> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jane Nicol
> Sent: Monday, February 26, 2001 8:35 AM
> To:   Suzanne Baldon
> Subject:      FW:
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Supporters of Falun Gong Practitioners
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Saturday, February 24, 2001 11:28 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject:
>
>
> Dear Friend,
>
> The Chinese government has illegally prohibited its citizens from
> practicing
> a peaceful cultivation system known as Falun Gong.  Falun Gong, based on a
> tradition that is more than 5,000 years old, involves the cultivation of
> mind, body, and spirit with the goal of  becoming a better person and
> reach
> enlightenment, a cultivation status that has been achieved by many other
> Buddhist and Taoist monks in the history. It involves the practice of four
> standing exercises, a seated meditation, and the study and application of
> the three fundamental principles of truthfulness, compassion, and
> forbearance to every facet of one's life.
>
> As a result of the Chinese government's ban of this practice and the
> extremely violent means used to suppress it, 156 people have been killed
> as
> of February, 2001.  Over 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners have been sent to
> labor camps without any legal process where they are subjected to beatings
> and torture. At least 50,000 people have been arrested, detained, beaten,
> and tortured, and over 600 have been unlawfully committed to mental
> hospitals where they are forcefully injected with psychotropic drugs as
> well
> as given electrical shock treatments.  These practitioners are detained in
> the hospital and threatened with continued treatments until they recant
> and
> refuse to practice this system of self-cultivation.
>
> Most countries allow their citizens the freedom to choose and practice
> their
> spiritual beliefs without fear of death or retribution. You can help
> improve
> the situation in China by expressing your support by "signing" a Worldwide
> Petition.   The response to this appeal for support will be included in
> reports to the international media, human rights organizations and world
> leaders. Every response makes a difference!
>
> Please follow the link below, best viewed with Internet Explorer. View the
> background information from the links on that page if you like, then go to
> the petition page and fill out the brief form.
>
> Also, please help us by forwarding this email to friends and colleagues if
> you think it is appropriate.
>
> If you would like to forward this message, please copy the text and the
> link
> in-
> to a new email. This helps minimize the errors that can accumulate.
>
> http://www.clearwisdomhouston.org/PeacefulJourney/petitions.html
>
>
> Thank you for your consideration.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Supporters of Falun Gong Practitioners
>
>
> [Note: We sincerely hope you to finish reading this letter no matter what
> you may think of us. Although it may seem like a SPAM, you won't get a
> second letter from us. The only reason you are on our mailing list is
> because you email address is publicly available from your departmental web
> site. We are not taking this as a political campaign; we are calling for
> conciseness from any sentient beings.]
>