More Terror For A Battered City

What is your point about the follow-up brief about the ever disaster in China?

Do you mean China's dams are unable to sustain the floodwaters?!

Stop adding more troubles for the Chinese government or the frustrated minds of thousands of people who are currently desperately in need of a minute of rest in the quake-hit areas. Show your mercy to the victims, wounded and contributors!

Chinese Prince: I totally agree with you. Why would Xinhua news report such a thing. They should only tell us good news, and coverup any bad ones. These CIA agents should be shot, on the spot.

hi, Chinese Prince

I believe Mr. Austin Ramzy is having goodwills this time. It is his job to inform other part of world what's going on there. Dujiangyan is indeed in danger of breaking dams. Xinhua news also says so.

I am optimistic regarding the flooding issue. The city itself got her name from the irrigation system which was built 2000yrs ago. As far as what I know, this system is still working after the quake.

Bless the Dujiangyan to be well

It's right time to test our each soul.We,chinese must unite as one to fight against such a catastrophe.We must do the best of our own abilities to help our fellows who are suffed in this devastation.We,not the God,bless ourselves.

Live must be hard for you, John Smith, always seeing the worst in everything.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/14/world/asia/14response.html
As this NY Times article points out, the openness about the quake is quite unique in China.
It might be the beginning of a permanent policy.

from hecaitou's blog, hope someone help to transplate it

Redrocks提供外援翻译
Redrocks是我的朋友，他本人是华人，母语是汉语。多年在美国从事医学教学和研究工作，是国内多家大学的客座教授。这次在上海讲学期间，看到四川地震的景象，已经订购了一批药品，决定于今天飞往成都以个人身份参加救援。同时，他也了解到有国外救援队伍前往四川，考虑他精通中英两国语言，并且有医学背景，他愿意在救援的同时，充当国外救援队伍的翻译，使救援工作不至于因为语言障碍而造成麻烦。

如果有需要，或者知情的朋友，请联系：RedRocks（红石）１３７１８４６２７９９

BB: If it is from the NY Times, it must be some western propaganda smearing the good name of China, and must not be trusted. Therefore, the opposite must be right. NYT is just another lying western media.

I still think Chinese Prince is right. Xinhua should not have publish such rubbish, hurting the feeling of Chinese, and cause China to loose face.

@John Smith
It has nothing to do with losing face or hurting feelings but everything to do with not inflicting further trauma and stress upon people already suffered too much physically and mentally. In such a pressurized disaster situation, the last thing people need is panic and mass hysteria, which will dangerously hamper the rescuing efforts that are racing against time. That was why the government was quick to provide reassurance: http://www.mwr.gov.cn/english/20080515/90730.asp

On the other hand, it was natural for the media to write about this because it's sensational attention grabbing value. In that regard, Xinhua seemed to get ahead of itself and began acting like a western media. Umm what gives? At least for now people here can relax because nobody in the disaster areas have the time nor access to read this blog.

"Redrocks提供外援翻译
Redrocks是我的朋友，他本人是华人，母语是汉语。多年在美国从事医学教学和研究工作，是国内多家大学的客座教授。这次在上海讲学期间，看到四川地震的景象，已经订购了一批药品，决定于今天飞往成都以个人身份参加救援。同时，他也了解到有国外救援队伍前往四川，考虑他精通中英两国语言，并且有医学背景，他愿意在救援的同时，充当国外救援队伍的翻译，使救援工作不至于因为语言障碍而造成麻烦。

如果有需要，或者知情的朋友，请联系：RedRocks（红石）１３７１８４６２７９９"

"Redrocks providing outside translation.
Redrocks is my friend. He himself is a Chinese person, and Chinese is his native language. For many years, he has researched and taught medicine in the United States, and has been a guest professor at many Chinese universities. Recently while he was teaching in Shanghai, he saw the news of the tragedy in Sichuan. He has already placed an order for medical supplies to be delivered, and also decided, as a private citizen, to head to Chengdu and assist in the rescue effort. He is also aware that international rescue agencies are heading for Sichuan. Due to his ability to serve as a linguistic and cultural bridge between the Chinese people and international relief forces, he is willing and able to serve as a translator while also assisting in the rescue effort, so that the joint rescue efforts will not be impaired by linguistics barriers.

If you have need of him, or have a friend who would find this useful, please contact him at: RedRocks (红石) 1371-846-2799."

Jhon Smith:

You guy had better shut up this time.No one has a good mode to debate with you on whether NYT did his propagander or not.If you has a goodwill to help us with the people who are suffered by the earthquake,Please donate your money on Chinese Red Cross.You should know her Account Numbel,I think.The more ,the best.

