Last Monday, a 7.9 8.0 magnitude earthquake devastated areas of Sichuan Province, crumbling roads and buildings, laying waste to entire towns and villages. The death count is now over 32,000, and they expect it to rise to above 50,000.
According to Bloomberg, over 200,000 people have been injured, over 220,000 have been evacuated. 4.7 million homes have been destroyed in Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces. 4.8 million people have been displaced. 12.5 million animals and livestock have died, and their decomposing corpses threaten outbreaks of disease as people struggle for clean water, food and shelter.
Today China begins three days of mourning. I ask you to join me in a simple, humane gesture, wherever you are, whatever time zone you are in, whenever you read this.
The people of China will observe three minutes of silence in recognition of the widespread grief and devastation wrought by the quake upon millions of lives, as yet unfolding...
UPDATE: Here was the view from my stoop of the three minutes of silence, with car horns blaring at the stopped intersection. Peace to you all.
Please note that the Red Cross China has run into some difficulties accounting for donations. Web portal giant Netease has ceased collecting donations for them. Hat tip to Danwei.org for the link.
Please donate to Mercy Corps, or the American Red Cross.
XGZ also suggests the Hong Kong Red Cross and the UNICEF Hong Kong Chapter.
Thank you.
--- ORIGINAL DIARY FOLLOWS ---
At 2:28 PM today, Monday May 19th China local time, the entire nation will come to a stand still and observe three minutes of silence. This is the time the quake struck last Monday.
According to China media watch site danwei.org, the following observations are being made:
The national flag at Tiananmen Square has been raised at half-mast.
All public events will be suspended for three days from Monday.
Condolence books available in the Foreign Ministry and Chinese embassies and consulates around the world.
The public are asked to stand in silence for three minutes from 2:28 pm on Monday, the time the deadly quake hit, while automobiles, trains, and ships sound their sirens and horns.
The confirmed death toll from the disaster has risen to 32,476 by 2:00 pm Sunday, and the toll could reach to more than 50,000 as many are still buried in rubbles, and feared dead.
It's merely a gesture. A symbol. It is nothing.
And yet it is something. Recognition of the suffering, of hope, of loss, of others.
Maybe it is all there really ever is.
A moment of shared consciousness. This time, in grief.
2:28 PM China local time is 2:28 AM Eastern Standard Time and 11:28 PM Pacific Standard Time. I will be standing on a street corner in Dongcheng district, in the heart of Beijing, among my fellow denizens of the city. But given the time of day, feel free to make the observation quietly wherever you are, whenever you read this. It is quite literally the thought that counts. :-)
UPDATE: Fellow China Kossack koNko has a diary on the observance listing times for every time zone.
For background on the quake disaster of the last week, and to donate to ongoing relief efforts, several excellent diaries have been posted here, here, and here. These are but a few. There are still many challenges being faced as time runs out for those trapped under the rubble. There are now disease warnings from the WHO as the survivors yet struggle to get food, water and clean conditions. There is so much rebuilding to be done. And much to answer for, with questions about the construction quality of buildings, schools, roads and dams.
I'd like to post a general thank you to the Kossack community who care enough about the world to fight for a better vision of it. I would feel far worse than I do now if I were not a part of this community.
Peace to you wherever you are.