今天原本把国际文化中心(ICC)发起的纪念募捐活动——“Candle Light Vigil for Victims of the Earthquake in China”标在了日程上。刚吃完晚饭，稍息片刻就准备奔赴学校的纪念塔——LSU的地标性建筑。正在酝良感情，消化胃口的时候，接到了管弦的电话。从问我们系是不是有个从都江堰来的叫某某的女生说起，我这么Pure当然听不出什么诡谲，连连否认没有这人。然后她话锋一转，说道，“我们原本想邀请她在活动中做个简短的演说。那这样子的话，你有没有兴趣。你也是从四川来的，虽然成都没有太大受灾。”一般碰到这种情况，我都不好意思接受，还是俺Pure close to shy to stand in front of the public. 但一股责无旁贷的感觉，让我应承了下来，所以有了以下这篇仓促的讲稿。

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am from the Sichuan Province, where the China Earthquake happened 4 days ago. For this sorrow moment, I would like to narrate the story of my family and add more words to the people who are still suffering the earthquake disaster.

The early morning of May 12, also the afternoon of May 12 in China, my home area was hit by the earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale. Meanwhile I was still on the bed of Baton Rouge, and woke up by my friend’s call, “Do you hear the earthquake news from your hometown? It just happened several hours ago.” I was shocked at the first time. You should know my parents live in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, a big city with 9 million populations. I am too upset to say goodbye to my friend in the phone and directly called home. But there were no responses, which made me become nervous and keep dialing and dialing, to my family, to my neighbors, and to my friends. After half an hour, I heard the voices of my parents, and was informed safety. At least the capital of Sichuan Province was safe.

However, the areas around earthquake center were terribly impacted. The collapses of schools, hospitals and factories have claimed lives of 22,069 people, and there are still more than 14,000 people buried. With time goes, the life is disappearing. All these days, I condemn myself that I can do nothing but watch the video clips on internet, just see the disaster rob lives and make so many children become orphans. My eyes are always full of tears to witness life miracles, soldiers’ rescuing, medical workers’ fighting against death. Though I am not in China currently, but my heart is with them.

This evening, I was informed to give a speech here. It is a good chance for me to release my concern. Meanwhile is a time for us to show our concerns. Even tiny contribution will be a great support for survivors. What you bring for them will not only be the funds, but also the courage and love to go through the hard time and live better.

Next I would like to introduce some progress of rescuing work. The impacted areas are mountainous regions, and the Giant Panda’s hometown. Originally it is a good resort place, a reserved national park. After the disaster, the counties, towns and villages spreading along the earthquake strip were completely separated from outside world since the roads along the cliffs were destroyed by the quake. Later it was the rainy weather. These difficulties really gave challenges to the early work of search and rescue. After continuous and tough efforts, many people are pulled back from the edge of death. For the missing and buried people, the number currently is about 14,000. They should have the last hope to be alive after 4 days. They need your prayer. And for the wounded persons, the major part of survivors, they need your supports to live through the dangerous period, one week, one month until they step out of the danger completely. That means we still have much much work to do, to show our hands, to deliver them foods, medicines, basic living goods. They need bunch of funds to restore their homeland, especially schools for children. They still need bunch of help to accommodate those homeless and raise the orphans.

All my friends, for the disaster, it is a thing of human being to human being. Let's stretch our arms and hands to make it a difference. Each love action will make a big contribution.