Earthquake in China

hiccups · Future Queen in Zion

Earthquake in China

bokbadok · Senior Bucketkeeper

There was another large earthquake in a more remote area of China a month or so ago. Asia is really taking a beating lately!!! :(

Organist · Senior Member

Impressive about this quake is that it shook the ground over an enormous area. If this quake were centered in the middle of the country, it would be felt in both Maine and Arizona. On the news I saw a map of the USA superimposed over the area affected in China, and this thing was huge.

With all the recent destruction in the world (tornados, earthquakes, hurricanes, fires, droughts, famines) I think a large donation to the church's humanitarian aid fund is in order. I'm suggesting a donation that is a real sacrifice, a month's worth of your food, somewhere around 45X your usual fast offering. (90 meals in a month/2 meals per fast usual offering). Rich man Divas (name created by the Catholics) went to hell because he "fared sumptuously" while Lazarus begged for food outside his door. Or increase your usual fast offerings, because Lazarus was right outside the rich man's house, and our fast offerings are used locally.

-- Edited by Organist at 12:42, 2008-05-13

arbilad · Head Chef

I think that major disasters like this help demonstrate the folly of trusting in central government for everything. The government can't move fast enough to save the people, and so the death toll goes higher. The slow response of FEMA to Katrina is another example. They actually hindered the process in the beginning. Burma is an extreme example.
The best examples of care are private care organizations. They're quick, they're effective, and they get the job done.
My heart goes out to the Chinese people. Especially the example of the trapped students. That's simply horrible.

hiccups · Future Queen in Zion

I can only digest a little bit at a time. The current tidbit I'm choking down is that as many as 3.5 million homes were destroyed.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/05/13/china.quake/index.html

Organist · Senior Member

Supposedly the Chinese have actually responded very quickly to this because they temporarily move thousands or millions of citizens in low lying areas every monsoon season. That experience will help with this current disaster. Experience matters.

-- Edited by Organist at 14:43, 2008-05-13

hiccups · Future Queen in Zion

Organist wrote:

With all the recent destruction in the world (tornados, earthquakes, hurricanes, fires, droughts, famines) I think a large donation to the church's humanitarian aid fund is in order. I'm suggesting a donation that is a real sacrifice, a month's worth of your food, somewhere around 45X your usual fast offering. (90 meals in a month/2 meals per fast usual offering).

While I like the kindness behind your suggestion, your number comes close to our total monthly take-home pay, not food budget.

Valhalla · Profuse Pontificator

The Drudge Report also is saying that the Chinese are rushing people to help plug holes in a dam that was damaged from the quake. Could get a lot worse.

If an earthquake that size hit the New Madrid fault in MO/TN, which is over due and expected, much of the central and eastern US would be in deep doo-doo.

Organist · Senior Member

The donation means more if it is a sacrifice. The widow in the temple cast in more with her 2 mites than the rich people casting in from their abundance. But it is hard to pick a random number. Tithing is 10%, easy to calculate. Fast offerings are 2 meals, easy to calculate. But a donation to the humanitarian fund is not predetermined. I want it to be a sacrifice, but I am also living off of student loans. To me 45X the usual fast offering (90 meals in 1 month) seemed like a rational number for such plagues of devastation, even if it isn't based in any scripture or commandment. I will have to sacrifice by going without a few things, but I won't be tempted to simply take out more loans.

The point is try to find a donation that is a real sacrifice, whether that is 2 or 2 million mites.

nitasmile · Senior Member

What I find frustrating w/these situations is that in Burma and in China, people are wanting to help yet the govt won't allow or has stipulations on who can help, ie only Asian aid workers,e tc. I just don't get that.

For Burma, there was a profoundly obvious letter to the ed this past week. I liked the wisdom in that letter, basically in his letter, the writer said if the dictatorial govt refuses offers of help, then these are the times where the rest of the world needs to remove that dictator so that the people of that country can receive the help they need.

Organist, I see the value of your suggestion, I do feel sacrifice is individually determined and we need to know our own parameters as to what constitues sacrifice. I know I need to do better and be better in this area. I appreciate the points of all who have contributed here. I know the need is urgent for us to do something, to do what we can, in harmony w/the things on this topic that are taught in King Benjamin's words concerning giving to the needy.