Media Update - For immediate release: July 9, 2001 www.faluninfo.net

TORONTO, VANCOUVER, MONTREAL, OTTAWA 23-year old Toronto Media Art student Zenon Dolnyckyj and 42-year old Vancouver fitness instructor Mansour Sedighi will join Ottawa's Gerry Smith's 300-hour round-the-clock sit-in at their local Chinese Consulates on Tuesday. Two people from Montreal join Gerry's sit-in at the Ottawa Chinese Embassy starting today.

Ottawa

Last Friday, Gerry Smith, a 54-year old Network Engineer at Nortel Networks, started a 300-hour round-the-clock sit-in in front of the Ottawa Chinese Embassy. He will be there until July 20th, the 2-year anniversary of the Chinese president's persecution of Falun Gong. He says: "Stop the mass murder of Falun Gong practitioners in China."

Toronto

Zenon Dolnyckyj says: "I was plagued with drugs, smoking and alcohol. Falun Dafa changed my life. The death reports of Falun Gong practitioners from China are coming in daily. We can't let this continue. We have to rescue these innocent people...I was inspired by Gerry. I hope more people will join us to rescue the persecuted Falun Gong practitioners in China."

While working on a documentary project, Zenon stumbled upon Gerry in Ottawa over the weekend. Zenon will start the round-the-clock sit-in from 6am on Tuesday at the Toronto Chinese Consulate.

Vancouver

Mansour Sedighi says: "As a world citizen, it is extremely painful and completely unacceptable to witness the large number of innocent people brutally and savagely tortured to death in China simply because they practice how to be truthful, compassionate and tolerant every moment in their lives." Mansour plans to start the round-the-clock sit-in at the Vancouver Chinese consulate on Tuesday.

Montreal

Retired Philosophy Professor Xia Huaiqi, 63, and former university English teacher in China, Ms. Cheng Yunping, residents of Montreal, join Gerry on Monday at the Ottawa Chinese Embassy. Montreal does not have a Chinese consulate.

Falun Gong, also called Falun Dafa, is an ancient spiritual practice with teachings that focus on the principle of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. It includes gentle exercises and meditation.

Media Interview Available at Chinese Consulates / Embassy in Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver

What: Round-the-clock sit-in

Time: 24-hours a day until July 20 (Toronto and Vancouver starts Tuesday)

Category: Rallies & Protests