Sweden: Promoting Falun Gong in Umeå, the “2014 European Capital of Culture”

Umeå, a northern city in Sweden, was formally appointed as the “2014 European Capital of Culture” on February 1. About 80,000 to 100,000 people participated in the three-day celebration to mark the honourable distinction. Local Falun Gong practitioners took advantage of this opportunity to raise awareness about the practice.

The city's celebration focused on introducing the Sami culture of the local ethnic group, as well as Chinese culture. Princess Victoria of Sweden, Swedish Minister of Culture, and other European dignitaries attended the event.

At the opening ceremony, the event organizer asked local practitioners to introduce Falun Gong on the outdoor stage. While the introduction was scheduled for only five minutes, the audience and the moderator expressed a wish to learn Falun Gong exercises on the spot, and a practitioner taught them the first exercise from the stage.

People learn the first Falun Gong exercise as a practitioner demonstrates it from an outdoor stage on February 1

Umeå is a medium-size city with a population of 1.2 million. It is located about 186 miles from the North Pole. With snow flurries and cold temperatures in the air, Falun Gong practitioners set up an informational display on a pavement in downtown. They demonstrated Falun Gong exercises and distributed flyers to raise awareness about Falun Gong and the persecution in China. Many passersby gladly accepted the information.

Practitioners demonstrate Falun Gong exercises during the Umeå celebration of being named the “2014 European Capital of Culture”	People read informational materials about Falun Gong

Practitioners were also invited to introduce Falun Gong at a local library. Some attendees left their contact information so they could learn the practice at a later date. Some learned the exercises on the spot.

A staff member at the library watched the exercise demonstration attentively and said, “I have been wishing to learn this practice for a long time.”