(Clearwisdom.net) On May 13, 2005, World Falun Dafa Day, celebrated by all Dafa practitioners throughout the world, practitioners from Sydney held a big event on the square in front of City Hall. Various colorful performances attracted numerous onlookers. Many citizens witnessed the beauty of Falun Dafa and further learned about the persecution of Falun Gong in China. Seeing the grand celebration, quite a number of Chinese people changed their previously fearful attitudes towards Falun Gong and took the initiative to ask practitioners questions in addition to accepting flyers. Some people sat down and attentively enjoyed the performances.
 Falun Gong truth-clarifying posters draw people's attention |   Citizens are shocked at the persecution facts |
 Falun Gong practitioners' waist drum troupe |  Western practitioners' choral performance |  Dance, "Plums Blossoming in Snow" |
A Pianist Obtained a New Lease on Life and the "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance" Music CD that Saves Lives
In order to celebrate Falun Dafa Day, practitioners prepared a variety of performances including, Tang Dynasty dances, a traditional fan dance, and a chorus. Among the programs, the chorus, comprised of several Western people, performed songs they composed themselves. Their performance was especially attractive. Lisa is one of the choral members. She is a renowned pianist from Queensland. She once toured around the world giving performances. Later, she suffered from a serious illness and had to leave the stage. She was not able to go back to performing for five years, until one day she began practicing Falun Dafa, which greatly changed her life. Later, she completely recovered, and started going back to performing on stage. This time, Lisa and several other practitioners sang the song, "Calling From the Bottom of My Heart" that she composed. The Western practitioners' songs expressed their heartfelt wishes, which aroused a sympathetic chord with spectators.
Another song they performed is entitled, "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" composed by Gary, a practitioner from Sydney. There is a story behind the song. Gary has a friend who suffered from cancer. When his friend faced this grave attack and his life was in danger, Gary made a music CD which included the song, "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance," and other songs composed by practitioners, and sent it to his friend. Shortly after, Gary's friend miraculously recovered. His friend thankfully told Gary that this music CD, "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance," saved his life.
"The Communist Party has done too many bad deeds!"
After the music and dancing performances, Falun Gong practitioners also performed a stage play. The suffering that practitioners in China experienced during the persecution was reenacted on the stage. Upon seeing that practitioners were beaten, kicked, electrically shocked and tortured for not giving up their belief, the audience members were all moved. Upon seeing the striking comparison between the peaceful exercise demonstration and the brutal persecution, constant streams of people passing by could not help asking, "Why?" They learned that Jiang Zemin's regime suppressed Falun Gong out of jealousy toward Falun Gong's founder, Master Li Hongzhi, and the 100 million people who practice Falun Gong. The Jiang regime even exerts economic and political pressure to extend its persecution to democratic countries, including Australia. People were all shocked and could not understand why such things take place today. Numerous people signed the petition calling for an end to the persecution.
A Chinese person who passed by said, after he saw so many photos disclosing the persecution, "This is not the first time. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has done too many bad deeds. How many people have been murdered by the CCP in history? The death toll surpasses Jews killed by the Nazis and the death tolls of both world wars..."
Practitioners Traveled Long Distances to Join the Celebration
In addition to practitioners from Sydney, practitioners from Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Gold Coast traveled hundreds and even thousands of kilometers to attend the event. Ms. Huang from Gold Coast said that their local practitioners traveled 1,200 kilometers (746 mi.) to Sydney either by air or by car to join the celebration. She said it was because they felt that World Falun Dafa Day is really significant. She was quite encouraged after watching the colorful performances. She felt that practitioners all do things with their whole hearts. She felt the power of being one integrated entity. Each year, the Falun Dafa Day celebration has been done better and better. She said that more and more people from Gold Coast have also learned the truth of Falun Dafa, and many Chinese and Western people have come to learn the exercises.
Ms. Wang from Adelaide said that today is very important for all Falun Gong practitioners. She and another four practitioners from Adelaide flew to Sydney to join this celebration. She said their only wish was to allow more Australian people to learn the truth of Falun Gong so they could work together to stop the persecution, and at the same time, to bring the beauty of Falun Dafa to more Australian people.
"We Hope to Celebrate this Holiday with Fellow Practitioners in China Next Year"
Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Xie Yan, who was rescued last July from a detention center in China, and who now lives in Australia, participated in the dance performances. She told this reporter that today is a special day, because today is her first time joining a "World Falun Dafa Day" celebration. She felt very happy and honored. The two dances presented today were specially prepared for today's celebration. At the same time, Ms. Xie felt very sad because many of her fellow practitioners are imprisoned in China for upholding their belief in Falun Dafa. Ms. Xie personally experienced the persecution. When she was in Guangzhou, she was imprisoned in a forced labor camp for more than two years, and witnessed a pregnant practitioner being tortured to death.
Ms. Xie said that the dance entitled, "Plums Blossoming in Snow" was to show the beauty that Falun Dafa brings to mankind. The choreography and costume design for the fan dance were inspired by practitioners' pure hearts and improvement gained through the cultivation. The costumes and the sets were all designed and made by practitioners. Xie Yan hopes that through this celebration, more people will learn the truth of Falun Dafa. She hopes that the persecution will be ended soon through all kind-hearted people's constant efforts. When asked about her deepest feelings, Ms. Xie said, "My greatest wish is that we will be able to celebrate this holiday with fellow practitioners in China next year!"
The event celebrating "World Falun Dafa Day" continued for three days. On the evening of May 14, a gala performance including dancing and singing was open to the public. On May 15, a large-scale parade was held in downtown Sydney. At that time, Falun Gong practitioners and their family members from across Australia joined the celebration of heaven and earth.
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