Dad told me grandpa donated 1000 Yuan to the earthquake victims. That’s about half of his monthly retirement fund. So I decided to call him and tell him that his grandson is proud of him. His reply touched me even more: “I’ve been so blessed with all the helps this country gave me. I just feel the country and those people need help now. So it was time for me to give back a little bit.” Usually when I read lines like this on the newspaper, I’d consider it as part of the political propaganda. This time, it was real to me. I could feel when my grandpa said that, he was talking from the bottom of his heart, as an 80+ years old communist party member.
The big aftershock earthquake happened again during my call with dad. I hung up the phone and let him run. I thought I heard the trembling of furniture at home. I felt if I was there in my room. It was scary. One more person died in the epicentre, but they were all OK in Xi’an. Hope this all will end soon. They all need the rebuild to start, not only physically shelters, but also mentally support.
Monday, 26 May 2008
Tuesday, 20 May 2008
The Stories About 龙的传人
My tears are dropping. My heart is bleeding. These stories just keep coming, about human, about us, CHINESE.
因为救援的直升机很难降落在废墟上，非常危险，所有的伞兵都在参加任务前写了遗嘱。The helicopters could not land to the deadliest region so rescue workers could not get in. It came to the airforce. Paratroopers had to fly in with signed petitions of possible sacrificing their lives. Then they parachuted down from 4000 metres high, everyone was safe.
一个救援人员听到了废墟的底下有一个小孩儿喊救命。他告诉记者：“虽然救她的过程几乎不可能，但是如果我放弃了，那个救命声音的阴影会笼罩我一辈子。” From CBC news, a rescuer told the journalist he heard a child's voice for help deep in the debris. He could not see her. And they had no idea how to get her out because of the sophisticated situations. But they started trying. Why? "If I failed to get her out alive, that voice will taunt me for the rest of my life."
5月16日下午6点半，离地震发生整整100小时。虚弱得已近昏迷的刘德云被救援官兵抬出来时，看到了自己的女儿。随即，他的目光指向自己的左手腕。女儿扑上去，发现父亲左手腕上，歪歪扭扭写着一句话：“我欠王老大3000元。”经过324医院野战医疗队紧急抢救，刘德云第二天就清醒过来。他告诉女儿：“如果出不来，手腕上那句话就是留给你的遗嘱。”刘德云是什邡市汉旺镇人，工厂职工。地震发生时，他和一起玩牌的另3人都被埋在了废墟下。不知道过了多久，刘德云有些绝望了。此时，他用还能活动的右手，掏出随身携带的圆珠笔，在左手腕上写下了“遗嘱”——他不想欠着账离开。刘德云说，写下这句话后，他安心了许多。黑暗中，时间慢慢流逝，刘德云实在是太困了，好几次险些睡去。于是，他拼命地去想3岁外孙的笑脸，又狠命打自己的耳光。在脸被自己打肿后，刘德云终于等来了曙光。但让刘德云遗憾的是，就在他被救出来之前几小时，坚持了90多个小时的同伴对他说了最后一句话：“刘哥，我撑不下去了，我先走了，你好好活下去。”说到这里，刘德云泪流满面：“你个瓜娃子！这么久都坚持过来了，这会咋就不行了？
A man who was rescued 100 hours after the earthquake was found on his left hand written: "I owe 3000 Yuan(RMB currency)." While being asked what that meant, he said: "Just to tell my daughter to pay it back if I could not get out alive. I don't want to leave with debt."
前日东莞石龙联步行街本是某品牌可乐的选秀现场，当地团委和青年志愿者组织联合商家把它变成了义卖和募捐的现场。当天下午，一名乞丐老伯沿路乞讨经过时，被志愿者的叫卖声吸引。“他开始就是看了看，我们不断说捐献一点爱心，让他口渴了买点可乐。”志愿者回忆说，老伯先是愣了下，后来要掏钱买可乐，听了几句灾情介绍后又看了看海报。“没想到他居然把口袋里面所有的钱都翻了出来，皱巴巴的。”随后，老伯拿了瓶可乐快步消失在人群中。“我们追着他，他也不理，他不说自己叫什么。”一名负责宣传的青年志愿者赶紧用相机拍下了这一幕，志愿者们只记得老伯说了一句，向社会讨了这么多年，也该向国家捐点了。
But with this, life is only stronger!