Donations from US government US$0.5 million.
France government US$0.25 million Euro
Saudi Arab US$50m

The figures tells something...

Please stop talking and do something real.

Donations from some companies:

Bank of China: RMB23m
Huandai/Kia: RMB10.5m
Shanghai Fotte: RMB10m
Sino shipping: RMB10m
Xingye Bank: RMb10m
PICC: RMB10m
China bank of agriculture: RMB15m
Lenovo: RMb10m
China bank of construction: RMb10m
Taiwan plastics: RMB100m
Fushikang tech: RMB60m
Mr. Guo Henian: RMB20m
Belle: RMB20m
Johnson & Johnson: RMM10m
Rt-mart: RMb50m
GE: US$2m
APP: RMB21m
China Pinan: RMB35m
MAIPU: RMB15m

Mr. Shao Yifu: HK$: 100m
Taiwan Honghai: RMB60m
CITIC: RMB26m
China Geele: RMb10m
China Coal: RMb10m
HSBC: RMB10m
Guangdong Motor: RMB21.3m
China Yitai: RMB20m
Sino mach: RMB10m
Samsung: RMB30m
Guangda group: RMB17.65m
Cannon: RMb11m
Panasonic: RMb10m
Sanofi aventis: RMB15m
Sino chem: RMb10m

New hope: RMB10m
Shimao group: RMb10m
Korea SK: RMb10m
Anshan steel: RMb10m
Air china: RMb11m
Huafa: RMb10m
BenQ: RMB10m
Hengda Property: RMb10m
Huaxia Bank: RMB12m
Mr. Li Jia Cheng: RMb10m
Bank of communication: RMb12m
Sino pec: RMb10m
Cosco: RMb10m
China Oil: RMB10m
China development bank: RMB10m
Huaqiaocheng: RMB11m
China Life: RMB16m
China Southern Air: RMB10m
Pfizer: RMb10m
Minsheng Bank: RMB10m
COHQ: RMb10m
BYD Auto: RMB10m
Haier: RMB10m
Anta sports: RMB10m
China sea oil: RMb10m

Thanks for all these donations!

America only donate 500,000 dollars, compare with China, who donated 5,000,000dollars to Katrina refugees. [url]www.chineselives.info[/url]

@howard: "Please stop talking and do something real."

Great job howard. How about do a separate list for the apologies issued by western media.

@PaZhulian

If western media are willing to apology for their wrongdoings, isn't it welcome? I cannot see anything bad if somebody learns an important lesson that they should apology after doing anything wrong. Why stop them doing this?

I am sorry if I misundertand your standpoint.

Don't the Chinese government has trillions of dollars and looking for place to spend it ? This is the right place.

The Myanmar government wants money instead of food and medicine too. And they are less wealthy than the Chinese government, with a much larger victim count.

@John Smith
The total direct loss of this disaster could mount to 10b dollars, Chinese government for sure will take most part of it. But this won't reduce our responsibility as a human to help weak, no matter they are in China, Burma, US. or France. Isn't it a pleasant thing if we have the capability to offer help? so don't waste it, no matter where and how.

leave John Smith alone. A troll is always a troll. What's the point to argue with a waste man.

@Howard

Hey, lets be fair. The US government, EU, and other governments do not need to help. Nevertheless they choose to help. They have also said they will help more if the Chinese government asks for it. (That's the normal for how international aid works between governments.) Right now its a lot of gesture demonstrating goodwill. Also, see here:

http://www.thechinesecentury.org/2008/05/goodwill-from-around-world-in-response.html

If you complain about this, then you are like some Western media complaining evertying China does or doesn't do. Don't feel entitled. That makes you bitter. The goodwill gestures from around the world should be received with graciousness.

Don't forget too that private americans are donating a lot. Also, American corporations like Intel, etc are donating tons of money.

Finally, if you like to hear the outpouring of support, I'd recommend you head over to NPR's ChengDu Diary:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/chengdu/

@Howard

Sorry, I didn't mean to lash out at you. You probably just didn't know about the efforts made by Westerner citizens and companies.

I mainly think that many Chinese people need to recognize there are also those in the West who genuinely care about the well being of Chinese people.

@huaren
Gauging people's compassion from donations by foreign governments is meaningles. Countries like US simply don't have as much flexibility in using tax-payers' money, except for waging war, as China. You probably better off get your measurement by looking at donations from individual private citizens, not institutions. So maybe howard can spend some time to dig up some data and build a spreadsheet for us on this?

