Finland: Practitioners Participate in Health Expo for Tenth Consecutive Year

Finland's annual Health and Knowledge Expo was held on October 8-9, 2011 at Suomen Yhteiskoulu (a high school) in Helsinki. The expo draws many visitors each year, most of whom are interested in faith and spirituality. Falun Gong practitioners in Finland have participated in the event for ten consecutive years. They introduce people to Falun Dafa's wide spread around the world and raise their awareness about the twelve-year persecution of Falun Gong practitioners by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

A practitioner speaks with people about Falun Gong.

A golden banner reading “Falun Dafa” was hung up above the booth. Practitioners demonstrated the exercises, accompanied by gentle, peaceful music. Falun Dafa books and truth clarification materials were displayed on a table, and beautifully handmade paper lotus flowers were passed out. Many people have taken truth clarification materials at the expo over the years, and they continued to show concern over the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. They also signed the petition to oppose the persecution. Many people were drawn by the exercise demonstration, and inquired where they could learn the practice.

After seeing paper lotus flowers at the booth, one lady told a practitioner that she had seen Falun Gong in another city a few years prior, and she was given a paper lotus flower there. She still keeps it at her home. She also said that she often browsed the Falun Gong website that was attached to the lotus flower. An older man told a practitioner that he often followed the exercise instruction DVD to do the exercises. He lives in Lahti, a city not far from Helsinki. A few of his friends also practice Falun Gong. He said he hoped to set up a practice site for practitioners in Lahti.

During the two-day expo, practitioners gave a 50-minute presentation at a fixed time each day, introducing Falun Gong and the persecution to the audience.