When the troops asked Premier Wen for suggestions on the phone that the road was completely damaged and they couldn't march on to the destination for the rescue work, he paused and replied: "It's those people who raised you, you figure it out by yourself. (人民养育了你们子弟兵，你们看着办。)" Then, he put down the phone. Guess there is nothing cannot do when it comes to saving people.
Never thought we would have another Premier to be compared with Zhou (周总理，人民的总理)... maybe there is one today!
一个救援人员听到了废墟的底下有一个小孩儿喊救命。他告诉记者：“虽然救她的过程几乎不可能，但是如果我放弃了，那个救命声音的阴影会笼罩我一辈子。” From CBC news, a rescuer told the journalist he heard a child's voice for help deep in the debris. He could not see her. And they had no idea how to get her out because of the sophisticated situations. But they started trying. Why? "If I failed to get her out alive, that voice will taunt me for the rest of my life."
A man who was rescued 100 hours after the earthquake was found on his left hand written: "I owe 3000 Yuan(RMB currency)." While being asked what that meant, he said: "Just to tell my daughter to pay it back if I could not get out alive. I don't want to leave with debt."
前日东莞石龙联步行街本是某品牌可乐的选秀现场，当地团委和青年志愿者组织联合商家把它变成了义卖和募捐的现场。当天下午，一名乞丐老伯沿路乞讨经过时，被志愿者的叫卖声吸引。“他开始就是看了看，我们不断说捐献一点爱心，让他口渴了买点可乐。”志愿者回忆说，老伯先是愣了下，后来要掏钱买可乐，听了几句灾情介绍后又看了看海报。“没想到他居然把口袋里面所有的钱都翻了出来，皱巴巴的。”随后，老伯拿了瓶可乐快步消失在人群中。“我们追着他，他也不理，他不说自己叫什么。”一名负责宣传的青年志愿者赶紧用相机拍下了这一幕，志愿者们只记得老伯说了一句，向社会讨了这么多年，也该向国家捐点了。
The beggars and disabled people on the streets donated all they have.
They keep coming. My tears keep dropping. My heart keeps bleeding.
But with this, life is only stronger!Don't Understand Western Media
(Or, I should say I should understand it by now after four years here.) With all the effort being put on rescuing people after the deadly earthquake which would probably take more than 50,000 people’s lives, western media started reporting news and articles like “Earthquake reveals poor building quality and corruption in China” and “‘One child policy’ takes toll after earthquake in China.” I wouldn’t deny the accusing of corrupted projects in construction in China during the current economic boom. But this is not supposed to be the time to talk about it. Plus, where else doesn’t have problems in construction contracts between government and companies. The western media simply don't want to miss any opportunity to report negative things in China; guess it’s because there are too many positive ones for them to choose from. It’s funny that I used to reach to outside sources for news and opinions when I was in China, now I have to access Chinese websites for reports of true stories when I am in the “freedom kingdom”. Keep using the words "authoritarian", "state media censors", "political nationalism", blah blah blah whatever you want to use to scrutinize Chinese media reports. Keeping writing about Taiwan, Tibet, and our human rights problems (I understand you won't keep the job with other stories). You know what?! We can't care less about it because with the time to argue with you about the fact, we can save another child from the rubbles!
A Poem Dedicated to the last 150 years of this planet.
By a Silent, Silent Chinese.
===
When We were called Sick man of Asia, We were called The Peril.
When We are billed to be the next Superpower, We are called The threat.
When We were closed our doors, You smuggled Drugs to Open Markets.
When We Embrace Freed Trade, You blame us for Taking away your jobs.
When We were falling apart, You marched in your troops and wanted your "fair share".
When We were putting the broken pieces together again, "Free Tibet" you screamed, "it was an invasion!"
( When Woodrow Wilson Couldn’t give back Birth Place of Confucius back to Us,
But He did bought a ticket for the Famine Relief Ball for us.)
So, We Tried Communism, You hated us for being Communists
When We embrace Capitalism, You hate us for being Capitalist.
When We have a Billion People, you said we were destroying the planet.
When We are tried limited our numbers, you said It was human rights abuse.
When We were Poor, You think we are dogs.
When We Loan you cash, You blame us for your debts.
When We build our industries, You called us Polluters.
When we sell you goods, You blame us for global warming.
When We buy oil, You called that exploitation and Genocide.
When You fight for oil, You called that Liberation.
When We were lost in Chaos and rampage, You wanted Rules of Law for us.
When We uphold law and order against Violence, You called that Violating Human Rights.