@Pazhulian

Don't forget the dollars US government spent in Iraq war, which seems also very flexible to use tax payers' money, so your comment will be more meaningful if you can remember this fact. In general, as a native Chinese living in China, I respect our government very much and very thankful to what they did toward the people, although still a lot of things to improve. I'd like to share this feeling with you, hope this can change your bias to chinese government (maybe chinese people too) a little bit.

If you feel offended, I am sorry about that.

@PaZhuLian

That's a good suggestion for howard. I've heard Intel has already donated $30 million and is matching up to $2000 per employee's donations.

In my opinion, testures from governments count. Again, I suggest that people do not feel entitlement, because that's the wrong mindset.

@howard
"Countries like US... except for waging war..."
I wonder how could u possibly miss that.
@huaren
I think more importantly are donations from people not of Chinese origin if people really want to use that as some kind of measurement of goodwill and respect.

But to me, these are all meaningless exercises wasting valuable time and brainpower. It’s natural for people to offer sympathy to victims. But China will be well-served to overcome victimhood and emerge as the ultimate survivor. That’s how you earn respect. And I believe China and her people are more than capable of doing that since they have been no stranger of disasters, man-made or natural.

"If you are in the USA, the best route is through TsingHua Foundation. This is a 501 organization - which means the donation through them is tax deductible. Unlike some charity organizations, TsingHua forwards 100% of the proceeds to the Red Cross Society of China which in turn gives all to help with the earthquake relief. Finally, there are many payment options: PayPal, Google Check Out (no transaction fee), Visa, Master, and other credit cards. The site also list the individual donations (Last name, first initial) and tallies the total it receives."

http://tsinghuafoundation.org/earthquake08/index.html

John Smith I have listened to your ranting in the Time China Blog for some time now. You never have anything good to say concerning anything about China. I don't think you like the Chinese race, but that's your prerogative. However, I don't even know why you are in the China blog. All you do is be sarcastic, and pick out any misstep with the Chinese and China. For most of the Chinese people the Communist Government is the only government that they have. They are born into it whether they like it or not. I don't want to go into the past history and give a great big discourse on why it is what it is, or to justify the CCP's righteousness, or lack of it. You would never understand anyway. I do suggest that in future, you take some time to read up some unbiased history of China in the last two to three hundred years. It would give you a better perspective. China has come a long way, it has not been an easy road. They pulled themselves out of this dark hole the rest of the world would not have thought possible. Give them credit. And don't tell me it's only the people, in spite of the Government etc. These are intertwined. Chinese government is authoritarian? Yes, but if you had lived here for a period, you very well may understand that given the huge population, the divergence, the past upheavals and their history, the hostilities they face from other countries who do not want to see a united strong China, that such a form of government does have its place in this point in time in their evolution. It is clear that China, and clear to most Chinese citizens, that despite all the defects, the country is moving forward, which inevitably would impact the political process, and a more representative government will be part of this future. I believe most non-Chinese people, if they are reasonable, can also see that. The China-bashing that has been going on, in my opinion, has a strong racism element to it. Many Westerners do not want to see an Asiatic people on the rise, plain and simple. You may or may not fall into that category, but what have you been trying to achieve, with you goading and pontification at every opportunity. The blog is freely open to anyone who can bang on a computer, and is a forum to exchange perspectives, hopefully rationally with some degree of decorum. But if all you do is project an impression that you don't like the Chinese people, why are you in this blog anyway? To save the Chinese people from themselves? I don't really think you like the Chinese people enough to have such a noble cause. At this moment, the tragedy in China affects the Chinese in a very real way, and the tragedy is still unfolding, they don't really need these callous remarks from you. We all have our prejudices. I myself stereo-types some ethnic groups and inherently dislike them. However, if some calamities befall such people, and I see pictures of a lifeless little girl held in the arms of a parent, or a school girl pinned down by a concrete pile, and weak as she may, pleads that her legs not be amputated, I don't care what race, creed, or color they are, I would bury my prejudices , and offer some words of compassion to these people. If at this hour, you cannot bring yourself to do that, I suggest you leave your condescending tone, sarcasm and insensitivity at your doorstep, and come back when this is over. There are some levels of indecency that is inappropriate even for this blog.

Canchi - thank you for your comments. I've been too emotionally drained about the earthquake to respond to people like John...

@Canchi

Very simple. This John Smith wants to get less suspecting readers to attack the West in this blog.

canchi
thank you for your comments. we need your voice.