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Ireland: Telling the Facts of the Persecution to Journalists Attending the 56th World Newspaper Congress By Irish practitioners The 56th World Congress of the Association of Newspapers and the World Editors Forum was held this week in Dublin, Ireland. At the beginning we did not have a clear idea of how to approach this event, or what was the best way to clarify the facts of the persecution to people. We just thought that since a lot of people had to go to work or college during the day, it would be sufficient for several practitioners to distribute materials outside the Congress. However, when the media and VIPs, including the Prime Minister of Ireland and human rights activist Bono from the band U2, arrived to make speeches we realised that this was an unmissable golden opportunity to let people learn more about the persecution of Falun Gong in China. It was an exceptionally important occasion. We met mid-week and decided to focus on clarifying the truth to people there. At this point, only one day was left until the end of the Congress. After twenty-four hours of intense activity, the entire truth-clarification activity proved to be a success. Everything that we had planned to do turned out very well and went smoothly, including contacting the media, preparing information packs to be given to the reporters and making banners. At 12 oclock, the first batch of practitioners arrived at the site where the Congress was to be held. They set up the banners, arranged display boards and began distributing information to the Congress participants who were coming and going continuously. At the beginning the security guards looked indifferent, but, after we told them what we were doing, they became quite friendly. Everything was carried out in an orderly manner, such as practising the exercises and handing out information. Banners are very important. As they were bought in a hurry, we had little time to amend them or fix them to some stocks for support. Because of this, the banners were held by practitioners. When I was holding a banner, I was very solemn and thought clearly about the power of Dafa and what happened when a group of western practitioners held the banner reading, Truthfulness, Benevolence, and Tolerance on Tiananmen Square. The characters on the banner that read, Chinese Press Abused to Persecute Falun Gong, were chosen after careful discussion; it clearly stated who we are and why we were outside the Congress. All the Congress participants could not avoid reading our banner as they left at the end of the conference, many took photographs, and others stopped to take a look. After the conference, we took a short break and went to study the Fa together. This day we did the three things that are most important to study the Fa, send forth righteous thoughts, and to clarify the truth.
Published: Sunday 15th June 2003 http://www.clearharmony.net/articles/200306/13156.html |
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