JUNE 2008 Tragic Earthquake Gives Rise to Unity and Hope Devastating Earthquake Which Nese.” This Is Child
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CHINAInsight Fostering Business and Cultural Harmony between China and the U.S. VOL. 7 NO. 6 www.chinainsight.info JUNE 2008 Tragic earthquake gives rise to unity and hope devastating earthquake which nese.” This is child. A teach- measured 8.0 on the Richter scale reminiscent of er gave his life hit Sichuan Province on May 12, Americans’ re- to protect four at 2:28 p.m. local time (May 11, sponse after the students. A A1:28 a.m. in Minnesota). As of May 21, the attacks of 9/11 homeless beg- region had experienced over 7,000 after- when people gar, Xu Chao shocks, some as strong as 6.0 on the Richter rallied to help in Nanjing, scale. The official report of victims of the victims of the Jiangsu prov- earthquake as of noon on May 21 was grim: terrorist attacks ince, returned and all Ameri- to a donation PASSAGE TO CHINA 41,353 dead, 274,683 injured, 32,666 miss- Pages 8 & 9 ing. Experts estimate that the death toll will cans became center numer- New Yorkers climb above 50,000. Not since 1976, when An earthquake survivor cooks outside rubble in ous times with P e o p l e an earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter Guangji Township (Getty Images) more money to scale hit Beijing, has an earthquake been so throughout Chi- help victims of deadly. (The 1976 earthquake claimed over na are donating the earthquake. 240,000 lives and is considered the deadliest time, money and resources to help earth- When asked why he donates his standard earthquake in modern history.) quake victims. The Chinese government reply is, “The victims are in a more difficult Under the catastrophic conditions, China mobilized troops to villages to find and situation than me; and I would like to help is coming together as a nation to begin the assist survivors. Perhaps some of the most them however I can”. recovery. There was an official 3-day na- inspirational stories are of individuals who The rapid response to the earthquake tional mourning period May 19-21. have, with selfless acts, epitomized all that is not only coming from within China, but While controversy surrounding the is good in humanity. There is the soldier, from around the world. First aid and medi- Olympics and Tibet began to give rise to who when told to abandon a rescue mission cal teams from Japan and Russia have gone Chinese nationalism in various forms, this because the situation was too dangerous to to China to assist victims. Government tragedy brings a different focus. This unity proceed, fell to his knees crying and begging to be allowed to go back and save one more is seen in signs in Hong Kong that say, “The Quake continues on Page 3 earthquake is merciless, but Hong Kong cares for you.” as well as donations pouring in from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macao. The message is clear: “We are all Chi- SISTER CITIES School principals Pages 8 and 9 CHINESE MEDICINE from China attend Page 12 First U.S.-China Principals Summit By Greg Hugh, Staff Writer Relief supplies are being flown to the area, he University of Minnesota’s as homeless residents try to keep warm. China Center hosted more than 40 principals from Chinese schools and educational institutions for Tthe first annual U.S. - China Principal’s Summit from Monday, April 28 - May 1. The mission of the first Sino – U.S. Educator Forum: U.S. - China Principals DRAGON FESTIVAL Summit, was to gather educators from China Page 16 and the United States to comprehensively discuss the theme of education collabora- tion between their countries. Government officials, scholars and business people from Relatives have been mourning loved ones at the state of Minnesota joined the educators ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Yi Chen, Deputy Chief of Educational Ad- makeshift funeral parlours... to contribute their knowledge and expertise ministration Section, High School Attached Announcements / 2 & 3 to the forum. Hot topics included how to to Hunan Normal University received award integrate the arts into school and college Education / 4, 6, 7 10 from Meredith McQuaid preparation for high school seniors. Profiles / 5 The four day summit required the attend- University of Minnesota’s Collaboration ees to follow a rigorous schedule of activi- & Exchange with China, Yongwei Zhang, Culture / 8, 9 & 16 ties that included a tour of Minneapolis, an Ph.D., director of the University of Min- Arts / 11 opening ceremony along with many daily nesota China Center. Chinese Approaches sessions that were broken up with appropri- to High School Education, Lin Weiping, Business / 12 & 13 ate tea breaks, lunches and dinners along director of the Wenzho Education Bureau. Community / 14 with some evening socializing events. From the Eyes of a U.S. Superintendent: Olympics / 15 Following is a partial