主题：关于四川地震，做了份东西，准备放到公司 home page 上 -- 煮酒正熟

At 2:28 p.m., May 12, an 8.0-magnitude earthquake hit Sichuan province in southwest China. The massive quake was felt through a large part of China. Hundreds of thousands of people lost their homes. So far the death poll amounts to over 40,000, and more than 247,000 people have been injured. Officials say the number of dead is expected to rise to more than fifty thousand.

Soon after this formidable tragedy occurred, China undertook an all-out rescue and relief effort, lead by the government and immensely involved by civilian volunteers. In only 90 minutes, Chinese Premier, Wen Jiabao, was on the plane to the disaster area to coordinate on-site rescue efforts. Though most of the road to the epicenter was totally destroyed and under constant threat of mudslides and aftershocks, a division of soldiers managed to arrive in mere 15 hours after walking 60 miles. Other rescue forces from local, provincial and military authorities poured into the disaster area by planes, trucks and, where roads were damaged, by walking. Victims helped themselves and others where they could. People lined up in many cities to donate blood. In cities nearby, thousands of taxi drivers and car owners voluntarily organized themselves to ship supplies into the disaster area and ship the wounded out, without being paid or given an order…

In this devastating time, ordinary people demonstrated great humanitarianism and altruism. A 21-year-old kindergarten teacher shielded a toddler from tons of falling concrete, saving the kid with her own life. A 25-year-old elementary school teacher rushed in and out of the collapsing classroom Thirteen times to rescue her students, and in the very last second of her life she sheltered a boy with her own body. The boy was finally rescued. CNN reported a touching story about a local authority leader:

Perhaps the most poignant experience came while we were talking

to the local party secretary in Che Jia Va, who gave us directions and

pointed out various landmarks -- all the while keeping a stoic face.

The town was once home to 13,000 people, and 3,000 are still missing,

he says. As he shows me the damage to his community, I ask how

many have died. Tears flow down his cheeks, and he makes no effort

to wipe them away. He says that as many as 500 are dead, including

his parents, his wife and their two children.

In the midst of his anguish, there is a call over his radio. He's needed

again, and he runs off -- with apologies -- to go back to work.

In this time of profound anguish, we hope everyone will keep those who lost their loved ones in the earthquake in your prayers and thoughts.

Below are three charity organizations whose donations will be used exclusively for China earthquake relief purposes.