FW: a pledge letter to send to your American friends

An alumni forwarded this letter written by a local American friend, Steve McIntosh, a residence of Westford.

 

 

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We still feel deep pain for the children, spouses and friends of the 3,000 people who died in the World Trade Center disaster.

This week, the children, wives, husbands, parents and friends of nearly 50,000 killed, buried or missing victims of the Sechuan, China, earthquake were thrust deeply into the same world of pain. Children went to school like every other day and in seconds lost their home and their parents. Parents went to work and in seconds lost their beloved children under the tons of concrete of collapsed schools.

As NPR reports, one mother will have to find a way to live on with the last words of her son ringing in her ears: "Mommy, please don't leave me." Rescuers uncovered him from the rubble of his home. He was found curled up, dead, in the frozen embrace of his deceased grandfather's arms.

Like the horror of the World Trade Center on 9/11, this unimaginable tragedy, the death and the pain cannot be reversed.  But you can help. You can give the survivors a helping hand with a donation, a gift that provides food, clothing, bedding, medicine and sanctuary to those suffering the horrendous physical and emotional wounds this earthquake has inflicted. The children, suddenly homeless and alone in a terrifying world, especially need your help. Please give.

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Trapped student called for help after 90 hours of earthquake

The rescue is still on. According to a correspondent at Beichuan Middle School via live broadcast from CCTV4 just now, the voice was heard an hour ago and now PLA and the rescue team are digging the debris to save her. Let's hope she could make it!

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Quake 5/12/2008 (with FAQ and links from newsmth.net)

Deepest condolences to those who suffered the recent earthquake in China.

Here are some useful links:

四川汶川地震FAQ及常识普及（转自水木社区）: http://www.newsmth.net/bbscon.php?bid=1110&id=53695&ftype=11

★★最新伤亡信息★★我从哪里了解地震信息★★:  http://www.newsmth.net/bbscon.php?bid=1110&id=30160&ftype=11

捐款渠道: http://www.newsmth.net/bbscon.php?bid=1110&id=30161&ftype=11

补充几点个人观点：

Q：为何灾情严重？
A：地震能量大（级别高）；周边房屋建筑设防烈度低（见图)；山区的很多（自建的）房子是简易的砌体结构，抗震性能差；人口密度大；震后交通、通讯中断，天气恶劣；重灾区地形复杂。

Q：为何学校、工厂等建筑结构破坏严重？
A：这类结构通常需要大开间，抗震性能比小开间的差；设防烈度低（可能早期的抗震设计标准比较松）；设计及施工质量不过关――现代框架结构的抗震设计通常提倡"强剪弱弯、强柱弱梁、强结点"，而从破坏的情况看，有的建筑塌的时候梁没坏柱子先倒了。

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