Firstly, my prayers are FOR those victims and their families of this terrible occurance. Politics and knicker throwing aside, the images I have seen have stirred a lot of emotion inside me and I can only imagine what those poor mothers are going through.

As for the Westfuko Bumtease Church, you'll always get your loonies. Point of note to all equally deluded netizens, these are the really "China-bashers" you should be spitting on the computer screen at.

i know what the fanatical american religious community is like, so although this is absolutely disgusting to both Chinese and non Chinese alike, its something that we have accept, as a fruit of the first amendment like you said.

america is an overly religious society and so it will have lunatic religious groups like this preaching racist hatred. but we shouldn't give them credibility by given them a stage.

there are black churches and intellectuals who preach the killing of the white race, but they are treated as a lunatic fringe, so should this church be treated.

i think most chinese people will be shocked and appalled by this because they dont really grasp how fanatically religious america is, especially, small town, southern america. but at the same time, i dont think putting something out like this is relevant now.

and at the same time, i think most chinese after decades of anti religious campaigns by the leadership, most Chinese will look at this and go, ok crazy religious fanatics groups, we got those in china too. (i.e f@along g0ng)
so chinese by and large i think wont really care, they see religious groups as crazy and not to be taken seriously.

contrary to what most westerners think, Chinese netizens wont go bezerk over natural disasters, unless they are really botched. we only get fanatically when racist hatred is unfairly thrown our way.

so again, i question why you would bring up this posting by some screwed up church right now? are you trying to deflect some anger that was directed at you in the past few weeks?

@ponderer: True, I wouldn't want the Chinetizens to come after me, but I posted this more because I can't stand religious nuts, missionaries, evangelicals, etc. Like jimba said, the Westboro Baptist Church is an organization truly deserving the wrath of the Chinese people... in fact, the wrath of all people everywhere.

@ponderer: Maybe you know what "the fanatical american religious community is like", but it seems you don't get what our host is saying! One of the strong "cultural characteristics" of the contemporary "evil west" is that hate mongering and blatant racism offend most of us.

The same may not upset some of the China netizen "patriots", possibly because both are their own natural elements. Also, they may too busy to notice, what with all this anti-CNN bullshit, etc. Or perhaps they are preoccupied trying to figure out how to blame Dalai Clique for the quake!

Pardon me for being snappy, but it was this "contrary to what most westerners think, Chinese netizens wont go bezerk..." that did it. The same netizens went berserk a squillion times over anything when there was a "western conspiracy against China" mileage in it, and fu*k the "fairness" of it, or otherwise - they do not comprehend the meaning of the word anyway!

So maybe a contrast between that, and the so-called church appearing to go unnoticed, is what made Michael to bring this up.

@michael: I hope I am not messing up your post with my rant, but we all have our "buttons". Good blog, have been reading it since way back.

First, I was a member of an evangelical church in U.S. and still am, and although they were a bit conservative, they considered Westboro a blight on organized religion, and most of the men in our church are members of the "Freedom Riders" that attend returning fallen soldier's funerals to protect the families from this nut cases.

If letting more of the world know how sick these folks are would maybe help these clowns "get the message" then I'm all for it. They give the rest of us Christians a bad name.

Oh, and there might be something to the toad story, our complex garden here in Dongguan has a lot of what I call "barking frogs" the ones that sound like great danes barking. Usually they "bark" all night, rather annoying, have to keep the windows closed so we can sleep.

Night before the earthquake, no frogs barking. Night of, and since, frogs barking again. If they stop again, I'm sleeping in the car.

Let's try and keep this discussion somewhat on track, ok?

So, we have storms in winter and an earthquake. All we need are some peasant rebellions to prove that the PRC has lost the Mandate.

My opinion in general: The PRC's response has been very good. The plus side of a brutal tyranny is that it can respond to disaster fairly quickly and easily. However, I do think that it deserves criticism for egregiously ignoring building codes in an earthquake prone area. Yes, other countries do that too, but that doesn't make it right nor does it remove the blame from the CPC.

ponderer: It is true that there are some fanatical religious nutjobs in America. But they exist everywhere. To make a statement about the entirety of American religion, or even just Southern/small town religion, based entirely off of the nuts, is folly.

