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China Earthquake Release
Efforts From May 13 2008
A major earthquake registering 7.9 on the
Richter scale hit China's southwest province Sichuan at 2:28PM on May 12th. It
was the most disastrous earthquake in China in the past 32 years. Significant
damage has been reported in rural areas surrounding the epicenter, and current
loss of life is estimated to be upwards of 12,000 people. More than 60,000
people are still inaccessible. People in the rest of the country including
Shanghai and Beijing all felt huge tremors at the first wave of earthquake.
The localities most severely affected by the earthquake are in the area around
Wenchuan, Sichuan province. Shannxi, Gansu, Yunnan and Chongqing are also
affected. Wenchuan is still inaccessible by road and telecommunications remain
limited, so the full extent of damages there has yet to be assessed. Many local
schools are badly affected and hundreds of students are trapped under the
rubble. Due to torrential rain, planes and helicopters are also unable to land
in the area. At present, cash donations represent the best way to get help where
it is needed most as relief supplies must be procured locally and cannot be
shipped in due to transportation disruptions.
Do not attempt to send Food, Material, Blanket and etc to the earthquake
region as it will only clout up the relief efforts.
We are suggesting you to make "cash" contribution to "Tzu Chi Foundation"
or "American Red Cross" as soon as possible.
 
Check Payable to Tzu Chi Foundation
China Earthquake Relief Fund
c/o Tzu Chi Hawaii Chapter
1238 Wilhelmina Rise,
Honolulu, HI 96816
Tel: (808) 737-8885
Fax: (808) 737-8889
Click on the American Red Cross logo for
contribution details
We are not giving special endorsement
to Tzu Chi Foundation or American Red Cross. But both are reputable IRC 501
(c)(3) Non-profit Organizations warrant your favorable considerations. Hong
Kong.China.Hawaii Chamber of Commerce (HKCHcc) is not looking for any special
recognition. We felt it is important to get the money to the affected areas as
soon as possible. When giving, be sure the check is made payable directly to the
IRC 501 (c)(3) Non-profit organization and "NOT" to a third party
"entity" to avoid
"Fraud" and or running into difficulties for claiming a deduction on your
2008 income
tax returns.
Johnson Choi, MBA, RFC.
2008 SBA Minority Small Business Champion of the Year - National Winner
http://www.hkchcc.org/sba.htm
President
Hong Kong.China.Hawaii Chamber of Commerce
"Hawaii-China Guan Xi, We Get Things Done™"
Offices in Honolulu, San Francisco, Hong Kong and China
http://www.hkchcc.org
Vice Chair - Hawaii Pacific Export Council (HPEC)
http://www.hkchcc.org/hawaiipacificdec.htm
May 13, 2008
“Save Lives Now; Send Your Love to Sichuan, China”
May 13, 2008: Tzu Chi volunteers across US are raising funds and well wishes.
On May 12, 2008, a magnitude-7.9 earthquake shook central China and caused
devastating damaged. As of May 13, 2008, death toll exceeds 12,000 with
thousands more injured or still missing. Tzu Chi Foundation has been monitoring
disaster news closely while developing disaster assessment and relief operation
channels. Tzu Chi assessment team organized by local volunteers already enters
the quake's impacted area to begin delivery of relief aid. To support the relief
operation, Tzu Chi volunteers in US are raising dedicated funds for the recovery
and rebuilding process that is going to continue into a long term project.
Monday's quake in China is about the same magnitude as the 1906 San Francisco
quake that destroyed more than 500 city blocks, according to Channel 13 NewsHour.
Meteorologists observe more than 300 aftershocks; intensity of the destruction
can only be imagined. When Master Cheng Yen, founder of Tzu Chi Foundation,
heard of the earthquake and its severity in destruction, she was overtaken by
extreme grief several times in her remarks to the worldwide volunteers. She is
calling everyone to alleviate pain for the ones who are suffering and struggling
to survive because as members of the global village, it is our responsibility to
care for and to help victims of the earthquake.
Tzu Chi is also a registered local charity foundation in China as of March 2008.
Working closely with local government agencies, charity organizations, and local
volunteers, Tzu Chi has setup a disaster command post to collect developing news
and to initiate disaster assessment and relief operation. Tzu Chi volunteers is
commencing with disaster assessment and relief aid distribution, including
42,000 blankets, food, and medicine.
In US, Tzu Chi has begun to raise fund for those affected by this tragedy.
Starting from May 17, 2008, Tzu Chi US volunteers will walk out into the public
to collect donations and to raise well wishes. Master Cheng Yen encourages
everyone to keep these who are suffering and struggling in their thoughts and
prayers. Let us pray sincerely and wish that there is love among people, peace
in society, and a world free from disasters. Humanitarian efforts evolve from
simple well wishes. Gathering of everyone’s kind thoughts can become the
greatest strength in saving others.
To donate:
* Please make your check payable to Tzu Chi and mail to Tzu Chi Foundation, 1238
Wilhelmina Rise, Honolulu, HI 96916
* Credit card donation is accepted by calling 1-888-9TZUCHI (1-888-989-8244).
* A designated Sichuan Relief account has been set up in Cathay Bank. Please
sent your donation to Cathay Bank (ABA 122203950) located at 777 N. Broadway,
Los Angeles, CA 90012. Our account is Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation USA,
located at 1100 S. Valley Center Avenue, San Dimas, CA 91773, and the account
number is 01-130005.
For more information, please call (808) 282-5888 or go on-line at
www.us.tzuchi.org.
About Tzu Chi
Tzu Chi is an international, volunteer-led charitable organization providing
humanitarian aid, spiritual care and medical services to families and
communities locally and internationally. Tzu Chi means “serving with
compassion.” Tzu Chi focuses on four major service areas: charitable services,
medical services, education and cultural services. Tzu Chi volunteers have
started disaster relief efforts in China since 1991. Tzu Chi US is a 501(c)3
organization. Your donation to Tzu Chi is tax deductible.
Thursday, February 28, 2008 - BEIJING -- Taiwan's Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu
Chi Foundation has received the green light to set up a Tzu Chi Charity
Foundation in China, Chinese authorities confirmed yesterday.
Answering questions at a regular press briefing, Fan Liqing, spokeswoman for the
Taiwan Affairs Office of China's State Council, said the Ministry of Civil
Affairs had formally approved the application by Tzu Chi to establish the
charity foundation in China.
The new organization is the first foundation chaired by a legal representative
who is a non-resident of the mainland, Fan said, adding that the foundation will
fall under the jurisdiction of the State Bureau of Religious Affairs.
The establishment of the foundation is expected to play an active role in
promoting cross-Taiwan Strait exchanges in charitable affairs, she said.
The Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation, founded in 1966 by Master
Cheng Yen, a nun, is one of Taiwan's four major Buddhist sects, with its head
office located in Hualien, eastern Taiwan.
It is actively involved in social services, medical care and education, and
disaster relief around the world.
Tzu Chi is funded by donations from the private sector, and its workers are
mostly volunteers. Tzu Chi has offices in 40 countries.
The organization's first contact with mainland China was in 1990 when the
central and eastern regions were devastated by serious flooding.
Tzu Chi's relief programs helped flood victims in Henan province with NT$13.6
million in timely aid, built 945 housing units for homeless flood victims in
Anhui province in 1991, and constructed 1,530 housing units for displaced
families in Jiangsu province in 1992.
Since then, Tzu Chi's relief work in China has expanded to cover 17 provinces
and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
(Source & Credit: American Chamber of Commerce-Shanghai)
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