During the 2005 European Falun Dafa Experience Sharing Conference in London, practitioners from Eastern Europe could be seen all over the place, no matter whether it was in the parade, along the Great Wall of Courage, at the various small information points in London or in the pouring rain in Chinatown. Many of them had to overcome economic or other difficulties before they were able to attend the activities in London.

One characteristic of Europe is the existence of many countries, nations and languages. The catching-up of Fa-rectification in Eastern Europe has led to a gigantic change in the entire area. Many practitioners from Eastern Europe made speeches about their cultivation experiences in this year’s conference. Simultaneous translations were also provided into Czech, Polish and Russian. More than thirty practitioners travelled to London from the Czech Republic and Slovakia alone. Many of them started to practise Falun Gong quite recently.

Peter, who comes from Slovakia, obtained the Fa five years ago. He found Dafa on the Internet. He downloaded the main text Zhuan Falun from the website and began to study the Fa by himself. Nowadays, he often participates in activities to promote Falun Gong and expose the persecution with fellow practitioners. He mentioned that most of the Czech and Slovak people are not infected by the rumours spread by the Chinese Government and that many know Falun Dafa is good. Since they used to live in the tyranny of the Communist Party, they know well how oppressive it can be.

Kamic, from the Czech Republic, obtained the Fa two years ago. He said there is no significant language barrier between the Czech and Slovakian practitioners so they often hold joint activities. Along with several major gatherings annually, they held their first experience sharing conference last year. They also get together every week at the tourist spots of major cities to raise awareness of the persecution, followed by group Fa study. Many new practitioners have been able to understand the meaning of Fa-rectification and step forward to validate Falun Gong. In the Czech Republic, some government officials and congressmen also support Falun Gong. They log onto the websites frequently.

Participating in the training of the waist drum team for the parade	Practising the sitting meditation

A Chinese practitioner from Romania said a lot of new Romanian practitioners joined in truth clarification activities in 2002 and 2003. At present, group exercise practice, poster board exhibitions and leaflet distribution are held in the parks of several major Romanian cities three days per week. The practitioners then get together for group Fa-study and experience sharing after the activities, which are coordinated by local Romanian practitioners.