‘Berlin Twitter Wall’ Blocked in China

By Genevieve Long
Epoch Times Staff
Nov 4, 2009

A screenshot of the website showing ‘tweets’ about the Berlin Wall. Before the site was blocked in China, most were in Chinese. (berlintwitterwall.com)

A virtual wall created for Twitter users to express their thoughts and hopes on the 20 year anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall has been blocked in China.

The “Berlin Twitter Wall,” as it’s called, is an initiative of KulturProjekte Berli, a not-for-profit organization that promotes networking and mediation of art and culture.

Launched on Oct. 20, according to the press freedom organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the virtual wall was blocked by Chinese authorities after almost 2,000 Chinese Internet users left Twitter messages there. The wall currently has just over 4,000 tweets posted on it, mostly in Chinese.

“Chinese Internet users must not be prevented from accessing the Berlin Twitter Wall,” said Reporters Without Borders in a statement released Tuesday morning. “Initiatives like these are important platforms for the promotion of freedom of speech as well as for critical voices and protest.”

RSF added that many foreign news outlets and social-networking sites remain inaccessible to Chinese users.

Twitter account holders can post comments that appear automatically on the berlintwitterwall.com site by using the hashtag #fotw (fall of the wall).

The site exhorted users to “share your thoughts on the Fall of the Berlin wall now or let us know which walls still have to come down to make our world a better place!” Chinese on twitter drew comparisons between the Berlin Wall and the Great Firewall of China (GFW), the name given to the ruling Chinese Communist Party’s program of pervasive Internet censorship.

“Overturning the GFW is an urgent priority, communism is just a red terror that deceives people,” one user wrote.

“The Berlin Wall has a Chinese version. German friends have given us a rallying point to overturn the GFW!” a writer identified as cx0878 wrote.

“Why is getting on the net now to say true words so hard?” another user said, calling themselves guozili.

The Golden Shield Project, often called the Great Firewall of China, is a censorship and surveillance project operated by China’s Ministry of Public Security. It is intended to increase up the Chinese Communist Party’s control of the Internet in China. It includes tens of thousands of personnel who monitor and delete content deemed subversive, as well as an elaborate system for making Web sites inaccessible.

Last Updated
Nov 4, 2009

A Pyramid Inside the Heart

Understandings on Cultivation

Author: Guan Ming

(PureInsight.org) When I was young, my grandmother told me a story that I still remember clearly to this day. The story was about an active young boy who lived in the East several hundred years ago. He lived on a mountain, and everyday he climbed up to the top of the mountain to look out at the sea far away. He was told that on rare occasions, one could see a golden pyramid rising from the sea that is as glorious as a fairyland. He told his mother that someday he would travel to and live inside the golden pyramid after he had grown up. His mother always smiled when hearing that. She would reply, “All right. I hope you will grow up soon.”

On the day the boy turned 18 years old, he told his mother that he would leave to search for the golden pyramid. His mother was surprised: “Son, that story is just a legend. There is no such pyramid in this human world.” But the boy was determined: “Mother, trust me. I will find the golden pyramid.” After traveling a long distance and encountering many hardships, the young man persevered every day in walking in the direction of the pyramid. One day, he finally reached the sea that he had viewed from his mountain home. Although, he couldn’t see the pyramid that he was searching for, he still believed that he would see it some day. Day after day, he waited by the sea.

As I grew older, I also believed that there was no such golden pyramid in life. However, I kept remembering this beautiful story. One day, I casually entered a Chinese bookstore and saw a copy of Zhuan Falun which was golden and shiny. This reminded me of the above story. Since then, I started to read this heavenly book and still enjoy reading it to this day. This became the golden pyramid inside my heart.

In the sweltering heat of June, people like to go and stay in places where air-conditioning is available. However, when I pick up my trumpet and practice music as a Celestial Band member, all those discomforts due to high temperatures are diminished. I believe it is because of the pyramid in my heart that helps me dissolve into in the music and enter into the state of feeling as if I am walking in the breeze.

