A bicycle ride to save Chinese children of the Falun Gong
Roma (AsiaNews) - A group of teenagers living in the United States organized an original initiative to denounce the persecution of child members of the Falun Gong Chinese sect, as perpetrated by the Chinese governement in Beijing.
From 13 to 21 May, these teenagers, who called themselves "Pedals of Peace", will embark on a bicycle ride from Washington DC to Chicago, where they will tell people about the terrible persecutions of Chinese children and teenagers, whose families belong to a sect prohibited by China government.
The 700 mile-journey is called the "Save the Kid's Ride" and has the support of various schools in the country, non-profit organizations and many non-governmental organizations.
"Petals of Peace", which inspired the name of the little riders, attempts to inform others of thesufferings of the Chinese children. The organization hands out paper lotus flowers, as a peaceful sign of its efforts to help save them.
"Petals of Peace" was founded because many people were moved by the tragic story of Fadu, a 3 year-old child whose father was tortured to death for belonging to Falun Gong.
Karen Chen, a 10 year-old Chinese child who lives in the United States, tells the tragic story of her family, who also belongs to Falun Gong: "When I was in China five years ago, they were TV programs saying bad words about Falun Dafa [the other name of the Chinese sect] all the time. I have experienced the persecution of children, too. My grandmother is also a Falun Dafa pratictioner like me and she was arrested in her home last year. The police took my granny and put her under arrest for two months not letting anyone see her. They even took away her passport and told her she was not allowed to come see her relatives in the United States".
According to Petals of Peace, more than 14 million Chinese children - especially those who either practice or are the sons and daughters of Falun Gong members are being left orphaned. This is son since their parents are taken away to labor camps, where they are jailed, tortured, persecuted or even murdered. (MR)
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