When We were silent, You said you want us to have Free Speech.
When We were silent no more, You say we were Brainwashed-Xenophoics.
Why do you hate us so much? We asked.
"No," You Answered, "We don’t hate You."
We don’t Hate You either,
But Do you understand us?
"Of course We do," You said,
"We have AFP, CNN and BBCs..."
What do you really want from us?
Think Hard first, then Answer...
Because you only get so many chances,
Enough is Enough, Enough Hypocrisy for this one world.
We want One World, One Dream, And Peace On Earth.
This Big Blue Earth is Big Enough for all of Us.
I'll end this vent with a quoted poem from a comment board on CBC website:
By a Silent, Silent Chinese.
===
When We were called Sick man of Asia, We were called The Peril.
When We are billed to be the next Superpower, We are called The threat.
When We were closed our doors, You smuggled Drugs to Open Markets.
When We Embrace Freed Trade, You blame us for Taking away your jobs.
When We were falling apart, You marched in your troops and wanted your "fair share".
When We were putting the broken pieces together again, "Free Tibet" you screamed, "it was an invasion!"
( When Woodrow Wilson Couldn’t give back Birth Place of Confucius back to Us,
But He did bought a ticket for the Famine Relief Ball for us.)
So, We Tried Communism, You hated us for being Communists
When We embrace Capitalism, You hate us for being Capitalist.
When We have a Billion People, you said we were destroying the planet.
When We are tried limited our numbers, you said It was human rights abuse.
When We were Poor, You think we are dogs.
When We Loan you cash, You blame us for your debts.
When We build our industries, You called us Polluters.
When we sell you goods, You blame us for global warming.
When We buy oil, You called that exploitation and Genocide.
When You fight for oil, You called that Liberation.
When We were lost in Chaos and rampage, You wanted Rules of Law for us.
When We uphold law and order against Violence, You called that Violating Human Rights.
When We were silent, You said you want us to have Free Speech.
When We were silent no more, You say we were Brainwashed-Xenophoics.
Why do you hate us so much? We asked.
"No," You Answered, "We don’t hate You."
We don’t Hate You either,
But Do you understand us?
"Of course We do," You said,
"We have AFP, CNN and BBCs..."
What do you really want from us?
Think Hard first, then Answer...
Because you only get so many chances,
Enough is Enough, Enough Hypocrisy for this one world.
We want One World, One Dream, And Peace On Earth.
This Big Blue Earth is Big Enough for all of Us.
Stay Strong, Friends - We Are with You!
Talked to my parents on the weekend about what's happening at home and started paying more attention on the disaster. Can't believe I've actually been to the epicentre of this earthquake Wenchuan (汶川) on my trip to Jiuzhaigou (九寨沟) with Tong many years ago. That beautiful place is ruined now. However, that's not what matters at this moment. People are losing lives. I know people are in vulnerable condition over there, both physically and mentally -- the aftershocks won't give them a full night of sound sleep, not even hundreds of miles away at home in Xi'an. But I can feel they are strong within. "Tragedies bring us together." My eyes couldn't stay dry while reading all those incredible rescuing stories. My heart is unrest. I can't stay here doing nothing while my families, friends and fellow countrymen are in grave danger. I want to go back, to help. There must be something, something I can do because so many people are needing assistant, desperately. Maybe bringing some clothes and blankets to them because they must had no time to bring out any belongings from the collapsed home. Maybe carrying some bricks and building some temporary shelters because there are 5 million people homeless. Maybe some foreigners need translation because they might not understand my government is trying their best to help them. Maybe just sitting down with those children and tell them a happy story to make them smile because they must still be crying for their parents. Maybe ... ... I don't know what, but I do know help is much needed. I felt ashamed to have the idea of donating only $10 or $20 to the relief fund several days ago; now I know if I can't make it back to help, I can save at least $900 airfare. I also donated blood today, which made me feel a bit better -- if I can't help my country at this moment, at least I am helping someone. But I couldn't be proud of that, especially in front of those regular donors, because it was a trip meant to make many years ago, so I silently hide away my "1st Time Donor" sticker. Hope my money to Canadian Red Cross will be on the way to where it's mostly needed soon, Burma and China are awaiting helps. I will go to another bank tomorrow to contribute a little more. Hope that will make me feel better, at least I am helping in a way. Still... I don't know how I can hand to the victims my sleeping bag, my used clothes, shoes, ... ... I just don't want them to feel cold at night. STAY STRONG FRIENDS, WE ARE WITH YOU!
