Issued by Clearwisdom Net

The Chinese Cultural Freedom Movement held its "2007 Special Spiritual Faith Award" Ceremony on April 8, 2007 at the Aotea Center in Auckland. The organization's founder, Dr. Yuan Hongbing, said that this is the first time that China's free intellectuals, in the name of a social historical movement, have raised a protest against the Chinese Communist Party's despotic rule for persecuting Falun Gong practitioners, and meanwhile, they also expressed their respect for the Falun Gong group. They hoped to do something to save the conscience of Chinese intellectuals through the award ceremony.

A member of the Coordination Committee of the Chinese Culture Freedom Movement. Zhong Weiguang. hosted the award ceremony. Yuan Hongbing made a speech on behalf of the judge's committee of the organization. He said that from the end of the last century to the present, in the vast land of China, there has been taking place the most serious human rights disaster in the contemporary world: the political persecution campaign carried out by the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP)despotic rule against Falun Gong spiritual cultivators. The political persecution campaign has deeply hurt human being's conscience. He also said that the CCP's despotic rule has mobilized the entire nation's violent machinery, and brought state terrorism into full play, attempting to destroy Falun Gong spiritual cultivators' belief. But as of today, history has told us that the CCP's despotic rule is defeated, and is heading for its ultimate failure.

Yuan Hongbing noted that Falun Gong spiritual cultivators have resisted the tyranny in a peaceful and brave manner, and are gaining historical respect. He also said that in the face of the CCP's tyranny, which is even more vicious than the Nazis, the Falun Gong spiritual cultivators have protected their right of belief with a persevering, strong will. They have proven a truth: brute force is unable to conquer spiritual belief.

A spokesperson for Falun Gong, Zhang Erping, accepted the award on behalf of Falun Gong practitioners , and presented to the organization a plaque with calligraphy by Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Dafa, which read, "Reviving China's Divine-Inspired Culture."

Zhang Erping said in his speech that he was pleased to learn that numerous descendants of Yan and Huang Emperors inside China and abroad have been actively participating in reviving Chinese culture, and eliminating the CCP's party culture. Chinese civilization originated from a Divinely-inspired culture, but unfortunately has been subjected to the CCP's suppression. The communist theory that advocates violence and lies, and has been spurned by the Western civilization, is like a specter hovering above the vast land of China, and strictly and violently controlling every living being.

The appearance of the "Nine Commentaries on the Communist Part y"and the grand trend of quitting the CCP and its affiliated organizations have uprooted the CCP's foundation. Every Chinese person's recognition of traditional culture, including the efforts made by the Chinese Cultural Freedom Movement for reviving Chinese culture, have been powerfully disintegrating the CCP, and helping people get free from its control over their bodies and minds. This is truly a campaign that vigorously develops China, and recovers the national spirit.

Zhang Erping also said that people's support for Falun Gong in different ways, is not only support in a general sense and a moral support, but is people making a historical choice.

Zhong Weiguang said when issuing the award to Zhang Erping that he was very emotional, and he must try very hard to hold back his emotions. He had a lofty esteem for Falun Gong group, and he felt honored for receiving the plaque with calligraphy from Mr. Li Hongzhi.

Zhong Weiguang said, "Actually. We should have stepped forward at the beginning when Falun Gong was suppressed."

Zhong Weiguang also said that as an intellectual, or as a self-recognized Chinese intellectual with a social conscience, he felt grateful that they could step forward at this moment to issue this award and make their voice heard.

A member of the Coordination Committee of the Chinese Cultural Freedom Movement, Fei Liangyong, said in his speech that the CCP claimed it would eradicate Falun Gong within three months, but nearly eight years have passed, and "under the CCP's brutal persecution, Falun Gong has achieved greater development. This is a miracle! A Falun miracle! There are millions of people in China practicing Falun Gong, and in different places around the world, people can see many Falun Gong cultivators of different races speaking different languages. In particular, since Falun Gong was subjected to a large-scale suppression, Falun Gong practitioners overseas have been increasing at twice the speed. This shows that Falun Gong belongs to not only China, but also to the world. China needs 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance,' the world also needs 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.'"

Fei Liangyong also said that the "Three Withdrawals" (refers to quitting the CCP Party member, Youth League, and Young Pioneers) launched by Falun Gong, put the CCP into a severe crisis of belief, organization and power, by urging the Chinese people to increasingly awaken, walk out of fear and break away from the CCP. As of today, more than 20 million people have quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations. If the Three Withdrawals continue, it will definitely lead to the collapse of the CCP.

Fei Liangyong said, "Today, the Chinese Cultural Freedom Movement issues an award to Falun Gong. It is not only an award, this shows the Chinese Culture Freedom Movement's respect and support for Falun Gong cultivators!"

