(19 Jul 2003)
1. Wide shot of Falun Gong practitioners sitting on the ground watching a concert
2. People sitting on the ground
3. Guitar player and singer on a stage
4. Wide shot of audience and people walking on a sidewalk
5. Wide shot of people on a stage demonstrating the practice of Falun Gong exercises
6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Yeong-Ching Foo, whose fiancee is held by Chinese authorities
"Today it almost marks the fourth year of persecution of Falun Gong. And today the concert show how peaceful, how beautiful Falun Gong is. And more people will come to realise, when they come to realise what Falun Gong is, it will help to end the persecution."
7. Woman handing out pamphlet and bystander accepting
8. Wide shot of people watching dancers on a stage
9. People sitting on the ground watching
10. Wide shot of four dancers on stage dancing
11. People sitting and watching
STORYLINE:
Thousands of Falun Gong practitioners and supporters gathered in Washington DC on Saturday as part of a weekend of events to mark the fourth anniversary of the Chinese government's ban on the group.
The so-called concert of "Light and Peace," brought together a collection of musicians, singers, dancers, actors, poets and painters from around the world.
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, says it promotes improvement of mind and body based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance.
In 1992, the teaching spread to an estimated 70 to 100 million people in China in the span of only seven years.
But on July 20 1999, China's then-leader Jiang Zemin, launched an attack on Falun Gong, after a survey showed the amount of people who had faith in the group out-numbered the communist party membership by 40 million.
Yeong-Ching Foo, whose fiancee is held by Chinese authorities, described Falun Gong as a peaceful and spiritual practice and hoped this weekend's events will bring greater understanding of the group and bring an end to persecution in China.
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