(Minghui.org) “I lived in China for a few years, and I saw many people practicing Falun Gong in parks when I was there. I know about the persecution of Falun Gong in China. Can you tell me more about the issue?” asked a woman wanting to know more about the persecution of Falun Gong in China.

This conversation, and many more like it, took place at RedFest, an annual music and cultural festival in Redlands City, Queensland, Australia on September 5-7, 2014. Hundreds of the world’s best performers – singers, dancers, poets, and artists – come to Redlands each year to entertain hundreds of thousands of local people and visitors.

Falun Gong practitioners participated in this festival for the fourth consecutive year. They introduced Falun Gong's principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and the Falun Gong exercises to festival visitors. A number of visitors commented on the energy field and the peaceful message they felt at the Falun Gong information booth.

An Australian visitor learns about Falun Gong at RedFest.

Falun Gong practitioners participated in this popular festival for the fourth consecutive year.

Young and Old Wish to Learn Falun Gong

A young couple and their child were drawn to the photos on poster boards at the Falun Gong booth. They asked a practitioner if they could learn the practice. When they found out that children were also welcome to practice Falun Gong, the couple were glad to let their child join.

A primary school student asked a practitioner if she could learn the Falun Gong exercises, after getting permission from her mother. She learned some of the exercises on the spot. Her mother appreciated the practitioners' openness in sharing the practice.

Another primary school student learned how to make the beautiful folded paper lotus flowers that were given out at the Falun Gong booth. A practitioner taught her to fold the paper flowers while talking to her about Falun Gong and the persecution in China. The girl learned that many children in China are persecuted for practicing Falun Gong. She asked her mother if she could invite the practitioner to her school to teach them how to make origami lotus flowers, and to share the Falun Gong story. Her mother gladly agreed and said she would contact the girl's teacher soon.

Two women who came to Falun Gong booth were reluctant to leave. One of them said, “A beautiful energy wave drew us in. We are interested in learning more about this practice.” After talking with a practitioner, one of the women said, “We're so happy to meet you Falun Gong practitioners here at the festival. We'd like to learn the exercises at the local group practice site.”

A person manning a nearby booth said to a practitioner, “I've been observing you the whole weekend. I feel a peaceful presence from your booth. I'd like to learn more about Falun Gong and its benefits.” After talking with a practitioner, he said he planned to look up more information online.

Chinese Youth, “Yes, I want to quit the Chinese Communist Party!”

There were many Chinese visitors at the festival. A Western practitioner said to a young Chinese man, “Have you heard about the persecution of Falun Gong in China?” The young man said that he had.

The practitioner asked him, “Have you quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) or its affiliated organizations?” “Not yet,” the youth answered.

The practitioner explained, “Withdrawal from the Party is an important matter. Those who choose to withdraw will have bright futures.” The man smiled but did not say a word. The practitioner asked, “Does this mean you agree to quit the Party?” “Yes, I want to quit it!” answered the young man, all smiles.

Brutal Persecution Shocks Visitors

Another visitor was curious about the photos showing large numbers of people doing the exercises together in China before the persecution. He was surprised by how popular the practice was in China, and was shocked upon learning that the CCP conducts organ harvesting from living, imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners for profit, for organ transplants. He said, “I can't imagine such inhuman persecution of human rights nowadays!”

A young lady from north Queensland on a backpacking trip listened to a practitioner discuss Falun Gong and the persecution. She said, “It is horrible. But I am not so surprised, because nowadays the human morale and the virtue of respecting others have degraded to a terrible level. I will learn more about Falun Gong and the persecution after I finish my travels.”