By Minghui reporter Zheng Haishan

(Clearwisdom.net) In the past, Chinese people living overseas did not have many unique ways of their own to celebrate Christmas, but this year, the "Holiday Wonders" show has created a Christmas celebration in a Chinese fashion.

On December 24, Beacon Theatre on Broadway in Manhattan was packed with people who came to see the "Holiday Wonders", and among them were many Chinese people.

Afternoon performance of "Holiday Wonders" on December 24

Afternoon performance of "Holiday Wonders" on December 24

Mr. Lu Mingsen and his wife

Ah-Tsai and her daughters from Panama; Ah-Tsai said that the show made her miss Chinese culture.

Mr. Pan and his wife came to America in 1984. They live in Arkansas. They came to New York for Christmas and saw the advertisement for the "Holiday Wonders". Mrs. Pan said: "We have seen many shows in China before, but this show is very different. We liked all the dances. They tell stories which are educational and have profound contents."

Mr. Pan said: "We have been in America for more than 20 years, but have never seen such a good show. Most American people don't have a deep understanding of Chinese culture. I believe that the show will help them." Mrs. Pan said: "The dances will help Americans know how ancient Chinese people lived."

Mr. Pan went back to China last August. He said: "Everybody is busy making money, and few people care about culture. A country cannot develop if its people only focus on the economy." He said, "Chinese people should have the confidence to promote their 5000-year old culture. I believe that the show tonight is a model."

Mr. Pan said: "Many overseas Chinese people have a lonely feeling in America. We don't have chances to have cultural communications with each other. So, I am very glad to see the performances tonight."

Mr. Lu Mingsen, the former chair of the Taiwanese Commerce Association in New York and chair of a construction company in New York, came to the show with his wife. He said, "The performances were excellent. The designs of the dances, stage lights and the background were all perfect. The cooperation among the actors was also good. I have been living in America for 37 years, but I've never seen such a good show."

Mr. Lu said that many dances told stories with elaborate designs, so they were very educational. He said: "The 5000-year old culture is very profound. The show manifests it through dances and songs very well. Telling historical stories through dances will help promote the traditional culture."

Posting date: 12/26/2007
Original article date: 12/25/2007
Chinese version available

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By Minghui reporter Zheng Haishan and Shen Junyi

(Clearwisdom.net) The eighth "Holiday Wonders" show was held at the Beacon Theatre in Manhattan on Christmas Eve. The show's elaborate dances, beautiful music and the profound culture was well-received by the New York audience.

Charles Moody said that the songs reminded him of the Taoist spirit. He agreed that the principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" is very important.

Kevin Park liked the harmony in "Water Sleeves" and the upbeat "Drummers of the Tang Court".

Michael Gambel: Determination can overcome persecution

"I see the spirit of compassion and forgiveness in the show."

Charles Moody is a writer and editor. He said that two songs in the show made very deep impressions on him, "Truth Alone Sets You Free" and "Falun Holy King". Mr. Moody said that he likes the Taoist culture and studied Taoism in college. The songs reminded him of the Taoist spirit, and he agreed that the principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" is very important.

Mr. Moody said that he expected to see a show which manifested the spirit of compassion and forgiveness. "I saw it tonight. I am very glad," he said. Mr. Moody said that he would bring his friends to future Divine Performing Arts performances.

Divine Performing Arts is a bridge for cultural communication between China and America

Kevin Park is a Korean-American, and he was excited by the show. His favorites were the water-sleeve dance and the drum performance. He said that the perfect cooperation between actors demonstrated traditional harmonious relationships in ancient China, as well as rich individual personalities.

Kevin, who likes Chinese culture, knows that the unity of heaven and humanity is an important component of Chinese culture, and Korean culture has borrowed many things from Chinese culture. He said that this show will help young people get to know about Chinese culture, and it is a bridge for cultural communication between China and America.

Michael Ganbel is a consultant for Revlon. He has been to China and appreciates Chinese culture. "The 5000-year old Chinese culture is unique in the world," he said. "I liked all the performances today." In particular, he praised the dance "Power of Awareness," which shows that determination can overcome persecution.