Monday, 19 May 2008
The Canucks Season End
Two years ago when the Canucks missed the playoffs, Jim Hughson concluded the season in their last game with this line: “Tonight’s goal-scorers: Todd Bertuzzi, Markus Naslund, and Brendan Morrison -- once the best line in the league, will they ever be together again?” No, it didn’t happen. The team rebuilding started. Big Bert went away and Captain #19 was never the same without his best buddy. We thought we got our “savior” Luongo.
Last year, with a bit of luck and a certainly overachieved team, we won the division and made to the second round of the playoffs. The entire city saw a fruitful future on the horizon. However, most people didn’t realize the problem; or, they didn’t recognize it with enough attention: offense. So with an almost the same team, the expectation was high for this season.
The unbelievable finally arrived. Late in the third period when they blew a 2-0 lead (again) and were trailing the Avalanche 2-4, John Garrett said to one of the best play-by-play announcer, if not THE best, in the league who was leaving us after this season: “Jim, I know you are moving on. It’s been a great pleasure working with you ... You’ll be in the playoffs but we will not.” This happened at a perfect time when the team’s playoffs hope was slipping away, just as they both wanted to say a goodbye to the team’s season. They had their fate back on their own hands two nights later, but they blew it again. John Shorthouse let us know: “For the second time in three years, the Canucks will miss the playoffs.” In their last game at home on Fans Appreciation Night, the team embarrassed themselves in a no worse way: losing 7-1 to the Flames (YES, I said Calgary Flames), giving their captain his 50th goal of the season, having OUR boy(s) (you know whom I meant) empty-handed to walk away. It was the best fans in the world who saved the last party: “#16 on the back, #1 in our heart.” They were prepared to blow up that place but the moment they wanted never came in the game. But the 18,000 Nuckleheads knew why or whom they were there for. On their feet, they gave their loudest and longest standing ovation to the face of the franchise because it was probably his last skate on that uniform at the Garage. Not once, not twice, it never stopped, they just didn’t want to leave -- not for a pathetic team, but for a heart and soul that attached to this city for the past 19 years. “ONE MORE YEAR! ONE MORE YEAR!” I saw this so many times for a sports hero, but never seemed to be this close. Everyone was so chocked up. Even the arch-rival showed their highest respect. No one wanted to believe it was their last time to see Trev on the Blue.
Looking back to the season, the injuries definitely took our toll. A team that was built on goaltender and defence never had their back 6 full strength. Nonetheless, the collapse at the end had no excuse. Trevor Linden may not be a Canucks next year. Jim Hughson, my favourite broadcaster, is going to CBC. Not saying the unpredictable future for the captain Nazzy, and local boy Mo. The only thing we all know is it’s another long summer and changes need to come. Canucks hockey will not be the same again in October. Vancouverites have to reluctantly say it again: “Next year ...”
Last year, with a bit of luck and a certainly overachieved team, we won the division and made to the second round of the playoffs. The entire city saw a fruitful future on the horizon. However, most people didn’t realize the problem; or, they didn’t recognize it with enough attention: offense. So with an almost the same team, the expectation was high for this season.
The unbelievable finally arrived. Late in the third period when they blew a 2-0 lead (again) and were trailing the Avalanche 2-4, John Garrett said to one of the best play-by-play announcer, if not THE best, in the league who was leaving us after this season: “Jim, I know you are moving on. It’s been a great pleasure working with you ... You’ll be in the playoffs but we will not.” This happened at a perfect time when the team’s playoffs hope was slipping away, just as they both wanted to say a goodbye to the team’s season. They had their fate back on their own hands two nights later, but they blew it again. John Shorthouse let us know: “For the second time in three years, the Canucks will miss the playoffs.” In their last game at home on Fans Appreciation Night, the team embarrassed themselves in a no worse way: losing 7-1 to the Flames (YES, I said Calgary Flames), giving their captain his 50th goal of the season, having OUR boy(s) (you know whom I meant) empty-handed to walk away. It was the best fans in the world who saved the last party: “#16 on the back, #1 in our heart.” They were prepared to blow up that place but the moment they wanted never came in the game. But the 18,000 Nuckleheads knew why or whom they were there for. On their feet, they gave their loudest and longest standing ovation to the face of the franchise because it was probably his last skate on that uniform at the Garage. Not once, not twice, it never stopped, they just didn’t want to leave -- not for a pathetic team, but for a heart and soul that attached to this city for the past 19 years. “ONE MORE YEAR! ONE MORE YEAR!” I saw this so many times for a sports hero, but never seemed to be this close. Everyone was so chocked up. Even the arch-rival showed their highest respect. No one wanted to believe it was their last time to see Trev on the Blue.
