Grady Semmens

Calgary Herald

Oct 30, 2000

Mayor Al Duerr has given his nod of approval to a meditation exercise the Chinese government has outlawed and labeled subversive.

Local practitioners of the art of Falun Dafa - also known as Falun Gong - say the recognition helps them in their efforts to free thousands of Chinese imprisoned for taking part in the activity.

"This sends a very important message to Chinese government that the world recognizes us", said Kai Liu, who introduced Falun Dafa to the city in May 1999.

Prince's Island Park was the site Sunday of Calgary's first official Falun Dafa Day.

Participants took part in Falun Dafa's rhythmic stretching and breathing exercise and shared information about the discipline with the public before moving the celebration to the sidewalk outside Calgary's Chinese Consulate to protest China's treatment of those who practice it.

"We want the Canadian government to ask for the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners to stop," Liu said. "Every day people are arrested in China for taking part in it, and the crackdown has accelerated in the last three months."

The practice was invented in China in 1992 by Li Hongzhi, who based it on the ancient philosophy of Qigong.

Similar to the art of Tai Chi, Falun Dafa is aimed at improving health and fitness and developing truthfulness, benevolence and forbearance.

China banned the practice in July 1999 and has arrested thousands of practitioners, according to Liu, including the arrest of more than 1000 people in Tiananmen Square on Thursday.

The Chinese Embassy in Canada denounced Falun Dafa week, a national event held from Aug. 21 to 27.

Although China has issued an arrest warrant for [Li] Hongzhi, the Chinese Embassy denies Falun Dafa practitioners have been persecuted in China.

In a letter of recognition to the local Falun Dafa community, Duerr declared Oct. 29 Falun Dafa Day and acknowledged the international popularity of the exercise.

"There are more than 100 million people practising it in 40 countries," Duerr wrote. "The practice has helped many people turn away from bad habits and pursue more meaningful life."

[With One Big picture on the Cover page:

Tom Ozimek, front, with Kai Liu, Minnan Liu and Huixia Chen practice a Falun Gong (Falun Dafa) exercise in Prince's Island Park on Sunday, to protest China's treatment of people who practice the discipline.]