How do we share the sorrow of those who have lost their loved ones in the quake? Let's all help rebuild our great nation China.

As a Chinese student here in Europe, we just can send donation to China, nothing else I could do. Everytime when I read news about the earthquake, I can't help crying, and I really really realized life is so frail, here's a story about the earthquake. A young mother used her body to protect her little baby, and she texted one sentence on her cellphone as her last words before she died, she wrote that my dear (her kid), if you can survive, please remember Mama will love you forever.

And the national flag at Tiananmen Square flew at half mast in the morning of 19th of May and newspapers across the city published special feature as a sign of the beginning of3 days of national mourningannounced by China's State Council on 18th of May . On 19th of May , at 2.28pm , people were asked to stand in silence for three minutes as air raid sirens and the horns of trains, ships and cars around the country sound. The State Council also announced that the Beijing Olympic torch relay would also be suspended for three days from that day until today and that all public amusements will be suspended for three days.
Chinese authorities also announced that the magnitude of the earthquake had been upgraded to 8.0 and that casualties from the disaster had reached over 40,075 dead and 247,645 injured.

tears for victims again
sympathy for families
in the memory of those who lost their lives
God bless them all ( although I am a kind of atheist)

[pray4Sichuan]

-------National Confederation of Swedish-Chinese (Kinesiska Riksförbundet i Sverige) KRFS
Dear compatriots from China,
On 12 May 2008, the 7.8 magnitude tremor, which was focused in China's Wenchuan County Sichuan Province, the death body has been counted over 15,000, and increasing every hour, and that number will surely rise dramatically when rescue teams reach the most affected areas. In the city of Mianyang, near the earthquake's epicenter, over 18,600 people are still buried under the rubble of collapsed buildings. Another county is reporting that more than 80 percent of buildings have been destroyed. The front rescue troops reported that more than 70 percent of the roads to and in the town damaged, and almost all bridges collapsed. The disaster is almost as the same as Tangshan earthquake in 1976.
Fresh news like this comes in through TV, radio and internet day and night with astonishing facts. Photos like the following make us breaking into tears just at the first glimpse.
On 26th April, the national interest of China brought us together in a rally in streets for Olympic Games. On 12th May, a disaster in China brings us back to the same unity. Soon after a founding meeting on 11th May for a preparatory committee of the National Confederation of Swedish-Chinese (Kinesiska Riksförbundet i Sverige, KRFS), after briefing with the Chinese Embassy, this one-day old committee immediately undertakes the duty of co-ordinating earthquake-offer fundraising.
Experiences have told us time and again that the establishment of a national organization for Chinese communities in Sweden is in an imminent condition. Taking advantage of successful rally for Beijing Olympics and established contacts with Chinese communities in other cities, we are confident that a national confederation can go a long way in better protection of the interests of Chinese living in Sweden, and in communicating with Swedish authorities, with other ethnic communities. With a national platform based on our common concern, we can make our voices heard in the Swedish society more effectively and timely. Therefore we urge and welcome All Chinese associations or individuals to join us, and participate in our progress.
At this urgent moment when any help to earthquake-hit areas are badly needed, we on behalf of KRFS preparatory committee stand in the forefront of donation campaign. We appeal to all Chinese living in Sweden join us in donating your part of contribution to people in disaster affected areas in southwest China. Never mind the amount. A coin of one crown represents your warm heart. Please send your money to plusgiro
402239-8 mark “name+512”.
This account belongs to KKFS (Kinesiska Kulturföreningen i Stockholm), which we used for fund raising during 4.26 demonstration. The list of donation will be published on our temporary homepage www.huaren.se daily. You are also most welcome to spend some time in our chat forums to express your views on issues of our common concern.
We're arranging many fundraising activities in churches, concerts, together with Swedish Red Cross. Every single penny of the fund raised will be sent to the 5.12 Earthquake offers via Chinas Charity Federation in China, so they can reach the hands of people who need them badly for relief and rebuilding their homes. Therefore, every contribution from you is highly appreciated!
God bless them who suffered and God bless you!
Preparatory Committee of the
National Confederation of Swedish-Chinese in Sweden (SKRF)
Website: www.huaren.se
Presscontact person: John Hamben (Hongbin Jiang)

This is a terrible tragedy! Are there still a lot of people missing in Sichuan?
I am sincerely sorry for everyone who lost their family or friends.

Over 20,000 are still reported missing... it's just unbelievable... Maybe the death toll wouldn't be so high if the buildings had been built sturdily enough.. Who knows, but this is very heart-breaking....

China has scaled down reporting on the relief efforts in Sichuan. What is the latest death toll? I pray, the quake lakes won't break their banks... those people don't need any more misfortune and suffering.

I read that the quake lake is now being drained. Is it going to eliminate the threat of flooding completely, or will the people have to leave their homes again if it starts raining?