Norway: Falun Gong photo exhibition at the main library in Oslo

From December 5 2002 to February 1 2003, the main library in Oslo (Deichmanske bibliotek, hovedbiliotek) held a Falun Gong photo exhibition. The pictures detailed the spread of Falun Gong to over 50 countries and how it has brought enormous benefits to over 70 million practitioners. They also showed the crimes against humanity that have occurred in China under Jiang Zemin’s orders to persecute Falun Gong.

The pictures were displayed on the third floor of the library and illustrated the introduction of Falun Gong to the public, the efforts to rescue fellow practitioners in China and the support from government officials and organisations such as Amnesty International.

Large posters of practitioners performing the Falun Gong exercises and 2 large red banners with the words “Falun Dafa” and “The World needs Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance” on them drew the attention of the public and created a colourful and serene background.

After looking at the exhibition, one man told practitioners that he knew about Falun Gong and the persecution, but he was not aware that the Chinese government was initially so supportive of Falun Gong due to its positive effects on health and morality. Nor did he know about the many positive reports about Falun Gong that were published in Chinese media before the persecution began.

Near the library’s reception area (which everyone had to pass to enter the library) an information board was set up to inform the public about the photo exhibition on the third floor. There were also flyers in both Norwegian and Chinese for the public to take. Since coming to the exhibition, many people have come to know Falun Gong and some have also come to the exercise site in Oslo.

February 1 2003 was the final day of the exhibition and also the first day of Chinese New Year. It was celebrated in the library with dancing, singing and telling the public about different aspects of Chinese culture and traditions.