My personal opinion on the church? It's a group of lunatics that repulse me and make me sick. But, they have every right to say such vile things.

First of all, I just want to say- I love this blog. I begin to read it after coming back from traveling across China for a few months.
I appreciate your humor and blunt perspective.

I am amazed at how much religious controversy comes out every time a natural disaster strikes. It makes me sick to see people like this church in Kansas misrepresenting a God that I know to be complete love.

I know that Jesus represents life the way it was supposed to be lived- loving your enemies, feeding the poor, being a voice for the injustice in the world and doing something about it.

I can't stand religion and I don't think Jesus could either- in fact He spoke against it.

There are always going to be screwed up people in the world that use "God" as a chance to say whatever the hell they want.

But, there are also "christians" such as myself, who have experienced "God is love" and have dedicated their lives to show this truth through their actions- not to preach at people or try to "convert" them, but to help those in desperate need of it. Thank you for posting this.

@ponderer, "so again, i question why you would bring up this posting by some screwed up church right now? are you trying to deflect some anger that was directed at you in the past few weeks?"

Exactly! This blog really is like a freak show.

>
We have thought it out and the consensus is...we do not want the crazies to have a martyr. We would rather see the Chinese government arrest them on terrorist charges and keep them locked up forever - in China, thank you very much.

Love the blog, keep it up.

Umm……Michael, I think their grievances and anger at shoddy building materials and etc. seemed perfectly justified, if a bit ill-focused. Victims of natural disasters in many countries tend to shift their blame on the government (whether national or local) for at least a while, so I’m not sure if one could label this as another occasion for the famed Chinese netizens ‘to make a display of China's strength and unity’.

My thoughts to the perished and their families.

The hate and venom spewed by religions never ceases to amazeme. The basics of the the Bible to do unto others and to love thy neighbor as thyself don't seem to make it into the catechisms of these groups. I am haunted by the images ihave seen on the news programs of the tragedy taking place in China and embarrassed at the response of Americans like this---people who can't figure out why there are places in the world where America is not #1. We are like the rich man in the Temple thanking God that we are not like the poor beggar man. who comes out ahead in those verses?

@Dong: You're right, but my internal thought process was to come up with a target that angry citizens would be allowed to protest by the government. So, the government was obviously off the list. I also meant to imply that shoddy construction is so widespread and systemic that protesting against is like protesting against taxes or the rule of law... fairly useless.

@Jake: I'm more than happy to be the freakshow of Chinese blogs, if that's what I am.

Oooh. Check it out, the Huffington Post has dubbed this the Chinese Hacker Challenge. Now let's see if the great masses of Chinese people take notice, rather than just the few who can read this English-language blog.

Oooh, "the best blog in English on that part of China", quite an accolade, but how long will a Beijinger be able to compete with The New Dominion?

Events like these can remind us that The Golden Rule is observed by many cultures and religions. They aren't really productive for addressing negative religious influences. That's a vast topic. But people do need to vent, and that's what blogs are for.

@ouyang: Well, a little birdy tells me that the New Dominion will soon be losing half of it's on-the-ground reporting team in Xinjiang... leaving only one person on the entire Internet still blogging from Xinjiang (in Urumqi, to be exact).

Michael, can you point out where you heard/read these speculations? I can read both English and Chinese.

American people I've known are compassionate and generous. I would recommend reading the blogs on NPR about the earthquake. These blogs are so touching and powerful that the pain of the parents who lost their children just radiating out and choking me. www.npr.org/chengdu

I just heard that America government is going to donate $500,000. In the risk of sounding ungrateful, I cannot help but wonder why only $500,000, isn't that just Bush's pocket change? Is it because US government think China can shoulder it on its own? Or is it because American charity organizations can and will do more? How much did US government donate to the Cyclone victims and Tsunami victims?

Tong,

I am a Chinese but I feel the question you asked is rather stupid.

"I cannot help but wonder why only $500,000, isn't that just Bush's pocket change?"

You are right, Bush doesn't have any change. All his real estate investment is in Iraq; his stock investment is in Exxonmobil. He doesn't like to put cash in his pocket.