Posting date: 12/26/2007
Original article date: 12/25/2007
Category: News & Media Reports
Chinese version available
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On Tuesday, December 11th, 2007, from 8:30 pm to 11 pm, China Human Rights Forum was held at a conference room in Dole City Hall in Jura Province, France, which was highly supported by the Mayor and some members of Parliament. In their remarks, representatives from various human rights organisations illustrated, analyzed and exposed the Chinese Communist regime’s evil nature and the atrocities it has perpetrated along its economic development. They intended to bring to the general public’s attention that the Chinese regime’s on going genocidal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and the crimes against humanity. They pointed out that what the evil regime has done at the run-up to the 2008 Olympic Games was compared to what happened before the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. Among others, Mr. Wu Baozhang called on the French people to differentiate between China and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), so that they we would not fall into a trap similar to the one used by the regime during the Great Cultural Revolution. In particular, he hoped that French people would not be regarded as accomplices to the crimes committed by the Chinese Communist regime in the history some day in the future.

In her remarks, Ms. Marie-Francoise Lampertie, chair of the Agir Pour Les Droits De L'homme, said that as nowadays many people thought that China has become stronger and stronger, it is imperative to pay more attention to the human right situation in China.

When interviewed, she said, “As one of the countries that initiated the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, French democracy advocates have long endeavored to make human rights a core issue in the world. Many human right and democracy advocates held that during President Nicolas Sarkozy’s recent visit to China, he didn’t put emphasis on human right issues, which have been of concern mostly by many human rights advocates and they really wanted the President to regard them as the core topics.
Many French human rights and democracy advocates have spared no effort to promote and helped non-democratic countries around the world to develop democracy. In those countries, democracy movements are very difficult to be initiated, as democracy is not respected. However, they have never given up their endeavor in making democracy issue an international focus.”

In his speech at the Forum, senior journalist and former director of the Radio France International Chinese Programme Mr. Wu Baozhang, clearly exposed to the audience the spiritual and physical persecution the Chinese Communist regime has perpetrated against its people since the regime first founded. He also pointed out that the most serious problem overshadowed by China’s economic development was the regime’s trampling on human rights. He further concluded that the heinous crimes committed by the regime were not simply the issues of trampling on human rights, as what it has committed were the crimes of genocide and the crimes against humanity.

The China Human Rights Forum

The China Human Rights Forum

The China Human Rights Forum

Participants speak at the China Human Rights Forum

Participants speak at the China Human Rights Forum

Participants speak at the China Human Rights Forum

Chairman of the French Falun Gong Association, Tang Hanlong said, “we are not getting political, and what we have demanded is a free environment for practicing the Falun Gong exercises.”Former director of the Radio France International Chinese Program, Mr. Wu Baozhang, say that the culprits and the accomplices of the persecution must be brought to justice as soon as possible.”Ms. Marie-Francoise Lampertie, chair of the Agir Pour Les Droits De L'homme gives remarks at the Forum.

He further reminded the world people to pay more attention to the Chinese regime’s intrinsic nature, as the regime has been relegated to host the next Olympic Games. He also said, “I know that the Olympic Games meant a huge amount of money. Have you ever heard that a Hong Kong TV Station sponsored by the Chinese regime once broadcast, ‘We are only concerned about something we can benefit from the Olympic Games, and we don’t care anything other than that.’ The world people are simply insignificant players in a show which will be used by the Beijing administration to make ill-gotten money through the legal event. So, the event should be compared to the Berlin Olympic Games in 1936.”

Finally, Mr. Wu Baozhang stressed, “if there is persecution, there must be anti-persecution. The historical wheel is turning very fast. Some Chinese victims of the Communism announced the establishment of a democratic transitional government in New York not long ago. We are now living on the eve of an epoch-making incident. I sincerely hope that the French friends who love China are able to differentiate between China and the CCP, so that they would not fall into a trap similar to the one used by the regime during the Great Cultural Revolution. In particular, I hope that we would not be regarded as accomplices to the crimes committed by the Chinese Communist regime in the history some day in the future.”
When interviewed, Mr. Wu said, “Being a journalist, I clearly witnessed all the political movements launched by the Chinese regime in the past, and the tremendous sufferings Chinese people have undergone. That’s the main reason for me to devote myself to democracy and human rights movements, though I was a journalist.”

