(Minghui.org) The World Village Festival was held at Narinkkatori Square in the city center of Helsinki, the capital of Finland, on May 16-17, 2026. The event venue was teeming with crowds, and many pedestrians visited the Falun Dafa booth.

Falun Dafa’s exercise music and graceful exercise movements drew many passersby to learn more about the practice. When people heard that Falun Dafa practitioners abide by the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance to be good people and improve their minds and bodies through doing the exercises, but are being persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in China, many people were stunned and signed the petition calling for an end to the human rights abuses.

Practitioners demonstrated the exercises during the World Village Festival at Narinkkatori Square in Helsinki on May 16, 2026. (Minghui.org)

People approached practitioners to learn about the practice. (Minghui.org)

People read the multi-language truth-clarification information on the banners. (Minghui.org)

People signed the petition calling for an end to the CCP’s persecution of Falun Dafa. (Minghui.org)

The practitioners explained why they were distributing flyers and seeking signatures at the event. After learning about the persecution in China, people willingly signed the petition. Many people were curious about what the practitioners were doing at the event, so they went to read the content on the multi-language banners by the side of the booth. After reading the banners, people approached the practitioners at the booth to speak to them, then signed the petition calling for an end to the CCP’s persecution.

Feeling Energy When Trying the Exercises

Many people showed great interest in the practitioners’ exercise demonstrations, and inquired about the local practice site. Several people also said that they would tell their families and friends about it. One gentleman wrote down the details of the group exercise session and signed the petition.

Lisa tried out the Falun Dafa exercises. (Minghui.org)

Lisa expressed great interest in the exercises and told a practitioner that she wanted to learn the exercise movements. She said that she wanted to try the exercises, and asked the practitioner to help her take photos for a keepsake. After trying the exercises, she shared, “When I was learning the exercises, it felt effortless and very relaxing. This was especially true when I was doing the second set of exercise, the Falun Standing Stance. I felt a surge of energy in my back.”

This Is Very Important Information

George, a tourist from Greece, and his family read through the explanations on the multi-language banners and gestured to a practitioner that he wanted to sign the petition. He said, “I know that this [organ harvesting] is happening in many countries but I did not know that it is also happening in China. This is difficult to understand.” He also shared that he knew about the issue of torture in China.

A practitioner told him that Falun Dafa practitioners had persisted in raising awareness of the persecution for many years. Rozana, George’s daughter, replied, “This is the correct way.” George continued, “If a change is really going to happen in China, it requires a drastic approach. I know the CCP. They will force people and make them submit.” Before leaving, George said, “This is very important information.”

When Elizabeth Lahti heard about the CCP’s state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting, she said she had goosebumps. She said she admired the Falun Dafa principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance a lot and appreciated that the principles can guide people toward compassion and help people return to the right path.

She said that this kind of a peaceful protest was important because it could help more people become aware of the persecution. She said she believes that justice will ultimately prevail over evil. Before leaving, she hugged a practitioner and shared that she saw purity and energy in the practitioner’s eyes.

Forced Organ Harvesting is Hard to Believe

Sipo had heard of Falun Dafa from a friend, but she did not know about the persecution in China. He said, “My friend studies various forms of qigong and cultivation practices and I have heard him mention this before.” When the practitioner went on to talk about the CCP’s forced organ harvesting in China, Sipo said in shock, “This is absolutely insane, totally unbelievable.”

He also mentioned, “There are also cultivation elements in Finland’s traditional culture, but they are gradually disappearing in the modern culture.” When the practitioner introduced the Falun to him, he said that the Finnish Presidential Standard also features a symbol similar to the swastika.

Sipo said, “Two weeks ago, I happened to see you all doing the waist drum performance.” That day happened to be the celebration of World Falun Dafa Day. He was also interested in the exercises and reconfirmed with a practitioner the time and venue for the summer outdoor group exercise sessions.

Pirjo and her husband, Valakari, came to the booth to sign the petition. Pirjo said, “You are doing great.” When the practitioner mentioned the serious persecution in China, including the forced organ harvesting, which has not received sufficient attention from the media and politicians, Pirjo said in agreement, “Indeed.” Her husband added, “This is a very big mistake.”

Eeli said, “The situation there [in China] is very bad, everything is subject to censorship. People should be allowed to have their own thoughts.”

He also added that he had heard of the selling of organs a long time ago and said with a sigh, “This is really bad.”

The Persecution is Unacceptable

Jesica, a solutions specialist based in Helsinki, said, “I have heard of this matter during the World Village Festival. This is definitely not a good thing to happen. It is alarming, and wantonly persecuting people is absolutely outrageous.”

Uyi (right): Keeping silent is not correct. (Minghui.org)

Nigerian-Finnish Uyi and his friends watched the practitioners doing the exercises from nearby, and said, “This is terrible. I have a friend from China and his father told me about these things before. He said that the CCP did many bad things, including live organ harvesting. That is why I came over to sign the petition and show my support.”

Uyi also said, “What you are doing is very good. It can increase people’s awareness of this matter. I hope that more people can open their eyes to take a look at this. Keeping silent is not correct.” Before leaving, he said, “I will tell this matter to this friend of mine.” A friend beside him said, “I totally agree with what he said.”

Teenagers: You did something very meaningful. (Minghui.org)

Rasmus, Antton, Hilma, and another girl got to know each other at the World Village Festival. A practitioner talked to them about the CCP’s persecution. Rasmus said, “You are raising people’s awareness.”

When the practitioner mentioned that a woman practitioner beside them suffered the CCP’s brutal persecution when she was in China, the two women said, “She is a very good person. We want to go over and give her a hug.”

The teenagers also said, “This [live organ harvesting] absolutely cannot be done. This is so upsetting. You are doing something very meaningful.”

The practitioner hoped they could share this information with more people. After that, they flipped open the materials, smiled, and said, “Actually, we are already helping to share the information with others, we got to know one another while we accepted the flyers.”

Enric from Spain spoke to a practitioner, and then said, “Upholding human rights is of paramount importance. I know that human rights is not respected in China. We need to change this situation so that we can live in a better world. Although there is still a long path ahead, we need to contribute and put in the effort voluntarily.”

After learning about the persecution that the Falun Dafa practitioners are facing in China, a woman sighed and said to her friend, “You also have your own point of view. Can you imagine being persecuted because of that?” Following that, both of them signed the petition.