One of the most impressive aspects of the Sichuan crisis, and perhaps most significant for Chinese society in the longer term, has been the mobilization of tens of thousands of civilian volunteers from all over China. In the immediate aftermath of May 12, the Chengdu office of the Chinese Red Cross was besieged by people demanding to be given, something, anything to do. Thousands made their own way to Sichuan as individuals, or with family, friends and ad hoc groups.

The ruins of Jiulong primary school, in which 150 children died. In the foreground is a small table carrying some of the children's toys. The banner reads "We demand justice for the children killed by a dangerous building".

Those with cars simply loaded up with supplies and drove there. Ina Bluemel, leader of the British Red Cross team in Jiulong, told us the volunteers were extremely committed and capable, willing to work almost continuously without a break, refused offers of payment and food, and were often able to contribute specialized skills.

The Red Cross translator Wei Gang is an example. Around 30 years old, Wei Gang straddles China's two worlds of the rich, urban East and the poor, rural West. His parents are from Jiulong so he speaks the local dialect perfectly. But he has a doctorate from Oxford, and in normal times he is a maths professor at Shandong University. Fluent and articulate in English, he told me he set off for Sichuan immediately after May 12, has been there ever since, and has no plans to leave any time soon.

It is hard to believe we are not yet halfway through 2008. The year started with freak snowstorms in southern China that killed dozens, disrupted exports and caused Spring Festival chaos. March saw the rioting in Tibet; then the disastrous international leg of the Olympic torch relay, in response to which, a defensive, edgy, and occasionally unpleasant kind of nationalism took shape both inside China and among the Chinese overseas.

But earthquake reconstruction has given the Chinese people a positive cause around which they have enthusiastically united; at the same time they have warmly welcomed generous assistance from overseas. The very same Western media that criticized China during the torch relay are now praising to the skies the government's relief and reconstruction work. Just possibly, by the time the Olympics come around, despite the shadow cast by May 12, 2008 will have given the Chinese people something they feel able to celebrate.

(China.org.cn June 12, 2008)