Ruins of the Sichuan Earthquake that struck on 12 May 2008

Parents mourning for their children who were killed when their schools collapsed. The surviving girl turning away from the grief of looking at the photos of her friends who were killed.

The Chinese Government has said that there are currently more than 80,000 people either dead or missing in China’s worst earthquake in three decades whilst searchers are still digging out hundreds of bodies and hauling them to mass graves. The Chinese Government has accepted international relief help, unlike the Myanmar Government who rejected outside help in the recent Cyclone that struck Myanmar and left 133,000 people either dead or missing on 2 May 2008.

Just three months after the snowstorm that hit China on February, disaster is in the headlines again with the latest earthquake measuring 7.9 magnitude on Monday, in Sichuan. Death toll is currently at more than 22,000 with thousands of people still missing or buried under rubbles.

The worst disaster in China’s 30 years of history, aftershocks of 5.5 magnitude and strong tremors are being experienced and expected to be felt for the next two months.

With the spate of disasters befalling China, can this year of the Rat be bad fengshui to hold the Olympics? Considering the amount of money and resources spent on building the Olympics Stadium not to mention the world-class infrastructure just to cater to the number of people expected to flood into China during this event, any more bad news will spell disaster to China.

The number 8 is believed to be auspicious and good-luck to the Chinese. The date fixed for the Olympics is 8/8/2008 ~ very auspicious number ~ however, it also falls in the 7th month of the Chinese Calender which is the “Ghost Month” when the souls of the dead are believed to come out for one month. The elderly chinese believe in restraining activities such as swimming, house-shifting and wedding during the Ghost Month to avoid any untoward incidents. Why did the Chinese Government choose 8/8/2008 to begin the Olympics when it falls during the Ghost Month?

A rather scarry and unbelievable thing to think of, BUT is the Olympics Beijing 2008 destined for doom?

There is beauty to be found, despite the worst snow storm in 50 years, forcing airports and railways close.  Amidst the hardship faced for damaged crops that sent prices of meat and vegetables to rise to record highs in February 2008, mother-nature has a peculiar way of showing us the beauty of nature. 

click for larger view

  Frozen Olympics logo ~ Olympics Beijing 2008 to be held in August 2008.

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