(Clearwisdom.net) From April 19th to 25th 2007, Falun Gong practitioners in Cambridge, the United Kingdom, held an art exhibition comprised of works created by artists who are Falun Gong practitioners. The exhibition, called the International 'Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance' Exhibition, and was held in St Laurence's Catholic Church. This event was fully supported by the church, politicians and local artists. This is the fourth time that this internationally acclaimed exhibition has been held in Cambridge.
At the opening ceremony on the afternoon of April 19th, many local political party leaders, councillors, artists and residents gave speeches. Father David of St Laurence's Catholic Church, the deputy leader of the Cambridge Conservatives, Councillor Raj Shah and Cambridge resident John Hobson expressed their support for Falun Gong practitioners' anti-persecution campaign.
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Father David addressing a group of supporters at the opening ceremony of the exhibition: "Force cannot chain conscience and belief in freedom."
Father David: Force cannot chain conscience and belief in freedom
Father David first welcomed the Falun Gong practitioners and then said that throughout history, how many times have people seen prison bars, physical beating and chains; but the history of the world also shows that no matter how much force is used to chain people's bodies, it cannot chain people's conscience and belief in freedom. Father David also said that it is important to raise public support for the people who are suffering. He hoped that the UK Parliament and representatives will come to know about the persecution of Falun Gong and put pressure on the most oppressive government to stop it.
Deputy leader of Cambridge Conservatives: Falun Gong's anti-persecution campaign benefits the world
Deputy leader of the Cambridge Conservatives, Richard Normington, said that he came on behalf of the Conservative Association of the City of Cambridge. He was happy to support Falun Gong's campaign because it was beneficial not just for Cambridge, England, but for the world itself. He said that Conservatives support freedom of speech and conscience and their ambition was to see people in China being allowed to discuss, believe and express themselves freely.
More support from local politicians
Cambridge councillor Raj Shah (Liberal Democrat) said that it was not right that in this time of global economic development, people were persecuted for their right of basic belief. He also expressed his support for the volunteers who organized this event.
Representative of Cambridge residents: Falun Gong's art will be respected by generations of people
Cambridge resident, retired army officer John Hobson said in his speech that much of the art surviving from Europe was Christian art, and soon people would find that Falun Gong's artworks would leave a good name forever, and would be respected by generations of people, as they were witness to this part of history.
John Hobson said, "The politics that persecute Falun Gong today will slowly be persuaded of the futility of its approach and will crumble. Goodness will always prevail.
"The art, associated with goodness and its journey through persecution, will survive and not because oil on canvas is particularly durable but because the ideals and thoughts and spiritual philosophy that underpins each image is indestructible. The electric cattle prod cannot penetrate or steal the treasures enshrined in the cathedral of each mind.
"So this is how, I believe, Falun Gong art is already history. It is a record of part of Falun Gong's journey through persecution. The portrayal of Falun Gong thinking and philosophy in visual form. Pictures which aspire to illustrate the gifts of Truth, Forbearance or Compassion. This art cannot be erased; it stands as timeless testimony to injustice."
Cambridge resident: People in the free world should show their concern for Falun Gong
During the exhibition, Cambridge Falun Gong practitioners showed several films about the persecution of Falun Gong by the Communist regime: "Shake the World," "Sandstorm" and "Plum Blossom in Snow." They also taught the Falun Gong exercises to people who were interested. Many local residents came to visit the exhibition. They watched the films or learned the exercises, and signed their name on the petition to stop the persecution of Falun Gong.
Cambridge resident David Laurie came to the exhibition three times and watched all the films. After the films, he said that it was hard to believe that in today's world, any human being could do such cruel things to other human beings. He said that people in the free world should show their concern over the persecution of spiritual groups like Falun Gong in China. He also said, "In the past, people called China 'Red China,' because of the communist regime there, but now most people have forgotten about this, which is not right." He believes that ignoring other people's suffering is to acknowledge the persecution and he hoped that the British government could help Falun Gong practitioners.
Source: http://clearharmony.net/articles/200705/39288.html
