The Lethbridge Herald: Snow No Match for Activists

Thursday, October 25, 2001

The snow Tuesday night came as a surprise to Ping Li, one of two women walking across Canada in support of persecuted Falun Gong practitioners in China.

"Today, because of the snow, my shoes are wet," Li said Wednesday. "I have to go buy snow boots."

But Li said her discomfort walking from Coalhurst to Lethbridge in the snow Wednesday paled in comparison to the torture Falun Gong followers are experiencing in China.

Falun Gong is a spiritual practice which teaches people to obtain physical and mental well-being through adhering to the universal principle of Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance.

Guan said the practice transcends all religious, cultural and racial barriers. Since its introduction to society in 1992, Falun Gong has attracted over 100 million followers in more than 40 countries.

Guan claims persecution of Falun Gong followers began in China in 1999, largely because of the country's communist government.

"There's no freedom [of belief] in China," he said during a news conference outside Lethbridge City Hall Wednesday. [...]

Li, 30, and 63-year-old Weijie Zhong are walking form Calgary to Regina to raise awareness about the practice and the persecution in China.

Another team already completed a walk from Vancouver to Calgary, while teams are also walking from Montreal to Thunder Bay.