Earthquake in China

I agree entirely - although I do wish we could all agree without there being such a huge natural disaster...

I have still not heard from some of our Chinese posters such as cnpower , I hope you will read this soon and take heart of the support from around the world for you and your fellow countrymen.

John.

I received a message from CNpower on Thursday. he said he was about 100km from the epicenter and was doing fine. I do believe that with politics aside all people are just...people, and want to help out each other. Remember every country on this planet is judged by their governments and not by the people. I do think we see thru this on CR4. With all the countries represented here you can see we can truly all get along!

Dear friends, I am also agreeing with you because I usually think at Chinese economy only as our first competitor.

This tragedy let me to understand that life is the most important thing, EVER!

News shows at every hour images from the tragedy: I feel very bad watching at those; but I feel better when I see somebody to be found still alive.

Today's news showed one very young kid (just few months) found alive and given back to his parents looking at him as it was given them by God as a gift...again!

Anyway, don't worry about CNPower, he's ok and shared with us some images of the places where the earthquake has been: before and after the tragedy in another thread http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/21404/FAO-CR4-China.

Bye,

Rosy

It's impossible to comprehend how it is to stay before collapsed school and wait who will be saved by rescue team and who won't. For many parents these days are incredibly awful. In some ways I know how Chinese people can survive such a hardship. To be strong and to be careful toward each other is inborn property of every Chinese soul. It's the only soothe and hope for us.

Burmese people are the same --- friendly, industrial and kind with a lot of patience. Situation in Burma getting worse but unfortunately we can't wait here any improvements.

As a an asside...
I am slightly suspicious of the request for donations for aid Burma on the media. What is the point of donating money if the aid isn't being let in? ...whose pocket will it end up in (Well paid administrators?) Or will it end up going to other relief efforts (e.g The earthquake in China.)

Am I just a cynical old cat or do you think I'm right to be skeptical?

Del

I have sometimes envied, and resented,

I have the same feeling, like to add respect. This country (U.S.) strives on competition, and with China we are going to get it in unprecedented ways then before.

As far as political, I would not separate them for being undemocratic and inefficient.

Both of our countries have more in common then you think. Political Corruption being one of them.

And with what happened this past week, we may find more in common with the Chinese then ever before.

Funny thing about disasters. It can bring common ground to all.

Hello TVP45

It does appear that much of the damage has been caused by the use of unreinforced concrete, concrete poorly formulated and without sufficient reinforcing, also the extensive use of bricks, along with poor foundations.

I understand many of these buildings were quite old, and the costs of building earthquake-resistant buildings are expensive, but when the re-build happens, hopefully proper building methods will be used, so a repeat of the catastrophe does not occur again in that area.

At least the Chinese Army appear to be on the job, and quickly, unlike their near neighbours to the Southeast, who have currently (presently on the news) 78,000 dead, and more than 50,000 still missing.

Kind Regards....

Yeah, you know what's really sad? As of today, Friday, May 17,2008, parts of New Orleons are still underwater, Florida is not yet finished repairing the damage done by Wilma, and only God knows what the situation is in the mid-west (i.e. Tornado Alley) and we started repairs the day after Wilma hit in 2005.

After 2 1/2 years the repairs still aren't complete. It looks like repairs will continue for 2 more years, regardless of who is in office. This is precisely why, although I'm registered as Liberal Democrat, the fact is that I'm an anarchist - I don't believe that government works for the average person. It does seem to be a necessary evil, so I always vote for the lesser of two evils.

Orpheuse

I was fortunate to see China few years back.

I will not be surprised to see all the cities damaged in earth quake in China, rebuilt within a year.

Yes disasters, no matter what part of the world, bring people together as long as the media attention is there - take the case of Darfur in Sudan, the famine in Ethopia, New Orleans just to mention a few. As soon as the cameras leave then so does the interest - we are all guilty in this.

It would be foolish to think that this disaster will change the mindset of the Chinese government. In the large scale of things the loss of 20000 or 30000 lives will not be seen as anything that the current regeime will worry about. Will it bring changes in building standards - no way.

The peope who are affected by these disasters are usually the poor who have to live in these substandard buildings and areas. It is these people that I have sympathy for - I am sure this is true for all contributors to this forum.

Sending donations to line the pockets of the already wealth really sickens me, however this will not deter me from donating (and not just to this current disaster) as my hope would be that even a small amount gets through to help those in need

My sympathies for people of China and Burma who had to face natural calamities. I don't know if our friends are aware of terror attack in Jaipur, India. There were simultaneous 7 blasts in crowded markets and near Hindu Temple killing 60 persons and injuring 150 people. This is man created disaster.

Suresh Sharma.

For a bit more technical information.. see attached link and summary below..

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/eqinthenews/2008/us2008ryan/#summary

Tectonic Summary

The Sichuan earthquake of May 12, 2008, occurred as the result of motion on a northeast striking reverse fault or thrust fault on the northwestern margin of the Sichuan Basin. The earthquake's epicenter and focal-mechanism are consistent with it having occurred as the result of movement on the Longmenshan fault or a tectonically related fault. The earthquake reflects tectonic stresses resulting from the convergence of crustal material slowly moving from the high Tibetan Plateau, to the west, against strong crust underlying the Sichuan Basin and southeastern China.

On a continental scale, the seismicity of central and eastern Asia is a result of northward convergence of the India plate against the Eurasia plate with a velocity of about 50 mm/y. The convergence of the two plates is broadly accommodated by the uplift of the Asian highlands and by the motion of crustal material to the east away from the uplifted Tibetan Plateau.

The northwestern margin of the Sichuan Basin has previously experienced destructive earthquakes. The magnitude 7.5 earthquake of August 25, 1933, killed more than 9,300 people.

I hvnt read the thread until today. Thanks all for your concern at first.

I introduced a little about this earthquake took place in WenChuan at

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/21404#newcomments

To be faced with the nature, man seems too tiny to strike. but support and help each other, we can overcome the difficulty and rebuild further beautiful home.

The district is very beautiful tourist attractions. many travellers have ever visited there when they have been in china.