When marching in the rain with other Celestial Band members or practicing the Falun Dafa exercises in the rain, I sometimes felt a little cold after my clothing was soaked. However, the pyramid in my heart would warm me up from dantian (point in the lower abdomen) throughout my entire body and I would become very comfortable again.

When experiencing tribulations, such as threatening or humiliating situations, this golden pyramid always shines with a light of compassion. This strengthens my determination in following the truth and makes me more diligent. I know that no test can change my determination as a Dafa practitioner.

Translated from Chinese

Shen Yun Performing Arts “Inspires People to Have Compassion” (Photo)

(Clearwisdom.net) Shen Yun Performing Arts graced the stage at the Canon Theatre in Toronto on Sunday for it’s final presentation until it returns in January. Joining the packed theatre at Sunday’s show were Mr. and Mrs. Finlason and their two children. Mr. Finlason operates a tourism business.

“It was a great show–all the colors, all the dancing and the singing–everything, it was beautiful,” he said.

Mr. and Mrs. Finlason and their two children enjoyed Shen Yun.

The family was moved by the presentation of classical Chinese culture. “The cultural aspect, it’s so neat, it’s all storytelling–every dance tells a story. There’s a lot of drumming and instruments and the costumes–it’s just really neat. It’s something you wouldn’t really see in North American western dancing, so it’s very unique,” added Mrs. Finlason.

Family Travels Three Hours to See Shen Yun

Mr. Wang, who lives in a small city in southwest Ontario, traveled all the way to Toronto (a three-hour drive) to see the Shen Yun Performing Arts show at Canon Theatre on Sunday afternoon.

Mr. Wang, who brought his wife and child to the show, said he had heard so much about Shen Yun that he wanted to see it, but the family was previously deterred by the long trip to Toronto.

“That is why this is the first time we’ve seen Shen Yun. This time, we made up our minds to come and see it, and I feel it was well worth the trip!”

And after all the effort to come, he greatly appreciated the presentation of classical China’s traditional values. “All the performers are very professional, including the dancers and singers. The show is very well done. Shen Yun makes people pursue good things, inspiring people to have compassion. That is very good,” he said.

Mr. Wang described the unique backdrop as “magnificent,” adding that he was also delighted by the orchestra, which combines Western and Chinese instruments.

“The orchestra is very good, they are very professional. I found that the orchestra, dancers, and the backdrops are well coordinated. I am not a professional in the arts, but to me it is very well done and coordinated.”

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Handling Family Issues with Righteous Thoughts and True Compassion

By a Falun Dafa practitioner in China

(Clearwidom.net) I obtained the Fa in 1997. Several years ago, I was arrested and imprisoned for four years for having distributed DVDs on the persecution of Falun Dafa.

After I was released from prison, my sisters and brother took turns watching me to make sure I was not doing Dafa work anymore. My husband, although he had been a practitioner himself, did not allow me to communicate with fellow practitioners or keep Dafa materials at home, due to the pressure from family and society and the fear of losing me again. I was left with only a copy of Zhuan Falun and allowed to do the exercises at home while I was looking after my elderly aunt.

My husband complained to me that he had endured and sacrificed a lot for our belief in Dafa over these years, and demanded that I promise not to go out to clarify the truth to people. This did not sound like what a Dafa practitioner should say and do, but more like the old forces’ arrangements. Therefore, I sent forth a righteous thought, “I am Li Hongzhi’s disciple, and I do not acknowledge any arrangements other than Master’s.” I replied my husband, “I cannot promise that to you, as I am a Dafa practitioner. I can only promise to Master to save more sentient beings, walk the path that Master has arranged for me and do the three things well.”

“If thoughts are righteous, evil will collapse” (Hong Yin Volume II, “What’s to Fear?”) My husband became quiet. Eventually, he resumed practicing Dafa.

