(Clearwisdom.net) "I genuinely perceive the harmony of this activity. I am really happy to participate in it," Silvia Balabas-Schmitt-Bauer said. On the way to her destination she came across a Falun Gong practitioner living in her city, and decided to take part in the activities in Munich.

On August 24, 2008, practitioners staged a rally outside the Chinese consulate in Munich to protest the persecution in China and the harvesting of organs from Falun Gong practitioners and to support the 41 million people who have renounced the CCP. In addition, practitioners collected signatures for the petition against the European Satellite operator Eutelsat. Eutelsat falsely cited "a technical problem" as the reason it suspended the broadcasts into China of independent Chinese-language TV station NTDTV, when, in fact, it was done in order to please Beijing.

It was very pleasant weather in Munich. Quite a few tourists were biking or strolling to a nearby famous tourist spot, Nymphenburg. When they passed the Chinese consulate, many people were shocked by the information on the banner exposing the CCP's harvesting of organs from living practitioners. Without even noticing, passers-by slowed down; and some of them even stopped to carefully read the information on the display boards and inquire about why Falun Gong practitioners were rallying outside the Chinese consulate. After speaking with practitioners, many people signed the petition to protest the CCP's violent acts and Eutelsat's discontinuation of the NTDTV signal.

When sisters Mrs. Sommerer and Mrs. Kranzler strolled by the Chinese consulate, practitioners were just about to unfurl their banner. Out of curiosity, they asked what the practitioners were doing. The two sisters accepted leaflets and promised to read them carefully. In the afternoon, the two sisters returned and walked directly toward the practitioners, asking to sign the petition. Mrs. Sommerer said, "I am just stunned. The leaflets astounded me. This morning we passed by here and got the leaflets. Then we sat outside the Nymphenburg to reading them and were quite shocked. What I read reminds me of a book I once read about China's Cultural Revolution. I have been of the opinion that China has become a liberal nation. But it seems that nothing has changed there." Mrs. Sommerer, who retired from the medical profession, repeatedly emphasized how deeply shocked she was by the CCP's evil acts and organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners. As a result, she came back to sign the petition. Her sister, Mrs. Kranzler, said, "I agree with her. This is really a nightmare. So m any people are suffering. It resembles what went on during Hitler's reign. Though there are some differences in form, it is the same thing."

Mrs. Silvia Balabas-Schmitt-Bauer, who retired as a staff member in the executive department, lives in a city far away from Munich. That day she felt she should visit some place but was not sure where to go. Then she came across a Falun Gong practitioner she was acquainted with. Knowing that her friend was going to the Chinese consulate in Munich to expose the CCP's crimes against humanity, she considered it a good idea and arrived at the consulate with her friend. "In the city I live in, I was informed about Falun Gong. On my way here, I was depressed because I know what's going on in China regarding the CCP persecution of Falun Gong. At first I sat in the opposite café, watching the activity here. This kind of experience is really fascinating. In an unfamiliar city, this activity enabled me and other strangers to work for those that are persecuted. Falun Gong gives people a very comfortable feeling, spiritually and physically. It's very good. Now I am feeling very good."

When asked why she would petition against the CCP's evil acts, she said, "I am extremely willing to contribute my efforts to the persecuted. For a very long time I have worked for Amnesty International, and I feel that I must do something for these people."

Mrs. Balabas Schmitt-Bauer stayed with her Falun Gong friend until the end of the rally. In the meantime, she learned the five sets of Falun Gong exercises and kept offering help.