that there is no freedom of belief and speech under the Chinese Communist regime's dictatorship. As I have witnessed the dissolution of the powerful former Soviet Union in a short period of time, I believe the Chinese Communist regime's dictatorship definitely won't last long. People are awakening to the importance of getting rid of the autocratic rule." The woman wished Falun Gong practitioners good luck and said, "I'll pray for China."

A Spanish police officer said: "This persecution must be stopped immediately." The security officers on duty at the embassy were from the national military police brigade that is usually responsible for security activities such as parades, demonstrations, etc. After hearing the facts of Falun Gong, they praised the practitioners' peaceful and rational protest activities over the past six years, and said, "This persecution must be stopped immediately." After the activity was finished, they said to the practitioners, "It would be very nice if all the protesters in Madrid could be as peaceful as you are." In the meantime, they wished the practitioners good luck and great success.

In order to protest the six-year persecution against Falun Gong by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and to call for an immediate end to the persecution, Falun Gong practitioners from Holland and Belgium held an anti-torture exhibition in Utrecht in the central part of Holland on July 23, 2005.

The Falun Gong appeal was divided into two sections. On the left, practitioners demonstrated the five sets of Falun Gong exercises while on the right was an anti-torture exhibition. The practitioners simulated the brutal forms of torture that the CCP uses in its attempts to force practitioners to renounce their belief. Beside them were posters explaining the torture methods in words and pictures. The location was right in the city center, so many passers-by stopped to have a closer look at what was happening. The contrast between the torture methods and the peaceful exercise demonstration left people with a perplexing question: why would people be tortured like this just for practicing these peaceful exercises?

Reenactment of torture methods

Many people came to talk with the practitioners and find out more. One practitioner said, "In China, people are put into jail because of doing these exercises. They are tortured just as what is shown in this re-enactment." When people asked why, the practitioner gave two reasons. Firstly, the evil nature of the CCP cannot tolerate "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance" which are the principles of Falun Dafa. Secondly, the former president of China, Jiang Zemin, was jealous at the fact that so many people practice Falun Gong. Most people were shocked, and asked if they could offer any help. In front of the table for collecting petition signatures to support the Dutch lawsuit against Jiang Zemin, many people queued to sign their names.

An elderly lady said that this was exactly what people need, when she found out that the principles of Falun Dafa are "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance." A young lady said, "China was such a powerful country and the economy had developed so well, how could this kind of thing happen in China?" A practitioner told her, "The CCP is very good at covering things up. The persecution is being carried out secretly. That is why the international community does not see the real situation." This young woman agreed to sign her name to support the Falun Gong practitioner's anti-persecution activities.

When the anti-torture exhibition started, it looked like it would rain. But soon the weather became very sunny. Many people stood quietly to watch the exercise performance and anti-torture exhibition with solemn faces. When practitioners handed out flyers to them, they accepted the flyers gratefully. It seems that they had waited for this information for a long time.

The annual San Francisco Bay Chinese Sports Games opening ceremony was held on July 24 at San Jose City College. Falun Gong practitioners were invited to participate.

Falun Gong procession

Falun Gong procession

On the morning of the event, it was hot with intense sunshine. On entering the playing field, the practitioners played the music, "Falun Dafa is good" accompanied by a waist drum performance. The practitioners in the front of the procession held banners with the words, "Falun Dafa" and "Truth, Compassion, Tolerance." In front of the stage, the practitioners demonstrated the Falun Gong exercises. At the end of the procession were banners with the words, "The World needs Truth, Compassion, Forbearance" and "Falun Dafa is good."

Banner worded "Falun Dafa is Great."

When the Falun Gong procession passed the stage, the host announced, "Falun Dafa is also known as Falun Gong. It is based on the universal principles of 'Truth, Compassion, Forbearance' to guide practitioners to cultivate a pure mind and body. There are currently practice sites in each of the main cities in the Bay Area."

Waist drum troupe

More and more people inquire about local practice sites

After the opening ceremony, many people came to the Falun Gong booth to ask if there was a practice site in their local region. Some asked about where to buy the Falun Dafa books and the exercise-instruction videotape.

A woman from Taiwan said, "At first I was unsure of Falun Gong after viewing reports from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) propaganda. Later, however, after watching and being in contact with practitioners, I felt that the CCP's propaganda was not true. I tried to find out the reasons. A practitioner explained the facts about Falun Gong and the persecution, and why the CCP and [former president] Jiang Zemin want to persecute Falun Gong. The practitioner also introduced the Epoch Times' Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party." The woman then took some truth-clarification literature and the Nine Commentaries, and said she would read them in detail.

Organizer: "You make sure to participate"

It was the fourth time for Falun Gong practitioners to participate in the sports event. The first time, the practitioners participated after submitting an application Last year and this year, one of the event organizers called a practitioner to invite the group to participate. The organizer said, "You make sure to participate."

The San Francisco Bay Area Chinese Teaching Center was the main sponsor for the sports event. The director said that many people practice Falun Gong in Taiwan. He said, "Falun Gong is a good practice. Practitioners gain good health as well as improved morality, which is the most important."

The practitioners' first-time participation left a deep impression with the organizers. They said, "You have huge lineup." During the second and third year of participation, some practitioners offered to help as volunteers. The practitioners worked hard to complete the tasks assigned. The organizers said, "Your group is truly good. From your volunteers, we can see your noble spirit. Also, your procession was in such good order."

The organizers and sponsors appreciate and support Falun Gong. After being in contact with practitioners, they knew that Falun Gong is a group not involved in money or personal gain. To expose the CCP's persecution and to introduce Falun Gong to more people, practitioners have held many activities and participated in various community events. They always cover any expenses out of their own pockets. Because the organizers admired the practitioners, they waived their application fee for the sports game, and also provided them with a free booth.