KINGSPARK NEWS

Club Number: 30119

2007-08 Rotary Year : Issue 21 : 21 May 2008

Contents

Editorial (Cry China Cry) - By Francis Wann
From the Charter President (Time to show our mettle) - By CP John Wan
Letters to Editor
The Board

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EDITORIAL

Cry China Cry

[Francis submitted his article on 17 May - John]

Just when the whole nation was still basking in the joyous Olympics sentiment, fate struck a blow which literally brought the country to a standstill.

Only a week ago we were lamenting over conditions in Thailand and Myanmar. No one could have imagined China would be the next victim.

Some might remember or heard about the Tangshan earthquake more than 30 years ago. Since then a lot of work has gone to detecting potential quakes and tremors and moving people away from epicenters. But disasters usually come without any warnings, and it's always too late when we realize them. I remember some members got very emotional at the meeting shortly after the 911 terrorist attack as they had friends or relatives there. The tsunami a few years ago on Christmas Eve swept away tens of thousands of lives, leaving even many more in dire straits. And of course we all remember SARS, H5N1, avian flu and other viruses of a more obscure nature.

But none of these can compare with the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Sichuan this Monday. Official estimates have put the toll figure at around 20,000, but unofficially it might as well go beyond 50,000, and most believe the size of casualties and the impact of the catastrophe would only be realized in retrospect, or will never be known.

Rotarians never need to be reminded that people, including many children, are dying, And for those lucky enough to be rescued, life would not be the same again. Many have lost their loved ones and relatives, and many more have become orphans without any means to survive. And there are also the imminent danger of virus outbreaks and lack of medical supplies, food, and clean water.

Incidentally Rotary has put clean water on its agenda this year, and over the years, the campaign for clean water must have saved millions of lives worldwide.

Grim pictures and news footage in the media these few days would be enough to soften any souls. What could be more heart wrenching when you watch them screaming out the names of relatives, and what could be more touching when we heard the teacher who lost her life to save students in her charge.

Stories like these will continue to flood our media. There probably will also be marathon fundraisings from television stations with singers out in force. Some are literally jumping on the charity bandwagon to stake a claim. Many were momentarily relieved when Premier Wen Jiabao coaxed the little girl who had just lost her parents, and promised the world they would be taken good care of.

Was it God's destiny, or are there scientific explanations for the disaster? Sometimes we might just wonder. There is no shortage of experts of various disciplines for the postmortem.

As we celebrate our club anniversary this evening, may our hearts also go to the those who suffer in silence.

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From the Charter President

Time To Show Our Mettle

I was in Beijing when the State Council of China announced that there would be three days of national mourning, beginning Monday 19 May, for the victims of the earthquake in Sichuan. I watched three hotel staff lowering the national flag at 8am before their colleagues who stood in silence for the ceremony. The flags at Tiananmun Square and before the Great Hall of the People were similiarly flown at half mast. All entertainment programmes were cancelled on and off TV.

I was among a 30 plus delegation led by Governor Peter Wong to Beijing to celebrate the First World Hepatitis Day which fell on the same day, 19 May 2008. The ceremonies included seminars and a signing ceremony for a project funded by a 3-H Grant and spearheaded by District 3450 to immunize children against Hepatitis B in Kai and Wushan counties, Chongqing Province, China. There was also a programme at the Great Wall attended by many delegates from around the country and abroad. In line with the State Council directive, the ceremony started with three minutes of silence at1428hr when passing vehicles, trains, ships, and air raid sirens were wailing to mark the national disaster exactly a week before.

TV footages broadcast nationwide and probably worldwide repeated images of the quake and the aftermath. One article spoke of the beautiful Chinese, another spoke of the unprecedented display of unity and nationalism, still others spoke of the patriotic and selfless spirit of the PLA, the PRC, the officials and numerous civilians. On chatrooms and Facebook, the popularity rating of Premier Wen rocketed, as was President Hu's.

One of my Buddhism teachers - who is a monk - said many people would inevitably ask after such calamities what had gone wrong and why such dreadful things could happen. Was it due to the bad karma of the people there or the people of China or of the world? His reply should be studied by all. He said that if the Buddha was alive and was asked such questions, he would say that it was due to the movement of the Earth's crust.

Just as no one can prove who created heaven and earth, no one has the answer why so many natural disasters would take place and why MotherNature would inflict so much miseries and unhappiness to so many in so short a time and without warning.

On radio, a programme presenter who could be a clinical psychologist said that it would be natural for people to value their loved ones and friends more after such incidents. Many people suddenly feel closer to their friends and familes. Many people want to reassure the well beings of their loved ones particularly children. These are actually various forms of expressions of gratitude who would be best expressed in open or private prayers.

Governor Peter was on the phone mobilizing fund raising initiatives even when he was walking the Great Wall. I hope you and your friends would all respond positively to his call, and I trust you would.

It would take many years for the people in the areas affected to rebuild communities and the cities devastated. They need all sorts of help, thinkable and unthinkable at this time. Rotary being an organization of businesss and professional people united in service, it is time for Rotarians to show their mettle and their worth. After the initial rush for assistances there are related to the immediate and obvious needs of the people, there would be plenty of scope and opportunities for service in the years to come, such that there should be no shortage of service projects.

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Letters to Editor

Views in any article in Kingspark News reflect those of the authors. They are not necessarily the views of the Rotary Club of Kingspark or of District 3450. You are welcome to write to Chief Editor Francis Wann or Club Webmaster John Wan on any topic, particularly in response to articles published in Kingspark News. We would publish all contributions as long as the authors identify themselves, the contents are not offensive or abusive, and would not offend common decency or common sense. You need not be a Rotarian to write to us and you have a choice to withhold your name in the published version. Where the contents make reference to statements or policies of individuals or organizations, we would try to obtain a response from the latter for publication in the same issue if possible.

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The Board

President : Marvin Lai
President-Elect and Membership: Joyce Mak
Vice-President and Public Relations: Michael Eyles
Secretary : Kennedy Tsang
Treasurer : Ted Ho
Rotary Foundation : Patrick Wong
Club Administration : Edward Lau
Service Projects : Peter Lo
Sergeant-at-Arms : Alexander Kar

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