WHEREAS, Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, is an advanced, traditional Chinese Qi Gong practice for improving the mind and body through gentle exercises and meditation; and

WHEREAS, practitioners believe Falun Dafa not only has far reaching effects on stress relief and overall mental an physical health, but also ultimately has the higher goal of bringing people towards wisdom and enlightenment; and

WHEREAS, Falun Dafa is designed to help people improve their physical condition, cleanse their mind, uplift their moral standards, and rid bad habits; and

WHEREAS, the principles of Falun Dafa are Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance, and practitioners around the world strive to include these principles in their daily lives; and

WHEREAS, over 100 million people from all walks of life are practicing it today in more than forty countries including China, other parts of Asia, Australia, Europe, Canada and the United States.

THEREFORE, I, Robert D. Coble, Mayor of the City of Columbia, South Carolina, along with my fellow members of Columbia City Council, do hereby proclaim, July 10, 2001 as

in the City of Columbia.

Robert D. Coble

Mayor