William's Walk

Fighting Quake Lakes

williamwong — Mon, 26 May 2008 09:55:00 GMT

As the quake has shaked the big stones off from the mountains, the stones jam the drainage of rain water between the mountains; such accumulation of water becomes lakes threatening the low places where the refugee settles now.

The government is taking all measures to discharge the water to reservoirs or low safe places to ease the flood threat.

The barrier lakes are under control according to the local news, however the situation is still grim.

UN Conciliation - Ban Kimoon

williamwong — Sun, 25 May 2008 09:54:00 GMT

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Saturday extended gratitude to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for the United Nations' support and help for China's quake relief.

Wen briefed Ban on China's quake relief efforts, saying China will carry out reconstruction as soon as possible.

Ban Ki-moon arrived in Chengdu, capital city of quake-stricken Sichuan Province, Saturday morning and then rushed to visit Yingxiu town in Wenchuan County, epicenter of the 8.0-magnitude earthquake on May 12, to express his sympathy for those who suffered from the devastating quake.

Wen pledged that China will try hard to restore order in quake-affected areas in three months and help people there to resume normal life

Facts and Figures Report - Death Toll 60,560

williamwong — Sat, 24 May 2008 15:41:00 GMT

Following are the latest facts and figures about the massive 8.0-magnitude earthquake that rocked southwest China's Sichuan Province on May 12:

The death toll from the quake rose to 60,560 nationwide as of Saturday noon, while 352,290 people were injured and 26,221 people were missing. 75,086 quake-injured people were medicated, 40,644 people left hospital already, while there were 3,484 people died in hospital. The total saved or medicated people numbers 289,457.

Domestic and foreign donations had reached 26.1 billion yuan(3.7 billion U.S. dollars), up 1.5 billion yuan overnight. And 3.68 billion yuan had been forwarded to the earthquake-affected areas.

A total of 448,140 tents, one of the most urgently needed relief supplies, had been delivered to quake regions.

A total of 35,458 makeshift houses, 2,419,347 quilts and 3,304,526 garments had been sent to these regions.

The government disaster relief fund reached 15.1 billion yuan (2.2 billion U.S. dollars) as of 2 p.m. Saturday. The fund included 11.1 billion yuan from the central budget and 4 billion yuan from local budgets.

As of Saturday noon, 178 aftershocks measuring above 4 on the Richter scale had been monitored in Sichuan and among them, 27aftershocks measured above magnitude 5, and four above magnitude 6.

55,740 Heartbreaking Number

williamwong — Fri, 23 May 2008 20:49:00 GMT

China has officially reported the death of the quake 55,740 today. What a heartbreaking number!

55,740 people, if they form a town, it will be a thriving town; if they lie on the road, it can be 10km long; they are from at least 20,000 families; their average age will not exceed 40...

Just swiped tears off my cheek from the mourning for the past 3 days, on hearing this number I can't stop my tears from dropping down to my keyboard. It's a pity for me not able to get the chance to go there for rescue because of the government control procedures. What if I was there to save at least one or two?

Mourning for the victims & Encouraging the survivors

williamwong — Thu, 22 May 2008 20:31:00 GMT

For the first time in Chinese history, the government has announced 3 days mourning to the victims of such natural disaster. From the Chinese President to the ordinary people, from north to south, from China to Chinese overseas bureaus, from all concerned people around the world, all were mourning for the lost ones during the earthquake in China.

China has received condolences from all countries and regions of the world. Thanks to you all, your lovely hearts from the global village!

Beside the mourning, more and more Chinese started to support the re-conciliation & and the re-construction process after the quake. Everywhere of China can see people talking face to face, via phone conversation, by SMS, by online blogs and whatever means can be adopted to encourage the people to rebuild their homes and moving forward.

It reflected kind of the solidarity in Mao's period. People are more unified before the challenge.

We've lost the lives of the disastrous region as well as houses and homes; however, we have got once again the unprecedented unification of the people. We will make it better than what we've lost...

China - Announced 3 Days Mourning For The Victims

williamwong — Sun, 18 May 2008 22:29:00 GMT

China government has officially announce 3-day mourning from May 19 to May 21 for the earthquake victims.

The national flag will be keep half-mast during this period. All public amusements are to be suspended for mourning during these 3 days. All Chinese overseas bureaus are to do the same mourning to the death. While the relay of the Olimpic Torch is also to be suspended for 3 days.

The public are asked to stand in silence for three minutes from 2:28 p.m. on Monday, while automobiles, trains, and ships would sound their air sirens.

The best love to the dead... The best wishes to the survived...

Mourning...

Magnitude Rectified To 8.0 Richter Scale

williamwong — Sun, 18 May 2008 20:22:00 GMT

The China Seismological Bureau (CSB) on Sunday revised the magnitude of southwest China earthquake from 7.8 to 8.0 on the Richter scale.

The magnitude was revised upwards after specialists carried out"real-time and detailed measurements of the quake according to international practices," the bureau said.

Chinese earthquake experts have also referenced quake data provided by other seismological observatories around the globe, it said.

