Letter: Alberta and the Shen Yun Saga

If the Shen Yun saga doesn't get resolved positively any time soon, Albertans will have taken quite a loss in the arts department. This world-class show is just great and so rich in cultural heritage. It's nothing like I've ever seen before. The backdrop comes alive with the show like in 3-D motion, dancers have flawless moves and so in sync with the orchestra but seriously the net gets in the way Mrs. Kilmchuk! Anyhow, I thought the show was way beyond my expectations. It's so sad to see that a few people are trying to hurt the reputation of the Chinese expat artists. For the artists do a good job, first of all  they need cooperation from the theatre (Jube) where they play at and see that the terms of the contract are respected. That's only common sense. And the fact that the Chinese regime wants to stop the show because of their hatred for the artists and the presenters--as most of them practice Falun Gong--only gives an opportunity for our gov representatives to endorse our values and speak up. Bravo Wildrose and Rob Anders for doing just that! Let's hope that all is not lost and that Premier Redford can come to the rescue and honour artists with a cause.

Marie Beaulieu
Victoria BC

Calgary MP disagrees with Chinese dance troupe ban

Shen Yun Performing Arts told to find new Alberta venues in 2013 by the province

The fight over the Alberta government's decision to cancel bookings by a traditional Chinese performance troupe has prompted criticism from a Calgary MP.

The province has cancelled the 2013 bookings made by the Shen Yung Performing Arts group following a dispute with the managers of government-owned auditoriums in Calgary and Edmonton.

Conservative Rob Anders says it appears Alberta is caving to pressure from Beijing as Premier Alison Redford prepares for an upcoming trip to China.

Anders has long been an out-spoken critic of what he calls a "brutal regime" in Beijing. He's accusing the Alberta government of being afraid of offending China.

"I just think it's a shame that we're not allowing this to go forward and I do think it's an opportunity for the powers that be to demonstrate their belief in freedom of speech," he said.

In the past, the Chinese government has pressured venues in other countries to cancel or delay Shen Yung Performing Arts events because the troupe highlights Chinese persecution of the spiritual movement of Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa.

The Falun Dafa Association of Calgary presents Shen Yun's Calgary performances.

 

 More at CBC

Events in China Outpacing Canadian MPs, Says Anders

Conservative MP Rob Anders is concerned that very few Members of Parliament seem to really understand the significance of events unfolding in China today or the true nature of the Chinese regime.

[...]“They (MPs) are people that go on five-star trips and get wined and dined and what have you,” he said.
“I think a lot of people get bought into the checkbook diplomacy. I think that China is very good at taking people over to China and Shanghai and giving them a stay at a five-star hotel, and introducing them to people that speak excellent English and take them out for a night on the town, and stroke their egos and offer them business deals.”

The problem is a lot of our people are naïve. MP Rob Anders.

Some MPs The Epoch Times has spoken to have been uncomfortable talking about the unfolding events on the record; but few seem to have followed events closely. Some MPs who are closely involved in China seem relatively unaware of the abuses by the regime.

“The problem is a lot of our people are naive,” said Anders.

MPs offered great business deals that keep paying after they put up a bit of money don’t see themselves as bought, said Anders. Other officials approached by a woman a third their age don’t want to recognize that they are being offered favours, he said.

“They don’t want to see that for what it is. … They’re too proud to admit that they’ve been taken.”

[...] “But when you judge the regime and what it has done, in terms of taking over other people’s territory, or in terms of gun boat diplomacy against their neighbours, or in terms of exporting revolution-like Maoist rebels to Nepal, or in terms of harvesting the organs of Falun Gong practitioners, or having the largest number of political executions in the world, and its massive system of jails and forced labour—that’s how the regime has to be judged."

“That is the best way to judge the regime—by their actions, not by the words of the leaders in one-on-one meetings.”

Subtle Seduction...

More: The Epoch Times