Looking back to the season, the injuries definitely took our toll. A team that was built on goaltender and defence never had their back 6 full strength. Nonetheless, the collapse at the end had no excuse. Trevor Linden may not be a Canucks next year. Jim Hughson, my favourite broadcaster, is going to CBC. Not saying the unpredictable future for the captain Nazzy, and local boy Mo. The only thing we all know is it’s another long summer and changes need to come. Canucks hockey will not be the same again in October. Vancouverites have to reluctantly say it again: “Next year ...”
Yankees Visit VT in Shooting Anniversary
“She asked me to take a picture with her fiancé's memorial stone. I told her she smiled.” -- Derek Jeter said during the Yankees visit to VT today. Marcy Crevonis, a Virginia Tech student and lifelong Yankee fan, placed a Jeter’s T-shirt near the stone monument of her fiancé Mike Pohle and made the request.
Muhammad Yunus's Visit to UBC
As part of the UBC 100 Years centenary celebration, we invited 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner Professor Muhammad Yunus to deliver the first annual Michael Smith memorial Nobel Lecture. Dr. Yunus is such a humble gentleman and his speech was truly inspiring. He talked about the background of creating Grameen Bank -- the idea started with a loan lending a total of $27 to women producing bamboo artwork at an entire village in his home country Bangladesh. Then, how the bank grew bigger and helped more poor people in his country. He made some points I couldn’t agree more. He talked about “the world is a strange place” now: financial institutions only lend big money to people who already have big money. Those who are really in need of money rarely get helped. Also, he mentioned the fact that no one was born to be poor, it’s the system that makes poor people poor. He gave an example of comparing a mother who was helped by his bank with her daughter who was supported by her to become a PhD student. It’s like a giant tree seed being placed at a small flower garden -- it cannot grow tall not because its nature but where its growing environment was restrained. Furthermore, he talked about the story when he went to sit down with the beggars to try to figure out what went wrong with their life and how he made them to become small merchants. Dr. Yunus closed out his lecture by declaring his ultimate goal: creating poverty museums for Bangladesh, for the world -- let poverty become a history! The amazing legacy Professor Muhammad Yunus did was to use his expertise to do little things to help those who were in need of help.
PowerWithin Round 2
This year’s PowerWithin was a much smaller size crowd than two years ago, but it was still a worthy experience. Lorreta LaRoche was still my favourite: I just could not stop laughing so hard with her performance on the stage. It almost brought me to tears to see those business people who paid big bucks coming to this event hands-in-hands singing and dancing in waves with her in the stadium -- how wonderful life could be when people’s mind is free. Why not talking to the person beside you?! Why not be able to laugh at yourself sometimes?! Why not reply with “I’m feeling juicy” while being asked “how are you”?! Christopher Gardner’s opening speech about “Pursuit of Happyness” was inspiring. His story of being thrown in jail for parking tickets and realizing the importance of life with his son reminded me of the movie American History X. Frank Abagnale, the man behind the movie Catch Me If You Can, was also a speaker. Martha Stewart and Andre Agassi were supposed to be the two big names but both failed the expectation. I’ve never been a big fan of Martha Stewart so I didn’t even bother continuing listening to her story after the mumbling boring start. The organizers tried to make Andre Agassi’s part for those business audience, so I guess he couldn’t shine too much over there. I was only disappointed he didn’t bring Steffi Graf. The legendary Quincy Jones had a long story to tell us which bored me (partly because I couldn’t hear what he was saying with his low volume mumbling). However, legend is a legend. The end of his speech didn’t only wake up the audience but also emotionally brought the event to another level. When the music started showing tenor Andrea Bocelli singing with a Columbia girl at We Are The Future charity around-the-world charity concert organized by Quincy Jones, he chocked up and his eyes were wet. What an incredible story!
I think legendary people are brought to their best when they are at their own business.
Another highlight of the day was to go up to the broadcasting booths on top level of GM Place!
I think legendary people are brought to their best when they are at their own business.
Another highlight of the day was to go up to the broadcasting booths on top level of GM Place!