Australia: Australian Community Welcomes Falun Gong at Spring Celebration

Falun Gong practitioners in Chatswood, Sydney, Australia have participated in the annual local New Year celebration and exposed the brutal persecution of Falun Gong by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), while displaying the good demeanor Falun Gong practitioners. On September 12th, 2009, Falun Gong practitioners were invited once again to participate in the Chatswood Spring Fair and parade.

Sydney Divine Land Marching Band participates in the Chatswood Spring Parade

Passersby stop to learn about Falun Gong

Passersby sign the petition condemning the persecution of Falun Gong by the CCP

Practitioners in High Spirits

The Sydney Divine Land Marching Band made its first appearance in Chinese ancient costumes in the Chatswood Spring Parade. The band led with a large banner reading "Falun Dafa," marching forward while performing vigorous music. When they entered the main street, the host of the activity introduced to the audience, "This is the Falun Dafa contingent, Falun Dafa is a spiritual movement, they conduct themselves based on Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Falun Dafa cultivation brings people physical and mental well being."

The parade procession was composed of different groups, featuring a diverse range of cultural backgrounds. The Divine Land Marching Band impressed spectators on both sides of the street with its huge lineup, resonant music and magnificent momentum, and earned praise from the audience.

People Walk Close to Falun Gong

Shortly after practitioners set up a truth clarification booth, at the fair, a western lady walked up to inquire about the practice site. She said that she had bought a copy of the book Zhuan Falun at last year's Spring Fair, and now she hoped to learn the five sets of the Falun Gong exercises. She was very pleased after obtaining the information she needed. She then asked some questions about doing the exercises, and the practitioners answered her questions. Before leaving, she agreed to meet practitioners at the practice site the next day.

A Japanese lady came to the booth and saw practitioners folding paper lotus flowers. She was very interested and wanted to learn. A practitioner taught her to fold the paper lotus flowers, while telling her about Falun Gong and the symbolic meaning of the lotus flower, remaining clean and pure amongst filth. The practitioner further explained to her the nature of Falun Gong. The lady soon learned to fold paper lotus flowers, and got to know about Falun Gong. Before leaving, she said she would get on the Internet to learn more about Falun Gong.

A western lady living in Parramatta said, while learning how to fold paper lotus flowers, that she had seen Falun Gong practitioners doing the exercises in a big group at City Hall of Parramatta, and both her mother and she wanted to learn. Her mother said that the exercises looked peaceful, and that the practice must be good. Last year, her mother and she had planned to travel to China for sight-seeing, but after learning about the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong, they changed their plans and instead travelled to Thailand.

Citizens Hope to Stop the Persecution

In the afternoon, a lady took a flyer from a practitioner and said that she should do something regarding the persecution taking place in China. The practitioner asked her to sign the petition opposing the persecution, and she signed joyously. She told the practitioners that she loves Chinese culture, and self-studied China's contemporary history. She said that such a persecution is unacceptable.

A man who came to sign the petition on his own initiative before the close of the fair said that he "should do something that can truly help put an end to the persecution." A practitioner told him, "If more people who have learned the truth stand up to speak, prompting the Australian government to condemn the CCP's crimes, it will help put an end to the persecution."

An older couple from Hong Kong watched the parade and came up to the Falun Gong booth. They said that the Chinese government is wrong to persecute Falun Gong. They had learned a lot about Falun Gong in Hong Kong. They said, "We support you, Falun Gong is extraordinary."

The day passed quickly. Practitioners participating in the event felt that they had a fruitful day. As members of the community, they believe that it is their responsibility to let more and more people in the community know about the persecution of Falun Gong, and help more and more predestined people understand the magnificence of Falun Dafa.