Petals of Peace Launches in Melbourne
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 purity of heart and mind. They also taught other children and parents how to fold the paper lotus flowers.
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 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 values 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.
