May 20, 2008
More notes from the field
Yet more notes from the field forwarded to us by our friends from Chengdoo:
LATEST>>>
From Sina.com:
"BEIJING, May 19 -- Sichuan Earthquake Administration announced tonight that aftershocks between 6-7 on the Richter scale are likely to hit Wenchuan County of Sichuan Province between May 19-20, according to China News Service."
http://english.sina.com/china/1/2008/0519/160448.htmlThis message circulated around the SMS and phone network as soon as it was reported around 10 p.m. As of 3:05 a.m., it appears that a large number of people are sleeping outside.
NOTES from the FIELD>>>
Alyson van der Toorn, who is working with Half the Sky (www.halfthesky.org), writes:"We took a load of rice, diapers, powdered milk, formula, shoes, and other things (balls!!) to the orphanage today. A team from the Half the Sky organization has just arrived in Chengdu and will be working on getting items out to the orphanages."We will continue to deliver loads as long as donations come in!! Most of these orphanages will be operating out of tents for the months to come, so there will be a lot that they will need."
Supplies still requested:
- Used clothing for children 6 and under.
- New clothing accepted for ANY age!
- toys
- stationery supplies (paper, pens, etc)
- bedding
- bandages
Please drop off items at the Bookworm or Peter's on Tongzilin. Label parcels "ORPHANAGE".Half the Sky's Children's Earthquake Fund recommends donating via Global Giving. Although 10 percent is withheld for processing, it allows HTS staff to focus on relief efforts rather than administration.
http://www.globalgiving.com/pr/2100/proj2086a.html
If you prefer to donate directly to Half the Sky, of course that's fine. 100% of the funds goes toward relief.
http://give.halfthesky.org/prostores/servlet/Categories?category=Children's+Earthquake+Fund
Or contact via phone at (+1 5105253377)Many companies have announced they will match employee gifts for earthquake relief. Please check to see if your company will double your gift!
If you would like a Canadian tax receipt, please donate at
http://www.canadahelps.org/CharityProfilePage.aspx?CharityID=s86248If you would like a Hong Kong tax receipt, please call us at +852 2520 5266 or online at
https://www.paydollar.com/b2c2/eng/charity/payInfo.jsp?charityId=4947REQUESTS>>>
Chengdu Bookworm (bookwormquakerelief@gmail.com) is looking for funds to purchase the following items:
- Tarps for temporary shelter
- Basic cooking equipment
- Fresh vegetables and fruit
- New clothing, shoes, and toys for orphaned children
- Disinfectants and sanitizersIf you would like to make an item donation please bring it directly to the Chengdu Bookworm:
Yujie East Road 2-7#, Ren Min South Road 28#
成都人民南路四段28#，玉洁东街2号-7号老书虫Wiring Information for Financial Donations (within China)
*Please mark them "Chengdu Bookworm Project" if you wish them to be directed toward Bookworm-specific projects.
Beneficiary's Name:
Sichuan Dian Feng Jian Kang Zi Xun Fu Wu You Xian Gong Si
收款人姓名：
四川巅峰健康咨询服务有限公司
Bank Name:
Zhao Shang Yin Hang Chengdu Qing Jiang Zhi Hang
银行名称：
招上银行成都清江支行
Beneficiary's A/C NO.:
282581253510001
银行帐号：
282581253510001Alternately, you can donate funds in person at the Chengdu Bookworm, which will be deposited in the Heart to Heart bank account. You will receive a "fapiao" for your donation from Heart to Heart.
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I didn't know it was possible to predict an earthquake with any kind of precision... I mean they've been saying San Francisco is due for the "big one" for like 10 years.
Interesting that The Party is refusing to renew foreigner visas and kicking people out of the country in advance of their Olympics....but is more than pleased to accept our money on the way out. And of course, the money will only be used in the fashion that best promotes the government and shames the foreign devils.
China's emphasis on money (while having over 1 trillion USD in reserves) instead of human expertise and material donations is not a good sign.
Money can be spent many ways, local bosses don't have much of a use for ration kits, medical kits, clothes and tents.
If someone wishes to make sure their money is being spent on those that need it most, why not donate to Half The Sky Foundation's Children's Earthquake Fund? For any cynics out there (& I don't think a healthy dose of cynicism is a bad idea), you can double check this charity yourself to see if you think it's worth donations. To me, from all I've heard & read, it's a worthwhile charity & completely above-board. It's been highly recommended by those who investigate charities & how their donations are spent.
From their site:
"Half the Sky was incorporated in California in 1998. The foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible."
The growing anger of parents:
http://tinyurl.com/3wjjjs