(Clearwisdom.net) On the evening of May 9, the Melbourne Falun Dafa Association held a dinner party celebrating the 10th anniversary of Dafa's public introduction at the Golden Treasure Restaurant located in Chinatown in the downtown area. During the dinner party, practitioners performed wonderful self-choreographed dances and self-written songs. The atmosphere was cheerful and cordial. Both the hosts and guests enjoyed the party. Honored guests from the City Council, Amnesty International, Human Rights Association, and Multicultural Organization joined the party and delivered speeches to extend their congratulations. Television reporters from ABC (Au) came to cover the celebration dinner. This celebration dinner party also marked the beginning of the Melbourne "Truth, Compassion, Forbearance" Week.
At the entrance of the banquet hall, a row of "Journey of Falun Dafa" photos displayed to the guests the 10 years development of Falun Dafa in more than 50 countries as well as the great compassion and tolerance manifested by Falun Gong practitioners in China while facing the brutal persecution. Decorated with fresh flowers and colorful balloons, the banquet hall looked elegant and beautiful.
Dance: "Heavenly girl" | Song: "Be saved" | Song |
Audience | Dance: "Lotus flower" | Exercise demonstration |
Nearly 300 honored guests, practitioners and their friends and relatives attended the celebration dinner. Practitioners' fine performances presented their transcendent and refined artistic styles.
Two honored guests delivered speeches at the dinner party. Democratic Senator Ms. Lyn Allison said in her speech, "I strongly identify with the Falun Gong principles of Truth, Compassion and Forbearance", "Truth can be a threatening thing if it reveals the lies of others", "I defend the right of anyone to follow his beliefs and practices." She also listed various brutal persecutions suffered by Falun Gong practitioners in China in these 3 years. In the end she expressed her gratitude to practitioners for the "efforts in raising awareness of these human rights abuses."
Mr. John Launder, Secretary of the International Society for Human Rights-Australia expressed his praise towards Falun Gong practitioners in China in his speech: "I think all who know of the persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners in China are aware of the inner strength shown by so many ordinary people called upon to show extra-ordinary courage in the face of such oppression", "But always there is that very strong striving in most human beings for truth, for justice and compassion, which will continue to flower even in the darkness of oppression. The practitioners of Falun Dafa have shown these qualities to a very high order." He also quoted articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the persecution suffered by practitioners, which demonstrated that "the actions of the Chinese authorities are also the antithesis of the Universal Declaration of human rights." In the end, he expressed his good wishes and said: "Your spirit will help transform Chinese society as well as enrich the lives of millions across all racial and national boundaries."
During the celebration dinner, young Chinese and western Dafa disciples demonstrated the 5 sets of elegant Falun Gong exercises. They also performed dance "Lotus flower" in accompaniment with Dafa music "Pudu." Their performance, full of innocence and purity, gained warm applause. A Sydney practitioner came especially to attend the party and performed a wonderful dance "Heavenly girl." Two female western practitioners performed the songs "Calling you" and "Stand up" respectively that they composed especially for the celebration. With their pure compassion, their songs moved people to tears. In the end, practitioners sang together "Falun Dafa is good." The song deeply touched every attendee. Just like Teacher said, "Falun Dafa is good, gradually entering the human realm."