France: People of All Ages Support Falun Gong during the Haute Savoie Autumn Fair

An autumn fair took place in the village of Haute Savoie on the first Saturday in October. All the spaces were reserved but a last-minute withdrawal allowed us to set up a Falun Dafa Information Stand in the busiest part of the fair. The village Mayor came to greet us and said, “This space is very good because you will have a lot of people passing here.”

Members of the public were immediately drawn by the photos of the methods of torture used by the Jiang Regime to attempt to force Falun Gong practitioners in China to betray their beliefs. Many came to look for a long time, listened attentively to the practitioners’ explanations and were truly very touched. They asked what they could do to help as they signed the petition calling for an end to the persecution.

Numerous groups of young people and children stopped in front of the photos with very serious and thoughtful faces. They asked, “Can we sign the petition?” A father who signed the petition told us that it was his little girl of eight years who had taken the flyer and had given it to him saying, “Daddy, you have to go and sign.” Another little girl understood that in China there were policemen who beat and tortured people while in the western world the police are there to help and protect us. She felt it is as if the world is the wrong way round in that far away foreign country. The upright actions of these children are particularly touching when one remembers their Chinese counterparts: the many children of Falun Gong practitioners who have become orphans due to the persecution in China.

A policeman who was responsible for security at the fair came to the Falun Gong stand several times. He had already seen the exercise demonstration outside. He said was touched by Falun Dafa’s guiding principles of Truth, Compassion and Tolerance, and is trying to put them into practice in his everyday life.

Several people who were in a hurry promised to stop by later. They returned especially to sign the petition. One lady was unable to return, but the next day we met her by chance and so we were able to talk to her about Falun Gong and the persecution.

Some who had practised in the past came and told us that they always held Falun Gong in their hearts. They were very shocked by the torture photos. Upon seeing the photos, one cannot help but feel the importance of bringing those responsible for these horrific violations of humanity and goodness to justice and ensuring that they are held responsible for the damage that has been done on their orders.