Australian Legislators Join Falun Dafa Day Celebration in Sydney
(Minghui.org) “We are lucky and fortunate in Australia to have the contribution of practitioners of Falun Gong to our peaceful multi-cultural society. It's a great pleasure to come here and celebrate today a quarter part of the century of this peaceful spiritual contribution to our planet,” said David Shoebridge, a Greens member of the New South Wales Legislative Council (MLC) at a rally in Sydney's Hyde Park on May 9, 2015.
The rally was held to celebrate the 16th World Falun Dafa Day on May 13 and the 23rd anniversary of Falun Gong's introduction to public.
“I would like to pay my respects to the practitioners of Falun Gong, who for a quarter of a century having taken the practice—their faith, their belief—across the globe,” Mr. Shoebridge added. “And they have done so when it comes to China, in the face of a quite brutal repression. Today is the day where people around the world should celebrate the resilience of humanity, the resilience of the practitioners.”
Falun Gong practitioners wish Master Li, founder of Falun Gong, a happy 64th birthday.
Young Falun Gong practitioners send their birthday greetings to Master Li Hongzhi
Falun Gong practitioners demonstrate the exercises at Sydney's Hyde Park on May 9, 2015.
David Shoebridge, a Greens member of the New South Wales Legislative Council (MLC)
Chinese tourists walk by a performance of the Divine Land Marching Band
John Deller, spokesperson for the Australian Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) Association
John Deller, spokesperson for the Australian Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) Association, introduced World Falun Dafa Day and said that, on this day, “Practitioners world-wide are gathering to celebrate and share the beauty and profoundness of Falun Dafa with the world, while also reminding them that the persecution of millions of good people in China who treasure Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance is a call to the conscience of all good people everywhere.”
“We are here to celebrate the signs we can see around us: truth, compassion, and forbearance, very important words, which mark the tolerance and compassion of Falun Dafa practitioners,” said Jamie Parker, member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.
Councillor John Hugh of Parramatta City Council wishes Falun Gong practitioners a Happy World Falun Dafa Day and a Happy Birthday to Mr. Li Hongzhi, founder of Falun Gong.
“In Parramatta we are privileged to live in a multi-cultural society, and Falun Gong practitioners make up an important part of that society. The principles of truth, benevolence and forbearance are ones that the Parramatta community shares,” said James Shaw, member of Parramatta City Council
Human Rights activist and freelancer Bob Vinnicombe
Human Rights activist and freelancer Bob Vinnicombe got to know Falun Dafa six years ago.
“The screening on 7th April by SBS TV of the documentary 'Human Harvest' on Dateline that showed the killing of political prisoners in China to get their organs to sell for transplants generated unprecedented publicity in media outlets all over the world,” he said.
“I would hope no longer can the world governments and the world media turn a blind eye to this ongoing atrocity on the grounds that they have no proof, because they have now been presented with the proof.”
Fred Nile, National President the Christian Democratic Party, and Tri Vo, leader of the Australian Vietnamese community, both sent congratulatory letters in honor of the 16th World Falun Dafa Day.