4 out of 50,000

Seventh day into the original earthquake and two after the aftershock the rescue mission continues. It's taken me this long to really comprehend the event, the losses, the destruction. I have started to read and watch more news items. It is still quite upsetting.

The CCP have been praised by the international community in their rapid response to the crises. Even much of the media reported on the 'humane' response by the government. The government has welcomed foreign aid and now South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Russia and Taiwan have join the rescue effort. People around China are continuing to donate money and volunteer for the relief effort. It is the first time on many precendents that China has utilized foreign and domestic aid to overcome a crises. This in effect has had an affect on the perception of China. Indeed there seems to have been an Olympic truce.

Today the CCP has called for a 3 day national mourning period and temporarily suspended the Olympic torch relay.

It is widely known in China that cheap and unregulated contstruction standards are rife. Corruption of officials may face the oncoming blame of the schools that fell and the thousands of students who died.

The Chinese people have shown immense courage during unbearable loss of friends, family, homes and towns. On a report by CNN, a local Communist Party secretary organising relief efforts lost both his parents, his wife and child- and still was working to save others.

The rebuilding of towns will be immense effort which will take years. But i suspect that people's hearts will never completely heal.

- J