(Clearwisdom.net) Over the last two weekends, Falun Gong practitioners came from Sydney, Goulburn and Canberra to join local practitioners for "Tulip Time" in the Southern Highlands of Australia. In Corbett Plaza, Bowral, practitioners demonstrated the set of five exercises that were introduced into China in 1992 by Master Li Hongzhi.

Falun Dafa became very popular in China because people benefited greatly from this beautiful practice. On July 20 1999, former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin began the persecution of Falun Gong. The 610 Office was set up, with the sole mandate to "Eradicate Falun Gong." For being a good person and living by the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance, one could be illegally jailed, thrown into a labor camp, tortured and killed.

Six years later, there is a different leader in China, the Chinese economy is booming and all foreign countries want to hop on the financial bandwagon. But at what cost? The persecution still runs rampart, with thousands of practitioners of Falun Dafa killed, families bankrupted, mothers raped and young children left homeless to fend for themselves.

Songs tell people about the truth

Tourists learn about Falun Gong

Tourists learn about Falun Gong

Falun Gong is now practiced in 78 countries around the world, including in the Southern Highlands in New South Wales Australia. State MP Peta Seaton, who is very supportive of Falun Dafa and was judging the parade, commented on how beautiful our Fa boat float was as we participated once again in the "Tulip Time Parade." Practitioners proudly displayed banners to a very appreciative crowd of onlookers. As we marched through the town, it was as though we were engulfed in a great benevolent field.

Last Saturday, the "Journey of Falun Dafa" photo exhibit was displayed in Corbett Plaza, where locals and tourists could see firsthand the facts of the persecution. A musical performance by a practitioner enhanced the impact of the display.