On October 2nd and 3rd, a global event entitled “Petals of Peace”
made its debut in Melbourne, Australia. The purpose of this event is to promote
a close relationship among children all over the world, to encourage tolerance
and mutual understandings and to enhance creativity.
The event was inspired by the experience of a 3-year-old Chinese-Australian
girl, named Fadu. When Fadu was about 6 months old, her father was tortured
to death in China for practising Falun Gong. Since then, Fadu has been to more
than 30 countries with her mother to call attention to the persecution.
On October 2, a large-scale children’s activity, “Petals of Peace,”
was held in Melbourne, Australia. Parliament Member Anthony Byrne sent a letter
of congratulations for this event. A group of children from the Minghui School
presented several performances including “Lotus Flower Dance,” “Dunhuang
Dance,” and a children’s fashion show. They presented their hand-made paper
lotus flowers, which symbolise peace and saintly purity. They also taught other
children and parents how to fold the paper lotus flowers.
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Minghui students perform two dances
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Ms. Dai Zizhen sharing her story of persecution
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| Practitioners holding lotus flowers | People learning how to fold paper lotus flowers |
The event organizer said, “Today, we teach children how to fold the paper
lotus flower which symbolizes purity and beauty, and we will also present Truth-Compassion-Tolerance
as well as people’s persistent good wishes and kindness. Through this activity,
we would like to advocate tolerance and compassion to all people with different
cultural backgrounds so as to promote peace in the world.”
On October 3, “Petals of Peace” held a news conference in front of
the Chinese Consulate in Melbourne. Minghui School students demonstrated Falun
Gong exercises. Several reporters came to gather news.
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Minghui students demonstrating Falun Gong exercises
during the “Petals of Peace” news conference |
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Ms. Dai Zizhen accepting interviews
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| A young practitioner meditating among lotus flowers | Fadu and Minghui School students practising Falun Gong exercises |
Fadu’s mother, Ms. Dai Zhizhen, said, “As a mother, if we do not speak
out for our children, who will? The purpose of this activity is to remind people
that in China, hundreds of thousands of young children like Fadu are suffering
the pain of their families being torn apart.” Ms. Dai said it was not out
of personal anger, but to uphold justice that she participated in legal actions
against Jiang Zemin in different countries. She felt that any individual, no
matter who he is, if he committed crimes against humanity, torture and genocide,
he should be tried in the international court.
Tokyo Olympic Games Swimming silver medallist Jan Becker said that the lotus
flower which grows up out of the mud, but remains pure, symbolises hope and
saintly purity. The activity of folding paper lotus flowers will be promoted
in Australia’s schools and among young people in communities. At the same time,
the event is to let people know that there are many children in China who have
a similar experience as Fadu. Their family members are deprived of freedom of
belief and practice, and consequently, these children are forced to be separated
from their parents, some are even deprived of rights of going to school and
receiving a normal education.
Jan Becker said that the activity of “Petals of Peace” was intended
to emphasise the value of Truth-Compassion-Tolerance throughout the world. This
activity will be carried out all over the world. Melbourne is the first stop
of little Fadu and her mother. Later, they will visit different countries and
regions and spread the “Petals of Peace” to the entire world.
Posting date:11/Oct/2003
Original article date: 9/Oct/2003
Category: Australian News
