(Clearwisdom.net) Lane Cove, a beautiful city north of Sydney Australia, proclaimed "Falun Dafa Day" on August 21, 2004. Falun Gong practitioners from Sydney performed traditional Chinese dances and demonstrated the Falun Gong exercises.
  Provincial representative Mr. Anthony Roberts giving a speech at the rally |
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  Many residents view the photos |
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  Signature drive |
  Residents want to know more about Falun Dafa |
  Introducing Falun Dafa to the people |
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  Exercise demonstration |
  Tang Dynasty costume performance |
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In the morning, the practitioners held a group practice at Lane Cove and set up a photo exhibit in the central square. Many people carefully looked at the photos and asked questions about the persecution in China.
At noon, provincial representative Mr. Anthony Roberts and some local council representatives were invited to the ceremony. Mr. Roberts cut the ribbon for Falun Dafa Day at Lane Cove.
Mr. Roberts gave a speech and expressed that he was happy to participate in the Lane Cove Falun Dafa Day event. He briefly introduced the concept of Falun Dafa and its popularity in over sixty countries. He said that the reason he came to this meeting was that being a representative of Lane Cove, he wanted to openly announce that he would not avoid the topic of the persecution or condone the torture, murder and forced labor going on in China. He also urged the residents to learn more facts about Falun Gong from the practitioners and understand how these honest people endured torture just to persist their beliefs.
He also welcomed Falun Dafa to Lane Cove and announced the coming Falun Gong free introductory classes.
Western practitioner Mr. Jonatham Solomon expressed appreciation to the attending dignitaries and some young practitioners presented them with flowers.
After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Mr. Roberts viewed the photo exhibit and gave an interview. He said that after looking at these photos, he could feel that Falun Gong practitioners had made great efforts for the world. The fact that Falun Gong practitioners were being tortured in China made him uneasy. He said that this country should not ignore it and it was time to put pressure on them to end the persecution immediately.
In the afternoon, practitioners performed dances and demonstrated exercises in the central square. A band composed of western practitioners sang and performed many songs composed by Dafa practitioners. The practitioners also set up tables around the square to distribute truth-clarifying materials and collect signatures. Many people came to pick up some materials, and some signed up for the free exercise class. One lady took many truth-clarifying materials. She said she would take them to her relatives and friends, as she wanted to do more to help Falun Gong.
Ms. Elsa is a student, a journalism major. She recorded much footage about the Falun Dafa Day ceremony. She said she had heard about Falun Dafa before but today's event let her know more. Falun Dafa gave her a good impression and she wished the persecution in China would end soon.
