Australia: A Seminar at the University of Sydney
Australia: A Seminar at the University of Sydney
By a practitioner from Sydney
2005-05-27
The University of Sydney, a famous university in Australia, has 40,000 enrolled students. For a long period of time the Chinese student association, which is influenced by the Chinese Consulate, often spread defamatory information about Falun Dafa to its members. Some instructors offered courses promoting the evil party's culture, which misled people's understandings about Falun Dafa. A communist club composed of westerners often conducted activities on the campus as well. Furthermore, the executive president of the university proclaimed that the University of Sydney's promulgation ceremony and an alumni reunion will be held in Beijing this September. The Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) flag is also displayed on the university's website.
To address this situation, practitioners who are also students at this university clarified the facts and delivered information materials to the Student Representative Council (SRC) several times. Finally, the SRC understood the truth about the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. They decided to conduct a seminar on behalf of Falun Gong. Practitioners realised that this would be a precious opportunity arranged by Master to save sentient beings.
On May 17th, 2005, a poster exhibition and a seminar about the persecution of Falun Gong in China were held in front of the university's library and SRC building. The event effectively shocked the evil.
Early one morning, in the misty rain, practitioners drove a big truck with an eye-catching Falun Dafa message to the university. They brought posters, display boards, petition forms, and various kinds of materials. When the practitioners arrived at the campus, they set up the display boards and posters, and distributed materials in front of the library where crowds of people passed by. Some students were immediately attracted to the posters and materials, and took the initiative to sign the petition in support of Falun Gong.
At this point, security guards from the university and staff members from the administration office came to ask if we had permission for the event. Although all activities were arranged by the SRC, we did not apply for permission to the university's administration office. Facing this situation, we talked to the staff and presented them with the "Nine Commentaries on Communist Party." After they learned the facts, the security guards and the staff members from the administration office were very supportive. They gave us a thumbs up and made an exception to allow us to continue our activity. We personally experienced that clarifying the truth is really the master key!
Jennifer Zeng speaks at the seminar at the University of Sydney
The seminar began at 2:00 p.m. Practitioners decorated the hallway outside the conference hall with colourful posters, which attracted many students and allowed them to learn about the truth of the persecution. During the seminar, Kay Rubacek, spokesperson of the New South Wales Falun Dafa Association, Falun Gong practitioner Jennifer Zeng, and a representative from the SRC at the University of Sydney delivered speeches. Ms. Rubacek related her own experiences of going to China to appeal on behalf of Falun Gong. Jennifer Zeng talked about the cruel persecution that she experienced in China. The two practitioners' speeches deeply moved attendees. Quite a number of people shed tears.
The student representative's speech was full of a sense of justice and righteousness. She said that the Australian government ignores the Chinese communist regime's human rights violations and plans to sign a free trade agreement with China. She pointed out that this not only harmed Australian people's interests, but also exploited hundreds of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners, dissidents, and religious followers, who are imprisoned in China's forced labour camps. She stated that no matter which country in the world does things that violate morality, justice, and human rights, every one of us have the responsibility to stand up and prevent it, because human rights need to be safeguarded by all of us. After the speech, she expressed her wish to hold events on behalf of Falun Gong again. Two attendees expressed their wish to learn Falun Gong right on the spot.
During the activities, it rained from time to time. Sometimes, a gust of wind blew down the display boards or blew the posters several dozen meters away, but practitioners were not moved at all. They talked to students and passersby until the event concluded. When practitioners were leaving, the university security guard sincerely said goodbye to practitioners, and continuously expressed his thankfulness to them. Perhaps he was moved by practitioners' persistence and selflessness.
Originally published at:
http://en.clearharmony.net/articles/a26772-Australia-A-Seminar-at-the-University-of-Sydney.html#.WdEoVkyZPGI
