(Clearwisdom.net) Barbara Anello is a dedicated social justice worker, acting chair, volunteer Webmaster, and e-list manager for DAWN Ontario (Disabled Women's Network Ontario), a Canadian based NGO. She is also a wife and a mother. But her commitment to human rights has her working over 18 hours a day. When she learned about the unjust trial against Falun Gong practitioners in China she immediately understood that this was a most serious corruption of human rights and jumped into action to help. In her own words Barbara expressed her sincere feeling to us, "I believe that anyone who reads what is happening to practitioners in China who has any sense of conscience, couldn't possibly turn away and forget about what they've read without doing something, anything, to help; however small or seemingly insignificant."
Working with "Friends of Falun Gong," she posted an open letter to Hong Kong officials and citizens on her website, and forwarded the open letter to over 2000 e-mail list members. In addition, since December 17, 2000 she has posted numerous articles on the DAWN website revealing the persecution of Falun Gong. The website has an audience of almost 20,000. Barbara Anello, in her capacity as DAWN chairperson, has enabled thousands of people to learn the truth about Falun Gong.
She had been following the development of the Hong Kong case since March 31, when she posted the article entitled, "Beijing Style Repression and Police Tactics Emerge In Hong Kong." The DAWN website contains at least ten action letters for Falun Gong including, "36-hour Hunger Strike by Falun Gong to Stop Chinese President's 'Kill Without Mercy' Order" "Lucy Zhou, Falun Gong Practitioner, Embodies the Spirit of International Women's Day" and "Help Free Yue-li Yang of Beijing, Mother of Canadian Citizen."
One of Barbara's favorite flowers is the lotus flower. The lotus flower symbolizes hope and purity. How wonderful it was to give her a precious origami lotus flower recently. Her heart is one of gold. Her efforts to support Falun Dafa have touched our hearts and inspired us to do more. Thanks to her willingness and courage, we also posted the open letter to Hong Kong on the Friends of Falun Gong website in Ontario, and sent the letter to our friends and family. As a result even more people learned about the true situation of the Hong Kong political prosecution and it has enabled a good response in Canada.
We asked Barbara how Falun Gong had touched her heart. She replied, "As I researched what was available online about Falun Gong, and as I got to know the practitioners personally, I couldn't help but be touched and humbled by these individuals, so rich and pure ofáheart and so committed and passionate about their beliefs. I think I have always been drawn to such people as I have always aspired to be like the practitioners I have met."
Expressing that she is just a simple person, Barbara also shared with the practitioners, "Falun Gong introduced a new people, a new culture, and a new way of life to me.á I am not a practitioner but I hope over the coming months to make time to learn more."
Barbara, we would like to tell you that your actions to support Falun Gong are truly magnificent. One day very soon when the truth is revealed to the world, you may also see how great you really are.