Norway: Promoting Falun Gong and Exposing the Persecution at a Health Exhibition

In the Norwegian city of Stavanger, a group of Falun Gong practitioners participated at a health exhibition to inform people about Falun Gong and the ongoing 11-year persecution against Falun Gong practitioners in China. They were also given the opportunity to hold a course where they demonstrated the five sets of Falun Gong exercises.

A practitioner talks about Falun Gong and the persecution happening in China at an exhibition in Stavanger, Norway

The majority of the exhibition participants took a brochure that informed them how Falun Gong practitioners strive to improve their character by following the principles of truthfulness, compassion, tolerance. The brochure also explained how the five sets of meditative exercises in Falun Gong can bring about increased energy, reduce stress and strengthen health.

The brochure talked about the human rights abuses Falun Gong practitioners are suffering in China in an eleven-year persecution campaign instigated by former Chinese Communist Party head Jiang Zemin. In the past 11 years innumerable Falun Gong practitioners in China have been persecuted, beaten and tortured, and this is still happening today. Many people sympathised with the suffering of practitioners in China.

Many people were surprised when they found out that the exercises classes and teachings of Falun Gong are free. Because of this many stopped to find out more. After getting some more information and a free paper lotus flower, folded by practitioners, many smiled and expressed gratitude for the conversation. One person said: “I feel so calm and happy after being at this stand.” There were many who were interested in going to their local practice site to learn the exercises.

The practitioners talked with visitors about the persecution in China. Many had heard that it was bad in China during the Olympics. When they heard that there are several UN refugees in Norway that are Falun Gong practitioners and were wrongfully imprisoned in China, they were surprised.

One of the participants of the exhibition brought a little girl over because she had heard that the Falun Gong stand gave out paper lotus flowers. The girl was given a flower and they were both given information about Falun Gong and the persecution. The participant was quite moved and wanted to donate money. Practitioners told him that they do not accept donations but were touched by his kind offer and glad that he know knew about the situation in China.

Originally published in Norwegian at http://no.clearharmony.net/articles/201009/2626.html