While the eyes of the world were fixed on the unfolding disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, China was battling an oil spill of its own.

The oil spill resulting from a pipeline explosion in the port city of Dalian on July 16th is being cleaned up by a small army of fisherman, locals, and government workers manning over 250 oil-skimming vessels and 8,000 fishing boats – much of the work being done by hand. The spill, now contained according to authorities, grew to 430 square kilometers, but was prevented from fouling international waters.

Nantuo beach park, Dalian, covered by oil. 1500 tones of oil poured into Dalian sea as a result of the oil line accident on 16th July.

Nantuo beach park, Dalian. Environmental offices had laid many grass cushions on the beach in hope of repelling the oil. A group of tourists are worrying about the oceans’ on shore.

A little girl taking a picture of the seashells covered by oil.

A group of tourists looking at the sea in desperation.

In order to clean up the oil spill, the EVA （Environmental Volunteer Association）is in a need of a great amount of human hair, nylon stocking, gunny bags, grass cushions and corn leaves. There are many volunteers that are already collecting these items but there is still a huge shortage, we hereby pleas anyone that could make a donation of the materials mentioned above, or join us to save our beautiful city of Dalian.

If you wish to make a donation, please contact the EVA office.

Head of office：

Mr. Tang 0086-0411-84338133 (office line)

Mr. Jiang 0086-13942899775 (cell)

If anyone who is willing to make a donation needs free translation assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me at jintianzhu@cultural-china.com. Many thanks.

As number of private cars in china booming through the days, more and more bumper stickers can be seen on the road, most of which are meant to be funny.

Here are a few examples.

Don’t follow me, heading back to Mars.

God inside, down on your knees when knocking.

Nuke in trunk, keep distance.

Don’t touch me, I bite.

#0 diesel, fill it up

New driver, please go easy on me, please….

Modification is no crime!

Out and about to get some soy sauce.

Look, an airplane.

Catch me? No way!

Careful when driving, hitting me won’t make you famous.

Kiki & Lala in car

Mum! He just kissed me!

Son, will you stop chasing me?

Baby on road!

I’ll take point, and you get the back.

New driver with turtle speed, over-taking welcomed.

Sleeping pig in car.

Good at sudden braking, love killing engine.

Bad driver with a bad temper.

Serve the people’s money (RMB)

ps: all photos are from juetuzhi.net (THANK YOU!), translated by Heaven…

Aftershock (唐山大地震), the new film by Feng Xiaogang (冯小刚) seems on course to break one record even before the first audience member files in. The film is to receive the widest theatrical release in modern Chinese history.

It is doubly ground-breaking given the film’s genre. Although Feng has an exceptional track record as a commercially successful director, Aftershock is an unusual choice for summer blockbuster. A powerful human drama that starts with the 1976 Tangshan earthquake and spins round to the deadly 2008 Wenchuan(Sichuan) earthquake, it is a painful and thoughtful tearjerker, rather than easygoing, spectacular fantasy fare.

 

When a mother is informed by the rescue team that, as her 7-year old twins are buried under the debris close to each other, digging one out would result in further collapse of the wreckage on the other, she is forced to make the most difficult decision of her life. As the clock ticked away, she finally ended her struggle and chose to save the boy, and though heartbroken, she had no idea her decision was overheard by the daughter. Deemed as a dead person, the little girl miraculously survived and was rescued after being buried under for days. Suffering from the emotional shock of the disaster and the painful memory of her mother’s choice, she refused to reveal whom she was. She was adopted by a young couple and later moved to the US, but shadowed by the traumatic experience from her childhood, she forever remained emotionally closed up.

When the Sichuan earthquake takes over 80,000 lives in 2008, she volunteers to join the rescue team and returns to her homeland, China. As she witnesses the tribulations people go through when a natural disaster takes place, she finally unlocks the pain she had felt all these years and finds forgiveness. She finally reunites with the mother and twin brother she had parted from after 32 years. A human drama about finding forgiveness, ‘Aftershock’ depicts not only the fatal tragedy that is brought on by a natural disaster of great levels, but also the strength and courage that is demonstrated when we are in face of extreme and devastating situations.

 

 ”Although the film’s focus is how those survived continue with their lives after the tragedy, I needed to create an earthquake that was realistic, while influencing audiences’ emotions, on which I have little experience,” said the director Xiaogang Feng.

“The scenes are so real that I started crying immediately,” said 73-year-old Wang Hongru, thanking Feng for having made a film to let future generations understand and remember what Tangshan people went through in 1976.

However, it is Feng’s exploration of earthquake survivors’ emotional worlds that made a stronger impact on the audience. Aftershock focuses on telling a moving story of how a mother has to choose between her son and daughter both buried under two ends of the same rock, with only one able to be saved. Her ensuing 32 years of guilt and regret is the film’s focus and was well received.

 

 

“Some memories can never be erased.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A side-story to the 2010 Shanghai Expo—express entry for those wearing German or Spanish football team uniforms, another way to avoid the heat and long queue.

