(Minghui.org) “Today I'd like to do something unusual. I want to help you to collect signatures against the persecution of Falun Gong.” These words were said by a well dressed woman to a Falun Gong practitioner in downtown Canberra, Australia on March 19, 2016.
The practitioner was at an event collecting signatures on postcards to be sent to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull calling on him to help stop the persecution of Falun Gong during his visiting to China on April 14 and 15.
The woman also took some Falun Gong informational materials and said that she would distribute them to her colleagues when she asked them to sign the postcards. She mentioned that she had never before signed a petition at such an event.
The lady works in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was passing by the Falun Gong information stand in downtown Canberra. She asked practitioner Xuan Tieu, “Excuse me. I must get answers to some questions about Falun Gong. I read David Kilgour's book on live organ harvesting. I believed it. But I wish to know what Falun Gong is for and why it is suffering such persecution.”
She said she often went to China for trade agreements. She had previously encountered Chinese Communist Party propaganda against Falun Gong, and was interested to hear a practitioner's perspective.
After listening to practitioner Xuan talk about the persecution in China as well as her own personal experiences with the practice, she was visibly touched.
Xuan gave her a book State Organs. The lady said she would read it and ask her colleagues to do the same.
People in Melbourne sign postcards calling on Australia's Prime Minister to help stop the persecution of Falun Gong
Falun Gong practitioners were out on the streets in various Australian cities over the past month asking people to sign in support of ending the persecution.
West Australia Politician Urges Prime Minister to Raise Human Rights Issue During His China Visit
Dr. Thor Kerr, Green Party candidate, sign the postcard to support effort against the persecution.
Falun Gong practitioners in West Australia set up stands at both the Willetton Rotary Fair and the Padbury Community Fair on April 3.
They demonstrated the Falun Gong exercises and raised awareness about the persecution in China. Dr. Thor Kerr, Green Party candidate of Tangney District, asked for detailed information about organ harvesting atrocities and signed a postcard. He said that he hoped the Prime Minister would raise the issue of human rights during his upcoming China visit. He asked Falun Gong practitioners to inform him about new development in live organ harvesting.
Activities Also Held in Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and the Gold Coast
In Melbourne, residents paused in front of Falun Gong stand and signed the postcards after learning about the persecution.
Musaad Alshuliwi signs a postcard and says he'd like to learn Falun Gong.
Musaad Alshuliwi said, “People are killed for their belief. It is terrible. I support Falun Gong's effort against the persecution. I saw some video footage about beneficial changes after practicing Falun Gong. I don't understand why the Communist Party persecutes it. The regime wants to control people's minds completely.”
He continued, “Western countries including Australia, need to pay attention to human rights when doing business with China. The situation would be different.”
Demyan Golushinsdy signs a postcard
A passer-by Demyan Golushinsdy came forward to ask practitioners in Bondi Junction Mall on April 12 whether they practiced meditation. He said he conducted business in real estate and relied on meditation to reduce stress. He had heard of Falun Gong and kept an eye out for it, so he was pleased to meet with the practitioners and learn more. He said he would look up Zhuan Falun, the main book of Falun Gong, online and start practicing Falun Gong himself.
Jim learns about the benefit of practicing Falun Gong.
Another passer-by named Jim was looking for a meditation to reduce stress from work and keep fit. A man who has practiced for nearly 20 years told Jim about the benefits of Falun Gong from his personal experience. Jim was inspired by the older man's vitality and said he might take up the practice, too.
Practitioner John teaches Alex to practice the exercises.
Another passer-by Alex said he felt great to see many people practicing Falun Gong. He signed a postcard right away and immediately began learning the exercises on the spot.
