Granite Staters React to the Earthquake in Southwest China

By Laura Knoy on Monday, May 19, 2008.

Last week's earthquake in China's Sichuan province killed over twenty thousand; many more were injured, and rebuilding the area’s infrastructure will take years to complete. While this happened half a world away, there are those in New Hampshire directly affected by the tragedy. We speak to some of them to hear their stories and their experiences.

Guests

  • Laura Colbert, former Senior Producer for NHPR who's lived in China for the last four years; she’s been in Chengdu since the earthquake
  • Yan (Alex) Peng, recent graduate of Southern New Hampshire University; Yan and his family are from Mianyang, one of the hardest hit places in the earthquake
  • Shenshen Lu, a graduate student at Dartmouth College’s Thayer School of Engineering who is originally from Chengdu, the largest city in Sichuan Province

We'll also hear from

  • Paul Leblanc, president of Southern New Hampshire University; he travels to China often to develop an Online MBA program in several major cities in China, including Chengdu
  • Bill Lozon, Vice President for Sales and Marketing for the Salem branch of UltraVision Security Systems Inc. He will be traveling to southwest China to help in rescue efforts with his company's "Lifelocator" system
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I like this show! Great to
Lena - Mon, 05/19/2008 - 10:28

I like this show! Great to hear that so many people are concerned about the catastrophe in China and ready to help.

Thank you
PingPing - Fri, 07/04/2008 - 03:49

Thank you

State Department Contact Information
Michael of Nashua - Mon, 05/19/2008 - 11:23

This toll free phone number can help U.S. Citizens find the status of family members who are in the earthquake region in China, 1-888-407-4747. This link provides more detailed information, current as of May 16,2008 U.S. State Department Updated China Information

Amity Foundation
Jenny in Fryeburg, ME - Mon, 05/19/2008 - 23:34

One listener asked how people can help those affected by the earthquake beyond donating money.

The Amity Foundation, a Chinese NGO is does education, rural development, social welfare (including work with orphanages and foster care), training of medical workers, disease prevention, disaster relief, and other projects throughout China. Amity sent staff to Sichuan within hours of the quake and has been distributing food and relief supplies.
Amity uses volunteers and paid staff from China and abroad. I was an Amity English teacher at Chengdu College of Education. I have a great deal of respect for this organization. Having visited some of Amity's projects and disaster relief work first hand, I can attest to their effectiveness and trustworthiness as well as their ability to work cooperatively with people in need, churches, governments, experts, and the people of China and the international community. Amity is committed to helping those people most in need. For more info their web site is: http://www.amityfoundation.org/

Besides helping Chinese people learn English, those who go to China as Amity language teachers receive an invaluable education about China today and its people.