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October 12, 2008 4:01:07 PM CDT

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Quake Efforts Break Barriers in China

Posted May 20, 08 11:09 AM CDT in World 

(Newser) – The Chinese people have responded to last week's Sichuan earthquake with an unprecedented outpouring of volunteer work and donations—outside the scope, and control, of the Chinese government, the New York Times reports. China’s regime doesn’t trust public activism, and has long restricted private charity groups. But the quake crisis and public reaction are so broad it has grudgingly accepted help.

“This is a significant turning point for China,” said one researcher. “This is going to dissolve some boundaries between the government and the common people.” The outpouring wouldn’t have been possible if media hadn’t ignored the Propaganda Department’s ban on firsthand quake coverage.

Source New York Times

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Quake survivors build a makeshift hut to shelter in Mianzhu, China's southwest Sichuan Province Tuesday, May 20, 2008.   (AP Photo/Kyodo News)
A quake survivor cooks in the rubble in Mianzhu, China's southwest Sichuan Province Tuesday, May 20, 2008.   (AP Photo/Kyodo News)
Rescuers search for survivors at a primary school in the quake-hit town of Jiulong, in Mianzhu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Tuesday, May 20, 2008.   (AP Photo/Xinhua,Yang Ying)
By-passers line up to donate money at a donation station for Sichuan earthquake victims organized by Student volunteers of Shanghai Red Cross Student Association Friday May 16, 2008.   (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Quake survivors receive rice porridge on ration outside a gymnasium they take shelter, in Mianyang, China's southwest Sichuan Province Tuesday, May 20, 2008.   (AP Photo/Kyodo News)
Damaged buildings are seen at the Dawang Temple, at Yinghua, in Shifang county, in China's southwest Sichuan province Tuesday May 20, 2008.   (AP Photo/Greg Baker)
A quake survivor shelters at a makeshift hut, in Mianzhu, China's southwest Sichuan Province Tuesday, May 20, 2008.   (AP Photo/Kyodo News)
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China  • earthquake  • China earthquake  • Sichuan province  • volunteer  • activist


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