(Minghui.org) “We saw a similar event in Amsterdam a year ago. We had a great conversation with them and we liked the way they thought. Today we were surprised to see a similar event here,” said Nick as and his friend stopped to talk with practitioners about the persecution of Falun Dafa during an event in Zurich, Switzerland, on July 20, 2024. On July 20th 25 years ago, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began the persecution of Falun Dafa and its practitioners in China.
Practitioners demonstrate the exercises in the center of Zurich on July 20.
That same day, a similar activity was held in the center of Lugano in the Italian district.
People sign a petition to end the persecution during an event in Lugano.
After watching the exercise demonstration, many people took the information and materials practitioners were handing out. Some stayed to find out how practitioners benefited physically and mentally from practicing Falun Dafa. They also learned about the persecution still taking place in China. Many people signed the petition to help end the persecution and said they would share the information with their friends.
The peaceful exercise demonstration attracted passersby to stop and watch, talk to practitioners, and learn more.
Practitioners told people how wonderful Falun Dafa is and about the CCP’s persecution that has gone on for 25 years.
Practitioner Denise told Nick that she often treats dying patients, and she has to deal with their joys and sorrows. “After I began practicing Falun Dafa,” she said, “it helped me a lot. It allows me to control my emotions, take responsibility for my actions, and be kind to others. It’s remarkable.”
As Nick learned more about Falun Dafa, he said “It’s a way of thinking, it’s a belief. This is very much in line with what I want to achieve, such as taking responsibility for my own actions, and if something happens, instead of blaming others for their mistakes, I find out what I did wrong.
“Falun Dafa is good for our bodies and minds and makes us better people. Its practitioners follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. This is so valuable. It’s amazing that everyone who practices these values is truly uplifted—their lives improve so much.”
Michel Gallati from eastern Switzerland said, “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are the basic principles, traits that we all need, no matter where we come from. This is what our whole society should have.”
Marcela Lima from Spain said she believes that Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are the fundamentals to being a good person.
People sign the petition calling for the end of the persecution and live organ harvesting.
Chris Gothuey hopes that these signatures will wake people up.
Christina, a nurse who has worked in the medical field for 50 years, signed the petition when she saw a sign calling for an end to the CCP’s crime of live organ harvesting. She said that some patients she knew went to China for organ transplants.
“In June three years ago, someone heard she could get an organ in China. So she went to China, and my family went with her. In China, she had the organ transplanted within seven hours. But after the surgerym she developed an infection, and six weeks later she died of blood poisoning. We have no way of knowing whether they did the transplant correctly or whether they were hygienic.
“Live organ harvesting has always gone on, and I don’t think it can be tolerated. It’s despicable to kill people, steal their organs, and sell them at high prices. It makes me sick. It’s as if human life is worthless, and the CCP makes a huge profit from it.”
She believes that more people should know about this and work together to stop the CCP’s crimes, “Our signatures may be just a drop in the bucket, but if enough people sign and tell their governments to pay attention, we need to take action [to stop the persecution], and it can be done.”
Tourists learn about the persecution of Falun Dafa.
A lady reads about Falun Dafa’s introduction in 1992 and the persecution it has suffered over the past 25 years.
Shaha from Iran stopped to watch the activities and asked a practitioner to take her photo.
After learning that practitioners in Switzerland have been protesting peacefully in front of the Chinese Embassy for more than 20 years, Goseyi exclaimed, “One time is nothing, but it is 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day. Wow! I can’t imagine what kind of motivation this is! Wow, thank you so much! I am very touched. They poured all their energy into this, and I thank them very much.”
Barista Noelia Rey also signed the petition in hopes of stopping the persecution. After listening to the perseverance and efforts of practitioners in Switzerland and around the world for decades to end the persecution she said, “This is admirable. What they are doing is absolutely right.”