Another member of Coordination Committee of the organization, Liu Yang, said that he sympathized with Falun Gong, because facing the entire moral degeneration in China's society, all descendants of the Yan and Huang Emperors should be deeply worried. Falun Gong follows "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance," which is conducive for Chinese people to uplift their moral standards.

He also said that the Falun Gong practitioners he has contacted with are all honest and kind people. Falun Gong practitioners have indeed made contributions to China's progress. For example, technique that breaks through the CCP's internet blockade have been created by Falun Gong practitioners. This is something of boundless beneficence.

Yuan Hongbing announced on behalf of the judge's committee, in order to commend Falun Gong spiritual cultivators for their great contribution to safeguarding human beings' rights of spiritual faith and freedom, and in order to express our respect for Falun Gong spiritual cultivators for their fearless spirit demonstrated in their resistance to the tyranny, the judge's committee decided to issue the Chinese Cultural Freedom Movement 2007 Special Spiritual Faith Award to the Falun Gong spiritual cultivators' group, and a check for $50,000. The coordinator of the New Zealand Falun Dafa Association, Fang Sanyue, accepted the check as a representative of Falun Gong practitioners.

The Divine Performing Arts' first performance in Tainan received rave reviews from the audience. The second performance, staged on April 10, 2007, was equally successful. The Divine Performing Arts showcased the authentic cultural arts of pure compassion and beauty, striking a strong emotional chord with people in Tainan, the cultural capital of Taiwan. Guests from all social circles expressed the same feeling that this "rich feast for the soul" was an extremely pleasant surprise. Spreading Chinese divinely-inspiring culture that places a high priority on kindness and compassion not only touched the depths of the hearts of audience members but also moved many audience members to tears. Songs and dances that contained profound inner meaning also awakened ancient memories in the people of Tainan. The following are the audience members' compliments.

A fully-packed theatre

The performance successfully concludes

Taiwan newspaper reports on the Divine Performing Arts' performance on April 9

Dean of the College of Medicine at the National Cheng Kung University Song Rui-jen attended the performance. He said, "Honestly speaking, I did not expect [the performance] to be of such high caliber. It was a bit of a pleasant surprise to me. (The performance) not only promoted Chinese culture, the most important point was that it integrated art and human culture. It was not simple singing and dancing, but it contained peaceful thinking. I must say I was very moved and surprised! Such a presentation is not easy. It made me want to see it again and again. I feel it was too short. Couldn't it be a little longer? Really a pleasant surprise. It was very good and should often come to Taiwan [to perform]."

Tainan City Education Bureau Director Wang Hsui-wen complimented the performance, saying that it was a very good approach to showcase 5,000 years of authentic culture in the form of art. Speaking as an educator of children, he said that utilizing art forms to assist children to subtly correct their incorrect notions makes it easy for them to accept.

He commended the Divine Performing Arts for deserving it renowned reputation. "The performance was spectacular and of high quality. There were so many audience members! It showed that they really responded to the Divine Performing Arts performances.

Tainan City Councilor Lee Jian-ping and his wife attended the performance. Mr. Lee paid the US Divine Performing Arts' [performance] quite a compliment: "It seems to come from the Heavens, very touching." Mr. Lee said he particularly liked the song sung by alto Yang Jiangsheng, "Tiananmen Square, Please Listen to Me." He also said he has many friends practicing Falun Gong. They are very kind and friendly. He felt the song represents the voice of Chinese people.

Tainan County Councilor Lin Feng-chun said that, from the very first presentation, "Creation," he felt a newborn strength and a future full of hope and brightness that God brings to human beings. "The Divine Performing Arts performance was majestic and resplendent. They put in a great deal of emphasis on promoting traditional Chinese culture. In Mainland China, due to the long-term influence of the Chinese Communist Party's atheism, Chinese culture has been completely destroyed. Today's creative performance showcased the inherent culture in China. Taiwan has also preserved authentic culture. The Divine Performing Arts presented the Taiwan community with a positive inspiration. While atheism is rampant in the Mainland, Taiwan can be said to be the light of hope for the Chinese people. The redevelopment of traditional Chinese culture with love and originality in Taiwan is inspiring to all Chinese people."

Veteran music educator Shao Yi-chiang, who specializes in Western classical music education, said that the Divine Performing Arts' production was of high caliber, "exciting and moving, indeed, amazing as a whole." He felt the subject matter of "To the Rightful Place" was very special. It could be seen that its message was "good will be rewarded, and evil will meet with retribution." Hsao Yi-chiang affirmed that such a performance can enrich people's minds, enable them to be more serene, and is very important in modern society. He said that we actually need healthy performances with such lofty characteristics, and that such music and dance can make people kinder, and society warmer.