(Minghui.org) Falun Gong is a peaceful practice that has great health benefits. Yet in China, where the practice was first introduced, the communist regime has persecuted Falun Gong for 18 years. The state even sanctions organ harvesting atrocities, where prisoners of conscience are killed for their organs.

Falun Gong practitioners around the world routinely organize public events to introduce the benefits of the practice and to raise awareness about the persecution in China.

This article highlights recent such events in Japan and Bulgaria.

Collecting Petition Signatures in Bulgaria

Practitioners in Bulgaria visited local subway stations and a downtown park each weekend over the past two years to raise awareness about the persecution of Falun Gong in China. They also collected signatures on a petition to stop the CCP's brutalities.

On October 19, for example, they set up near the entrance to a subway station in front of Sofia University. The practitioners introduced Falun Gong to passersby and talked to them about the persecution in China. Many local residents chose to add their names to a petition against state-sanctioned organ harvesting in China, most of the victims of which practice Falun Gong.

Raising awareness about the persecution of Falun Gong in China near the entrance to a subway station in front of Sofia University

On the morning of October 21, practitioners gathered to set up near busy Bulgaria Square. They took the opportunity to talk with five or six police officers who passed by. They told them about the organ harvesting and other brutalities of the persecution of Falun Gong in China.

One officer said, “This is horrible! Unimaginable! I’m signing the petition to protest the live organ harvesting.” The other police officers joined him and added their signatures to the petition as well.

There were crowds of people on the square. Many paused to read the Falun Gong posters that were on display. Others took flyers to read later. Sometimes there was a lineup of people waiting to sign the petition.

Raising awareness and collecting signatures on Bulgaria SquareSigning a petition against the CCP's state-sanctioned live organ harvesting

People were appalled when they heard the brutalities of the persecution described to them, leading many to sign the petition.

A young man wished to learn Falun Gong after signing the petition. He was told about a local practice site in a nearby park and he said he would go there the following Monday.

Introducing Falun Gong in Hiroshima, Japan

Falun Gong practitioners attended a citizen exchange ceremony at the Citizen Exchange Center, Hiroshima, Japan on October 14 and 15. The ceremony promoted regional cultural exchange and many local organizations participated.

Learning Falun Gong from an onstage demonstrationDemonstrating the exercises.Visitors learn about Falun Gong

There were many booths indoors and an outdoor stage with various musical and cultural performances.

The Falun Gong group displayed information about the peaceful spiritual practice at a table and played a video demonstrating the Falun Gong exercises.

An instructor at a local university said she was interested in learning Falun Gong. She said she wanted to read Zhuan Falun, the main book of Falun Gong, and left her contact information for later followup.

Ms. Yamaguchi (right) talks with a practitioner

Ms. Yamaguchi talked with a practitioner after viewing the Falun Gong exercise demonstration on stage. She said, “I’ve practiced various aerobic routines for years. Falun Gong is great. The exercises are gradual and peaceful. I will go to the practice site in the park to learn.”

Learning Falun Gong

A lady learned Falun Gong on the spot after talking with a practitioner. She said, “I can feel the warmth of the energy flowing,” and was pleased to hear a practitioner tell her that it is quite normal to do so.

Background

Falun Gong was made public in 1992 and soon spread across China due to its beneficial effect on physical and spiritual health. Nearly 100 million people practiced it by 1999. Out of jealousy, and paranoid of losing control of the people, Jiang Zemin, former head of the CCP, initiated the persecution of Falun Gong on July 20, 1999.

The persecution has led to the deaths of many Falun Gong practitioners in the past 18 years. More have been tortured for their belief and even killed for their organs. Jiang Zemin is directly responsible for the inception and continuation of the brutal persecution.

Under his personal direction, the Chinese Communist Party established an extralegal security organization, the “610 Office,” on June 10, 1999. The organization overrides police forces and the judicial system in carrying out Jiang's directive regarding Falun Gong: to ruin their reputations, cut off their financial resources, and destroy them physically.

The CCP even conducts state-sanctioned live organ harvesting for lucrative profit. Due to the CCP's information censorship, the exact number of practitioners who have died in the persecution is not known.

Related article in Chinese: Bulgarian People Support Falun Gong Practitioners Against the Persecution.