(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners participated in the RedFest Redlands Coast Festival in Redland City on September 7 and 8, and introduced Dafa to the local community. They also told people how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has persecuted Falun Dafa since July 1999. 

Practitioners introduced Falun Dafa during the RedFest Redlands Coast Festival in Redland City on September 7 and 8, 2024. 

The event featured many family-oriented activities including rock climbing, horse rides, and a variety of foods. Local residents and their families came to enjoy the entertainment and to shop. Many stopped by the practitioners’ booth to learn about Falun Dafa and many signed petitions calling to end the persecution in China. 

MP: Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Are Important Values

Mark Robinson MP (right) at the Falun Dafa booth

Mark Robinson has been a Member of the Queensland Parliament for 15 years. He stopped at the Falun Dafa booth and said that he agreed with Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. As a parliament member, he said he knows that honesty and being trustworthy are very important. 

This means sometimes one has to forebear hardship while treating others well, Mr. Robinson explained, “That’s why the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are critical.” He added that people are watching us, including our children and coworkers, and hopefully they will learn positive traits from those who practice Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, become better citizens, and help each other. 

MP Robinson said it’s unfortunate that Falun Dafa practitioners are persecuted by the CCP for following these values. He said it’s wrong for a government to interfere with such a belief, let alone persecute those who practice Falun Dafa. He is disturbed by the brutality in China and hopes the situation changes. “Culture and faith systems are always respected in Western society,” he added. 

The MP said he was glad to hear that the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Falun Gong Protection Act earlier this year, which will sanction those involved in the CCP’s forced organ harvesting. He said freedom of belief is very important and is protected by the Australian Constitution. He also said he looks forward to more legislation that emphasizes this freedom. 

People Oppose Communism 

Catarina said she enjoyed being with Falun Gong practitioners. 

Many event attendees were interested in Falun Dafa and talked with practitioners. Catarina said she liked the Falun Dafa booth’s bright colors and enjoyed the peace and positive energy she felt there. 

Catarina said this was the first time she’d heard about Falun Dafa. She said the practice was very good but she was sad to hear about the persecution in China. She’s worried about communism’s negative influence, including in Australian society, and she hopes the persecution ends soon.