When it came to the Chinese regime’s persecution against Falun Gong, Mr. Wu emphasised, “All of the political movements launched by the regime in the past were not as serious as the persecution of Falun Gong. It is by far the cruelest one, as the atrocity of harvesting organs from living humans to sell for profit had never happened in these political movements in the past. The persecution is so cruel and despicable that it must be ended immediately, the culprits as well as the accomplices must be brought to justice.”
As to the impact of the huge wave of over thirty million Chinese people’s withdrawal from the CCP and it affiliated organisations on world people and the CCP, Mr. Wu said, “These thirty million withdrawals from the CCP revealed that the CCP should not exist in the world any longer. It must put an end to the persecution against its own people immediately, and take full responsibility for the crimes it has committed in history.”

Afterward, chairman of the French Falun Gong Association, Tang Hanlong, explained the evil regime’s cruel persecution of Falun Gong as well as the peaceful and rational anti-persecution activities staged by Falun Gong practitioners. As to the reasons for this group of cultivators who are cultivating their body and mind at the same time would be concerned about democracy and human right issues, Mr. Tang said, “The Communist regime’s persecution of Falun Gong has been going on over the past eight years or so; Falun Gong practitioners have persistently clarified the truth to the world. What we are concerned about is the persecution of Falun Gong, and hope that it can be ended immediately. That’s why we held various activities and took advantage of different occasions and approaches to let the world people know that the persecution Falun Gong practitioners are being suffering is absolutely unreasonable and illegal and it must be stopped immediately. As a cultivator, we are not getting political, and what we have demanded is a free environment for practicing the Falun Gong exercises.”

Ms. Chen Ying, a female Falun Gong practitioner who had been persecuted by the Chinese regime in China, exposed the cruelty of the persecution by sharing her personal experience with the participants. She also witnessed various cruel torture methods and inhumane approaches employed by the Chinese regime to torture peaceful Falun Gong practitioners. She had suffered such cruel torture both mentally and physically and the cruel torture is still going on in China’s prisons, forced labour camps and brainwashing centres. In particular, the atrocity of harvesting of organs from living Falun Gong practitioners is still proceeding in China covertly. Chen Ying said, “During my illegal incarceration, many Falun Gong practitioners were woken up at midnight, by calling the number assigned to them, to pack up their belongs. They were taken away by armed policemen in the early morning and usually the policemen wouldn’t be back for several days. According to some criminal inmates there, the Falun Gong practitioners who were assigned a number respectively were sent to a concentration camp established exclusively for the confinement of Falun Gong practitioners. Both the Chinese police and criminal inmates said that some concentration camps have been built in Xingjing, Hebei and other provinces in northeast China to incarcerate Falun Gong practitioners.”

Chen Ying’s experience in the Chinese prisons and forced labour camps bore witness to the Chinese regime’s atrocities concluded in investigation report written by the Canadian independent investigator David Kilgour. She said, “What was concluded in David Kilgour’s report is the same as what I experienced in the prison and the forced labour camp where I was illegally incarcerated. I was forced to undergo physical check ups several times. At the end of September 2000, I was given a number by the police as I refused to tell them my name. One day, I was called upon by the police. After I was handcuffed and shackled, I was taken to a hospital for a physical examination, including a heart check up, an electrocardiogram examination, blood tests, vision check, etc. I was injected with unknown drugs, which made me lose my memory. My memory was not recovered until one day in March, 2003, when I was so shocked at the sight of photos of Falun Gong practitioners afflicted with cruel torture, after I arrived in France. I was so lucky to be able to come to France and resume my cultivation of Falun Gong that I regained my health.”

The next speaker was a representative from Amnesty International, who re-affirmed the importance of paying close attention to human rights. He also introduced the activities to be held by Amnesty International in the near future to defend human rights. He especially mentioned the open letter they wrote to urge the general public to help rescue Falun Gong practitioner Cao Dong, who was illegally imprisoned.

The last speaker was Ms. Marshall Hu, who briefed the participants, with PowerPoint slides; on the Chinese Communist regime’s human rights persecution against Tibetans as well as the crisis Tibetan culture is facing. Throughout the forum, not only were the remarks very touching, but the atmosphere was very good. The speakers also had very good interaction with the audience, which had effectively exposed the Chinese regime’s atrocities of trampling on human rights and various crimes it has committed.

