The Myanmar typhoon followed by the earthquake in China was a one-two punch to Southeast Asia. At least a quarter million people died, with recovery still ongoing (for months or years), but each disaster is totally off the front page of CNN.com and not in our daily national coverage. In China, over 30 lakes have formed in the aftermath of the quake, several of which are now poised to burst their dams. We could have a whole ‘nother catastrophe if cities downstream get washed away. Read about it at BBC.com
As we revel in a last weekend of Spoleto and 90 degree days on the beach, it’s worth taking a second to consider the indifference our culture seems to feel toward these disasters. Maybe it’s that they keep coming at record paces. Maybe it’s just the new global media that lets us hear as much as we do already, whereas there’s always been catastrophes and suddenly now we care because coverage is better.
Whatever the case, City Paper forefather Mike Mongo passed along this very moving series of comics depicting stories from the aftermath in China. Read the whole series here. The artist’s explanation…
COCO WANG:
CHINA 5.12 EARTHQUAKEHello. This is Coco Wang.
As you know the breaking news of 5.12 Earthquake in China, almost all the TV channels in China are broadcasting 24 hours non-stop of every development and stories of all the rescue operations in all damaged locations.
I don’t know how much information the BBC or any UK media received from us, I imagine the UK audiences were presented with the major developments of the incident, but you are probably unaware of many important and inside details which are only known to people inside China.
The amount of incredibly moving stories of victims, rescuers, volunteers is simply shocking at the moment. I have been collecting newspapers of all the stories, and telling them in the form of comic strips. I hope these stories could show the UK readers the love, warmth and courage of the Chinese people, also the sad and cruel reality of the horrible 5.12 Earthquake.
I am back home in Beijing now. Thousands of heart-breaking stories are happening 24 hours non-stop everyday, some are so sad that you can hardly bear, some are incredibly moving that you just can’t stop crying… I wanted to go to the front to help with all those people, some of my friends have already gone there, but I heard that the traffic needed to be kept totally clear for rescue transportation at the moment, people like me without knowledge of first-aid and experience of rescue operations going there now would cause choas and trouble… but I can’t just sit at home and do nothing, I have been crying my eyes out in the past three da
ys, I have never felt more proud of my country and people… their love, courage and kindness rock me to my core! I have decided to tell these touching stories by drawing comics. I am going to send you comic strips almost everyday from now on, I hope you could know something about the earthquake in China, although you don’t have to do anything, but I hope you could feel our love and hope.
Thank you all so much.
Coco Wang
