(Clearwisdom.net) On April 22, Tampa residents celebrated Earth Day at the Lawry Park Zoo. Local practitioners were invited to set up an information table to raise awareness about Falun Dafa. In the past years, the practitioners have participated in several Earth Day and other community events.

Children and adults all found interest in Falun Gong

At the Falun Gong booth, people learned the facts about Falun Gong and the ongoing persecution in China and folded paper lotus flowers

During the one-day event, many people came to the Falun Gong information table to acquire materials. The practitioners repeatedly demonstrated the exercises, and their gentle, round and elegant movements attracted much attention. People often asked whether this was Taichi. Taking this opportunity, the practitioners explained the unique characteristics of Falun Gong and the difference from other meditative exercises. They explained that Falun Gong not only includes exercises but also emphasizes the cultivation of mind nature (xinxing), guiding practitioners to follow the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance. After hearing this, many people said that they would come to the local practice site to learn the exercises.

This event offered a good opportunity to raise awareness of the persecution. One gentleman talked with a practitioner for a long time and learned a lot detail about the practice and the persecution. When the practitioner told him about the recently revealed atrocities of organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners, he was shocked. He offered his gallery as a venue for the practitioners to hold workshops. After the Earth Day event, the practitioners also received an invitation to a local monthly event which emphasizes women's health.

At a corner of the information table, several practitioners taught children and other interested people to fold paper lotus flowers. While her parents and sisters were folding flowers, a 6-year-old girl was absorbed by the Falun Gong exercises. The little girl was very serious about learning all five of the exercises.

The Falun Gong information table apparently received attention from local media. In an article entitled "A day that revolves around the Earth," the St. Petersburg Times wrote:

"As activists talked about the evils of foie gras, pollution and nuclear power plants, Sherwood Liu found a quiet place inside himself as he demonstrated the Chinese practice of Falun Dafa meditation.

Liu stretched gently, gliding his hands to purify his body using energy from the cosmos.

He sought truthfulness, compassion and forbearance. For him, helping the world would have to start from within. 'We all live in this world,' Liu said. 'We all need cultivation.'"