Falun Gong practitioners have contacted a number of major newspaper and TV stations in Latvia. They gave an introduction introducing Falun Gong and explaining the events involving Falun Gong to a number of news editors. They also gave each news editor a copy of "Falun Gong – The Real Story I & II" and other truth-clarifying material. Afterwards, the Latvia LNT TV Station (an independent TV Station and also the most popular and influential TV station in the country) sent a news team to the practice site to interview local practitioners. This Saturday's "Evening News" program devoted 4 full minutes to a special report on Falun Gong. The program introduced how quickly Falun Gong, despite being banned by the Chinese government, has spread in Latvia. The special report started with the Latvia practitioners holding a peaceful group exercise. It then aired footage from "The Real Story I & II" and also scenes of practitioners being beaten in Tiananmen Square. Next, a professor at the Latvia University Eastern Study Department was interviewed. The professor said that the Chinese government is persecuting Falun Gong out of fear of losing its political control and has used the term of XX to deceive people. In the next scene, a local practitioner explained the physical and spiritual benefits that he has received from practicing Falun Gong, and stressed that these benefits are a direct result of him becoming a better and kinder person. At the end, the reporter described what other experts have told him: Falun Gong is a form of Qigong, and it is neither a religion nor a cult. He also introduced how many people all over the world are practicing Falun Gong, and how practitioners in other countries have held a series of events to clarify the truth about Falun Gong. The program ended with a report on the criticism that the Chinese government has received from the international community for persecuting Falun Gong. Latvia Practitioners, October 30th, 2000