Switzerland: People Show Support for Falun Gong at World Falun Dafa Day Celebration

On May 13, 2009, Falun Gong practitioners celebrated World Falun Dafa Day in Luzerne, Switzerland. At noon time, practitioners held a parade through the old town of Luzerne. The rhythmic drums attracted many passersby. Some even danced along with the drum beat. But they became serious when they saw the photos of Falun Gong practitioners persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on the banners following the waist drum team. Some read the banners carefully, and some took videos of the parade. At the end of the parade at Falkenplatz, various displays attracted many passersby to stop.

Falun Gong practitioners demonstrate the five sets of exercises.

A passerby read the material immediately after receiving it.

Students sightseeing in Luzerne sign a petition calling for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong by the CCP.

Many passersby read the panels carefully and sign the petition to support Falun Gong.

Celebrating World Falun Dafa Day in Luzerne, a tourist destination in Switzerland.

I want to learn Falun Gong

Heidi read the information at the practitioners' booth for a long time and talked with a practitioner for a long time too. At last she wrote down the local practice site address in Luzerne and said that she wanted to learn how to practise Falun Gong. She said she could feel the powerful energy of the practice and felt very drawn to it. When she learned that Falun Gong teaches people to live according to Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, Heidi was very impressed and excited, and expressed how happy she was to have come to Luzerne.

Gisele has practised Falun Gong for twelve years. She recalled that Falun Gong practitioners in Switzerland had held Information Day (activities) in many cities over the past ten years to promote Falun Gong. They often meet people who want to learn Falun Gong. If there is no local practice site established, the practitioners will go back to that city again to teach the exercises. In this way, the number of practitioners has grown in more and more cities.

Sharing the physical and mental benefits

Falun Gong practitioners all over the world are happy to share with others about the benefits they have obtained from the practice. Silvie started to practice cultivation when she received Falun Gong information in New Mexico, USA. Her symptoms of heart disease disappeared after practising cultivation in Falun Dafa. The most important thing to Silvie is, "I feel that Falun Gong is very wondrous and very profound. I could sense the peace. Therefore I started to practise Falun Gong and tried to conduct myself in such a way as to become a better person." She has also introduced her family and friends to Falun Gong. Some of them have become interested and some have started practising cultivation.

Beni has practised cultivation of Falun Gong for about two years. During a noontime break, one of his colleagues demonstrated the five sets of Falun Gong exercises for him. At a local practice site, he started formally learning and thus took the path of practising cultivation. "I felt a kind of energy after practising cultivation, a kind of helpful energy. I do not know how to express it very well." He was happy to talk about his reason for practising cultivation, "Because I want to improve myself, from my personality to every aspect of my life. Falun Dafa helps me to improve and I gain much enlightenment from it."

For instance, he felt that he tended to be very selfish, "I only considered my own feelings and interests before I started practising cultivation. Now I try to consider the feelings of others more. It is the same at work; I no longer give priority to my own interests but allow nature to take its course. I accept what I receive but no longer struggle." Beni's family and friends have also sensed his change, especially his wife, who often says, "It is wonderful that you can be like this." Furthermore, due to his influence, his wife, who does not practice cultivation, has also started to change. She sometimes tells him, "I dealt with a certain matter today in a way that I definitely wouldn't have done before."

Beni has also often talked about Falun Gong with his friends and colleagues because he feels that his friends could benefit from it too. He often exposes the persecution of Falun Gong Until he practised Falun Gong, Beni wasn't aware of the persecution. "I think it is very terrible that the CCP persecutes people just because of their belief." When he got to know what was happening in mainland China his thought was, "I must try my best to stop the persecution!" This is one of the reasons he has attended all of the Information Day activities.

Since the CCP launched the bloody persecution of Falun Gong in July 1999, Falun Gong practitioners have not only demonstrated the Falun Gong exercises during Information Days, but also show people the true picture of the persecution. This was also a part of the activities for Falun Dafa Day. The practitioners' hope is that once people see the true picture, they will no longer be deceived by the CCP.

The photos of Falun Gong practitioners suffering brutal persecution have deeply shocked people. Two teenage girls saw the photos and asked why the CCP would want to persecute Falun Gong. They also asked how to help stop the persecution.

The persecution is wrong and should not continue

Four high school students were very shocked upon seeing the photos of Falun Gong practitioners suffering persecution. They asked practitioners about many happenings in mainland China and also took copies of DVDs that explained further. Two hours later, their teacher and the whole class came. They read the informational panels carefully. The teacher suggested that the students sign the petition to stop the persecution of Falun Gong as well as the CCP's crime of organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners. He added that he would watch the DVD with his students when they returned to their class.

"This persecution is wrong. They have deprived people of their human rights." The students who signed the petition said that they would pass this information to more people. "The persecution should not be allowed continue."

Everyone should stop the persecution

Mr Ozqelik is from Turkey. He signed the petition calling for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong, because he himself has also been persecuted. "I think everyone should stop the persecution and make every effort to support human rights."

Bernhard learned to practise Falun Gong in Greece. He said, after signing the petition, "I am shocked. Some people have even gone so far as to persecute Falun Gong. It does not matter where this persecution is happening. It is related to me because this is the persecution of humanity. I have practised Falun Gong. I think that it is a source of peace. I cannot image that some people are against it. I understand that when people find the peace in their heart they can no longer be manipulated. The CCP regime wants to manipulate these people through persecution. Those people in power indeed are abusing their power. I think this is very good I am able to sign this petition."

An owner of a Chinese restaurant came directly to the information table and asked when the activity would finish. He said that he would like to invite all the practitioners to have a meal. He said that he knows about the persecution of Falun Gong and the current situation in mainland China. He is fully aware that the CCP has slaughtered the innocent and has never taken human life seriously.

He told a Falun Gong practitioner, "You have a very important mission. I know the situation in mainland China. Falun Gong practitioners are being persecuted. Therefore I think it is very good that you tell more people about it. I wish you good luck!"