Earthquake

You've all read and heard about it.  Just browse down through the past few days of news clippings I have been saving since the big quake in Sichuan.  I only have a few comments to make on the whole thing...

• I believe the Chinese will be more open to receiving help and charity from foreign agencies and governments, unlike their friends in Burma.  Both disasters are on an unimaginable scale for many of us from relatively safe Western countries (California and Florida notwithstanding).  China's leadership right now is on the offense to make themselves look good in the wake of the Tibet riots...they won't turn down any offer of help.
• Initial reports of the earthquake were coming out of Beijing and Shanghai.  Everyone knew the epicenter of the quake was in Sichuan, near Chengdu, but nobody was hearing anything from that region, as power and telephones were knocked out by the disaster.  Instead, initial news reports were of people that were able to Twitter from effected regions...very short messsages.  Longer blog posts were of people in Beijing and Shanghai freaking out about their buildings swaying and being evacuated.  My initial thoughts were angry at this.  'How self centered' I thought to myself.  We had not yet heard of the scale of the problem in Sichuan...yet, people were all up in arms about their buildings moving about a bit.  How about your building falling on top of you?
• I had read a rather sensational blog post about how the scale of the death toll is the fault of China's economic boom.  Uhhh...right.  OK...after reading a little further, there was some validity to the point and that being, the shoddy construction standards (are there any??) in place here.  I have long told family and friends, the greatest fear I have living in GZ, is an earthquake.  It will all come crumbling down, similar to the movie from the 70's (in sensurround!).  The highway overpass from GZ to Shenzhen collapsed...TWICE...without an earthquake.  Imagine what would happen with the help of the earth!  Remember this when you are attending the Olympics and you are sleeping in your newly built hotel. 
• We live a long way from Sichuan, we did not feel the quake.  Reports of people feeling the quake in Bangkok are pretty far fetched to believe...but you never know. 
• I will wait until I see a need for a charitable contribution.  Maybe I am a heartless American that is unfeeling towards the country I live.  Hardly.  I work with several people in which this disaster has touched personally.  But, this country is awash in disposable income.  The tax rates here are confiscatory...and I do my part on that end.  It's now up to the people of this country, whom have profited off the labor of the people of Sichuan (and other poor inland provinces) for 20 years to pay their respects by digging deep into their pockets and giving what they can in relief efforts.  The day I see the millions and millions of renminbi flowing into Red Cross and other aid agencies from the locals, will be the day that I dig into my pocket and make a contribution.  Until then...my prayers are with the people and families of the struck regions.

If you would like to donate, here is some information on the Red Cross of China