Amerians will not have any change, until they send their houses to banks. It is too bad that a bunch of people have no change has to listen to a talk about change everyday.

@Tong: Which speculation are you referring to?

James,

I won't direct my fury to the church. As Michelle Obama remarks during her campaign trip in Ohio, white working-class Americans all share the same ethos as Barack's grandparents in Kansas.

I will distribute this poster around and show Chinese people how much Americans hate them, because I learned a great deal from CNN and you.
If you can demonize China, I believe I could do a better job than you.

Kaka, instead of being a foolish netizen, why not do something useful and help the many many displaced people now in Sichuan. Keyboard worriors unite!

I believe the evil Uyghurs are responsible for the earthqauke - obviously. Lets balme them and get angry AT THEM . How about the thunder gods on top of Qomalagma? The offended deities who shake the earth? Do they respect the arrogance of the CCP and its fucken triumphalist torch? What is the power of the CCP to them? HHAHAHAHA! Does a nation suffer for the crimes of its government? Can any heretics out there help answer these questions?

Be ready for the spirits of the Gobi in the soon to come, long, dry, windy, hot, hot summer.

Now now. Don't direct your anger at each other... focus on the church in Topeka! I'd prefer if we can avoid another spam war on this post.

May the gods prevail

@ Tong re: your statement

"I just heard that America government is going to donate $500,000. In the risk of sounding ungrateful, I cannot help but wonder why only $500,000, isn't that just Bush's pocket change? Is it because US government think China can shoulder it on its own? Or is it because American charity organizations can and will do more? How much did US government donate to the Cyclone victims and Tsunami victims?"

but havent yu all beeb telling us how rich and powerful China has become now. Why does it need any more help? It has lots of money- enough to point 1000 missiles at little Taiwan. Yes? It dont need any money? Right? So why complain? I do agree 1/2 a mill. from America why bother? But why ask?

sorry,sorry, ill redirect my bile to Topeka.

Do these posts fromm the Shanghiist blog have any relevance here? Who got the Topeka thing first I cant work out? Cross-posting? :

"Nothing helps the Phelps clan/cult more than when perfectly legitimate and reasonable news outlets and blogs devote coverage and attention to these totally marginal, absolutely bigoted figures. Attention is what fuels these nut jobs. The more they get, well, the more they get.

I'm a big fan of your posts, Kenneth, but I'm really sorry to see that you (and danwei) devoted so much space to responding to these marginal idiots. Fact is, nobody is going to enjoy this post more than the Phelps family.

By T

[2] | 09/25/07 12:10PMI agree with guest #1. It's all fun and games to laugh at the Phelps family and their limited number of followers, but they love the publicity. From protesting at AIDS funerals to celebrating the Asian tsunami, these assholes LOVE the additional hits.

I don't really advocate violence, but these nuts clearly need a kick in the balls.

By guest

[3] | 09/25/07 01:58PMTrue, I'm not sure why a Shanghai-oriented site would go on an on about a small lunatic-fringe church based in Kansas."

Why bother? Its the thunder gods the Chinese are really dealing with. Yep, they still around...and dont like to be mocked.

Well, the problem is that the WBC gets lots of inconsequential attention, which is not what I'm hoping for. My hope is that the awesome collective power of the Chinese people will be unleashed on the WBC, whether this means hacking their website or countering their protests or whatever.

All one has to do, as a member of that horrible church, is to look at the Reuters photo (on the cover of many newspapers) of a policeman carrying an injured young girl from the rubble. There's no way they can deny it has nothing to do with retribution -- and their heart should ache for her.

In Korea, a church leader made a similar claim when the tsunami hit SE Asia.

Sickening.

to keep this blog from returning to endless child like insults, im going to ignore that ingrate nazi James.

i hope other chinese commenters too ignore his tiresome, hateful rants. just ignore the ignorant. i think this church is right up his ally.

whats the point of attacking these morons in kansas?
you are just giving them a stage. this church just wants attention, so lets not give it to them.

psychotic religions shouldn't be given our help to spread their hate. this church is no threat to anyone except themselves.

i know chinese are smart enough not pick fights and waste time with psychotics who arent taken seriously by anyone.