Beijing time 02:30, 8th of July, the semi-final between Germany and Spain kicked off in South Africa. And from the 7th, the Spanish pavilion had put out a sign saying those visitors who are wearing German or Spanish football team uniforms are allowed to use the express way into the pavilion. And according to the Spanish staff, this policy would be valid until the final game is over.

Since the policy was a sudden move for the visitors, most visitors who noticed the sign were all regretting not wearing their uniforms. During the whole day, only less than 20 visitors benefited from this special policy. Furthermore, those who did were not on purpose, they were just solid funs of the Spanish team, and wearing those uniforms were just their faith in the team. The express entry was just a add-on to their surprise.

Staff of the Spanish pavilion said that, the introducing of this policy was just to attract more attention to the Spanish football team, as well as the Spanish pavilion in the Expo.

There are more than 160 churches in Shanghai. Among them about 100 are Catholic churches.

 

1. St.Ignatius Cathedral (徐家汇天主教堂)
Address: No.158 Pu Xi Road, close to North Cao Xi Road (蒲西路158号,近漕溪北路)
How to get to: Xu Jia Hui Station(徐家汇站) of Metro No.1
Tel :021-64690930

 

2. St.Peter’s Church (圣伯多禄堂)
with English service
Address: No.270 South Chong Qing Road, close to Middle Fu Xing Road (重庆南路270号,近复兴中路)
How to get to: Taxi
Tel :021-64670198, 67678181

 

3. Christ the King Church (君王堂)
Address: No.361 Ju Lu Road, close to South Mao Ming Road (巨鹿路361号,近茂名南路).
How to get to: Taxi.
Tel :021-62178107.

 

4. St. Francis Xavier Church (董家渡 圣方济各撒沙勿略堂)
with English service
Address: No.185 Dong Jia Du Road, close to Wan Yu Street (董家渡路185号,近万裕街).
How to get to: Taxi.
Tel :021-63787214.

 

5. Sacred Heart of Jesus Church (耶稣圣心堂) (Green City)
with English service
Website: http://www.sacredheartpudong.com/
Address: No.151 Hong Feng Road, close to Bi Yun Road (红枫路151号,近碧云路).
How to get to: Taxi.
Tel :021-57652912.

 

6. Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (无原罪始胎圣母堂)
Address: No.98 South Zun Yi Road, close to Xian Xia Road (遵义南路98号,近仙霞路).
How to get to: Long walk from Lou Shan Guan Road Station (娄山关路站) of Metro No.2.
Tel :021-62598296.

 

7. St.Teresa’s Church (圣女小德肋撒堂)
Address: No.370 Da Tian Road, close to Shan Hai Guan Road (大田路370号,近山海关路).
How to get to: Long walk from West Nan Jing Road Station (南京西路站) of Metro No.2.
Tel :021-62539359.

 

8. Sacred Heart of Jesus Church (耶稣圣心堂) (Hong Kou)
Address: No.264 Nan Xun Road, close to Tang Gu Road (南浔路246号,近塘沽路).
How to get to: Taxi.
Tel :021-63250524, 63831790.

 

9. St.Joseph’s Church (圣若瑟堂) (Huang Pu)
Address: No.36 South Si Chuan Road, close to East Jin Ling Road (四川南路36号,近金陵东路).
How to get to: Taxi.
Tel :021-63280293.

 

10. Our Lady Queen of Peace Church (和平之后圣母堂)
Address: No.692 Hui Min Road, close to Fen Zhou Road (惠民路692号,近汾州路).
How to get to: Taxi.
Tel :021-63280293.

 

11. Our Lady of Victories Church (胜利之后圣母堂)
Address: No.289 Yu Ying Tang Road, close to Zhong Xing Road (育婴堂路289号,近中兴路).
How to get to: Zhong Xing Road Station (中兴路站) of Metro No.8.
Tel :021-56624172.

 

12. St.Joseph’s Church (圣若瑟堂) (Pu Dong)
Address: No.660 Pu Dong Avenue, close to Fu Shan Road (浦东大道660号,近福山路).
How to get to: Taxi.
Tel :021-58769532.

 

13. Basilica of Our Lady of She Shan (佘山进教之佑圣母大殿)
Address: The top of West She Mountain (西佘山顶).
How to get to: Tourism Route 1A (旅游一号线A), station is at Shanghai Stadium (上海体育场), which can be reached by Metro No.1 and No.4.
Tel :021-57651521.

 

14. Church of Ascension (耶稣升天堂)
Address: No.27, Lane 317, Cao He Street, Zhu Jia Jiao Town (朱家角镇漕河街317弄27号).
How to get to: Shang Zhu Express bus (上朱高速专线), the station is at Pu An Road (普安路), close to Middle Yan An Road(延安中路).
Or Tourism Route 4 (旅游四号线), station is at Shanghai Stadium (上海体育场), which can be reached by Metro No.1 and No.4.
Tel :021-59240877

 

15. Church of Assumption (圣母升天堂)
Address: No.50 South Street, close to Bao Nan Road, Qi Bao Town (七宝镇南街50号,近宝南路).
How to get to: Taxi.
Tel :021-64799317.