(Clearwisdom.net) Under the clear blue sky on the green lawn in Forest Park, the five-month-old baby was lying quietly in the cart, looking at her parents and the crowds around her. Her mother Vasudha, a software engineer from India, was distributing truth-clarification flyers about Falun Gong to the visitors, and her father, Satya, was demonstrating the five sets of Falun Gong exercises. Several more Falun Gong practitioners were passing out flyers and talking to visitors beside the family. From time to time, when they had a little free time, they came to check on the baby and take care of her.
This was the fourth time that St. Louis Falun Gong practitioners have participated in the Earth Day event.
Same as last year, Vasudha applied for a booth at the Earth Day event and paid the application fee as a non-profit organization.
"I think it is a good opportunity to help more people learn the truth about Falun Gong," Vasudha explained. "The persecution of Falun Gong in China is very severe but the Communist Party controls all the media outlets and information channels, so it is very difficult for people to learn the truth. Many people overseas don't even know there is a persecution going on. We want to raise people's awareness on this issue."
"Another purpose of our participating in the event is to introduce Falun Gong to more people. Falun Gong is an exercise that can benefit both mind and body. I hope more people can benefit from practicing it."
  Congressman Russ Carnahan takes a photo with Falun Gong practitioners |   Clarifying the truth |
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Many people learn the exercises
People came to visit Falun Gong booth continuously all day long. Visitors expressed their concern about the persecution in China and many of them asked how they could learn the exercises. Congressman Mr. Russ Carnahan came to Earth Day, as well, and took a photo with the practitioners.
Many people learned the exercises at the site. One of them is a teacher. He said he felt his mind broadened when he was doing the second exercise and he had more compassionate thoughts. He learned the five sets of exercises and wrote down the contact information of local Falun Gong practitioners. He said he would contact them and invite them to introduce Falun Gong to his students.
The Earth Day event was on a Sunday, so many practitioners came to help. Kim, a Vietnamese-American, and her husband worked at the booth all afternoon. "There are so many people interested in Falun Gong. We have been busy the whole time answering their questions." The couple said happily.
Western practitioner Carol felt that people were more aware of Falun Gong than in previous years. "People's attitude and feedback is very positive. They showed concern for Falun Gong and about the persecution in China. This is a good change."