I think the above post may be an enticement to the true James to negative reponse, by inferring he is a a racist and judging by its odd inverted reasoning. Id caution James to be Mum.

@Michaal

thanks for the response. But why even give them the space. A million hits by irate Chinese would only strengthen them in their delusion they are the persecuted remnant of truth in a dissolving world. The Chinese should be doing their own soul searching now anyway. I mean to shit on the Tibetans then take their bloody torch and make a parody of all it stands for in time and history to the very locus of the Tibetan tutelary gods including Chenrezig - and think there maybe no response from the true gods who rule the world exhibits their crass matrerialism nd true spirituyal ignorance and disdain of deity. I say this against the arrogance of the party not the Chinese people especially those suffering now. But they shouldnt mess with the gods of the mountains. Maybe their woes are just beginning and its a long time until August....

@ Cheery, thankyou for your advice

As far as I'm concerned, Westboro Baptist (which isn't even really a "church" anymore, since it's run by a bunch of first amendment lawyers/zealots) does NOT represent Jesus Christ or Christianity. They are a far-right-wing political action hate group that has carefully set themselves up to protect themselves against legal action so that they can continue spreading venomous hate and lies.

But returning evil with evil is never right either. That's what Jesus taught, and that's how I try to live my life. I think it's a pretty good way to live -- and it's the opposite of what Westboro Baptist believes and teaches. They are truly anti-Christ.

I am so sorry for all the damage and pain they have caused "in Jesus' name." It truly makes me sick. As a follower of Jesus, all I can do is say I am so so so so sorry.

Calling WBC a group is a bit of a stretch. It's one family and some hangers on that are considered to be unhinged extremists even by other far right religious conservatives.

They are completely insane but remarkably good at getting their name in the paper.

Tong,
$500,000 does seem a paltry sum, especially compared with many of the other US donations to other parts of the world (The US government and private donors lead by leaps and bounds as the world's most generous by many statistics). However, it was probably meant only as a show of support, because both Beijing and Washington know full well that the PRC has plenty of money to deal with this.

A stable, functioning China is very much in the US's interests. I'm sure that if China asked for more than a symbolic amount, they would have received it.

Michael, I was asking if you’ve read/heard any actual speculations about the earthquake predication besides the English article you offered. I did read some blogs questioning why the schools are the first to collapse and frankly, I am asking the same question. Call me naive, I don’t believe the matter is a lost case, especially when new schools, hospitals, apartment buildings are going to be rebuilt. This is the perfect time to ask the question, to do our self censoring and improvement. And it is our way to ask for government’s accountability.

As to the church, their opinion is their own. We see what we see basing on the information presented. Isn’t it why, Michael, you offer this place for people to present their thoughts in hope that whoever care to read on will get two sides of the story? One’s right could the other’s wrong.

My “Brush’s pocket change” remark is indeed stupid and uncalled for. I do apologize to anyone who took offense. Michael, would you please take the whole entry off? To my own defense, it really was just a question and it was mine and mine only. I was at a moment of feeling the social unfairness. And James, you sort of spoke my unspoken fear. I don’t know who told you we are rich, those villagers who didn’t have much to begin with and yet left with nothing, surely did not say that. And their one and only goal is survival, they do deserve some substantial help. Whatever wrong we did, I truly hope they are not the ones to pay.

Tiako, I do know American people's generosity, which is probably why the sum puzzled me. Oh, well, I hope I am not digging a bigger hole for myself.

Michael-
Thank you for bringing some much needed press to my home state of Kansas. But you forgot to include the church's website, which is www.godhatesfags.com...easy to remember eh? These guys used to show up to protest when I was a student at KU. Nobody, not even Kansans, take them seriously. They really are quite entertaining if you ask me. Ever seen the Michael Moore clip where he takes a bunch of gay men in a big van with the word "Sodomobile" painted on it, and they follow around these guys? They would stop at every protest site, and have all the gay men make out in front of the protesters...classic!

@ Tong

One would hope for the best for China and succour for the suffering.