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By Zheng Haishan

On December 21st, 2007, NTDTV's Holiday Wonders show continued at the Beacon Theatre on Broadway, New York. Ms. Christine Walevska, a world-renowned cellist, watched the show for the second time and praised two of the singers, Guan Guimin and Hong Ming, as world class tenors. Many audience members were impressed and moved by the songs performed in Holiday Wonders.

Audience members of different ethnicities are visibly moved during the performance

Ms. Christine Walevska, world-renowned cellist, watched the show again on December 21st after seeing it first on December 18th. She said that one needs time to experience and savour such a wonderful performance

Helena Kinsley, owner of a retail shop, said that watching the show gave her feelings of calm, peace, delight, happiness and comfort

Ted L'Estronge from the UK said that the performance was wonderful and seemed to take him back to ancient times

Pamela Berman, Chairman of PLB Communications, said that she could feel the Chinese people's elegance and dignity from watching the show

After watching the first show on December 18th, Ms. Christine Walevska came to see the show again on December 21st. She said that the performance was perfect, with deep inner meaning. She said that the more you watch, the more you understand the flavour. She was especially impressed with the tenors and said that they were among the best tenors in the world. Ms. Walevska indicated that this was the best concert she had ever seen. She said that the show seemed to be truly divinely inspired.

This is the first season for tenor Hong Ming to participate in Divine Performing Arts' Holiday Wonders shows. His song, "Rest in Knowing" was composed by himself. He said, "This song has deep inner connotations for me." In the song he sings, "I still save sentient beings though I suffer in hardship. World's people in a maze, please distinguish right and wrong, kindness and evil."

Hong Ming explained, "As a signer, besides having artistic training and singing skill, one must have a clear picture in one's mind while singing. After a whole thinking process is formed, one can express his feelings and realm, and thus have the audience feel it too."

There were many Western people in the audience. As the singers sang in Chinese, English translations appeared on the backdrops so that the audience could understand the lyrics. Many people indicated that they were impressed with the three singers and moved by their songs.

Arnold Gumowitz, President of Aquadeco, said that the tenors' singing was powerful and close to his heart. He said he has been to many concerts and this one was unique and refreshing in terms of the music, dance, costumes, color and backdrops. He said it was all wonderful.

E. Donald Challis, Vice President of BES Company affiliated with Berkeley College, said that the performance was wonderful, kind, delicate, direct, and gentle. He said that these were truly classical characteristics and also heavenly characteristics. He felt that the songs were pure and powerful. Mr. Challis indicated that a performer's spiritual realm can be reflected in his performance. He said that an artist with a pure and bright inner mind will bring pure and righteous artworks to the audience, just as we saw in the show this evening.

Upon hearing about the positive audience feedback, tenor Hong Ming said that he was very happy that the audience was moved by his song. He said his biggest wish is to bring an inspiring and bright message to the audience. "I am pleased that the audience understands the song. The role of art is to have people understand and participate."

He continued, "What one has experienced and what one wants to present are interrelated. For example, if you live in an unhealthy environment and get influenced by it, your song would carry unhealthy messages. Nowadays many arts have been affected this way."

"Righteous art should be healthy, uplifting, kind, and delightful. Even when expressing sorrow, the song should not be painful to listen to. If one's inner heart is graceful and bright, the lyrics, music or song will be clean and pure."

He also hoped that Westerners could sing Chinese songs, especially the songs of Divine Performing Arts. Hong Ming said, "Our works seem simple on the surface, but each note or word has integrity and deep inner connotations. The more you sing, the more you feel its meaning."

After the third show of Holiday Wonders in New York, the positive comments are endless. Concert information was spread through media reports and by word of mouth in New York. On December 21st, all ticket hotlines were busy. Holiday Wonders will continue to show at the Beacon Theatre until December 26th.

Beacon Theatre, 2124 Broadway, between 74th and 75th streets. Tickets range from $48 to $200. Ticket hotline: (212) 695-7469. For more information, please visit holidaywonders.net and www.chinesesplendor.com.

