(Minghui.org) Thousands of Falun Gong practitioners from across Europe gathered in Copenhagen, Denmark on July 20, 2013, to attend the 2013 European Falun Dafa Cultivation Experience Sharing Conference. They also took part in a parade, rally, and candlelight vigil.
Practitioners came from a variety of countries, spoke different languages, and were of different ages. Yet they all came together for the same reason, to attend the Faconference and to call on the world's people to help stop the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution of Falun Gong.
Joanna, a practitioner from Greece
Joanna, a practitioner from Greece, has been practicing Falun Gong for three years. She said that she came to Denmark not only for the experience sharing conference, but also to clarify the facts about Falun Gong to the Danish people, which she thought was very important.
“I knew that after the Fa conference,” she said, “practitioners had planned to hold several large events to let people know about Falun Gong and the persecution, and thus I came to help. I think that we should let everyone know about Falun Gong.”
Latvian Practitioner: I Explain the Facts about Falun Gong Wherever I Go
Practitioners gather in front of the Chinese embassy in Copenhagen
Six Latvian practitioners arrived in Copenhagen on July 19. As soon as they stepped off the plane, they went straight to the Chinese embassy to join the peaceful protest in front of the embassy.
The day before they arrived in Denmark, the practitioners participated in a rally in front of the Chinese embassy in Riga, the capital of Latvia. They clarified the facts to the tourists and locals, exposed the Chinese regime's 14 year-long persecution of Falun Gong, and called on people to help stop the persecution in China, especially the organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners. Local media reported on their activities and conducted numerous interviews.
Lauris, another practitioner from Latvia, said that Latvian practitioners came to Copenhagen and participated in the event to let more people know about Falun Gong, and to call for an end to the persecution.
“There are still many people who haven’t heard about Falun Gong and the brutal persecution. Once people learn the facts, they realize that the CCP is evil, and out of its own evilness it persecutes Falun Gong. These people freely support Dafa from their hearts. All of this has encouraged me to clarify the facts wherever I go, to tell more people about beauty of Falun Gong.”
Lauris noted that Latvia was formerly a communist country, and that people know first-hand about the evils of communism. Through the efforts of many Falun Gong practitioners, people can now find a copy of the book, Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party in local libraries and bookstores.
Vietnamese Practitioner: “Two Years Ago We Were Fortunate to Have Encountered Dafa”
Two male Vietnamese practitioners from Czech Republic and their families
Two Vietnamese practitioners who live in the Czech Republic took their wives and children to attend the 2013 European Falun Dafa Cultivation Experience Sharing Conference.
“Two years ago we were fortunate enough to encounter Dafa,” said one of the practitioners. Although they haven't been cultivating for very long, they are diligently fulfilling their mission to clarify the facts and call for an end to the persecution.
The two families participated in the Falun Gong parade on July 20 in Copenhagen, and distributed informational fliers in the Town Hall square.
Danish Veteran Practitioner: “I’ll Keep Peacefully Protesting Until the Persecution Ends”
Mr. Andersen from Denmark
Mr. Poul Andersen, an 85 year-old Dane, has been peacefully protesting in front of the Chinese embassy in Copenhagen for many years. He bicycles to the Chinese embassy every day, helps set up the informational displayed boards, then meditates for an hour.
“Our peaceful protest in front of the Chinese embassy in Copenhagen started in 2002,” he said. “For me this is the most worthwhile thing I can do. Since I came into this world, nothing has worked out for me. I felt that everything was wrong, until I luckily encountered Falun Dafa. I now feel that my life has real meaning. Falun Dafa is everything to me!
“Some passersby smiled at me, some even said hello. I offered them fliers; some took them, some didn't. I've been doing this for eleven consecutive years, except for a few occasions when I wasn’t feeling very well.
“During the winter, many people asked me, ‘Aren't you cold?’ But in fact, I really didn’t feel the cold. I’ll keep peacefully protesting the persecution in front of the Chinese embassy until the persecution ends.”
Mr. Andersen said that he was very happy to see so many European practitioners in Copenhagen. You could clearly see his youthful exuberance and dedication during the Falun Gong parade and rally.
Category: July 20 Events
