NEW YORK (FDI) C What began four years ago as a simple idea to celebrate a popular exercise and meditation practice from China has blossomed into a worldwide event, ushering in a comprehensive revival of traditional Chinese culture.

Between May 11 and May 13, practitioners and supporters of Falun Gong joined their communities in over 30 cities around the world to celebrate the fourth annual World Falun Dafa Day C an event marking the day Falun Dafa was first taught publicly by founder Mr. Li Hongzhi on May 13, 1992.

With roots in ancient Chinese culture, Falun Dafa (website), also known as Falun Gong, is a system of meditation and exercise that espouses the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance.

Mr. Li taught Falun Gong in China for only two-and-a-half years from 1992 - 1994 with an estimated 20,000 people attending his lectures. Free of charge and credited by practitioners throughout China with improving health and well being, the practice quickly spread throughout the country. Over 100 million people had taken up the practice by late 1998, according to a Chinese government survey. That is, 1 out of every 12 people in the most populous nation of the world were practicing Falun Gong.

This year, World Falun Dafa Day celebrations were held in over 30 cities around the world, including Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney, London, Paris, Stockholm, Toronto, New York, Washington DC, San Francisco, and Chicago.

Efforts Continue to Bring Former Chinese Leader to Justice

The worldwide activities, however, were not only about festivities. The persecution of Falun Gong in China remains severe, and most citiesí events took the opportunity to make appeals for an end to the persecution.

Among the activities in Hong Kong, local practitioners held a public rally, reading out loud the eight crimes that former Chinese leader, Jiang Zemin, has committed against humanity. Among the crimes listed were Jiangí s hard-line approach to crushing the students in 1989, his persecution of Falun Gong, staging the self-immolation incident and ordering the SARS cover-up.

In Washington DC, practitioners of Falun Gong held a press conference in front of the Chinese Embassy to discuss several lawsuits against Jiang and his associates in seven different countries/regions, including the U.S., Canada, Germany, France, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Indonesia.

A banner reading, "Falun Dafa is good, [under] an unprecedented injustice" is strung across a roadway in China. Similar banners have appeared throughout the country on May 13.

?sup>oMay 13th is a time for us to celebrate the cultural roots and principles of Falun Gong,í commented Mr. Tao Wang, a Washington DC resident who delivered a statement in front of the Chinese Embassy. ?sup>oBut given the severity of the persecution in China, at every opportunity we must expose whatí s happening over thereí people are being tortured to death almost every day even up to today.í

Celebrations in China Despite Persecution

Despite Jiang Zemin's persecution campaign against the practice, celebrations of the historic day were even visible in different parts of China. Banners, signs and writings of "Restore the name of Falun Dafa" and "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance" appeared in trees, on the walls of public walkways, strung across roadways and posted on public billboards. Such grassroots methods have become widespread throughout China, as Chinese people continue their appeal to restore the name of Falun Dafa and bring an end to the misguided ban on the spiritual practice.

Additionally, for the past two weeks, hundreds of celebratory announcements and greetings have also been sent from Falun Gong practitioners in China to websites overseas marking the occasion.

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NEWS - May 18, 2003
Falun Dafa Information Center, www.faluninfo.net

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa (about), is a practice of meditation and exercises with teachings based on the universal principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance." It is a practice that was taught in private for thousands of years before being made public in 1992 by Mr. Li Hongzhi. Falun Gong has roots in traditional Chinese culture, but it is distinct and separate from other practices such as the religions of Buddhism and Taoism. Since its introduction in 1992, it quickly spread by word of mouth throughout China, and is now practiced in over 50 countries.

With government estimates of as many as 100 million practicing Falun Gong, China's President Jiang Zemin outlawed the peaceful practice in July 1999 (report), fearful of anything touching the hearts and minds of more citizens than the Communist Party. Unable to crush the spirit of millions who had experienced improved health and positive life changes from Falun Gong, Jiang's regime has intensified its propaganda campaign to turn public opinion against the practice while quietly imprisoning, torturing and even murdering those who practice it.

The Falun Dafa Information Center has verified details of 702 deaths (reports / sources) since the persecution of Falun Gong in China began in 1999. Government officials inside China, however, report that the actual death toll is well over 1,600, while expert sources estimate that figure to be much higher. Hundreds of thousands have been detained, with more than 100,000 being sentenced to forced labor camps, typically without trial.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE FALUN DAFA INFORMATION CENTER
Contacts: Gail Rachlin (+1 917-501-4441), Levi Browde (+1 914-720-0963), Erping Zhang (+1 646-533-6147), or Feng Yuan (+1 917-941-1097).
Fax: 646-792-3916 Email: faluninfoctr@nycmail.com, Website: http://www.faluninfo.net/
Mailbox of FalunInfo editor@faluninfo.net