THE QUESTION RE: AID was really that China is not poor and does not need it. The Governemnt has plenty of American dollars, any economist knows that. I have for many years been critical of aid to China when it is in economic ascendancy. Why?
But that does not mean there are not many poor stil in China - yes, and yes perhaps many in the stricken area of Sichuan. Hence my argument, deal with poverty first before spending billions on weaponry, etc, especialy when not directly threatened; and do not beg for aid when you have plenty in the coffers; and why do some Chinese whine at the paltry 5000,000 offered , as if they deserve more? Dont make sense, especially seeingteh same ones who whine are usually most vocal about China's strength, prosperity, etc and power to rule the world.

Chinese repsonse to the disaster is commendable.

One must be Optimistic, but as Voltaire pointed out through the voice of Candide: optimism was 'the mania for insisting that all is well when all is by no means well.'

As Michael Wood puts it: Candide inhabits a world which may seem "freakishly full of disasters, of war and earthquake, repeated rape and the persistent exploitation of the frail and the innocent by the rabid and the strong."

I don't think Chinese netizen will take the bait. They won't be interested in the rants of a small religious group of another country. I guess we have to deal with it ourselves, or simply ignore it.

What kind of god do you believe? How can your god be such selfish??
I have only FOUR words for you:
YOUR GOD DAMN YOU!

WTF is this blog? what the FUCK?!

WTF?!
GOD DAMN YOUR CHURCH PEOPLE!

Those "rumors of warning signs" aren't false. Frogs abandoning de-oxygenated (or rapidly heated) water, the sudden migration of birds, disappearing bodies of water and panicky farm animals are well documented precursors of earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis.

Kill the local bosses, kill them all!

Don't worry, guyes. People who believe in god in europe has dropped from 80% of the population to 30% in 50 years. I bet in 100 years, all religiones will go to the trash bin of history. lala...

I wonder if these are the same idiots who came to my university years ago to tell us that we were all going to hell... on Yom Kippur. There must be some legal loophole in America to shut these people up. Perhaps extradite them to China? I don't have too much of a problem with missionaries, but these people just spread hatred around the world.

I will be extremely happy to beg Chinese government to invite members of Westboro Baptist Church to come to China, so that I can beat them all in front of GOD with great pleasure.

All members of Westboro Baptist Church come, I am waiting for you! Come on, I'll beat you in front of God.

God bless all. Deep sorrow to victims in China. This church members are just stupid morons and they will be burned in hell.

James, in response to your 09:36am entry:

1.If the Chinese government truly misused its people’s money as you so believed, more the reason, the foreign aids should reach the disaster area. In the face of humanity, the word is equality.

2.Let me say this again: $500,000 remark is MINE and MINE ONLY! The Chinese I’ve known DO NOT expect any foreign aids, they are not accustomed to ask for foreign aid. And every cent they got was met with utmost gratification. Feel free to prove I am wrong by enumerating the foreign aids Chinese received in the wake of a disaster, prior to this earthquake.

This only proves that people of theocracy are not civilized. Theocractic people share more resemblance with barbarians.

Tong,

You were perfectly fair to question why Bush only gave $500,000. Another reason I forgot to give is that the Us government is actually heavily in debt to China (a few hundred billion, I think).

China is that interesting phenomenon of being, not a poor nation, but a nation of poor. China has come very far, very fast (and at a very heavy price), but it still has a ways to go.

Please be very careful about even hinting at violence against the bad guys. Except in very rare cases the violence is vastly more likely to be directed against the good guys - look at Zimbabwe.
Also, while China may not be worse than your average developing country - it doesn't mean you should give them a pass about shoddy school constuction - it's important that the government develop a sense of outrage about such stuff so that corruption doesn't overwhelm the country and the government doesn't lose the mandate of heaven.

Let them know what you think...

Fred W. and Margie M. Phelps, Sr.
Westboro Baptist Church
3701 S.W. 12th Street
Topeka, Kansas 66604
phone: 785-273-0325 and 785-273-0338
fax: 785-273-9228

Fred W. Phelps. Jr. and Betty Phelps
3600 S. W. Holly Lane
Topeka, Kansas 66604

Margie J. Phelps
3734 S.W. 12th
Topeka, Kansas 66604

Ben Phelps
3632 S.W. Churchill
Topeka, Kansas 66604

Rebekah Phelps-Davis and Chris Davis-Phelps
1216 S.W. Cambridge
Topeka, Kansas 66604

Shirley Phelps-Roper and Brent Roper-Phelps
Sam Phelps-Roper
3640 S.W. Churchill
Topeka, Kansas 66604

Dear Tong I Dont think I said any where that Chinese gov. misused aid money. Also what i was trying to point out was that some who cry that 500,000 is so small and paltry a donation are often the same ones who cry that China is powerful, mighty, rich, need nothing, omnipotent, etc., ad nauseum.

