My name is Sara Effner and I am 25 years old. I grew up in the small rural town of Jamestown, Missouri and graduated in December 1998 from Central Missouri State University with a degree in Art Education.

In April 2000 my parents and I began practicing the Falun Gong meditative exercises and studying its teachings, which are best summarized in the universal principles of Truth, Compassion, and Forbearance. Falun Gong teaches people to live by high moral standards, give up selfishness, and to return to their true natures. Through following its principles I quickly became a stronger and healthier person, and a genuinely happy person.

At this time, Falun Gong practitioners have suffered through two and a half years of persecution in China, a persecution so barbaric and brutal that it has disgraced this great nation that takes such pride in its ancient civilization. While the Chinese government-controlled media spreads lies demonizing Falun Gong, the police are ordered to arrest, beat, and torture practitioners, all for the purpose of making them renounce their faith. Police and prison guards, and even criminal inmates are told that if a practitioner dies from the torture, it will be counted a suicide or a death from natural causes. Thus, the number of deaths continues to rise every day, with over 350 confirmed, while inside sources have estimated the actual number to be closer to 1600.

I think the reason that the persecution has gone on this long is because the general public does not yet know how good Falun Gong is, nor do they know how horrible the persecution against it is. The campaign against Falun Gong is truly vicious. Not only does it violate the human rights of practitioners, but it has damaged the entire Chinese society. It pains my heart when I talk to Chinese people who believe the lies about Falun Gong and are even frightened of Falun Gong due to the propaganda by their government. So, for a long time it has been the desire of my heart to go to China to testify to the goodness of Falun Gong so that these people who have been betrayed by the lies can finally learn the truth. I believe that if more and more people become aware of the truth, the persecution will end and Falun Gong will once again be as honored by the people of China as it is in the 50 or so other countries around the world where it is freely practiced.

What I and my fellow Western practitioners intend to do is hold up a banner saying, "Truth-Compassion-Forbearance," or "Falun Dafa is good," and to tell China and the world that Falun Gong is truly good, that the practitioners and the founder, Mr. Li Hong Zhi, are good, and to ask all kindhearted people to join the practitioners in standing up against this evil persecution.

Everyone knows that a bully who is continually appeased will continue to intimidate others, so all kindhearted people must stand up and put an end to it. I am not only appealing to the Chinese government to stop the persecution, I'm also asking that all people of good will stand up for the fundamental human rights of Falun Gong practitioners.

What can you do to help?

*Become more informed by reading Falun Dafa websites

*Inform your friends and family (including Chinese friends)

*Call or write to your government representatives to support Falun Gong and the overseas practitioners' efforts and to take action against the persecution