On March 14 2009, the New York Shen Yun Performing Arts company went to Norway for the first time, doing two performances in the Oslo Music Hall to the audience's delight. It might have surprised some in the audience that the show could not have happened without the tireless efforts of volunteers, many of whom were Westerners promoting a show mainly focused on Eastern culture. Mr. Peder Giertsen was one of those people. We had the chance to do an interview with Mr. Giertsen in New York.

As an overseas organisation that represents a country, they don't even dare to be open about the true reason why they can't issue a passport. And their superior doesn't even dare to see me, let me know his name or give me a certificate. What on earth is the reason that the Chinese Consulate will not give me my passport? I think it could only be that I practise Falun Gong.

As a beneficiary of Falun Gong, I know that lies can only prevail temporarily. However, the Chinese Communist Party's lies were beyond my imagination. On January 23, 2001, the CCP orchestrated the "Tiananmen Square self-immolations." I was shocked. That morning, as soon as I arrived at work, my boss came to me and said, "This morning the whole area near Tiananmen will be under martial law, starting at 10 a.m.. You can't go anywhere for a few days, especially Tiananmen.

At the end of 2008, Ms Marianne Lefebvre from Belgium wrote a letter to Xu Na, her friend imprisoned in Beijing. Xu Na, an artist, is wife of Yu Zou, a musician who was killed by Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorities before the Beijing Olympic Games. Xu Na was illegally sentenced to three years on November 25, 2008. She was sentenced before her solicitor arrived – the court only ran for a few minutes before the judge directly pronounced judgement without reading the verdict.

Another year has passed and Fa rectification strides forward,
Our vows as Dafa disciples are being fulfilled and more sentient beings are saved,
Thank you venerable Master for your great compassion,
The New Year brings renewed hope for the World!

Iceland's Falun Dafa practitioners want to send benevolent great Master our heartfelt and sincere greetings for the New Year and thank Master for giving us the Fa and the precious opportunity to practise Falun Dafa.

A greeting from all Dafa disciples in Europe to our most respected Master with the song "The beautiful May" by the European choir. May is the month of Falun Dafa Day and the month of Master's birthday. Thank you Master for all you have given us.