(Clearwisdom.net) The annual Kotka Ocean Festival was held from July 18 to 22. Local Finnish Falun Gong practitioners rented a stall to clarify the truth of the persecution to festival goers. On July 21, the practitioners were invited to participate in the parade of the Festival.
Little practitioner holds a "Falun Dafa" sign leading the Falun Gong procession
"Falun Dafa" banner displayed during the parade
Reporter of Kymen Sanomat (the largest local newspaper) interviews a practitioner
Many people view practitioners' truth-clarifying posters
Many people come to learn about Falun Dafa and facts of the persecution
A senior citizen signs the practitioners' petition
Kymen Sanomat, the largest local newspaper, carried a front-page article about Falun Gong
Kotka is located in the Gulf of Finland, and the annual Kotka Ocean Festival started in 1962 and has developed into one of the largest summer activities in Finland. The festival attracts more than 100,000 tourists every year. During the festival, on the beautiful Kotka coast, tourists can watch sailboat and motorboat competitions. In addition, people enjoy movies, magic shows, seashore concerts, seashore market, an ocean song competition, and a parade.
Finnish Falun Gong practitioners rented a stall to raise awareness of the persecution in China. They hung up banners, and displayed photos illustrating the spread of Falun Dafa worldwide and the brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. In addition, they also distributed truth-clarifying materials and demonstrated the five exercises of Falun Gong. The practitioners' activities attracted numerous tourists. Many of them listened to the practitioners' truth-clarification and signed a petition calling for an end to the persecution.
On July 21, for the very first time, the Falun Gong practitioners were invited to participate in the parade of the festival. The practitioners' procession was led by a "Falun Dafa" sign held by little practitioner and a large "Falun Dafa" banner. Four young female practitioners performed traditional Chinese dance and five practitioners in golden yellow exercise suits demonstrated the Falun Gong exercises. The end of the procession was a giant "Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance" banner. The spectators greeted the practitioners with applause, and many of them shouted: "Falun Dafa!"
Before the parade started, Kymen Sanomat, the largest Kotka newspaper, interviewed a practitioner. On the following day, a report about Falun Gong appeared on the front page of the newspaper. The report said that the Falun Gong group participated in the parade for the very first time and the group's procession was very beautiful.