@haaha
"Don't worry, guyes. People who believe in god in europe has dropped from 80% of the population to 30% in 50 years. I bet in 100 years, all religions will go to the trash bin of history. lala..."

thats fine. But Im talking about the very power of nature which the Chinese government nor the Chines "people" will never be able to stand against or conquer. Want another earth quake dickhead?

and Michael whats this yu are making money off as an advert on your site re: orphans in Uganda.

Isnt this a Christian missionary org.?

http://blessingsofjoy.com/

curious

it sits right above this thread . I clicked on and voila????????? ther eit sis the very groups yu say yu despise...????

@james: Yeah, unfortunately I can't control the ad content placed on this site by Google... and giving up $0.43/day in ad revenue would be ludicrous, right?

When very bad things happen to people, someone must always be blamed, no matter what social group, it is necessary to preserve social cohesion. The bigger the disaster the bigger the person, and God first comes to mind. There is nothing special about these loonies, we all think we know our special truth about the world. Some Chinese netizens might imagine that the West is racially minded and is again trying to dominate China--that remains to be seen, but this incident proves nothing. What might be overlooked is that Westerners feel that "religious freedom" is not the same in China as in America. It is likely a coincidence that the quake day was Buddha's birthday and that there are many ethnic Tibetan Chinese in this area, so venom against (Communist) (Han) Chinese might be misplaced? Christians have given more money for relief than Buddhists, if anyone is counting. Those with dollar accounts can ignore this "church" and instead donate to the American Red Cross China Earthquake Relief fund, as they are working with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including the Red Cross Society of China, and other partners to assist those affected by this disaster. Please go to
https://american.redcross.org/site/Donation2?idb=1137596217&df_id=3198&3198.donation=form1

or call 1-800-HELP NOW or mail your donation, with the designation, to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013. Thank you for your tears and prayers and help in any way.

This Westboro Baptist church not only hates the Gay-Community but African-Americans, Canada, Sweden, the Fire Department of NY, victims of 911, Christian Churches, The Pope, Judaism, America, Our American Troops, and the list goes on and on. Many of the groups they despise are specifically named on their hate propaganda, picket signs, and their many websites. They not only hate, but wish death on all that they do hate. This sick, so called church spreads its hate through picketing in our streets, provoking attacks, with abusive vulgar language. Worst of all, they endanger their own young children, having them man the front lines in their combative demonstrations - attempting to create a confrontation and cause for one more of their frivolous lawsuits. If a mother has given her son to this country and is putting Him in his grave, this is not the time or the place. This is not about protesters, this is about a group that calls that mother names on the way into a church to say goodbye to that son. We are not talking about FREEDOM we are talking about human decency. This is not about protesting, this is about a life of hate. They are not peaceful. They are not a "church". They go after any thing that can get them in the news. I am all for protest when there is a reason, I have been in many. This group will protest anything to get its face on TV. It is about an old man lost in the darkness of hate, but will put his six year old grandson in danger to save himself. Do we have a real need to protest at any funeral? Is that a real Freedom. The city of Topeka, the state of Kansas and the U.S. at large, its citizens and their Churches, schools and events are all held hostage by this "hate group" - always at U.S. tax payer's expense. With this group it is just not about Freedom. It is only about HATE. It is time we all stop them!!!

@Michael

Oh Ok, sorry. I am a moron and a luddite. Didnt know you made so much out of it.

Reuters has some good footage of the rescue operations in the steep country of western Sichuan/Kham. Soldiers breaking down overwhelmed by the deaths. It is inspiring to see Premier Wen Jiao Bao personally leading rescue operatins @ Dujiangyan, where was Dick Cheney during Katrina?

Hu is also in Sichuan.

The Australian 18 May.

