Friday 13th May marked 13 years since Falun Gong’s introduction to the public. This day is known as “World Falun Dafa Day” and is celebrated by practitioners of Falun Dafa all over the world with public events to promote the practice, which is rooted in traditional Chinese culture.
On Saturday May 14th, UK Falun Dafa practitioners met at St. Martins Square near Trafalgar Square in central London to hold celebratory events for World Falun Dafa Day. They were joined by some Czech practitioners who were visiting UK and many members of the public who were passing by that day and were attracted by the colourful celebrations and came to find out more.
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Many people asked practitioners what was being celebrated. When they heard that practitioners were celebrating 13 years since Falun Dafa’s public introduction and Falun Gong founder Master Li’s birthday, people offered their congratulations. The location of the activity was very good because it was busy. People of many different nationalities crowded round to watch the Falun Gong exercise demonstration and traditional Chinese dancing, including the famous lion dance.
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Many photos were taken by the public on both digital cameras and mobile telephones; the crowd smiled and clapped in the excitement of the cultural performances whilst during the exercise demonstration the atmosphere was far more peaceful and serene. People took leaflets to find out more about Falun Gong and children were very happy to receive a handmade paper lotus flower. Attached to the flower was a small label reading “From the hearts and hands of Falun Dafa practitioners comes this lotus flower, a symbol of purity.”
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The practitioners talked to people about the practice of Falun Gong and the benefits it has brought to them and 100 million other people around the world. Two tourists said that there is a Falun Gong practice site near their home in Korea and through encounters with practitioners they know that they are good people. The Koreans were happy to see that Falun Dafa has also spread to the UK.
As well as talking about the practice, practitioners told people about the large-scale persecution that has been happening in China for the last six years. Many people signed a petition calling for Jiang Zemin, former communist leader and instigator of the persecution against Falun Gong to be brought to justice in a court of law. Some people who were not approached to sign came to find the petition form themselves because they realised the importance of standing up for justice when innocent people are persecuted.
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| People came to sign the petition. | |
In 1999, former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin utilised the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which has continually persecuted and suppressed the Chinese people since it took power over 50 years ago, to begin a large scale persecution against Falun Gong. It is thought that Jiang was jealous of the enormous popularity that the practice enjoyed as people all over China were doing their best to think of others first and act honourably after studying the Falun Dafa teachings. In the last six years, countless forms of abuse, violence and persecution have been used in cruel attempts to force Falun Gong practitioners to renounce their beliefs. Over 2,000 practitioners have lost their lives at the hands of the CCP.
One lady was visiting UK from China and she told practitioners that her sister back home also practises Falun Gong. She revealed that her sister has suffered in the persecution since 1999 and has been illegally imprisoned many times. The practitioners noticed that the attitude of the Chinese people in London is very different from before and many of them were supportive and keen to take leaflets. People are starting to recognise the evil nature of the Chinese Communist Party and are no longer willing to ignore or accept the campaign of genocide against innocent Falun Gong practitioners.
The practitioners all gathered together for a group photograph to wish Master Li happy birthday. They hoped that people had enjoyed the celebrations of World Falun Dafa day and were glad to see the concern and support that people offered for the persecuted practitioners in China. Practitioners hope that by helping the public to see the beauty of Falun Dafa practice and the benefits it has brought to people all over the world, people’s sense of righteousness and justice will also awaken and they will join the worldwide voice calling for an end to the human rights abuses against Falun Gong practitioners.
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| "Happy birthday Master Li!" |
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