The Media in Iceland Greets Falun Gong with Open Arms

On Sunday, 22^nd of July there was a three minute news story on prime time on the main television channel in Iceland:

• Announced Falun Gong's arrival in Iceland
• Reported latest news from Tiananmen Square
• Pictures from China before and after the ban. The anchor explained a little about the last two years of suppression, referring to Amnesty International.
• Announced the Falun Gong courses in Iceland -- their time, location, and that everyone is welcome.
• Interview with a practitioner clarifying the truth in several aspects, and launching the "SOS! Urgent Appeal."
• The reporter's final words: "It can seem strange that the Chinese Government is persecuting people who want to practice outdoors -- and have truth, compassion and tolerance as their cornerstones -- but [party's name omitted] governments are known to be hysteric, and if three people gather without being in the name of the Party they feel threatened."

To our great surprise, the practitioner was given a written feedback on the interview from an Icelander. The note read: "With a good sense of humour the practitioner's honesty and charm shone through. So Falun Gong won people's hearts."

Later on in the week when speaking to the reporter again, he said that their phone had been ringing incessantly with calls from people who wanted to know more about Falun Gong. Due to this great interest, a special introduction was planned for the two days that the practitioner would get help from three practitioners doing a stop-over in Iceland on their way back from Washington, D.C. to Europe. It was also arranged so that the reporter would come and film the four practitioners doing the exercises to announce the special introduction of Falun Gong exercises. The practitioners were also interviewed.

On the 28^th of July one of the leading newspapers ran an overwhelmingly positive story on Falun Gong. The reporter had been doing preparations for several days, resulting in more than one and a half pages, including nine colour pictures -- one from Tiananmen Square, three from Dafa activities across the world, and five with the practitioner displaying the five exercises. The good coverage included a big column of Falun Gong Facts, an interview with Amnesty International about Falun Gong, and an interview with the practitioner about the situation in China.

One of the things brought up was the vicious arrests and killings of innocent practitioners and the absurdity of then having the gall to call it suicide, not to mention the absurdity of even regarding Falun Gong as a threat in the first place. It is explained that Falun Gong practitioners would never take life, neither their own nor others'. The article explained the peaceful approach Falun Gong practitioners have maintained during these two years of suppression. The article also explained a bit about what Falun Gong is and announced that everyone was welcome to the introduction classes in the park.

The article seemed to have made a good impression on the readers because on the day it was published, 29 new beginners came to the practice site. Luckily there were three more practitioners here by then to help.

The following day the other leading newspaper published an article with this article as a source. They also kindly announced our introduction course.

At the end of the stay in Iceland, when the practitioner no longer had time to contact the media due to other activities, they themselves tracked the practitioner down to ask for interviews and photo sessions. The practitioner was even asked by the chief editor to write an article for a magazine aiming to inspire people to practice Falun Gong.

The media on Iceland was very friendly and supportive. With thanks to them a large number of people came to our practice site, and even more read and heard about Falun Gong and the atrocities towards the Falun Gong practitioners in China. During the entire stay in Iceland, not a penny was put into advertising in newspapers or TV. The media was kind enough to announce the Falun Gong activities on their own initiative. During the last introduction course, 49 people came, much thanks to the Icelandic media.