China marks 1 year anniversary of Sichuan Earthquake

One year ago, Sichuan Province was struck by a devastating 8.0 magnitude earthquake. Thousands of visitors flocked to Sichuan province to pay their respects to the victims of the May 12th earthquake which killed over 80,000 people.

In Beichuan, a valley town totally wiped out by the 8.0 magnitude quake, family and friends gathered to light incense and ritual paper money to comfort the dead.

“I feel that this earthquake is not over yet, every time I see something related to the earthquake I feel like crying."
~ 20 year old XiaoYao who lost her brother and sister

“I feel so sad and heart broken and it hurts in my heart. I did not want to come back to this town. It brings back so many bad memories.”
~ 46 year old Xiao Caigui who lost over 30 relatives

The worst devastation was in Wenchuan where nearly 24,000 died or went missing and Beichuan county where 20,000 of its 160,000 residents perished in the quake.





Last year China hosted the Olympic games. It was also forced to deal paralyzing snow storms, worse than usual flooding during monsoon season (their equivalent of hurricanes) and oh yes... the most devastating earthquake in terms of power and damage since the quake which caused the Tsunami in few years back.

I think some credit is due. Good job China!

Beichuan, China - Pilgrims flock to disaster site, opportunists seek profit and the government hopes for stability

James Reynolds is the BBC's Beijing correspondent. The following excerpts and video have been been compiled from his most recent article, published at his BBC blog.



"I've just been down to Sichuan to see what things are like a year after the earthquake which killed more than 85,000 people...."

...

The Sichuan earthquake has now taken a prominent place in this national story. The government's response was portrayed as quick and compassionate. The Premier, Wen Jiabao, was cast as the noble hero - the leader who cried with the bereaved and who promised that fallen towns would one day rise again.

This is the official legend of the earthquake. It's what ordinary Chinese people are told - and it's probably what most of them genuinely believe as well.

On a hilltop overlooking the ruins of the town of Beichuan, hundreds of Chinese tourists now queue up to buy pieces of this legend. Vendors sell picture books and DVDs of the disaster, incense and candles to be placed on memorials.

But these tourists know almost nothing of the parents' story. Since early June 2008, the Communist Party has banned the Chinese media from covering the parents' campaign.

Over the last year, local officials have harassed, sometimes even attacked the parents in an effort to keep them quiet.

Click here to access Reynolds full article @ his BBC blog.