Mourn-days

China has begun three days of mourning for victims of the Si Chuan earthquake, which has left more than 70,000 people dead, buried under rubble or missing.
Photos Courtesy from BBC.com

Public Holiday, It's Vesak Day. While many Buddhist devotees pay homage to Buddha, One week had passed since the Earthquake in China. Thank God, my parents were back; safe and sound since 15Th May 2008, 6.30am. They did not visit SiChuan nor ChengDu.

As reported on the news, more than 71,000 people are dead, buried or missing following last Monday's 7.9 magnitude quake, China's state media say. More than 220,000 people were injured. Tears fills my eyes every time i see news reports on China's earthquake.

In Chengdu, the provincial capital, people held hands to observe a three-minute silence in honor of the victims.
Photos Courtesy from BBC.com

Its Mourn-day Monday, at China. While the Chinese Government declares a 3 day mourning period for the whole of China, the whole Chinese state came to a halt at 1428 local time (0628 GMT), people across the country fell silent for three minutes as air-raid sirens and car horns wailed. I was simply touched when i saw these images on the news and tears started to trickle down.

Fragile Lives

Above picture depicts the current state in Si Chuan Province of China. Houses collapsed and people out in the open; outside the hospitals (can u imagine how cold is it in China). Doctors and Nurses rushing to save lives. Even the Chinese temple was not spared from the Earthquake.

(Viewer Discretion Advised: Not for the weak heart-ed)

Bodies found from the aftermath of the earthquake were left lying on the streets. People crying for their loved ones. Mostly found under the rubble are children and students.

I really feel for them. Maybe its because, I am a Chinese too. Let the dead rest in peace, and may the living find strength to live through this ordeal. Hope that they are able to pick themselves up and go on...

On the same note, I feel that Singaporeans are taking it for granted that we are such a 'peaceful' city. We should all be ready and vigilant; in-case something happens. Natural disasters are not something which can be helped.

There is still no news from my parents, but by right, they should be back by today or tomorrow tentatively. Please continue to pray for their safety in China.

Post-blogging note: posted this in office. Supervisor is on MC.

worldevents'2007

1997 - World Wide Finical Crisis
1998 - Hot Weather due to El Nino and La Nina occurences
1999 - Kosovo War; EU introduced a common currency2000 - Y2K Bug
2001 - USA WTC collasped due to terrorism; USA War in Afghanistan
2002 - SARS (Severe acute respiratory syndrome); Bali Bombings
2003 - The Iraq War, also known as the Second Gulf War
2004 - Indian Ocean tsunami
2005 - H5N1 Bird Flu; The 2005 Sumatran earthquake strikes off Sumatra, three months after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. At a magnitude of 8.7 it is the second largest earthquake since 1965.
2006 - Iran's Defiant Nuclear Program; North Korea Nuclear Test; Saddam Hussein, former Iraq president, is executed in Baghdad
2007 - Global Warming, causing Sea Levels to rise.