"China says thank you to the world"

correspondents in Beijing | May 18, 2008
CHINESE President Hu Jintao has expressed his gratitude to the foreign countries and people who have offered aid since a major earthquake struck the country.

"On behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the State Council and the Central Military Commission, I express heartfelt thanks to the foreign governments and international friends that have contributed to our quake-relief work," Xinhua news agency quoted Mr Hu saying.

Mr Hu, who is in Sichuan province - which was struck by a 7.9-magnitude quake on Monday - made the remarks at a meeting on rescue and relief work last night, the report said.

At the meeting the report said Mr Hu "called for unremitting efforts" to look for survivors, despite it being five days since the quake hit China's southwest.

"We should put people first and saving people's lives is still the top priority of the relief work," Xinhua quoted him saying.

Troops, armed police, and public security personnel should reach villages and search every collapsed building to save people, he reportedly said.

The Government estimates Monday's tremor, the worst in a generation in China, killed more than 50,000 people and has left nearly five million people homeless.

Beijing initially rebuffed offers of rescue teams from abroad, but it let a Japanese team in first - they arrived on Friday - followed by rescuers from Singapore, South Korea and Russia.

It is the first time the Chinese Government has accepted foreign professionals for a domestic disaster rescue and relief operation.

Who will the chinese pay off to get out of this one.They are so use to doing things ilegally,that when some thing happens like this there is no body to payoff.

I'm with Hang, I'd love to send the WBC folks over to the quake area to do one or their protest. I'd pay money to see the video of some poor couple who'd just lost their child eviscerating the Phelp's (Plus, should any survive, perhaps we could keep them from re-entering they U.S.)

http://www2.nysun.com/opinion/communist-made-disaster/

Don't get your underwear in a wad over this. That "church" is a well=known family of kooks in Kansas that calls themselves a church. They travel around the US demonstrating at funerals of soldiers and gay people and anyone else they think they can insult. They do it for attention and nothing more. They do some outrageous things and states have had to pass laws specifically to try to shut up this nutty guy and his family. They are not representative of Americans.

God hates America. Do you remember Hurricane Camille?

Thanks to the post and the followings.But many of the responses were not focused to the original topic:WBC.Instead they were directed to the China thing and almost to an online battle field.
China/Chinese will not respond to the WBC.
What is WBC?A Bastard in a WC(water closet)?

If you know a hacker or are a hacker, read this. This hate group (not a church) must be stoped!

"BEIJING: Chinese hackers have gotten pretty good the past few years at disrupting things. I'm generally not in favor of encouraging hacker mayhem, but this case it a bit different. Let's see if they can shut down Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas. And if you happen to be in Topeka, I suggest going over there and protesting against this stupidity (along with the vast amount of stupidity WBC has encouraged in the past). And if that doesn't work, a lawsuit might."

This is a natural disaster which should make everyone feel sad. But I have seen Chinese people cheering and celebrating when they have heard the "September 11" disaster. I condemn anyone who finds joy in other people' s misfortune.

I believe the aid money are misused in some way or other.
1. The state TV says "china red cross has donated over 1000 tents which worth of 13 million rmb" actually 1000 tents may not cost more than 2-4 million even for big tents, if you do not agree make a calculation.
2. I have read a post on sina blog by an emplyee of a medicine factory that a donator has asked them to issue an invoice of 50000 rmb for purchasing 10000 of medical. they did not agreed but another medicine factory nearby has issued the invoice and got the business.
3. the officials in charge is selling the tents for 300 rmb, but so far we have heard there are already so many tents are donated, besides people run out off the earthquake could not have got the money with them.

"We should put people first and saving people's lives is still the top priority of the relief work," Xinhua quoted him saying."

John McCain Denounces Powerful Pastor After Blogger Digs Up Incendiary Audio

http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/05/john-mccain-den.html

I actually laughed when I see this. It is like a kid who doesn't like someone but don't how to properly express himself so he falls back to cussing.

I'm forwarding this to my Chinese friends. The more people sees it, the more likely they will take a second thought before join this jesus thing that is growing like cancer among the poors of China.

