Rising from the ruins
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The physical scars of the 2008 Wenchuan quake are gone, excepting some preserved for the sake of memorial. Large-scale efforts to rebuild the region have made it beautiful and livable again.
The success of reconstruction assures us that Yushu, in neighboring Qinghai province, which too suffered recently from such havoc, will rise from the ruins.
There was no lack of praise for the "country-wide mobilization" seen during disaster relief operations in the aftermath of both quakes - that deserves fulsome praise, and its unrivalled efficiency is undoubtedly a systemic advantage.
In Wenchuan, Yushu and during many previous disasters, we witnessed the entire nation being rallied around a single task. It was enlightening to see firsthand or from TV screens the nation rushing to the rescue.
Yet Wenchuan and Yushu should have taught us far more than just the advantages of the system. First, those advantages should not be taken for granted. The system should remain effective enough to rally public participation even in future.
Indeed, public support was always at hand whenever disasters hit. After all, we are a sympathetic nation.
We will not look away when our compatriots suffer. As was evident from recent relief efforts, non-governmental organizations and volunteers were no less effective in doing the job.
These disasters have made many reflect on ways to improve future relief efforts. Given the government's central role in disaster relief, we expect its similarly active intervention to continue. Yet, in Wenchuan and in Yushu, we saw room for improvement.
And, those incremental improvements are essential to sustain the efficacy of mobilization.