My elderly aunt suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. She stayed in bed all the time and had been taking medication for most of her life. I told her to recite “Falun Dafa is good. Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance is good.” She said, “I do believe that, because you and your husband have both become healthier than before, and don’t need to take medication anymore.” After having listened to Master’s lectures on audio tapes, my aunt said to me, “I don’t need medication, either.” Thus, she stopped taking medication. Now she is 92 years old. Not only has her mind become clear, but her grey hair also has turned black again and her complexion is rosy and fair.

My younger brother is a police chief for the railroad on which Dafa practitioners often travel with Dafa materials. Some practitioners were reported to my brother, but he told the policemen not to harass Dafa practitioners.

My sisters would also help me with housework and caring for our elderly aunt when I went to the villages to distribute truth clarification materials and talk to people about the persecution.

All of my family members have quit the CCP organizations, and they also encouraged others to quit. Some have started cultivating, and others said they would cultivate after the CCP collapses.

Because I am not going to extremes like before in doing Dafa work and I help my family members with their business, my family does not restrict me in anything related to Dafa. Every day I study the Fa in the morning, and go out with fellow practitioners to clarify the truth to people in the afternoon.

People react differently based on their notions when I talk about the persecution of Falun Dafa and the CCP. I sought guidance from the Fa while asking myself, “Why didn’t the people want to quit CCP organizations?” It was because I hadn’t clarified the truth in the proper way so they could understand, or my heart of compassion wasn’t sufficient, or my righteous thoughts weren’t strong. Thus, I was not moved by ordinary people’s negative reactions and would tell them with my compassion, “Maybe I am not eloquent, but if you encounter someone else telling you to quit the CCP organizations, maybe you will reconsider. It is really for your own good. We are strangers to each other and I don’t have to talk to you about this. I just want you to have a good life and future.” Many were touched upon hearing this and asked me to assist them in quitting the CCP organizations, and thanked me for doing so.

My understanding is that we do not pursue the quantity of people quitting the CCP organizations; rather, we should move people with the kindness and forbearance that we obtain from cultivating Dafa, so that they can be saved. Let us cultivate ourselves diligently to be worthy of Master’s salvation.

September 23, 2009

Chinese version available

New Jersey: “You Are Great!” (Photos)

By a practitioner from New Jersey

(Clearwisdom.net) On September 13, 2009, Monroe City, New Jersey, held its 21^st Annual Town and Country Day. It was a pleasant autumn day with bright sunshine and a cool breeze. The Falun Gong booth was decorated with a row of small hanging lotus flowers. Several practitioners demonstrated the exercises under the tent. Many passersby stopped to inquire about Falun Gong.

Exercise demonstration

Introducing Falun Gong to visitors

Candidate for City Council Mr. William Hoover had his photo taken with Falun Gong practitioners

Many visitors had already heard about Falun Gong and the persecution taking poace in China and expressed their support. An older Chinese gentleman came to the booth with his Western wife. He said, “We were just talking about Falun Gong and now we meet you.” His wife said, “He told me that you are great!” The man raised his thumb in approval and then pointed to a practitioner doing the meditation and said, “I can sit with both legs crossed just like her.” They took some fliers and said they’d learn more about the practice online.

Mr. William Hoover is running for a position on the city council. He came to the booth and talked to the practitioners. One told him what Falun Gong is, how it is now practiced in over 100 countries all over the world, and about the persecution of Falun Gong in China. Mr. Hoover said it was incredibly evil of the Chinese Communist Party to persecute Falun Gong and other faith groups. He thanked them for the fliers and had his photo taken with the practitioners.

A Chinese family passed by with lotus flowers in hand and some fliers. They said they had read the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party and had already withdrawn from CCP and its affiliated organizations.

Many people were intrigued to see the practitioners doing the exercises and meditating in such a noisy setting. They watched from the sidelines and then asked for more information. Some said they wanted to learn the exercises at a nearby group practice site.

Participating practitioners said they also met some Chinese that had misunderstandings about Falun Gong because of the CCP’s propaganda. They refused the printed materials, and some said negative things. The practitioners said they would be more compassionate in making more efforts to clarify the truth of the persecution of Falun Gong in China to those people so that they could recognize the CCP’s lies.

Chinese version available

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