Public Screening of Documentary Hard to Believe in New Zealand Gets Warm Response

(Minghui.org) The documentary Hard to Believe by director Ken Stone reveals China's state-sanctioned organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners for profit. The film, which has won many awards, was shown to the public at the Paramount Theatre in Wellington, New Zealand on the evening of August 16, 2016, with a full-house audience.

Theater venue

Audience member asks questions after the film screening.

Invited guests answer questions from the viewers.

A question and answer session was held after the screening. Marama Davidson, Member of Parliament (MP) of the Green Party, moderated the session. Journalist Ethan Gutmann, who participated in investigating the live organ harvesting, Jaya Gibson, and Angela Ballantyne, president of the International Association of Bioethics and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Primary Health Care & General Practice in University of Otago Wellington, answered questions from the viewers on the spot. Jacob Lavee, professor of surgery at the Faculty of Medicine of the Tel Aviv University and president of the Israel Society of Transplantation, answered questions via a videoconference.

After watching the documentary, many viewers wished to know what they could do to help stop the atrocities. Gutmann said that each one could tell his doctor about the topic and raise awareness in their community.

MP Davidson said she felt that live organ harvesting should not be happening. She said she would study more and initiate a resolution like those passed by the U.S. Congress and European Parliament to help stop the horrible crimes in China.

Well-known human rights lawyer Kerry Gore watched the documentary in the theater. He said, “We noticed that resolution H.Res 343 passed in the U.S. Congress. It is an important step to recognize the Communist Party's crime of live organ harvesting. The live organ harvesting must stop. I believe that New Zealand parliament shall pass a similar resolution.”

Dame Margaret Sparrow, a well-known doctor, also watched the documentary in the theater. She said it was her first time hearing about the systematic live organ harvesting, and she was shocked. She indicated it was “intolerable, completely wrong, and a grave trampling of human rights.” She believed that any medical person would object to the crime.

Ben Gray, a doctor, said he had received information about the live organ harvesting atrocities before, but felt it was hard to believe. He believed the existence of the crime after watching the film, and listened to the answers. He said, “As a doctor, I will convince politicians with my profession. I hope that a code like that in Israel can be passed in New Zealand to make organ transplantation touring to China illegal.”

Christina Thinrauch, who works for the railway, watched the documentary.

Christina Thinrauch, who works for the railway bureau, watched the documentary, and said that the live organ harvesting was horrible. She said that each patient going to China for organs needs to know the source. In this way, each one can help stop the evil crime.