(Clearwisdom.net) On October 11, 2008, many people strolling around Waldshut city centre in Germany stopped in front of the Falun Gong practitioners' stand. Some watched exercise demonstrations and looked at photos of Falun Gong's spread around the world. Some read about the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) torture of Falun Gong practitioners. More accepted leaflets and asked to sign the petition demanding the United Nations to investigate the crime of organ harvesting.

Passers-by watch the truth-clarification board

Demonstrating Falun Gong exercises

Signing to stop ppersecution

Christian is a local elderly gentleman. When his wife talked with Falun Gong practitioners, his grandson also joined the conversation after watching for a while in front of the information stand. Having learned that Falun Gong is a traditional Chinese cultivation method that teaches people to follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, Christian asked in bewilderment, "Why does the CCP persecute this? These three words (Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance) have nothing to do with politics!" One practitioner told him, "The CCP does not allow people to live by those three words. In fact, the CCP knows that Falun Gong is good. From 1992, when Falun Gong was first brought to the public, to 1999, prior to the persecution, nearly 100 million people practiced in China. In fact in 1998, shortly before the persecution started, investigations conducted by top CCP officials confirmed that Falun Gong benefited the society tremendously. They all know that Falun Gong is good. But they cannot tolerate that people have their own ideas or beliefs." It seemed that the elderly gentleman was still puzzled. The practitioner gave an example, "For example, my mother is an accountant. Having practiced Falun Gong, she would not cook the books. But the CCP regime needs to have the books cooked to create the illusion of an economic boom. They may coerce the accountants. Other accountants may give in under pressure, but my mother would not, as it goes against her belief in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. No matter what the threat is, she would not follow the order, which is not what the CCP wants to see." Upon hearing this, the elderly gentleman nodded and said, "I understand. The CCP regards Falun Gong as a thorn in its flesh, hence the persecution."

Later the gentleman said that he was very disappointed that the western governments did not have the courage to turn down business opportunities for what the CCP has done and have kept silent. He also said, "This Olympics was the only one in my life that I have not paid any attention to, because I know it was all a show put on by the CCP." His wife told him that before the Olympics even more Falun Gong practitioners were illegally detained. He continued, "I believe the CCP will not last much longer. It will meet its demise soon enough, like the former Soviet Union." Maximilian and Lisa, who appeared to be in their twenties, signed together to support Falun Gong. Maximilian said, "Organ harvesting is wrong. People should not do inhuman things like that." This was the first time that they had heard about Falun Gong. They said, "We will tell more people about this so that more people can sign to stop organ harvesting together."

Waldshut is on the border of Switzerland and Germany and many passers-by were from Switzerland, such as Ms. Doris. While signing the petition, she said, "I hope this will have an influence over China so that things can be changed." She hoped Chinese people could "systematically scrutinise the current regime, which should be humane." Ms. Rusul lived not far from Waldshut. As she watched exercise demonstrations, she inquired about learning the practice. When asked why she wanted to learn Falun Gong, she said, "I think through this practice, people can find themselves and return to their true nature. In today's materialistic society, humans are going downhill. Many are depressed, including many young people. I think this practice can help people deal with stress and find internal peace."

Talking about the CCP's persecution, she also commented that people should think about whether the entire system is problematic, such as in the toxic milk scandal, and whether the (CCP) government itself has been covering up the truth. Hearing about organ harvesting for the first time, she signed the petition, saying, "I'm speechless, speechless. It's too cruel."

In the end she said, "If more people would stand up and speak out as Falun Gong practitioners are doing, China's situation would improve."