[Minghui Net]
Geneva is an international city, a place where many United Nation Organizations have been permanently established. There are tourists from all over the world there. During the period of the U.N. Human Rights Commission meeting, Falun Dafa practitioners could be seen everywhere, wearing yellow T-shirts and pins that say "I support Falun Gong," or "Falun Dafa: Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance."
Along the banks of the beautiful Lake Geneva, one could find groups of two or three practitioners practicing the five sets of exercises or quietly reading Dafa books. Whether it was on a bus, along a street, or at the waiting room in the airport, there were supporters of Falun Gong everywhere.
While changing tickets at the airport, a lady behind the counter saw my badge: "I support Falun Gong," and said, "I have seen a large number of visitors wearing Falun Dafa T-shirts and the same badge as yours. You people look so peaceful and kind." We then introduced Falun Dafa to her and gave her an account of the persecution by Jiang Zemin's Government. She said she had seen the news report on the issue, and many people had shown their sympathy. She said she previously did not understand what it was, but after listening to us, she wants to start practicing and would like to find out more about it from the internet.
We met a United Nations official during lunch. After listening to our introduction, he expressed his deepest sympathy. He said he understood how we felt and would give us his support. He even suggested a few ways we could make our appeals and then left us with his telephone number and address. He said he would try to find out more about Falun Gong.
Accompanying this gentleman was a university student from Poland. He was reading the Falun Dafa Quarterly with interest. He said that circulating the news around the university was very easy. When he got back, he said he would make copies of the magazine and distribute it to people he knew. That would help explain the truth of the suppression by Jiang's government to others at the university.
We ran across another opportunity during this time in Geneva. After listening to our introduction, a member of a World Religious Organization voluntarily introduced us to their Chief Executive Officer, Mr. M. This gentleman had some understanding of Falun Gong and he had visited China previously. He asked us many questions and listened to our replies with interest and attentiveness, especially regarding the Human Rights violations. He said he had received slanderous information from a Chinese source about Falun Gong. He was deeply impressed by the peaceful demonstration of the Falun Gong practitioners on the field in front of the U.N.. After hearing about the tortures and other unfair treatment given to the practitioners, he expressed his heart-felt sympathy. He said he would report the whole situation regarding Falun Gong to the administrative level of his organization and would strongly recommend it to them. Furthermore, he would personally write to the United Nations, condemning this ruthless persecution and request that the Chinese leaders stop suppressing Falun Gong immediately.
My most unforgettable memory from my stay in Geneva was of Fa study. Practitioners from different countries were reading the same book, Zhuan Falun. There were Chinese, English, French, German, Swedish, etc., practitioners taking turns reading. Although the languages were different, our hearts shared the same thought. All of us were equally sincere and equally dedicated. It is because all of us are Teacher's students, cultivating the same Fa and reading the same book, Zhuan Falun.
April 15, 2001