Australia: Practitioners Participate in Apple Festival in Sydney

On October 20th, 2012, Falun Gong practitioners were invited to participate in the Apple Festival in Eastwood, a satellite city of Sydney. With over 40 ethnic and business groups participating, the parade attracted over 20,000 spectators.

The practitioners’ procession consisted of a grand marching band and a decorated float. Along with the procession, several practitioners distributed truth-clarifying materials. When the procession marched through the main staging area, the host announced: “Falun Dafa is an ancient traditional Chinese cultivation practice that has five sets of exercises which are easy to learn. It offers free teaching and is now practised in over 100 countries with more than 100 million practitioners. Practising Falun Gong helps one feel relaxed and joyful…” City council members and officials at the main stage greeted the practitioners with warm applause.

Ms. Zhang from Beijing watched the parade with her husband and two children. Ms. Zhang said. “I have lived in this community for years and have seen Falun Gong in the parade every year. Their procession is spectacular, and as a Chinese, I feel very proud whenever I see them.”

Ms. Wang from Dalian told the practitioners that she disagreed with the persecution of Falun Gong in China. “If organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners is true, the Chinese Communist Party must be held responsible. This is horrible and inhuman,” she said.

Ms. Ma practices Taichi. She said: “I always have a good impression of Falun Gong, and I believe that the persecution will be ended. I admire their unyielding spirit and wish them the best.”