France: The Eiffel Tower Witnesses the History of Falun Gong

Paris is a world-class destination, and the Eiffel Tower by the Seine River has witnessed many stories and legends. Since July 20, 1999, the Tower has been witness to a new story that will go down in history.

On July 20, 1999, former Chinese Communist Party leader and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched the persecution of Falun Gong with everything in their power. The state-media ran slanderous news to frame Falun Gong all day long, and many in the world were deceived by the propaganda. Under tremendous pressure, Falun Gong practitioners in France tried to tell tourists from around the world, especially China, the facts about Falun Gong and the persecution.

Passersby read about Falun Gong on the Trocadéro Human Rights Plaza near the Eiffel Tower.

Passersby sign a petition to support Falun Gong and end the persecution immediately.

Practitioners demonstrating the exercises on Trocadéro Plaza.

Falun Gong practitioners go to the Trocadéro Human Rights Plaza next to the Eiffel Tower every Sunday to raise awareness about the persecution and promote Falun Dafa. They put up displays, demonstrate the exercises, and give out fliers and DVDs. They show how practitioners in China are tortured and unlawfully imprisoned. Many practitioners' organs were stolen from them even when they were alive. Passersby who learn what happened to the practitioners in China are often very sympathetic and sign the petition calling for an end to the persecution.

A father came from Poland to visit his son. When the father heard about the practitioner's efforts to fight against the communist regime's persecution, he had already walked quite far away from the booth, but he turned around and walked back to the booth to sign the petition. He had lived under communist rule in Poland and was eager to raise his voice against communism and persecution.

A French couple came to the square with their ten-year-old daughter. After they learned how practitioners in China were tortured from the pictures on the displays, they had tears in their eyes. They said that they had never heard about it when they were in China.

Practitioners go to a Chinese restaurant near the Eiffel Tower every day to tell its Chinese customers about Falun Dafa. Some of them would not accept the fliers and some quickly hide the fliers in their pockets or bags. Once a tour guide told the Chinese tourists they were allowed to take materials from Falun Gong practitioners, the fliers and newspapers were gone in a minute. Some of them quietly told the practitioners "We all know what really happened. Good job!" "Thanks for the hard work."

Another time a woman scolded the practitioners, blaming them for giving China a bad name. A practitioner told her that she should know what the communist regime was like because she looked like she had been through the Cultural Revolution. She walked away. The practitioners continue to expose how evil the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is and introduce the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party to them. "It's important for you to understand the truth. You all want to have a peaceful and bright future. Gods only care whether you are a good or bad person in your mind. If you quit the evil CCP and distance yourself from the evil, with this just act and thought in your mind, you have placed yourself on a positive path."

The tourists soon renounced the CCP. Before they got on the bus, the woman came and asked for the Nine Commentaries and other materials because she heard what the practitioner said. The practitioner asked her to quit the CCP, saying, "You've come all this way. Gods only care what you believe. Please bring safety home with you." She gladly agreed and quit the CCP before she left.

Background

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a traditional Chinese spiritual discipline for mind and body. The practice involves slow, gentle movements and meditation. It is easy to learn, enjoyable to practice, and free of charge. Its principles are based on Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. The practice began in China in 1992 and quickly spread by word of mouth throughout China and then beyond. Its beneficial effects in uplifting an individual's physical, mental, and spiritual health, not to mention its positive influence in the community and society as a whole, have been undeniable. In fact, Falun Gong is practised by over 100 million people in 60 countries. The main works of Falun Gong are available in over 30 languages.

On July 20, 1999, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched a brutal persecution of Falun Gong. Since the start of the persecution, Falun Gong practitioners throughout the world have been constantly speaking out about the truth of Falun Gong and exposing the CCP's crimes in a tireless effort to end the persecution.