LONDON (EFGIC) – A groundbreaking public exhibition in the streets of Chicago is re-creating the conditions of Chinese labour camps and torture chambers. As part of events to build public understanding of the extensive persecution against Falun Gong in China that lead to the lawsuit in Chicago federal court against former Chinese president Jiang Zemin, Falun Gong practitioners are enacting methods of torture in the exhibition “Persecution Meets Principle.”

"The government takes seriously the concern about human rights in China, including those of Falun Dafa members...Through the dialogue, the EU shares with China its experience in the field of human rights protection and promotion, and urges China to improve the human rights situation generally, and more specifically with respect freedoms of expression, religion and belief, which have a particular impact on individual practitioners of Falun Dafa."

"Amongst my favourite possessions is a book of “Chinese Proverbs” which I often quote to colleagues and audiences. The plight of the two young students reminds me of the proverb:- Confucius, Spring and Autumn Period: “Do not worry if others do not understand you, worry if you do not understand them” I would be very appreciative if you could use your influence, to have what ever restraints prevent these students returning to Ireland lifted."

During the fifth World Falun Dafa day, the Spanish Falun Dafa association was invited by a Qigong organisation in Malaga city to give an introduction to and teach the exercises of Falun Dafa. All the books and exercise instruction tapes we brought were very quickly distributed.

Inspired by the Australian project “Petals of Peace”, Dutch practitioners took the initiative to write to elementary schools, asking the teachers to tell their pupils about the story of the children Fadu and Rongfa, who lost their fathers due to the persecution of Falun Gong in China.

Mr. Yan Liyou was the former general manager of Huayi Industry Development Company in Hainan Province. When he was young, he was in a car accident and was paralyzed. Even though he spent lots of money to seek a cure, there was no effective treatment and he was confined to a wheelchair. At the end of 1998, he started practising Falun Gong. Soon he was able to stand up and walk on his own. When the persecution started against Falun Gong he went many times to appeal against the injustice and was brutally tortured. Despite the torture, he held firm to his belief in Dafa. After nine months of torture in a labour camp, he was only skin and bones. He kept throwing up blood. Not until he was near death did the police release him. he eventually passed away on April 12, 2004.

"I am the husband of Huang Yongmei, who is a Falun Gong practitioner from Wuhan City. After my wife was illegally kidnapped to a brainwashing centre, I went to talk to the head of the "610 Office" whose name is Xie Guanchang for a total of three times. The first time I told Xie, "When Huang Yongmei was arrested, she was in good health. You must allow her to come back in good health, because she's the head of my family." Xie said, "Mr. Liu, please be at ease. I'm responsible for Huang Yongmei coming back in good health in one month's time." Huang Yongmei was tortured terribly in the brainwashing centre by these so-called "state officials." She became disabled from the torture. Seeing that Huang Yongmei could not take care of herself, my mother was very worried. Later on my mother had a stroke because of the stress and passed away. My family has become worse and worse, and one misfortune after another has occurred, leaving my family broken and ruined.

Recently, the Liaoning Province, Dandong City "610 Office" coordinated with the City Education Bureau and other government organizations to campaign among all the city elementary school students to "expose and criticize" Falun Gong. At Fuchun Elementary School, they forced every student to report on any other students, teachers, or parents who may practise or have any relationships with Falun Gong practitioners. The intense pressure was terrifying.

In early 2002, the State Security Group of the Police in Mudanjiang City, along with the city's "610 Office" arrested over 10 Dafa practitioners. The male practitioners arrested were sentenced and sent to Jianshanzi Prison, and the female practitioners were sentenced and sent to Heilongjiang Women's Prison. The police used brutal means to torture practitioners in order to force them to renounce their faith: force-feeding with black mustard oil then covering their heads with plastic to suffocate them; electric batons to shock practitioners on the chest, hands, and face; and the "Tiger Bench" - practitioners were tortured so badly that they fainted from the pain.

My sister-in-law is over 30 years old. Since she started practising Falun Gong, her diseases disappeared, she is more forgiving, and more even-tempered. She used to argue with my parents over trivial matters. After practising Dafa, she apologised to my parents about her behaviour and past wrongdoings. My brother noticed the positive changes and is supportive of her practising Dafa.

The 2004 International Future Science and Culture Symposium was held at National Taiwan University on May 15 and 16. Professors and scholars from the U.S., Japan, Australia and Taiwan attended this symposium. More than ten Falun Gong practitioners were invited to the symposium to present lectures and papers.