(Clearwisdom.net) On July 20, 2007, an article describing July 20 as a day marked with suffering for 100 million practitioners of Falun Gong, appeared in ten community newspapers in Auckland, New Zealand, with a photo showing the brutality of the persecution published alongside the article. The newspapers were distributed to the mailboxes of at least 420,000 homes.

The photo used in the paid articles was of a march commemorating practitioners who were tortured to death in China. The article stated:

"This very day, eight years ago, represents a day of suffering for nearly 10 percent of China's population.

July 20, 1999 marked the beginning of the brutal and unlawful oppression of Falun Gong, practiced by over 100 million in China. This persecution of spiritual belief was deliberately fabricated by those in power solely due to their jealousy over the practice's popularity. As a result, the man-made disaster has forced hundreds of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners and their families to face endless physical and psychological torture, and even loss of life. What is worse, the unprecedented persecution is still happening in China.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is an ancient Chinese cultivation practice consisting of simple exercise movements similar to Tai Chi, and a teaching based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance. Many practitioners experience obvious improvements in their health, and they also become more tolerant and kind-hearted. Some of the miraculous effects of the practice have allowed practitioners to recover from incurable diseases, quit smoking, enjoy harmonious relationships with their families, experience relief from stress, and enhance their wisdom and understanding of the world around them.

Falun Gong grew very quickly after its introduction in China due to its numerous health benefits. Yet more importantly, Falun Gong filled a spiritual void in the hearts of Chinese citizens who had suffered for over 50 years under an atheist Communist rule. It is the tremendous popularity of Falun Gong, and the government's inability to impose unreasonable demands on the practice which are said to have led to the illegal persecution on July 20, 1999.

Despite facing such unreasonable and unprecedented persecution over the last eight years, Falun Gong practitioners have continuously appealed to their torturers and to the people of the world with hearts of compassion, without ever resorting to violence. They have shown through their actions the kindness and tolerance of Falun Gong. Falun Gong practitioners greatly appreciate the support of the world's people in stopping the persecution. What practitioners want is simply freedom of belief and the freedom to practice the gentle exercises and meditation openly and with dignity. It is the absurd ongoing persecution that makes practitioners take to the streets, asking for basic rights, and an end to the persecution.

During the eight years of peaceful protests against the persecution, Falun Gong and its principles of "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance" have widely spread throughout the world, and more and more people have experienced and recognized its beauty.

All kind-hearted people, please keep this day, July 20, in mind and support the calls for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and freedom of belief everywhere.