@ Bin Tian

yeh its really quite disgraceful. But many American Christians distance themselves from such groups and will argue their Christianity is different. Id agree most Christians dont think like these loopy nut cases. There are loonies in all countries under the name of all religions and political persuasions - dont be surprised. Hate is always close to the human heart but love is stronger.

Olympics put religious freedom in spotlight
Today | China

Article Link

When the International Olympic Committee in July 2001 awarded China the right to host the 2008 Summer Olympics, Chinese citizens were ecstatic. But what potentially could have been China’s proudest moment has turned into something of a public relations minefield as world media probe China’s human rights gains and abuses, writes Sarah Page for Compass Direct News.

Among key issues raised is religious freedom, with China watchers reporting ongoing restrictions on freedom of worship, particularly for unregistered church groups, arrests, detention in labour camps and confiscation of Christian literature.

Hosting the Olympic Games provides China with a unique opportunity to showcase its stunning economic development. But with an estimated half a million foreign visitors expected and over 20,000 journalists, the government fears it will also be a prime opportunity for dissidents and human rights activists to present their cause to the world media.

As Liu Junning of the China Cultural Research Institute pointed out recently: “Chinese leaders want the country … put in the limelight. But the light is very hot.”

Chinese citizens can now choose their own careers, travel abroad, own a car and establish a business. But Christians cannot legally hold a prayer meeting in a private home, share a church service with foreign Christians or interact with foreign Christian organisations. China still bans religious education for children under the age of 18 and limits the publication of Bibles and other religious materials.

Many Chinese Christians see little good coming from the Olympics in the way of religious liberty. Some point to a government crackdown on unregistered house churches over the past year, as evidenced in a 2007 report issued in February by the China Aid Association (CAA), and an unprecedented expulsion of foreign missionaries in 2007 as part of a “clean-up” in preparation for the Games.

Others fear religious persecution will increase after the Games as the world’s media moves on from China.

The government has stepped up an official campaign against human rights activists and lawyers in recent months – and increased its suppression of religious believers, particularly members of unregistered Protestant and Catholic groups.

Protestant Crackdown
State security officials summoned house church leader Lou Yuanqi of Huocheng County in Xinjiang for questioning on 16 May and detained him for “inciting separatism,” according to CAA. That was only the latest in a series of raids and detentions.

In January, police raided and severely beat members of a house church in Yunnan province, CAA reported. The raid occurred after two church members, Chen Xiqiong and Liang Guihua, visited the Xishan District’s Public Security Bureau office to request an account of items, including Bibles, which had been taken from the church and burned by police in December.

Also in December, authorities in Shandong arrested 270 house church leaders who had gathered for training in Linyi city. According to CAA, officials released 249 of the leaders but sentenced 21 senior leaders to between one and three years of detention in labor camp.

Another three house church leaders were detained in Shandong on 8 May.

Police arrested 46 Christians at a house church meeting in Kashgar, Xinjiang province in April. They released 44 Christians after ordering them to confess their illegal Sunday worship activities and study a government handbook on religious policy. Two other Christians, Ding Zhichun and Ma Wenxiu, were sentenced to 15 days of administrative detention.

CAA also said officials had launched an “Anti-illegal Christian Activities Campaign” in Xinjiang.

Officials have arrested at least three Uyghur house church Christians in recent months. Police arrested Alimjan Yimit in January and accused him of endangering national security. Officials had previously closed Alimjan’s business in September and accused him of using it as a cover for “preaching Christianity among people of Uyghur ethnicity.” His trial was due to take place on 26 May, according to Compass sources.

Osman Imin (Wusiman Yaming in Chinese) was arrested in November 2007, accused of “leaking state secrets” and sentenced to two years of labour camp.

Compass has confirmed that a female believer arrested earlier this year also remains in detention in Xinjiang.

There may be worse yet to come; CAA sources are predicting a severe crackdown on all unregistered house churches beginning on 1 June.

The country officially recognises five religions – Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Islam and Taoism. An official patriotic association for each religion controls adherents’ activities and governs the appointment of clergy.

Officially there are 16 million Protestant believers and 5 million Catholics, but these figures exclude members of unregistered churches. Compass sources estimate there are 60 million additional Christians: 10 million in major house church networks, 35 million in independent rural house churches and 15 million in independent house churches.