The Independent: Journeys through our global village

The Independent, Front page
September 19, 2001

Protesting persecution

Members of the SOS Earth Walk pause in Brighton last week, during their march from Toronto to Ottawa to protest the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners by the government of China. Spokesperson Danielle Zhu, second from left, says Falun Gong is an ancient spiritual practice that now has more adherents than China's governing [party name omitted] Party. Prior to the group's arrival in Brighton, Mayor Lou Rinaldi received a letter from the Chinese Consul General, advising him not to support what the letter termed "An anti-human, anti-scientific, and anti-social organization." See story on Page 6.

Movement is 'anti-human,' China's Consul General writes in letter to Brighton Mayor Lou Rinaldi

The Independent, page 6
by Ben Rutledge

Five women hiked through Brighton last Thursday, on the seventh day of a walk from Toronto to Ottawa, protesting China's treatment of Falun Gong practitioners.

"We're protesting an extreme campaign of persecution," said the group's spokesperson, Danielle Zhu.

According to Zhu, Falun Gong is an ancient Chinese spiritual practice that teaches "Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance," and includes gentle exercises that, to a Westerner, could be mistaken for Tai Chi.

Zhu said that the Chinese government has instituted a crackdown on practitioners for the last two years.

"In my opinion it is because with 100 million practitioners, Falun Gong's numbers exceeds that of the [party name omitted] in China," said Zhu.

The women are part of the SOS Global Walk, which is also taking place in the U.S., Europe, Australia, and Asia. The five are planning to arrive in Ottawa on September 27, and will ask the Prime Minister to urge China to end the crackdown, when he next visits China.

After that, the walk continues to the United Nations in New York.

[...]

Mayor Lou Rinaldi had meetings in both Cobourg and Trenton last Thursday, and was unable to meet with the five.

"I'm really sorry I didn't get to talk to them," said Rinaldi. "My sympathies are with them."

Rinaldi described the letter from the consulate as "pretty strong stuff," but added that he was not well informed on the political situation in China.

"We want to believe we live in a free world, but sometimes that's not the case," said Rinaldi

Before continuing on towards Trenton, Danielle Zhu wanted to thank the "apple lady" who after meeting with them, caught up with them in her mini-van and gave them a bag of apples.

"The response has been terrific," said Zhu.

"What we endure is worth it."

http://www.eastnorthumberland.com/news/news2001/newsSeptember2001/SOS09192001.html

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