Spring Break
China quake reveals U.S. donation malaise
Taylor Short
Issue date: 6/5/08 Section: CAMPUS NEWS
Jimmy Li is a finance senior at UNT, the president of the Chinese Student Scholar Association and one of many people abroad with ties to the quake that tore through China in May.
"My family contacted me, and they're OK," Li said. He said his family said no one they know is hurt, but there are still many people missing.
A magnitude 7.9 earthquake shook central China on May 12, killing tens of thousands of people and trapping more under the rubble of their homes, offices and schools. The latest reports from the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs have the death toll at 69,107.
Recovery began as about 50,000 Chinese troops were deployed into the area to search for survivors.
Since the earthquake hit, private individuals in America have donated $57 million, far less than the $207 million donated to the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 or the $226 million to hurricane Katrina survivors, according to a survey by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.
News sources blame the modest donations on spiking gas prices, the recession or "disaster fatigue," the idea that we have been jaded by past natural disasters.
"The survey shows the 'fatigue' comes from the fact that there have been so many worldwide disasters that we are aware of," said Israel Stephens of the political science faculty. "The people have given all they can or want to for right now."
In the past, China has been reluctant to accept foreign aid but is showing new signs of cooperation since the quake. The Chinese government accepted U.S. military aid and allowed an increased level of discussion among Chinese and American military leaders. The U.S. military shared satellite images with China to help gauge the extent of the damage.
"There does seem to be a tendency towards trying to establish a more amicable relationship with China," Stephens said. "It could be because the U.S. is ever more dependent on China, and we can't afford for them to fail."
Recovery funding reached 23.07 billion yuan, roughly $3.33 billion, coming from central and local budgets. Relief supplies included tents, quilts, clothing and fuel. Temporary homes were set up near the affected area.
The quake's epicenter near the county of Wenchuan was hit the hardest, causing landslides and forcing soldiers to hike to the area on foot.
Xinhua News Agency, the official press agency of the Chinese government, said 10,068 aftershocks were detected since the initial quake but remained below magnitude 4.0, and as of Jun. 1, more than 300,000 people were counted as injured with thousands still missing.
This is China's largest earthquake since the quake near Beijing in 1976 that killed 240,000 people.
"My family contacted me, and they're OK," Li said. He said his family said no one they know is hurt, but there are still many people missing.
A magnitude 7.9 earthquake shook central China on May 12, killing tens of thousands of people and trapping more under the rubble of their homes, offices and schools. The latest reports from the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs have the death toll at 69,107.
Recovery began as about 50,000 Chinese troops were deployed into the area to search for survivors.
Since the earthquake hit, private individuals in America have donated $57 million, far less than the $207 million donated to the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 or the $226 million to hurricane Katrina survivors, according to a survey by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.
News sources blame the modest donations on spiking gas prices, the recession or "disaster fatigue," the idea that we have been jaded by past natural disasters.
"The survey shows the 'fatigue' comes from the fact that there have been so many worldwide disasters that we are aware of," said Israel Stephens of the political science faculty. "The people have given all they can or want to for right now."
In the past, China has been reluctant to accept foreign aid but is showing new signs of cooperation since the quake. The Chinese government accepted U.S. military aid and allowed an increased level of discussion among Chinese and American military leaders. The U.S. military shared satellite images with China to help gauge the extent of the damage.
"There does seem to be a tendency towards trying to establish a more amicable relationship with China," Stephens said. "It could be because the U.S. is ever more dependent on China, and we can't afford for them to fail."
Recovery funding reached 23.07 billion yuan, roughly $3.33 billion, coming from central and local budgets. Relief supplies included tents, quilts, clothing and fuel. Temporary homes were set up near the affected area.
The quake's epicenter near the county of Wenchuan was hit the hardest, causing landslides and forcing soldiers to hike to the area on foot.
Xinhua News Agency, the official press agency of the Chinese government, said 10,068 aftershocks were detected since the initial quake but remained below magnitude 4.0, and as of Jun. 1, more than 300,000 people were counted as injured with thousands still missing.
This is China's largest earthquake since the quake near Beijing in 1976 that killed 240,000 people.
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