Falun Gong practitioners participated in the celebration activities at Hesperian Park in downtown Helsinki during the 20th "Art Night" on August 21, 2009, to promote the benefits of Falun Dafa and expose the Chinese Communist regime's ten-year-long persecution of Falun Gong, with the aim of urging people around the world to help put an end to the persecution.

Prior to the Olympic Games last year, officials from Hebei Province arrested Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Li Zhenxing. They also ransacked his home and personal property. Mr. Li was detained in the Xiantai Police Station and later transferred to the Mancheng County Detention Centre. He was subjected to one year and three months of forced labour. He was brutally beaten and shocked with four electric batons, and handcuffed to water pipes for seven days and nights.

Ms. Yang Manye is from Shanghai. On October 22nd, 2009, people from the Putuo Domestic Security Division and 610 Office (an organisation of special agents just for persecuting Falun Gong) deceived Ms. Yang, saying that they needed to talk to her. In fact, they arrested and took her to a brainwashing centre. So far, her family has not received any written notification about her arrest. This is the fourth time she has been arrested for practising Falun Gong. In 2001 Ms. Yang was jailed in the Songjiang Women's Prison in Shanghai and the authorities extended her term by nine months. When she was in prison, she was forced to do physical work for long hours. Because of this she was very weak and fell.

Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Pi Changfu and his wife were arrested on October 31st, 2009, by more than 20 police officers. The police ransacked their home and confiscated Falun Gong books and valuable items. Since the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) started the persecution of Falun Gong on July 20th, 1999, Mr. Pi and his wife have often been harassed. Mr. Pi was held at a detention centre for 7 days on one occasion and was forced to pay 10,000 yuan for bail. He left home and became homeless in June 2007 for over six months.

Practitioner Mr. Ge Kun was forced out of school, arrested, and detained for one year and three months. Finally, on September 18th, 2009, Mr. Ge was "tried" by the court of Hanting District in Weifang City. The court imposed a most severe nine year prison sentence on Mr. Ge who is just in his 20s. The prime of his life has been snatched by a vicious Chinese Communist Party (CCP) system. In July 2008 at Weifang Detention Centre, Mr. Ge Kun was tied to a "cross" formed from steel pipes. His arms were out-stretched and legs bound tightly using leather belts. Mr. Ge was left to endure such extremely painful circumstances for six days, during which he lost consciousness many times.

If others do not know that we have changed, we can let them know gradually with our behaviour. A person who cannot forgive himself cannot easily forgive others, either. This kind of mentality makes me very attached to the shortcomings of other people and I cannot treat them compassionately.

Facing these setbacks, I forgot to measure myself with the standards of a cultivator. I became irritable and impatient. The problem lasted for a week and it prevented me from producing truth-clarification materials (materials which explain the facts about the persecution of Falun Gong). As a result, my effort in helping fellow practitioners save sentient beings were at a standstill.

The annual Christmas parade in Wellington, New Zealand, the Tip Top Santa Parade, was held on November 15th. Thousands of people lines the streets to watch. The Falun Gong entry consisted of about 100 practitioners and was warmly welcomed by the spectators.

November 14th, is the 32nd birthday of Wanda Elementary School. The principal of the school, Mr. Tseng, has often seen local Falun Gong practitioners doing exercises in a nearby park. The peaceful exercises made a deep impression on him.