Proclamation
WHEREAS, Falun Gong also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual practice deeply rooted in ancient Chinese culture. The practice is peaceful and apolitical. It consists of meditation, gentle exercises, and the guiding principle of Truthfulness-Benevolence-Forbearance;
WHEREAS, the government of the People's Republic of China banned the practice of Falun Gong in July of 1999 and began a brutal and relentless crackdown on millions of Falun Gong practitioners, which has continued unceasingly up to the present;
WHEREAS, according to UN International education Department's Statement, Chinese regime's violent assault on Falun Gong practitioners is a case of " State terrorism against its own people" and "produces far more gross violations of human rights than any other form of terrorism";
WHEREAS, according to world media and human rights groups, as of January 23, 2002: At least 387 Falun Gong practitioners have died from torture and ill treatment in police custody and tens of thousand of Falun Gong practitioners have been detained, tortured, raped and brutally abused, physically and mentally, simply for being Falun Gong practitioners:
WHEREAS, during the extreme violence and torture, Falun Gong practitioners have shown unparalleled forbearance, with not one practitioner having hit back or retaliated in any way, and with practitioners worldwide having used only non-violent, and peaceful means to appeal;
WHEREAS, practitioners in Canada completed symbolic hunger strikes during the month of March, 2002, to bring the urgent attention of the public to the severe escalation of persecution to Falun Gong practitioners in China and to condemn this escalation. And continuing 24-hour-around-the-clock vigils, and showing their solidarity and determined hearts to stop this persecution with peaceful means;
NOW THEREFORE, I, Joe Trasolini, Mayor of the City of Port Moody do hereby proclaim the month of May, 2002 as
"FALUN DAFA MONTH for Truth-Compassion-Tolerance"
in the city of Port Moody,
Dated this 23rd day of April, 2002