Comment
Better quake drills needed
(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-03-15 07:44
 |
Large Medium Small |
Better quake drills needed
The photograph with the report, Earthquake experts calm nerves on the mainland, shows students hiding under their desks during an earthquake safety drill. In case of a real earthquake, the ceiling could collapse and crush the children after flattening their desks.
According to a rescue expert, when buildings collapse, falling ceilings crush furniture and other objects in a room, leaving a space or void next to them. This space is referred to as the "triangle of life".
Children crouched in a fetal position beside the desk would survive in the "triangle of life" left open beside the desk if the roof collapses. But up-to-date training is needed to prevent casualties.
Furthermore, the report says that "a majority of the coming earthquakes will take place on the Pacific Rim" and that the Chinese "mainland is not located on the rim", which may be true. But that should not underestimate the reality that much of Southwest China sits on the "crunch zone" where the Indo-Australian Plate meets the Eurasian Plate. So the possibility of more earthquakes in that area should not be underestimated.
Paul van Oosten, via e-mail
Looks good but
The revamped China Daily looks much good. The use of fewer words in a given space has not only made the pages visually more attractive, but also made it easier to read the text.
Your content is as, maybe more, varied and interesting as before. Accuracy and deep analyses of news are never enough, but judging from other readers' comments, there's been an improvement, particularly on the part of your columnists.
Before, China Daily had two editorials, which were already too many. Now three editorials makes it more crowded.
Can we suggest that you carry only two editorials, maybe one signed, like many Western newspapers? Or perhaps you can have an editorial each on international and domestic issues. It is good to host different opinions, but a newspaper's viewpoint is what most readers are most keen to know.
Antonella Silvestri & Claudio Cervini, via e-mail
Simplified characters better
A heated debate has raged over which form of Chinese characters we should use: traditional or simplified? Some experts argue that traditional Chinese characters give a cultured appearance to the text and help us develop a better understanding of traditional works. Others say simplified characters are easier to read and write and can help eliminate illiteracy.
Chinese characters have evolved according to social progress. In order to boost literacy, the government has promoted simplified characters since the 1950s. But still many Chinese staying abroad use traditional characters.
The story of the Tower of Babel in the Bible indicates the importance of the unity of language. China is an ancient civilization and has remained united. And I think the unified Chinese character system has contributed a lot to that unity.
In this information age, it is crucial to have a convenient and unified form of Chinese characters. So I recommend promoting the use of simplified Chinese characters among the Chinese all over the world.
Wang Feng, via e-mail
Readers' comments are welcome. Please send your e-mail to opinion@chinadaily.com.cn or letters@chinadaily.com.cn or to the individual columnists. China Daily reserves the right to edit all letters. Thank you.
(China Daily 03/15/2010 page9)