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(Clearwisdom.net) On December 18, 2007, just before NTDTV's Holiday Wonders opening performance, New York Assemblyman Michael Benjamin received a letter from the Chinese Consulate General in New York. He made this letter public.

The slanderous letter relied on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s usual tactics to defame Falun Gong. It pressured the assemblyman with "Chinese and American relations" to force him not to support Holiday Wonders or the Chinese New Year Spectacular shows in any way.

New York Assemblyman Michael Benjamin

As part of the 2006 Women’s History Month, Ms. Vina Lee was awarded by the New York State Assembly the honor of “Outstanding Woman Leader” in recognition of her leadership and commitment to humanity.Photograph shows Benjamin (right) and his wife (middle), and Vina Lee (left).

The Offensive Letter from the Chinese Consulate General

The Chinese Consulate General in New York wrote to the New York Assemblyman on December 18, pressuring him with "Chinese and American relations" to force him not to support Holiday Wonders or the Chinese New Year Spectacular shows in any way.

The Chinese Consulate is pressuring a New York Assemblyman not to attend a show on Broadway that they feel is "humiliating" for the Chinese Communist regime back in the Mainland. The assemblyman, Michael Benjamin of the Bronx, has said he's not buying into the Communist agenda and plans on attending the show in question, Holiday Wonders, now playing at the Beacon Theatre in Manhattan.

"I believe that the Chinese Consulate is again seeking to discourage participation by elected officials in the Holiday Wonders show," said Assemblyman Benjamin in an e-mail statement to The Epoch Times earlier.

"The CCP insists to the world that there is only one China. They seek to drown out alternative voices. They fear that the world will learn the truth of their 'Animal Farm' regime," he added.

Benjamin received an unusual letter last week from the Chinese Consulate General in New York. The letter, sent via fax and received one week before the theatrical production, Holiday Wonders, opened, is addressed to Assemblyman Michael Benjamin.

The letter focuses on Holiday Wonders and its producer, New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV), telling Assemblyman Benjamin "not to support in any way the Holiday Wonders and the Chinese New Year Spectacular." Both shows are produced by NTDTV, an independent Chinese language television station that has faced repeated attacks by the CCP.

Assemblyman Benjamin has been honored by community members in the past for recognition of his work to promote diversity and freedom of belief.

Holiday Wonders is a colorful presentation of traditional, ancient Chinese culture with modern twists in some of the acts. At least one performance depicts the persecution of the spiritual practice Falun Gong, which the CCP has been brutally persecuting since 1999.

Westchester resident and Falun Gong practitioner Jeanne Mitchell has stayed in contact with Assemblyman Benjamin's office since 2005 to inform him about the ongoing persecution. She was contacted by a staff member of the office who alerted her of the letter received.

"They begin the letter by offering holiday greetings and promoting an economic business relationship," said Mitchell. "But what they really want is to defame Falun Gong. They talk about trade to keep people from really speaking out about what terrible human rights violations going on in China," she added.

Ms. Benjamin: "I wanted to see this show because of the letter."

Assemblyman Benjamin's wife, Ms. Kennedy Benjamin, said that originally she only planned to go to the reception, but she decided to make time to watch the show because of the slanderous letter.

Assemblyman Benjamin saw NTDTV's show two years ago. He called it "wonderful" and an embodiment of "traditional Chinese culture and values."

NTDTV: "The CCP's Defamation can only help promotion."NTDTV spokesperson Carrie Hong said that the CCP's letter is full of slander and defamatory remarks because NTDTV promotes culture and art that negate the Party's own culture. The CCP is fearful of NTDTV's mission.

Ms. Hong said that based on previous experience, each time the CCP has attempted to interfere with an NTDTV event, the event was actually promoted instead, including the annual New Year's show and the International Chinese Classical Dance Competition. Many people attended after they heard about the events from the CCP's efforts to defame them.

She pointed out that before NTDTV's Chinese New Year Spectacular show in Canberra, Australia last year, the Chinese Embassy wrote to members of Parliament and asked them not to see the show. Not surprisingly, all the members of Parliament went to see the show. One of them said humorously, "We can hold a session before the show."

Ms. Hong predicted a similar effect on the shows in North America.

Posting date: 12/21/2007
Original article date: 12/21/2007
Category: News & Media Reports
Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2007/12/20/168740.html

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