[Marxism] China orders richer cities to help quake-ravaged communities

[Walter Lippmann <walterlx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Wouldn't it have been nice if New York, Beverly Hills, San Francisco
and other wealthier cities had been ordered to help New Orleans after
Hurricane Katrina? And telling banks to forgive debts owed in those
cities? Yes, there's something which might be learned from that, 
perhaps even emulated. The uneven development levels in China has
had tragic consequences. It's interesting to read about how Chinese
people all over the world are rallying in support of their homeland,
collecting billions in funding, and sending it back to contribute in
some manner to the relief and reconstruction efforts. From what we
have seen so far, China's performance is rather commendable when
compared to Washington's "you're on you own" approach toward the
aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Not surprisingly, a team of Cuba doctors is already in China doing
what they do best in such circumstances. Cuba's program provides a
mixture of practical and political solidarity, of course, since
no single assistance program could overcome the consequences ot
an earthquake. Washington, with infinitely more resources, hasn't
provided any doctors that I'm aware of. We do know that President
Bush went to the Chinese embassy in Washington and signed the book
of condolences.


Walter Lippmann
Los Angeles, California
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GRANMA
May 24, 2008

Team of Cuban Doctors to Assist Earthquake Victims in China

CHENGDU, May 23 (Xinhua).â A team of Cuban doctors arrived Friday night in
the province of Sichuan to put their skills at the service of the rescue and
assistance operations. These actions are in the wake of the earthquake that
affected this country last week.

The 35-member team, made up by surgeons and orthopedics specialists, arrived
in the capital of the province, Chegdu, at 8:30 p.m. The Cuban help also
includes 3.5 tons of medicine and medical equipment that will get to the
affected areas on Saturday.

Jose Rodriguez, head of the team, said that all the members of the Cuban
brigade have experience in working with victims of natural disasters. They
have taken part in many international aid operations, such as that to help
the victims of the tsunami that affected southeastern Asia and the
devastating earthquake in Peru.

âWhen the members of the Cuban brigade heard in the news about the powerful
earthquake that stroke Sichuan, they felt very sad. They want to do their
best to help in the rescue operations,â said Jose Rodriguez.

China also accepted medical assistance from Germany, Italy, Russia and
Japan, countries which also sent teams of doctors to the affected areas.
The number of dead people as a consequence of the powerful earthquake last
week rose to 55,239 in Sichuan alone, according to reports on Friday at 7:00
pm. The earthquake also left 281,066 people injured and another 24,949
missing.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/message/85427
==================================================================
LOS ANGELES TIMES
China orders richer cities to help quake-ravaged communities

People light candles in memory of earthquake victims at the People's
Square in Chengdu, Sichuan province.

The edict calls for financial and technical aid. Survivors show a
heavy reliance on the central government, and analysts say that could
become dangerous for Beijing.

By Don Lee, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

May 24, 2008

MIANZHU, CHINA -- China's central government Friday ordered its
wealthier provinces and cities to give immediate financial and
technical aid to communities devastated by last week's earthquake.

The order, which pairs cities such as Shanghai and Beijing with
less-developed areas in Sichuan province, highlights China's
awareness of the enormous task ahead, of rebuilding entire towns and
resettling about 5 million displaced people. Banks were ordered to
forgive debts owed by earthquake victims.
-----------------------
She said soldiers from the People's Liberation Army rescued them,
carrying some of them on their backs over the mountain. In her first
few nights at the camp, Cao said, she slept fitfully. But she and her
family were beginning to ponder what they would do next.

"We are used to working and laboring every day. It's very
uncomfortable here killing time," Cao said, her dark, strong hands
reflecting decades of farming potatoes and corn.

But she said that her house collapsed and that Qingping could be
washed away by a "barrier lake" formed by the earthquake.

"Right now, we have a place to eat, to sleep and clothes to wear,"
she said.

"We don't have a home but we have confidence. The government will
arrange something for us."


http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-china24-2008may24,0,2075453.story


=========================================
     WALTER LIPPMANN
     Los Angeles, California
     Editor-in-Chief, CubaNews
     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/
     "Cuba - Un ParaÃso bajo el bloqueo"
=========================================

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