The US Geological Survey and Japan Meteorological Agency has put the magnitude of the tremor at 7.9.

The first report of by CSB set the magnitude at 7.6 which was shortly upgraded to 7.8 after the quake hit Sichuan Province on May 12.

Death Toll 32,476; Injury 220,109

williamwong — Sun, 18 May 2008 16:53:00 GMT

Today is the 7th day after the earthquake. The death toll today has reached 32,476, and the injury number is 220,109. However, even though technically the possibility of liveness of the buried is very small, the rescuers continue searching for the survivors. They won't give up until the last one is found, as said.

It is a miracle of life that Mr. Jiang is saved after being buried for 125 hours deep in the ruins.

There is more and more people rescued by the continuous endeavors of the rescuers. The soliders forget to have their foods busying with the searching; the evacuated people come back to help; we also see international people from Chendu city as well as the world working together with the rescuers and the medical teams.

We get to rescue more lives, as we're unified!

Chinese President Hu Jintao Urge Continued Effort

williamwong — Fri, 16 May 2008 22:46:00 GMT

Chinese President Hu Jintao has arrived Mianyang City of the disastrous area. He visited the injury camps and the medication stations; he said though the best time of rescue was running out, the government would never give up rescue actions. More arrangement in terms of rescue and medication supporting has been instructed.

Hu Jintao has met with Premier Wen Jiabao for a brief meeting. Both agreed "to put the top priority to saving people's lives".

The casualty number has rised to 22,069 according to the official figure. Fortunately, today all the major roads are repaired for transportation and electricity is back to service after several days of urgent restorement.

Now, rescue teams have arrived at every villiage. The rescue is faster than ever. However, the following days are going to have rain again, which may slow down the rescue process.

Let's pray for a good weather and faster rescue!

Survivor - Buried 100 Hours

williamwong — Fri, 16 May 2008 21:41:00 GMT

Mr. Liu, a survior rescued after buried in the ruins for 100 hours, is found by the life detector.

Military troops and professional rescue teams are equiped with this powerful electronic tool to keep on searching the survivors. The device is able to find the life 10 meters deep into the ground.

Mr. Liu was missing on his way delivering cargo to the epicenter client on May 12. Unfortunately, he was then buried deep inside the collapsed building. When the detector received life signal from the ruins of his place on May 14, the fireman called his wife and daughter according to their registration. Then his family came to stay outside of the collapsed building keep on talking with him to keep him awake; while the rescue is progressing, getting his legs out of the heavy cement frames stuck.

Late this afternoon, he was successfully saved. He said with his weak voice "I know I can eventually be saved. I know the rescue action is progressing above my bury."

World Helping Hands

williamwong — Thu, 15 May 2008 20:58:00 GMT

With the help of international media, the message of this earthquake is soon known by the world.

Helping hands from every country can be seen...US President Bush has called to support China. Rescue teams and materials from Russia have arrived. Appeal of donation published on Japanese news papers...Donations of money and materials are collected everywhere from the world to support China.

Within China, the support to the disaster area is already the hottest thing of the citizen. Donation boxes and collection stations are set up everywhere for the society to do their share.

There is only one sound all around the country "Let's get unified, beat the quake!"

PLA SoIdier Crying Out: Just Let Me Save One More Child

williamwong — Thu, 15 May 2008 00:01:00 GMT

The Official number of casualty is more than 15,000 today, with the injured more than 120,000.

As there are still quakes from time to time, the rescue can't work at full speed. Roads to the rural moutain villages are still being repaired, and telecommunication is still not fully recovered.

Military troops have tried different ways to enter the epicenter by speed boats along the waterway, by pedestrianizing, by helicopter, by parachuting etc. Today, all of the villages within the epicenter are reached with rescue team.

However, because of the roads are damaged, heavy cranes and couldn't enter those deep area in the mountains, there were still vast people waiting for rescue inside.

As the small quakes are still happening, some collapsed walls sometimes collapse a second time. One PLA solider who is rescuing some children buried under the crashed walls, is dragged away from the site because the supportings are shaking to have a second collapse. He doesn't care about his own safety but crys out "Just let me save one more child, don't pull me out..." Just after he is out, the wall collapses...

From time to time, tears are falling off my cheek; I just can't help it. I see donation boxes everywhere in the community, I go to do my share. I also go to the blood-collecting vans to donate my tube of blood to the injured...

Can tomorrow be better?

Premier Wen Wounded

williamwong — Wed, 14 May 2008 23:38:00 GMT

Chinese premier Wen Jiabao has been with the rescue for 3 days till May 14. He's 66 years old, in his second session of Chinese Premier.

When he climbed up the broken tiles to study the situation, he suddenly tumbled and got wounded in his arm. While the medical team tried to wrap his bleeding arm up, he couldn't wait to push away the nurses and went into the rainy ruins...

He cried to order the troops "I just wanna save the people, do whatever worthwhile." Since the first day, he didn't sleep anyway and didn't take a warm snack. He's encouraging the people to fight this challenge with enormous endeavors.

