Experiencing Kindness in Bratislava
We went to Bratislava, the capital of the Slovak republic for the second Falun Gong summer camp. We realised that this year's camp had many more people then last year who were interested to hear about Falun Gong.
We needed permission to show our exercises and posters. Eventually we found a wonderful kind- hearted person who was willing to cut through the red tape to help us. "I will help you to find the best place that will do justice to the dignity of your meditation practice," she said. Tears came into our eyes. That afternoon we had the best place in Bratislava. This permission put us right in the middle of a beautiful old shopping precinct bordering the main avenue of the city. Masses of people watched us exercise. It was impossible for five of us to give out fliers fast enough so that everyone could get them.
The next day photographers, journalists and radio stations came to ask questions. The local Amnesty group came to discuss how to arrange future joint ventures. People signed our petition and many stood around watching quietly. Some important people came asking what else could they do for us and how could they help us. There was a crowd studying the huge posters. Over those two days we gave out all our Czech, Slovak, German, English and Chinese fliers, brochures and newspapers.
Heart Warming Experience in Brno, Czech republic
In Brno, the capital of Moravia in the Czech republic, kind hearted and helpful local government officials enabled us to obtain permission to do the exercises. Reporters, photographers and radio journalist came to talk to us. One of the practitioners is a nine year old boy called Mario. When he gave out the fliers, he pointed to the words Falun Gong and Truth Compassion - Forbearance in the leaflets. He was saying to everyone: "This is good!"
As we practised in the blistering heat the whole day, we realised that on this SOS trip we were talking to people and media, giving out fliers at every opportunity and exercising in the baking sun during the day. People showed great interest and often there were big crowds of people looking at us, our posters and fliers in silence.
Great Media Interest in Prague
In Prague, the capital of the Czech republic, we practised in the famous Peace Square.
Over the next two days the media descended on us en masse. The media were most favourable, wrote well about us, were well informed about Falun Gong, treated us with respect, and asked intelligent questions. At least nine nationally distributed papers carried photographs and articles about our SOS trip and Falun Gong. Several radio stations interviewed us in Czech and English and two independent TV companies shot footage. The response of the media amazed all of us. Some of the people who came to see us exercise, said they had heard us talking in the radio broadcasts throughout the night.
We were joined by local practitioners and German practitioners who had driven , hundreds of miles from Germany to support us. We spent one evening meditating in a candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese embassy where buses of Chinese tourists coming in and out of the compound saw us, our banners and our huge posters. Friendly, courteous and interested police officers stood by to protect us and prevent any interference.
Czech TV organised a prime time slot to show parts of our videos and invited a practitioner to discuss the situation in China with a Czech sinologist. The practitioner was able to expose the propaganda lies and the inhuman treatment of the practitioners in China. Only afterwards we were told that this station was voted one of the five most objective news broadcasting stations in Europe. The programme was shown live that night and at the breakfast time the next morning to the countrywide audience.
Meeting Helpful People
The Czech and the Slovak people were so supportive and their kind hearts recognised the goodness of Falun Dafa. We were amazed by so many kind-hearted people who expressed concern and sympathy for the practitioners in China. People kept asking to sign the petition. They would read every word of it and then they would sign it.
We said to the kind person in one of the cities: "Thank you for receiving us in your office, clearly we have come to the right place." The official replied: "No, you have come to the right person. I will help, because this is a good thing! I will help you to get the permission, because what you are really showing, is the great ancient cultural heritage of China. I am responsible for culture here. For a show of a great culture I can give my permission immediately. I will also make sure that the Office of the Mayor is fully informed."
Why Did We Do It?
Our purpose in going to the Czech and Slovak republics was firstly, to let everyone know how good Falun Dafa is and that they can learn it, if they so wish. Secondly, as part of the SOS Urgent Call to Rescue Falun Gong Practitioners in China to tell people about the Falun Gong practitioners’ immense suffering and bravery and how they need our support and our voice. We were calling on all the kind-hearted people, Czechs and Slovaks. Many responded.
The two practitioners from the UK, who went to Czech republic and Slovakia, were born in Czech and spent the first twenty one years of their lives there. When the practitioners from London returned to UK, they found encouraging letters and e-mails from the Czech and Slovak politicians wishing to make contact. Among these letters was also a letter from the Office of the President of the Czech republic, Mr Vaclav Havel, expressing his wish to create an intense international pressure to stop the abuse of human rights.
The translations of Falun Gong (introductory book) and Zhuan Falun (the main book of Falun Gong) in Czech and Slovak languages can be downloaded from www.falundafa.org.
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