Today, Monday, May 19, begins a three day period of mourning in China for the Sichuan earthquake victims. There is so much sadness in the air about this terrible tragedy. At the same time, we are witnessing the unprecedented use in China of the Internet and IWOM to share information, share grief and come together.

Daisy, our team member who is studying in the UK, shares her thoughts on this phenomena and I think expresses it so clearly and compellingly. “Thoughtful China,” she says, is coming together. This terrible tragedy, with the help of the Internet, will make the country even stronger.

Below is a translation of the post. You can find the original here.

If asked to give an example of the power and strength of IWOM in China, I would say, without a doubt, the recent support on the Internet for Sichuan Wenchuan’s devastating 5.12 earthquake is the most powerful illustration of “Thoughtful China.”

Although I am currently studying in London, England which is far from my homeland, I, along with my fellow Chinese scholars abroad, still feel that we are equally impacted and breathing the same air along side our domestic compatriots. Through Internet searches and local news sources, we can learn and transmit updated information about donation channels and the progress of rescue efforts; through BBS forums, we are brought to tears by the emergency disaster relief pictures shared by those witnessing the event. Through blogs and comment sections, we are able to exchange ideas and express our concern and support for the motherland; through the MSN groups we exchange the latest news and organize collective gatherings to give support to our fellow Chinese citizens, and are able to inform everyone that on May 19th we will hold a day of silence in honor of the victims. On Facebook, there is a group inviting others to join the British scholar's candlelight ceremony, initiated by the collaborated efforts of 15 websites, in which we can offer fresh flowers and write down our mournful thoughts. Our ability to communicate through the Internet has enabled all Chinese nationals, regardless of which country they reside in, to unite together in support of the earthquake victims. And I feel proud that I can experience this powerful strength and shock firsthand.

“What China needs is the understanding, not sympathy. What the Chinese need is support, not comfort” Through IWOM, Chinese from around the world have heard the strong voice of the motherland, and continue to spread this spirit throughout the whole world via the Internet, letting the whole world know and understand China’s care for one another!

On May 19, at exact moment of silence, all members of CIC will gather together to mourn the loss of our fellow citizens, to give them hope and courage. The disaster will pass, but China will forever be stronger!