(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners from southwest England participated in two events in the Cornwall area on July 6 and 7, 2019. They introduced the ancient cultivation practice to the local community and raised awareness of the ongoing persecution in China.
Falun Dafa practitioners participate in the Mount Hawke Summer Fair in Millennium Green Park in Cornwall on July 6, 2019.
Falun Dafa practitioners at the Rotary Vintage/Classic Car Rally in Penzance on July 7, 2019
Children make paper lotus flowers at the Falun Dafa booth at the Rotary Vintage/Classic Car Rally event on July 7, 2019.
Penzance residents and tourists sign a petition calling for an immediate end to the persecution of Falun Gong in China.
Donna (center), organizer of the Mount Hawke Summer Fair
Mount Hawke is a village in the St. Agnes District with a population of about 4000. The Mount Hawke Summer Fair is an annual local event. Two Falun Dafa practitioners participated in the event five years ago. Earlier this year, Donna, the organizer of the event, saw a Falun Dafa exercise demonstration at a health expo in another city and invited the practitioners to come back to Mount Hawke.
After the event was over, Donna thanked the participating practitioners for their efforts to share the principles of peace, harmony, and love. Her granddaughter, like other children, was given an origami lotus flower at the Falun Dafa booth and it made her very happy.
“From the feedback I received, everyone agrees that the persecution should not be happening and that it is so bad that everyone was willing to sign the petition [opposing the persecution],” Donna said.
She said that the Falun Dafa exercise demonstration had brought a peaceful atmosphere to the park and energy to the event. She invited the practitioners to participate in the event again next year.
Elizabeth learns the Falun Dafa exercises.
Elizabeth, a youth worker in the pavilion next to Falun Dafa's, heard about the practice for the first time and decided to give it a try.
“The stretches in the first exercise relaxed me. I didn't feel well this morning when I came here but after practicing exercise four, I felt much better,” she commented.
She shared with the practitioners that many young people were troubled by a lack of concentration and mental problems. “They can't concentrate and always expect to get what they want immediately. This practice offers hope,” she said.
Neil Gapp is a physical education teacher at Cape Cornwall School and a director of an academy trust fund. He was happy to meet Falun Gong practitioners at the event in Penzance and said he wanted to propose that the trust include Falun Gong practice in projects for elementary and middle school physical education.
“This is very good,” he said. “It is powerful and can greatly improve children and adolescents' ability to focus. It is a very easy physical exercise. It is also a valuable reference for schoolteachers working on students' character and social development.”
John Underhill, financial director of the Rotary Club in Penzance
John Underhill is the financial director of the Rotary Club and one of the organizers of the Rotary Vintage/Classic Car Rally. He thanked practitioners for their efforts to raise awareness of the persecution in China.
He said that sharing information about the practice with the public is important and valuable. “Your message is very powerful. Thank you for giving us this information. We wish you success,” he said.
Peter, an independent photographer
Peter, an independent photographer, chatted with a practitioner about Falun Gong and the persecution in China at the Rotary Vintage/Classic Car Rally.
“Falun Gong will cause a big change in this world,” Peter said. “I think our society is facing some big challenges now. People are becoming more selfish and careless when it comes to other people's needs. Falun Gong can open people's hearts and help them be more kind and caring so that people will be more friendly. We should concentrate and find the spiritual inside of us.”
Ryan Linton, a technical support worker in a college.
Ryan Linton, a technical support worker in a college, signed the petition opposing the persecution of Falun Gong.
“The persecution has lasted for 20 years. It must stop,” he said. “Everyone should make some effort to stop it. I will tell my students. If more people make an effort, the force opposing the persecution will be stronger.”