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Hurting and Homeless
Round the corner from the collapsed market, volunteer construction workers from big state companies are putting up awnings stretching for more than a mile to shelter those who have lost their homes. It is a drop in the ocean. Some locals complained that they could help set up shelters to dig for survivors but have not been asked. At Juyuan Middle School, Duo Yongjun tells how parents were the first rescuers. "More people means the kids can be dug out faster no matter if they're alive or dead," he complains. He has lost his son and his niece.
In the face of tragedy, people are openly using traditional incense- and money-burning rituals to find a way to express respect for the dead. China's modernizing zeal has failed to offer an alternative for such times. "This person has just died. You're saying farewell, you're sending them off", explains one man who is lighting paper at the feet of a corpse.
Another mourner let off firecrackers, a traditional way to prevent evil spirits gathering round a corpse. As the rest of us jumped back, Gao leaned forward, protectively shielding his wife's cloth-bound head from the sparks.
© 2008
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Member Comments
Posted By: Sultan Ahmed @ 05/20/2008 7:09:34 AM
Comment: No i am not agree with the view that as being expressed by some particular quarters there were mistakes delibrayely made in erecting structures gainig personal inerests.
Please be considered the capacity of the earthquake,7.9,gratitude.
We have experience in this case.We have passed throuigh such situation.Strong buildings were seen laying on the ground having there under tens of thousand peoples.
Land slide,earth slides were also matter of the quake which were not constructed by development athority of the state..
Natural disaster is natural disater can take under its grip any country any land it is not bound of time or season.It creates by natural changings commanded by God our lord
Posted By: Sultan Ahmed @ 05/20/2008 7:09:32 AM
Comment: No i am not agree with the view that as being expressed by some particular quarters there were mistakes delibrayely made in erecting structures gainig personal inerests.
Please be considered the capacity of the earthquake,7.9,gratitude.
We have experience in this case.We have passed throuigh such situation.Strong buildings were seen laying on the ground having there under tens of thousand peoples.
Land slide,earth slides were also matter of the quake which were not constructed by development athority of the state..
Natural disaster is natural disater can take under its grip any country any land it is not bound of time or season.It creates by natural changings commanded by God our lord
Posted By: rocketman3.5 @ 05/19/2008 1:31:59 PM
Comment: someone should be made to suffer for erecting structures that killed people, pure and simple. whether they be government officials or contractors that i am sure paid these officials off so they could build on the cheap. china has capital punishment the should use it on those involved.. this is not the first time this has happened. there has been more then enough time to strengthen these buildings, especially school buildings. the way i look at it and in view of the sorrow and tragedy, china is its own worst enemy.