Finland: Introducing Falun Gong in Oulu

Falun Gong practitioners in Finland participated in a large-scale community fair in Oulu from August 16 to August 20, 2012. Participants in the fair included media, political parties, the military, theatres and many businesses and organisations.

Leens and her husband Markku sign a petition to show support for Falun Gong.	A woman learning the Falun Gong exercises at the Falun Gong booth.

Practitioners introduced Falun Gong and exposed the 13-year persecution of Falun Gong in China. Many people signed a petition to show their support and to condemn the persecution. Ritva, a school teacher, told the practitioners that she was very interested in Chinese culture, history and tradition, but she had never been to China because the Communist Party was in power. She urged Falun Gong practitioners to continue their effort until the persecution ends.

Leens and her husband Markku said they had heard about the persecution on TV and in the newspaper. They agreed that it was a terrible persecution and both of them signed the petition in support of Falun Gong.

A gentleman told the Falun Gong practitioners that the Communist Party had killed 70 million Chinese people. The practitioners then told him about the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong, which has been covered up by the Communist Party, and talked about practitioners' worldwide peaceful efforts to end the persecution. In Finland, more signatures have been collected in support of Falun Gong than for any other cause. Impressed, the gentleman signed the petition to show his support.

The fair provided a great opportunity for people to learn about Falun Gong and express their support.