Issued by Clearwisdom Net

The usual influx of tourists and Londoners to Trafalgar Square was greeted with something special on the August bank holiday Monday. Nestling below Nelson's Column, between the famous Lions where tourists clamber for photos, Falun Gong practitioners were showcasing traditional Chinese dancing, music and culture as they appealed for children suffering in China.

The usual sound of splashing in fountains, tourists chatting and the revving of London buses was augmented with the drifting melodies of Chinese music, played live on traditional instruments. The bright sunshine, sparkling in the blue of the fountain basins and refracting rainbows in the cascades of water blown by the wind, picked out the shimmering colors of dancers costumes, as they moved in peaceful harmony across the flagstones.

But despite the beauty of the event -- a mix of performances of songs and dances created by Falun Gong practitioners -- the large black banner behind the performers spoke of a more tragic theme: Rescue the Orphans.

Since 1999, Falun Gong has been the subject of intense persecution by the Chinese Communist Party, with estimates of hundreds of thousands being incarcerated into forced labor camps where they suffer torture. Many have lost their lives to the persecution, leaving thousands of children orphaned.

The focus of the event in Trafalgar Square was part of a global effort to raise awareness of the plight of these children, who have not only lost their parents and other loved ones, but often go hungry, go without shelter, and without education and many other basic needs.

As the performances took place, a dozen or so Falun Gong practitioners were handing out leaflets, collecting petition signatures and taking the time to explain to people about Falun Gong and the persecution in China.

Many people were very responsive, immediately wanting to sign the petition calling on the United Nations to take action to rescue these orphans. They expressed their heart-felt support for the practitioners in China. Some wanted to learn more about the practice and others walked around the area carefully examining the dozens of printed banners which explained about the persecution in China and detailed the suffering of the orphans.

It was perhaps fitting that a good number of the performers were children. The sight of innocent children with the courage to stand and perform in the capital's most famous square to hundreds of people played powerfully against the message of the event.

One young boy played the traditional Chinese flute, its melody swirling across the square as easily as it would drift through the morning mists of mountain air in China. Another girl sang a solo, her voice innocent but strong as she sang, "Please lend a hand for compassion and peace."

Even very young children formed part of the Falun Gong exercise demonstrations, which captivated the audience every bit as much as the singing and dancing. One could almost see people's hearts melting at the sight of two little Chinese girls sitting like angels in meditation.

As she talked about the background of the event, the announcer explained to the audience that the Chinese Communist Party was persecuting Falun Gong practitioners for their belief in Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance, the fundamental principles of the practice. Many people expressed their sense of disbelief at the fact that anyone would want to persecute such a good thing, and asked why the Chinese Communist Party would carry out the persecution. When practitioners explained in more detail about how Jiang Zemin and the party had colluded out of personal jealousy and the wish to strengthen their power over the Chinese people, people nodded in understanding and shook their heads in anger.

On August 13, 2005, the World Track and Field Championship was heading to its final stages in the Finnish capital. A parade supporting 3.6 million people who withdrew their membership from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was held in the city center. After the parade finished, people held a rally at Esplanade Park in the city center, which drew the attention of many citizens and tourists.

Some local Falun Gong practitioners chose to take part in and support these activities due to the controlling role that the Chinese Communist Party has taken in the six-year genocide against Falun Gong practitioners.

Rally supporting 3.6 million people who withdrew from the CCP

Finnish MP Mrs. Sari Essayah gave a speech at the rally on behalf of the Finnish Congress of Human Rights Commission. As a former athlete and an MP of the host country of the World Track and Field Championships, Mrs Essayah was very busy. However, in order to improve the human rights situation in China, she still managed to participate in this rally and read the statement of the Finnish Congress of Human Rights Commission.

Mrs Essayah condemned the CCP's suppression against people who have different religious pursuits. She pointed out that China is the country which carries out the most death penalties in the world and she urged the Chinese government to improve the human rights conditions. In addition, another two Finnish MPs sent letters to express their support and encouragement for the rally.

Mrs. Essayah reads the statement of the Finnish Congress of Human Rights Commission at the rally

Minghui/Clearwisdom website correspondents Wang Ying and Kerry Huang report from Oakland: The annual Mid-Autumn Moon Festival Street Fair sponsored by Oakland Business Association was held on two consecutive days August 27-28, 2005 in Oakland's Chinatown. In order to let more people learn about the facts of Falun Gong, Falun Gong practitioners from San Francisco and the Bay Area participated in the street fair and set up a booth. People passing by in steady streams often stopped and read truth-clarification display boards placed in front of the booth. Many people had conversations with practitioners to learn more about the facts.

People passing by in steady streams stop and carefully read Falun Gong truth clarification display boards and materials

People passing by in steady streams stop and carefully read Falun Gong truth clarification display boards and materials

People passing by in steady streams stop and carefully read Falun Gong truth clarification display boards and materials

Two older people from Guangdong Province, China came to the practitioners' both and said, "Under the CCP propaganda, many people still misunderstand Falun Gong. Actually, no one should be biased. Everyone should be open-minded to learn about the facts of Falun Gong. You've done quite well, and should keep it up and let more people understand you." They then took all kinds of truth clarification materials and left.

A woman said that she had heard about Falun Gong, and she had seen practitioners' peaceful appeal in front of the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco, but she was puzzled why the CCP persecutes Falun Gong. Practitioners told her that more than 100 million people practiced Falun Gong, but the head of the CCP Jiang suppressed Falun Gong out of his jealousy. Nearly 3,000 Falun Gong practitioners have been verified to have died as a result of the persecution. After hearing all this, she said that she hoped Falun Gong can ultimately succeed.

A man from Peru watched carefully a painting depicting a police officer burning a practitioner who is hung up with a lit cigarette butt. The man said that he used to be Peruvian police, and he said the CCP's police are too malevolent.

Exercise demonstration

Clarifying the truth

Oakland is a big city, located east of San Francisco. As estimated by the sponsor, the annual street fair attracts at least 200,000 people each year, and it is one of the biggest street fairs in the area. Falun Gong practitioners have set up a stall in the annual street fair every year since 2000. Many people said that they had heard about Falun Gong. Many people were shocked that such a serious persecution was happening in modern society. Some people expressed that they wanted to learn Falun Gong.