list of the topics Comparing the Chinese and U.S. School that were presented just during the first Culture, John Currie, superintendent of the ...and for some family members, the pain work day of this forum. Past & Future: the was overwhelming. Summit continues on Page 10 PAGE 2 > JUNE 2008 announcements www.chinainsight.info Publisher’s Pronouncements CHINAINSIGHT Greetings: As noted elsewhere in the paper, the Chinese community celebrated its inaugural event, A Passage Publisher: to China. CHINA Insight was pleased to collaborate with the Chinese Heritage Foundation in organizing Gregory J. Hugh this premiere event that brought over 40 local Chinese and non-Chinese organizations and businesses [email protected] together. Approximately 2,000 attendees visited these organizations and 5 vendors to experience an interactive journey through China. See pages 8 & 9 for a more detailed report on this event. Editor: As part of the information made available at A Passage to China, a list of Chinese language pro- Jennifer Nordin grams was prepared so that anyone interested in learning Mandarin Chinese would be able to locate [email protected] a program to meet their needs. This list is presented on page 6. Also, if there are any schools you feel Manager of Operations/ should be added, please let us know at [email protected]. Circulation: Also, if you participated in the event, we want to hear your thoughts. Please take a few minutes to Richard He complete a survey at www.chineseheritagefoundation.org. [email protected] Just as the Chinese community came together to celebrate A Passage to China, it is now rallying to raise funds to assist in the earthquake relief that has devastated Sichuan Province in China. Although Production Editor: the Chinese government is quickly responding to this tragedy, the community is determined to assist in Dawn Murphy the relief effort. Students from China attending the University of Minnesota have already held a fund- [email protected] raiser that was sponsored by the Friendship Association of Chinese Students and Scholars and a group of student musicians have scheduled a fundraising concert, details on page 3. Director of Marketing and The largest local fundraising effort is being organized by the Chinese American Association of Min- Communications: nesota which states that it has over 40 local Chinese organizations signed up. See page 3 for complete Will Ahern [email protected] details. Local Chinese business organizations have also announced that they will be donating a percentage Artist/Intern of their sales so watch for these announcements and be sure to support these businesses since you Lauren Hugh will be able to continue to help the relief efforts by simply dining at a designated restaurant or doing your normal shopping with a business that pledges to donate accordingly. Staff Writers: Please visit our Web site at www.chinainsight.info for up-to-date reports on fundraising activities and please notify us if you are involved in any kind of fundraising activity so we can let the community Will Ahern know about it. [email protected] As always, thank you for your support of CHINA Insight. Greg Hugh Sincerely, [email protected] Gregory J. Hugh Albert Leung Publisher [email protected] Jennifer Nordin [email protected] Thank you for reading Mike Xiong CHINA Insight [email protected] UCBC About CHINA Insight CHINA Insight is a monthly English language newspaper fostering business and cultural meeting harmony between China and the U.S. The UCBC June breakfast meeting will CHINA Insight is a Member of The Minnesota be held on June 4 from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA). at Minneapolis Community & Technical By Lauren Hugh College, 1501 Hennepin Avenue, Wheelock Submissions & Correspondence Whitney Hall Rm L3000, Minneapolis. The topic will be, China’s Power and En- CHINA Insight welcomes guest articles and ergy - What are the Business Opportunities, mail for the Letters to the Editor column. presented by Warren Vollmar - President, Correspondence should be addressed Forest Source, LLC. to: To make a reservation to attend, e-mail [email protected] or call Jim Smith Editor, CHINA Insight 6520 South Bay Drive at 612-865-6543 The cost is US$20 per Minnetrista, MN 55331 person (UCBC members and college stu- Tel: 952-930-5252 dents FREE). Fax: 952-474-6665 [email protected] CORRECTION: An interview with Al Franken on Page 4 of the May 2008 is- Letters to the Editor become the property of CHINA Insight and may be edited for sue length and published. Articles will not be Part of Al Franken’s response to the published without the express consent of question “Why have you decided to run for the author. office?” was erroneously printed as “We need people who are willing to stand-up for working families and special interest groups.” The actual statement by Franken was, “We need people who are willing to Copyright 2008 CHINA Insight, Inc.