Prayers To All In The Area

williamwong — Wed, 14 May 2008 12:18:00 GMT

After half-day isolated from the news because of the communication cut-off, some pictures from the disaster area are posted on the web this morning. We know there were more than 2,600 times of quakes after the major one yesterday afternoon. People are all evacuated to sleep at the open spaces like, squares, streets, yards or anywhere without collapsing hazard.

We see the cracked roads, dopped rocks, collapsed houses... There are still raining, even! Troops have started their way to the epicenter, however, the roads and bridges are all destroyed. This is pure mountain area of Sichuan Province, where only few roads linking with outside. There do have some channels across the mountains, but the quakes have collapsed them all without mercy.

One message from the frontier that a commander of the troops orders "We must move into it, neverthless how much difficult!" They are marching by foot amongst the shaking mountains, with their lives threatened anytime if more rocks roll down.

The offical casualty number exceeds 12,000, while there are vast villages lost without communication and stastics still. We all know that the actual number of casualty must be far from what we know now.

Premier Wen Jiabao is always with the rescue pioneers, voice hoased and cloths wet...

More troops have been detailed to the area for rescue. We hope them to arrive soon; we hope the people inside the ruins not to give up...

Prayers to all...

Shocking News - 7.8 Richter Scale Earthquake Hits SW China

williamwong — Wed, 14 May 2008 09:43:00 GMT

In the afternoon of May 12 Monday, 2008, a major earthquake measuring 7.8 Richter Scale hit Wenchuan County of Southwest China’s Sichuan province at 2:28 p.m. Earthquake was felt in Zhengzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu and Beijing and Canton area. Now the official reported casualty is more than 8,000. China’s primer Wen Jiabao has arrived in Chengdu to work onsite for the rescue arrangement. The earthquake is the greatest one to date in the past 22 years. The epicenter is in rural mountain area, where roads are all cut off and rescue support is hard to reach. Military troops have been immediately sent for rescue. Since the telecommunication appliances are all destroyed, there is limited information reported either to the government or to the public by far.

Gallery: 8.0 Richter Earthquake Hits SW China

williamwong — Mon, 12 May 2008 20:57:00 GMT

View by Discretion

Love is endless

williamwong — Fri, 9 May 2008 11:19:00 GMT

Having been back home for a few days, I from time to time recalled the lovely faces and cheerful voices of the team members. Yeah, now they are everywhere back to their home too. Just like a dream of legend, we have been walking together, for conquering the Great Wall of China, while indirectly to inspire people to beat cancer.

I don’t know how much I can do further to continue the appeal. I’m these days sharing my experience with my friends. We’re reviewing the pictures taken by me on the Wall, sharing each other’s stories of loosing our relatives, friends to cancer or to the difficulty of life. Sometimes, we even talk the spirit of struggling against difficulties with a tissue in hand. Nobody would like to give up if anything happens to us…

My friends are admiring me for the participation of the appeal, while I shared with them that I wouldn’t have chance to participate the Walk if without the help from my company Worldnomads.com. We’re all working in companies; some company just loads us with piles of papers and projects, while Worldnomads.com is not only a brilliant commercial company, but also a company with very much social responsibilities. The company has donated favorable money to help the poor to clean drinking water in Nepal; the company is also a carbon-neutral company; etc.

So, what’s our value of existence? Working for money or happiness under our own roof? No! A person’s value is linked to the world. Though we’re just a tiny part of the population, if everybody can have a love heart toward other people especially the inferior, we can build a more beautiful world full of helping hands.

As one friend told me, “If you woke up this morning in good health, you have more luck than one million people of the world, who won’t live through the week.” I believe this is true. We’re all happy because we’re lucky. Let’s give a hand to those unlucky to make the world a lovely planet.

The website of the Great Walk is www.greatwalktobeijing.com. It will be supported live till the end of the year according to the organizers. Come on, friends! You got to do a share to the fight!

Gallery: Great Walk to Beijing Part II

williamwong — Sat, 3 May 2008 00:47:00 GMT

Gallery: Great Walk to Beijing Part I

williamwong — Thu, 1 May 2008 10:39:00 GMT

Finishing, Moving and Forever

williamwong — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:56:00 GMT

The hotel has provided good service as I received the morning-call exactly at 6:00am. I'm excited and energetic as I get ready to complete the final part of the walk today.

We started from the left part of Juyongguan Wall, steep and high. I can't help resting at the half hour interval, drinking water like a horse. So is the same with the other walkers.

Some tourists come to ask why we're walking. I explained to them the organization of this Walk, and as you’d anticipate, they're very moved as many have lost their relatives to cancer.

When we're doing the final media conference, more and more people gathered around. I saw some people were in tears listening about what we were doing. Olivia said the website www.greatwalktobeijing.com is to open for donation till the end of this year, so the audience can have chance to do their share to the great work of building the hospital.

I've taken quite a few pictures of the walk. I'll share these, as well as my feelings with my friends for helping to raise funds. I'll also seek more chances to let people know about this good work.

The walk is finished, but the contribution to the sick is never done. For me, I will continue to do good things to help the poor, the sick, the frustrated or whoever else needs help.

The value of our existence is not only about making our own happy life, but also for bringing happiness to others...